Patent US4787369A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4787369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Force relieving, force limiting self-adjusting steering for borescope or endoscope
Assignee: Waygate Technologies USA LP
•
Filing: 1987-08-14
•
Granted: 1988-11-29
•
Expires: 2007-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A self-adjusting mechanism ensures that the collective force on the steering cables of an endoscope or borescope is limited or relieved when a predetermined force is reached. The mechanism includes a frame, a slider that moves on the frame and restrains the proximal ends of the steering cable sheaths, and springs that bias the slider distally. The springs can be preloaded by employing a stop member to limit the distal movement of the slider.
Inventors
- 👤 Jimmie B. Allred, III
- 👤 Allan I. Krauter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/005; A61B1/0051; A61B1/0055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Self-adjusting steering mechanism for endoscopes of the type having a flexible insertion tube, a distal steering section, at least one pair of steering cables that are enclosed in respective cable sheaths for controlling bending of said steering section, a control housing at a proximal end of the insertion tube, and means in said control housing for displacing said control cables relative to said sheaths; the mechanism comprising a frame fixed in said control housing; a movable member supported on said frame and disposed for motion generally proximally-distally, the movable member including passages for receiving the proximal ends of said cable sheaths, said cable sheaths each having stop means for limiting proximal motion of said cable sheaths relative to said movable member; and force-control spring means biasing said movable member distally on said track.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Self-adjusting steering mechanism for endoscopes of the type having a flexible insertion tube, a distal steering section, at least one pair of steering cables that are enclosed in respective cable sheaths for controlling bending of said steering section, a control housing at a proximal end of the insertion tube, and means in said control housing for displacing said control cables relative to said sheaths; the mechanism comprising a frame fixed in said control housing; a movable member supported on said frame and disposed for motion generally proximally-distally, the movable member including passages for receiving the proximal ends of said cable sheaths, said cable sheaths each having stop means for limiting proximal motion of said cable sheaths relative to said movable member; and force-control spring means biasing said movable member distally on said track.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The self-adjusting steering mechanism of claim 1 in which said movable member includes a slider and said from include an axially-disposed longitudinal track supporting the slider for axial motion therealong.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The self-adjusting steering mechanism of claim 2 in which said slider is freely slidable on said track and is restrained only by forces of said cable sheaths and said spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The self-adjusting steering mechanism of claim 2 in which said track includes a pair of longitudinal rods and said slider has longitudinal passages through which said rods pass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The self-adjusting steering mechanism of claim 4 in which said spring means include respective coil springs disposed over said rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The self-adjusting steering mechanism of claim 1, further comprising preloading means for imposing a preload force on said spring means, such that said movable member is held against proximal motion on said frame until the forces on said pair of cable sheaths exceed said preload force.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The self-adjusting steering mechanism of claim 6, wherein said preloading means includes a stop member on said frame limiting travel of the movable member in the distal direction to a predetermined position on said track, the predetermined position being selected so that said preload force is produced by the spring means at that position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US31290A
Cited
US31289A
Cited
US3060972A
Cited
US3190286A
Cited
US3557780A
Cited
US3610231A
Cited
US3583393A
Cited
US3669098A
Cited
US3739770A
Cited
US3799151A
Cited
US4108221A
Cited
USRE31289E
Cited
USRE31290E
Cited
US4347837A
Cited
US4700693A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-29 | 1992-05-30 | 1992-11-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-29 | 1996-05-30 | 1996-11-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-29 | 2000-05-30 | 2000-11-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |