Automatic tension regulating device for remote control wire

Claim 1

An automatic tension regulating device for placement between a control wire and a wire-operating means for operating said control wire, said automatic tension regulating device comprising: a first link means connected to an end of said control wire, said first link means extending in a wire-operating means direction, said first link means having an upper surface and a series of ratchet teeth on said upper surface; a second link means for providing linear movement of the first link means in the wire-operating means direction, a first end of said second link means being connected to said first link means, a second end of said second link means being connected to said wire-operating means; a locking means for sequentially releasably connecting--disconnecting--reconnecting said first and second link means with each other when said wire-operating means is moving adjacent a return point, said locking means comprising, a pin attached to said second link means, an escapement member rotatively supported by said pin, said escapement member extending along said upper surface of said first link means and being provided on said second link means, said escapement member having opposite ends and a claw at each end for alternately engaging with said ratchet teeth, said escapement member having an upward projecting pin, an engagement spring resiliently urging said escapement member to rotate in a first direction such that one of said two claws engages said ratchet teeth, and an arm member rotatably mounted on said pin and fixed to said upward projecting pin of said escapement member, wherein when said wire-operating means is operated, said second link means moves in the wire-operating means direction causing said arm member to rotate, said rotation of said arm member causes said escapement member to disengage from said ratchet teeth during the course of rotation, such that linear movement of said first and second link means is possible relative to each other causing said control wire to move in either of a wire-shortening direction and a wire-lengthening direction, movement in said wire-shorting direction causing said first link to move in a direction opposite the wire-operating means direction and movement in said wire-lengthening direction causing said first link means to move in the wire-operating means direction; and an adjusting spring for resiliently urging said first link means in a wire-operating means direction at least during a period when said locking means releases connection between said first and second link means.