CA1288028C - Device automatically to adjust the length of a bowden cable - Google Patents
Device automatically to adjust the length of a bowden cableInfo
- Publication number
- CA1288028C CA1288028C CA000584685A CA584685A CA1288028C CA 1288028 C CA1288028 C CA 1288028C CA 000584685 A CA000584685 A CA 000584685A CA 584685 A CA584685 A CA 584685A CA 1288028 C CA1288028 C CA 1288028C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sleeve
- spacer
- panes
- sheath
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C1/00—Flexible shafts; Mechanical means for transmitting movement in a flexible sheathing
- F16C1/10—Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms"
- F16C1/22—Adjusting; Compensating length
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C1/00—Flexible shafts; Mechanical means for transmitting movement in a flexible sheathing
- F16C1/10—Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms"
- F16C1/22—Adjusting; Compensating length
- F16C1/226—Adjusting; Compensating length by adjusting the effective length of the sheathing
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F16C1/00—Flexible shafts; Mechanical means for transmitting movement in a flexible sheathing
- F16C1/26—Construction of guiding-sheathings or guiding-tubes
- F16C1/262—End fittings; Attachment thereof to the sheathing or tube
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Flexible Shafts (AREA)
- Transmission Of Braking Force In Braking Systems (AREA)
- Investigating Or Analyzing Materials By The Use Of Ultrasonic Waves (AREA)
- Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
- Instruments For Viewing The Inside Of Hollow Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A novel device is provided hereto for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, such bowden cable being capable of transmitting substantial forces. The bowden-cable sheath terminates in a sleeve with a stepped outside diameter so that it can be inserted into a structure-fixed housing against the force of a compression spring. The housing contains a set of spacer panes which are spring-loaded and which rest on the large diameter of the sleeve and which, upon displacement of the sleeve out of the housing, sequentially drop onto the small sleeve diameter. The dropped panes extend the sheath each time by their thickness. Such spacer panes form the support, between the sleeve collar and the housing inside wall, for the force exerted on the bowden cable. In a special embodiment, the device is equipped with mechanical means accessible from the outside which, when actuated, will reset the already dropped spacer panes into their initial positions.
Another embodiment offers the possibility to reset the spacer panes into their initial positions by shaping the sleeve so asymmetrically that these spacer panes can be returned to their initial positions by a 90° rotation of the sleeve and by displacing this sleeve into the end fitting and rotating the sleeve back to its original position. This embodiment is closed on all sides and denies access to water, dirt, etc.
A novel device is provided hereto for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, such bowden cable being capable of transmitting substantial forces. The bowden-cable sheath terminates in a sleeve with a stepped outside diameter so that it can be inserted into a structure-fixed housing against the force of a compression spring. The housing contains a set of spacer panes which are spring-loaded and which rest on the large diameter of the sleeve and which, upon displacement of the sleeve out of the housing, sequentially drop onto the small sleeve diameter. The dropped panes extend the sheath each time by their thickness. Such spacer panes form the support, between the sleeve collar and the housing inside wall, for the force exerted on the bowden cable. In a special embodiment, the device is equipped with mechanical means accessible from the outside which, when actuated, will reset the already dropped spacer panes into their initial positions.
Another embodiment offers the possibility to reset the spacer panes into their initial positions by shaping the sleeve so asymmetrically that these spacer panes can be returned to their initial positions by a 90° rotation of the sleeve and by displacing this sleeve into the end fitting and rotating the sleeve back to its original position. This embodiment is closed on all sides and denies access to water, dirt, etc.
Description
fiO28 The inventioll relates to a device for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden-cable guiding a cable tensioned between an actuating element and a gearing component to be d~.^iven. In particular, it applies to the actuation cable for handbrakes of automobiles and similar vehicles.
Such devices already are known, for instance from German patents 20 14 129 and 21 39 278, The devices described in these and other documents automatically to adjust the length of bowden-cable sheaths all operate with gears meshing under spring pressure and which, upon an operationally-determined shortening of the bowden-cable sheath, extend it by other spring mounted between a stationary seat and the sheath, forcing this sheath further away from said seat, namely extending it, the meshing teeth slipping over each other.
However devices of this kind are unsuited for bowden-cables transmitting substantial forces. In order that satisfactory automatic adjustment be achieved with these known devices, the tooth-depth of the meshing teeth may not be excessive, just as the spring ensuring meshing must not be excessively strong, As a result, a bowden cable so equipped only can transmit minor forces, for instance the relatively small forces transmitted by a gas-pull in automobiles. Where larger forces are concerned, e.g.
as must be transmitted by the hand or emergency brake in auto-mobiles (on the average 200 kg), the comparatively fine toothing cannot withstand the pressure: the teeth become deformed~ are squeezed, etc. If~ on the other hand, the tooth-depth is made so large that the teeth withstand such high loads, then adjustment no longer is satisfactory.
A principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the initial kind which can be inserted also into bowden cables capable of transmitting substantial forces, e.g. bowden cables actuating the hand or emergency brake of automobiles.
By one broad aspect of this invention, a device is provided for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, where the sheath guides an inside cable tensioned between an actuation element and a gearing component to be driven, the device comprising: a fixed housing structure having an axial bore through which the end of the sheath passes; a compression spring mounted between the fixed housing structure and the sheath to stress the sheath toward expulsion from the axial bore; and a set of mutually parallel spacer panes resting on the sheath, the spacer panes being displaceable transversely to the sheath axis, thereby to drop sequentially in front of the end of the sheath when the end of the sheath, on account of an operationally-caused shortening of the sheath by lengthening of the cable, is expelled from the axial bore by the compression spring, the spacer panes resting on one hand against one end wall of the sheath and on the other hand against the housing or the structure.
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One spring component preferably is provided for each spacer pane, the spring component forcing each individual pane in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bowden cable. The sheath end is preferably formed by a sleeve which is reduced in its outer circumference at the end of the sheath, thereby forming a collar at the transition between the large and the small diameters, and so that the spacer panes at the end of the sheath rest against the collar. The set of spacer panes preferably rests in a housing, and additional mechanical means are preferably provided outside the housing, the additional mechanical means being adapted to be actuated to reset the the spacer panes into their initial positions. The individual spacer panes preferably comprise mutually aligned elongated slots, front and rear walls of the housing each also containing a corres-pondingly aligned elongated slot, and the mechanical means preferably comprising a pin passing through the elongated slots in the front and rear housing walls, the pins being adapted to be seized from the outside at the front and the rear walls in such a manner that all dropped spacer panes are resettable into their initial positions by lifting the pin.
By another aspect of this invention, the device is provided for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, where the sheath guides an inside cable tensioned between an actuation element and a gearing component to be driven, the device comprising; (a) the front half of the sleeve having a ~ 2~3~028 circular cross-section whereas the rear half of the sleeve having a cross-section with an outwardly projecting edge; (b) the sleeve being rotatable by 90 about the longitudinal axis between an operational position and a reset position; (c) each spacer pane being provided with a recess which forms a passage for all dropped spacer panes through which the sleeve, with its outwardly projecting edges, when in the reset position can be returned against the force of the compression spring into its initial position; (d) a sealing cover being placed on the housing at the side facing the bowden-cable sheath, the sealing cover comprising a passage with a contour matching the cross-section of the rear half of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is displaceable within the passage, the sealing cover being rotatable between two end positions by those 90 corresponding to the angular rotation of the sleeve between its operational and reset positions; and ~e) upon the sleeve being returned into its initial position, the outwardly projecting edge being adapted to act as a lifting mechanism when resetting the sleeve into its operational position to reset all spacer panes into their initial positions.
In such aspect, the spacer panes preferably are designed to be pairs of spacer panes, and each pair of spacer panes is mounted symmetrically to both sides of the sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the sleeve. Each pair of spacer panes preferably is enclosed by an elastic ring pressing both the spacer panes inwardly against the sleeve. The housing preferably ~l2~380~8 comprises a recess in its wall, the recess being adapted to be entered by the sleeve when in its operational position by its collar until the sleeve slips out of the passage of the sealing cover whereby the sealing cover can be rotated relative to the sleeve and whereby the sleeve will be secured in its inserted position.
The essential component of the device of broad aspects of this invention is a set of parallel spacer panes displaceable transversely to the axis of the sheath on which they rest and which, upon an operational shortening of the sheath, or lengthening of the cable, sequentially drop in front of the sheath end.
The initial installation of a bowden cable cantaining such a device always takes place by associating the sheath end with the spacers, the sheath being inserted a maximum into the housing of the device and therefore all the spacers are seated on the sheath circumference. Only following the first actuation of the bowden cable and upon subsequent further actuation will the spacers sequentially drop in front of the sheath end.
There is a practical difficulty in using such a bowden cable, for instance in automobiles, if the bowden cable has to be removed during its service life. This may take place, for instance, in a service station. If the ends of the cable are detached from the actuating element and from the gearing component to be driven, the compression spring will force the sheath end out of the housing, with all the spacers then dropping . ... .
~2~8028 in front of the sheath end. Upon reinstallation, therefore, first all the spacers in front of the sheath end must be forced away, i.e., they must be forced back into their initial positions. Accordingly means must be provided allowing the mechanic to force back the spacer disks so that the bowden cable can be reinstalled in its initial state (i.e. the sheath inserted a maximum into the housing). These means are provided as described above in preferred features of this invention.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic of a first embodiment of a device of the invention with a section of the bowden cable;
Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 at the level II-II;
Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 at the level III-III;
Figure 4 is a schematic of a device of the type shown in Figure 1 but of a second embodiment of this invention and equipped with means for resetting the spacer disks;
Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 at the level V-V;
Figure 6 is a section of Figure 4 at the level VI-VI;
Figure 7 is a schematic of a third embodiment of the device of this invention and also provided with resetting spacer disks, shown in longitudinal section;
Figures 8 and 9 are elevations of the housing of Figure 7, seen from two directions relative to each other by 90;
Figure 10 is a section of Figure 8 at the level X-X;
Figure 11 is an elevation of Figure 8 seen in the direction A;
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of the sleeve of the sheath end of the third embodiment;
Figure 13 is a section of Figure 12 at the level XIII-XIII;
Figure 14 is a section of Figure 12 at the level XIV-XIV;
Figure 15 is a section of Figure 7 at the level XV-XV;
Figure 16 is a section of Figure 7 at the level XVI-XVI;
Figure 17 is a section similar to Figure 16, with the sleeve rotated by 90;
Figure 18 is the sealing cover in front view;;
Figure 19 is a top view of Figure 7 in the direction B and partly in section;
Figure 20 is an elevation of the device of Figure 7 in its displaced end position;
Figure 21 is a view of the device of Figure 7 in its reset position; and Figure 22 is a view like that of Figure 21 but the sleeve has been set back further.
In Figures 1 - 6, the cable of the bowden cable is denoted by 1 and is guided in a sheath 2 which consists, in known manner, of a helically wound wire that, as a rule, is covered inside and out with a layer of synthetic plastic material. The sheath is plugged into a sleeve 3 which thereby forms the sheath end. The outside diameter of the sleeve 3 is stepped and the sleeve therefore evinces a collar 3a.
h~38~)28 The sleeve 3 is inserted into the axial bore of a housing 4 and is displaceable longitudinally inside this bore. A
compression spring 5 stresses the sleeve 3 together with the sheath 2 as shown in Figure 1 to the right and toward the outside of the housing 4. The housing 4 is kept in place against a wall 9 by means of a securing ring 10.
