Self-adjusting cable conduit mechanism

Claim 1

A self-adjusting cable conduit mechanism for automatically compensating for wear in a control cable system where the system includes a movable control cable adapted to connect a controlled member with an actuation member; the improvement comprising in having a housing adapted to be anchored with respect to said control cable, a first cable conduit surrounding said control cable having an end terminating in said housing and adapted to extend from said housing towards said controlled member, a serrated portion on the end of said first cable conduit within said housing, a spring activated locking means within said housing adapted to engage and lock with said serrated portion to limit movement of said first cable conduit into said housing, a first spring means operatively positioned between said first cable conduit and said locking means to urge said locking means into locking engagement with said serrated portion, locking release means adapted to be operatively positioned between said actuation member and said locking means, second spring means operatively positioned between the end of said first cable conduit and said locking release means for urging said first cable conduit outwardly of said housing towards said controlled member whereby when said locking release means is moved by said actuation member against the force of said first and second springs, said locking means will unlock to allow the first cable conduit to move with respect to said housing under the influence of said second spring means to adjust its effective length with respect to said control cable.