US4767386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible-element transmission unit for driving rotary members in general
Assignee: SPAL Automotive SRL
•
Filing: 1986-04-22
•
Granted: 1988-08-30
•
Expires: 2006-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A transmission unit comprises a flexible element (1) in the form of a flexible metal wire (6) on which a plurality of small equidistant coaxial cylindrical bodies (8) are fixed; the element (1) passes endlessly about two opposing drive and driven sprocket wheels (2), (3) respectively, and the two outward and return portions of said element (1) are slidingly received in two flexible sheaths (10); the two sprocket wheels (2), (3) are rotatably mounted in respective casings (4), (5) in which the opposing ends of said two flexible sheaths (10) are clamped.
Inventors
- 👤 Alessandro Spaggiari
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:23
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H7/00; F16H7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A transmission unit comprising, in combination, an endless flexible element in the form of a flexible metal wire on which a plurality of small equidistant coaxial cylindrical bodies are fixed, a first sprocket wheel in a first casing, means for rotatable mounting said first sprocket wheel in said first casing for rotation about an axis on said first casing, a second sprocket wheel in a second casing, means for rotatable mounting said second sprocket wheel in said second casing for rotation about an axis on said second casing, first and second flexible sheaths extending between said casings and having opposite ends thereof fixed respectively to said casings, said flexible element passing at least partly about each sprocket wheel and having respective lengths thereof extending through said flexible sheaths, for driving one of said sprocket wheels in response to rotation of the other of said sprocket wheels, said flexible sheaths comprising means for guiding said flexible element in different curved configurations thereof, so that said casings can be mounted at different orientations relative to each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A transmission unit comprising, in combination, an endless flexible element in the form of a flexible metal wire on which a plurality of small equidistant coaxial cylindrical bodies are fixed, a first sprocket wheel in a first casing, means for rotatable mounting said first sprocket wheel in said first casing for rotation about an axis on said first casing, a second sprocket wheel in a second casing, means for rotatable mounting said second sprocket wheel in said second casing for rotation about an axis on said second casing, first and second flexible sheaths extending between said casings and having opposite ends thereof fixed respectively to said casings, said flexible element passing at least partly about each sprocket wheel and having respective lengths thereof extending through said flexible sheaths, for driving one of said sprocket wheels in response to rotation of the other of said sprocket wheels, said flexible sheaths comprising means for guiding said flexible element in different curved configurations thereof, so that said casings can be mounted at different orientations relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A transmission unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said metal wire consists of a stranded cable (6), and said small bodies (8) are constructed of a rigid synthetic material directly thermoformed on said stranded cable (6).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that those portions of cable (6) lying between said cylindrical bodies are covered with a thin layer (9) of synthetic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the opposing ends of said small cylindrical bodies (8) are of spherical cap shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said two flexible sheaths consist of two tubes (10) of relatively rigid synthetic material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said two sectional casing (4), (5) each comprise two opposing metal half-shells which contain a central hole and are fixed together by clinching perimetral lugs (40), (50), each half-shell being provided with a coaxial recess (41), (51) for receiving the respective sprocket wheel (2), (3), from said recess (41), (51) there tangentially extending a pair of diametrically opposing semi-cylindrical ducts (42), (52) for clamping said tubes (10), the central hole of at least one half-shell of each casing (4), (5) being provided with an inner coaxial lip (44) to be slidingly received in a circumferential groove (22) in the corresponding sprocket wheel (2), (3).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US551811A
Cited
GB189407146A
Cited
US3991594A
Cited
US4158402A
Cited
US4214488A
Cited
US4302954A
Cited
US4471851A
Cited
US4609365A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-30 | 1992-02-29 | 1992-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-30 | 1996-02-29 | 1996-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-30 | 2000-02-29 | 2000-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |