US3669466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable-steered vehicle having a cable tensioning and actuating assembly therefor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-21
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A steering cable assembly adapted to tension and actuate a steering cable adapted to tension and actuate a steering cable in a cable-steered vehicle. A cable assembly of the above type which includes two spools to attach and wind the ends of the cable, a bevel gear coaxially secured at one end of each spool, the toothed faces of the bevel gears facing each other in spacedapart relation, along a common steering axle, at least one of the two gears is rotatable around the common steering axle, a locking element is arranged to engage between the teeth of each gear to releasably lock the gears together for concomitant rotation, and when disengaged, to allow relative rotation between the two gears and the attached spools upon insertion and rotation of a toothed tool in meshing engagement with both gears.
Inventors
- 👤 William George Spenes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:52
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/08; G06K13/10; G06K13/107; B; B62; B62D; B62D3/00; B62D3/02; B62D49/00; B62D49/06; B62D7/00; B62D7/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a vehicle steered by a vehicle system having a first cable end and a second cable end, a cable tensioning assembly comprising a first spool rotatably mounted about its axis, a second spool rotatably mounted about its axis, said first cable end being secured to said first spool for winding thereon, said second cable end being secured relative to said second spool for winding thereon, a first gear rigidly fixed to said first spool for rotation therewith, a second gear rigidly fixed to said second spool for rotation therewith, and a connecting means constructed and arranged to couple said first gear to said second gear for concomitant rotation of one gear with the other and to uncouple said first gear from said second gear to allow differential rotation of one gear relative to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a vehicle steered by a vehicle system having a first cable end and a second cable end, a cable tensioning assembly comprising a first spool rotatably mounted about its axis, a second spool rotatably mounted about its axis, said first cable end being secured to said first spool for winding thereon, said second cable end being secured relative to said second spool for winding thereon, a first gear rigidly fixed to said first spool for rotation therewith, a second gear rigidly fixed to said second spool for rotation therewith, and a connecting means constructed and arranged to couple said first gear to said second gear for concomitant rotation of one gear with the other and to uncouple said first gear from said second gear to allow differential rotation of one gear relative to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein sAid first gear and said second gear are positioned adjacent each other and are arranged to be engaged by an actuating means to cause said differential rotation of one gear relative to the other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein said first and second spools and said first and second gears are coaxially arranged with said first gear and said second gear facing each other in spaced-apart relation along said common axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said first gear and said second gear are bevel gears having each a toothed face facing the toothed face of the other and spaced therefrom and arranged to mesh with a toothed tool forming said actuating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein said connecting means forms a truncated wedge piece arranged to be releasably secured between teeth of each of said first and second gears to lock the latter for bodily movement thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 3, wherein said first and second spools and said first and second spools and said first and second gears are mounted on a common steering axle, and are arranged for rotation relative thereto, said second spool has said second gear fixed at one end thereof and has one flange fixed at the other end thereof, a third spool is rotatable on said common steering axle, said third spool has one flange at each end, a releasable coupling constructed and arranged to releasably convert said one flange of said second spool to one of said flanges of said third spool, and a fastening means is arranged to releasably fix said third spool on said common steering axle for bodily rotation therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 6, wherein said third spool has an annular flange intermediate its ends defining a first and a second third spool portions on opposite sides thereof, a cable passage extends from one side to the other of said flange, and said fastening means is a locking pin arranged to engage into transversely extending bores through said intermediate annular flange and said common steering axle, whereby to fix said third spool to said common steering axle for bodily rotation therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting means is arranged to releasably engage between teeth of said first and second gears to lock the latter together for bodily movement thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 1, further having two front wheels and two rear wheels, each of said wheels is rotatably supported by a normally vertical pivot post, a pulley is fixed on each of said normally vertical pivot post and arranged to be angularly adjusted relative thereto, said cable system is a cable extending from said first to said second cable ends, wound around said pulleys and said spools, and arranged to rotate said normally vertical pivot post to steer said wheels.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein said cable forms a pair of runs extending between a common steering axle and each of said two front wheels and a pair of runs extending between the pulleys of a front and a rear wheels along each side of the vehicle, and the two runs extending between the pulleys along each side of the vehicle are crossed intermediate their pulleys to produce opposite angular steering of the front wheels relative to the rear wheels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein said cable is positively attached to each of said angularly adjustable pulley, whereby to prevent longitudinal slippage of the cable thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |