US3916723A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transmission mechanisms
Assignee: Bowden Controls Ltd
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Filing: 1973-01-17
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1993-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A flexible transmission mechanism of the kind in which a core member extends longitudinally within a flexible conduit for relative displacement between the core and the conduit for power transmission, has its conduit at least in part of wire coiled to form an external screw thread and means for fixing or serving as an abutment for the conduit are screwed onto the conduit. Advantageously, a projecting end portion of the conduit enclosing a corresponding end part of the core connectible to an operating or operated part is capable of flexure with the core from a fixing position and the said means can be adjusted along the screw conduit to determine the length of the projecting part of the conduit. A rigid rod may be fixed to one or each end of the core and not leave the conduit or prevent the aforesaid flexure. The said means may take the form of a plastics nut or nuts. The wire, or one wire of the conduit may be of triangulated section the flanks and apex of which may be rounded.
Inventors
- 👤 George Hawtree
- 👤 Edgar Hoyle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:40
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C1/00; F16C1/26; F16C1/262; F16C1/10; F16C1/22; F16C1/226; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/2045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism of the type comprising a flexible conduit, a core member movable within said conduit, and conduit securing means which is adjustable along the conduit; wherein at least part of the conduit is formed of closely helically interwound wires forming helices of different external diameters, thereby to give said conduit part the form of a male screw of which the thread is formed by one wire and the root portion thereof being formed by the other wire; wherein said thread-forming wire has a cross-section which tapers towards the axis of the conduit and said root-forming wire is of substantially flat elongated section with its major sectional dimension parallel with said axis so that said male screw has a groove of substantially dovetail section; said securing means comprising at least one female threaded plastics nut member having a portion which is externally tapered for wedging into an aperture in a plate-like fixture and which is axially slotted at positions angularly spaced about its axis whereby said externally tapered portion can be forced radially inwardly against Said male screw under such wedge action.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism of the type comprising a flexible conduit, a core member movable within said conduit, and conduit securing means which is adjustable along the conduit; wherein at least part of the conduit is formed of closely helically interwound wires forming helices of different external diameters, thereby to give said conduit part the form of a male screw of which the thread is formed by one wire and the root portion thereof being formed by the other wire; wherein said thread-forming wire has a cross-section which tapers towards the axis of the conduit and said root-forming wire is of substantially flat elongated section with its major sectional dimension parallel with said axis so that said male screw has a groove of substantially dovetail section; said securing means comprising at least one female threaded plastics nut member having a portion which is externally tapered for wedging into an aperture in a plate-like fixture and which is axially slotted at positions angularly spaced about its axis whereby said externally tapered portion can be forced radially inwardly against Said male screw under such wedge action.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism of the type comprising: a flexible conduit formed of at least one helically wound wire; a core member movable within said conduit; and conduit securing means adjustable along said conduit; at least one portion of said conduit comprising a male screw having a thread with steep flanks via which axial reaction forces can be transmitted to said securing means, said conduit securing means having an axial bore extending entirely through it so as to permit said male screw portion to pass through it, the axial bore having a corresponding female thread portion of shorter axial length than said male screw portion for movable engagement with said male screw portion so as to transmit axial loads on the conduit to a fixed panel through said securing means, and for releasably fixing said conduit relative to said panel at any desired point along the length of said male screw portion, wherein said securing means further includes a nut member having a portion which is tapered towards its free end for wedging into an aperture in a plate-like fixture and is axially slotted to permit its radial contraction under such wedge action.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
193 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism of the type comprising: a flexible conduit formed of at least one helically wound wire; a core member movable within said conduit; and conduit securing means adjustable along said conduit; at least one portion of said conduit comprising a male screw having a thread with steep flanks via which axial reaction forces can be transmitted to said securing means, said conduit securing means having an axial bore extending entirely through it so as to permit said male screw portion to pass through it, the axial bore having a corresponding female thread portion of shorter axial length than said male screw portion for movable engagement with said male screw portion so as to transmit axial loads on the conduit to a fixed panel through said securing means, and for releasably fixing said conduit relative to said panel at any desired point along the length of said male screw portion, wherein said securing means further includes a nut member having a portion which is tapered towards its free end for wedging into an aperture in a plate-like fixture and is axially slotted to permit its radial contraction under such wedge action.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism of the type comprising: a flexible conduit formed of closely helically interwound wires; a core member movable within said conduit; and conduit securing means adjustable along said conduit; at least a portion of said conduit comprising a male screw formed by said wires wound with helices of different external diameter, at least one of said wires forming the root of said male screw and at least another of said wires forming the thread of said male screw, said conduit securing means having an axial bore extending entirely through it so as to permit said male screw portion to pass through it, the axial bore having a corresponding female thread portion of shorter axial length than said male screw portion for movable engagement with said male screw portion so as to transmit axial loads on the conduit to a fixed panel through said securing means, and for releasably fixing said conduit relative to said panel at any desired point along the length of said male screw portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism of the type comprising: a flexible conduit formed of closely helically interwound wires; a core member movable within said conduit; and conduit securing means adjustable along said conduit; at least a portion of said conduit comprising a male screw formed by said wires wound with helices of different external diameter, at least one of said wires forming the root of said male screw and at least another of said wires forming the thread of said male screw, said conduit securing means having an axial bore extending entirely through it so as to permit said male screw portion to pass through it, the axial bore having a corresponding female thread portion of shorter axial length than said male screw portion for movable engagement with said male screw portion so as to transmit axial loads on the conduit to a fixed panel through said securing means, and for releasably fixing said conduit relative to said panel at any desired point along the length of said male screw portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the said wires are of such cross-sections that when the said conduit part is flexed into a curve the wires do not separate at the outside of the curve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said interwound wires are of different cross-sections and form helices of substantially the same internal diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the cross-sections of said wires are such that said male screw has a thread with substantially flat flanks and a substantially flat root face, and said securing means comprises at least one plastics nut member having an clastically deformable portion for retention in an aperture in a panel-like fixture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said securing means comprises a nut member having its thread formed to bind on said male screw.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said securing means comprises at least one nut member which has an externally tapered portion for wedging into an aperture in a panel-like fixture and which is longitudinally slotted so that it can be radially contracted onto said male screw under such wedge action.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A flexible force-transmitting mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said thread-forming wire has a cross-section which tapers towards the axis of the conduit and said root-forming wire is of substantially flat elongated section with its major sectional dimension parallel with said axis so that said male screw has a groove of substantially dovetail section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |