Coaxial drive cable centering apparatus

• US 5,599,233 A
• Filed: 08/15/1994
• Issued: 02/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Actuant Corporation
• Original Assignee: Vinylex Corporation
• Inventors: Shaulis, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIVERA, WILLIAM ARAUZ
• Application Number:
  US08/290,542
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 464/52, 464/81, 464/112, 464/181, 464/182, 464/183, 138/38, 138/108, 30/276, 56/12.7
• US Class Current: 464/52
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/90 for carrying by the operator
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/902 Ergonomic provisions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/06 with guiding sheathing, tube or box F16C1/04 takes precedence; guiding sheathings F16C1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/26 Construction of guiding-sheathings or guiding-tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/02 Sliding-contact bearings

Abstract

Flexible centering apparatus for centering a flexible drive cable within a cylindrial cable housing, the centering apparatus formed of an elongated finned sleeve in which radially disposed fins engage the cable housing, the fins being free and unattached at their outer ends. In one embodiment, the centering apparatus is of uniform construction; in another embodiment, the centering apparatus is of dual durometer construction.

Claims

1. In combination with rotary power transmitting apparatus of the type including drive means, means for being rotatably driven by said drive means, and a flexible, torque transmitting cable between and operably connected to said drive means and said rotatably driven means and mounted for rotation within a generally cylindrical shaped cable housing, said drive means rotating said cable and thereby said rotatably driven means, a flexible centering device extending through said cable housing for concentrically centering said cable with respect to said cable housing, said centering device comprising:

an elongated sleeve defining a generally circular cylindrical passage-way through which said cable passes, said cable being supported by said elongated sleeve in said cylindrical passageway for rotation relative to said elongated sleeve and

a plurality of fins extending radially outwardly from said elongated sleeve and with respect to said cylindrical passageway a sufficient distance to contact the interior surface of said cable housing solely at the outer ends of said fins and to concentrically center said cylindrical passageway with respect to the interior of said cable housing,

adjacent ones of said fins defining a space between one another and between the interior surface of said cable housing and said elongated sleeve,

said fins being unconnected with one another at their outer ends,

said fins each extending continuously longitudinally over a major portion of the length of said elongated sleeve,

said centering device being dimensionally formed to be constrained against rotational movement within said cable housing.

2. In combination with rotary power transmitting apparatus of the type including drive means, means for being rotatably driven by said drive means, and a flexible, torque transmitting cable between and operably connected to said drive means and said rotatably driven means and mounted for rotation within a generally cylindrical shaped cable housing, said drive means rotating said cable and thereby said rotatably driven means, a flexible spacing device extending through said cable housing for spacing said cable from said cable housing, said spacing device comprising:

an elongated sleeve member defining a generally circular cylindrically shaped passageway through which said cable passes, said cable being supported by said elongated sleeve member in said cylindrical passageway for rotation relative to said elongated sleeve member, and

a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly from said elongated sleeve member and with respect to said cylindrical passageway to contact the interior surface of said cable housing, said projections defining respective spaces between one another and the cable housing and each of said projections extending substantially continuously longitudinally over a major portion of the entire length of said elongated sleeve.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said elongated sleeve member comprises a single sleeve of uniform construction.

4. In combination:

(a) power drive means, means for being driven by said power drive means, and a flexible, drive cable coupling said driven means with said power drive means, said power drive means rotating said cable and thereby said driven means;

(b) an elongated cable housing extending between said power drive means and said driven means, said cable extending through said cable housing;

(c) a flexible centering device extending through said cable housing for essentially concentrically centering said cable with respect to said cable housing, said centering device comprising;

(i) an elongated sleeve member defining a generally circular cylindrically shaped passageway through which said cable passes, said cable being supported by said elongated sleeve member in said passageway for rotation relative to said elongated sleeve member, said elongated sleeve member having an interior wall portion of generally continuous, circular cross-section, and

(ii) a plurality of spaced apart fins external to said elongated sleeve member and extending radially outwardly therefrom to contact the interior surface of said cable housing at the outer ends of said fins while the cable is essentially centered within the cable housing but adapted to engage only the interior wall portion of said elongated sleeve member, each of said fins extending substantially continuously longitudinally over a major portion of the length of said elongated sleeve member.