The housing 4 contains a number of mutually parallel spacer panes 6 of which the outer contour is shown in Figures 2 and 3.
These spacer panes 6 are all the same thickness and, for instance, are 2 mm thick. Some of such spacer panes are seated on the larger diameter of the sleeve 3, and some of such spacer panes have dropped on the smaller diameter of the sleeve 3. Each pane 6 is stressed by a compression spring 7 enclosing a pin 8 in the housing.
The operation of such device is as follows: In the initial phase, for instance, when installing the bowden cable 1, the sheath end, i.e., the sleeve 3, has been displaced all the way to the left (Figure 1), whereby all the spacer panes 6 are seated on the large diameter of the sleeve 3. After the ends of the cable 1 have been fastened to the actuation element and the gearing component to be driven (omitted), the sheath 2 is released, so that the compression spring 5 now can press the sheath 2 to assume its proper length. Already the first (left) spacer panes 6 have thereby dropped on the small diameter of the sleeve 3.
.. . .
g If now, during operation, the sheath 2 becomes shorter (or if the cable 1 becomes longer, which is equivalent), then the sheatll 2 must be extended. This is preformed by the compression spring 5 which forces the sleeve 3 out of the housing 4. In the process, the spacer panes 6 sequentially drop onto the small diameter of the sleeve 3 and as a whose form the support for the force exerted on the cable 1. The dropped panes 6 are clamped between the collar 3a and the wall 4a of the housing 4. With a support chosen so large, it is manifest that the cable 1 can transmit substantially larger forces than with similar devices of the state of the art.
Accordingly the device of broad aspects of this invention is especially well suited as a length-ad~usting means for the handbrake of an automobile. If such a device were absent, the handbrake-cable to lock the car would have to be pulled out in the new condition of this vehicle, for instance 5 cm. If then, after several thousand actuations, the sheath has correspondingly settled and possibly, in addition, the cable has stretched somewhat, then the brake always would have to be pulled ever more in order to achieve again the initial locking, finally as much as 10 or 15 cm, until locking could not be achieved anymore at all and the sheath length would have to be re-adjusted in the shop using the known threaded end-fittings.
This is avoided by the device of aspects of this invention whereby the length pulled out of the handbrake is practically -- 1 o kept constant because whenever the sheath is shortened by one pane-thickness, the next spacer pane 6 will drop onto the sleeve 3 when the brake is released and thus correspondingly will shorten length the sheath.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a further development of the device of another aspect of this invention wherein the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment both the spacer panes 6 and the walls 4b and 4c of the housing 4 are provided with mutually aligned elongated slots 6a, 4b' and 4c'.
A pin 11 passes through these elongated slots and can be seized by means of knobs lla outside the walls 4b and 4c. This pin 11 is used to reset the already dropped spacer panes into their initial positions.
In Figure 4, some of the spacer panes 6 already have dropped and thereby the pin 11 was forced into the lower position shown.
If, starting from the shown position, the sleeve 3 is to be displaced, for instance, by another adjustment of the bowden cable 1, and again as shown in Figure 4, against the force of the spring 5, farther to the left, then this shall be possible only when the already dropped spacer panes 6 are raised again and thereby are reset into their initial positions. This can be implemented by seizing the two knobs lla, for instance by means of the index finger and the thumb, and by raising the pin 11 in the direction of the arrow A, as obvious without further graphic representation.
Figures 7 - 22 show another embodiment of the device of another aspect of this invention. This embodiment too allows resetting the spacer panes into their initial positions after they have dropped in part or in whole. However, contrary to the embodiment of Figures 4, 5 and 6, this embodiment comprises a housing closed on all sides. Thereby the elongated slots 4b' and 4c' are eliminated, which during operation might admit water and dirt into the device.
In these Figures the cable is denoted by 101 and is ten-sioned between an omitted actuation element and a gearing com-ponent which also is omitted. The cable lOl is guided inside a sheath 102 which consists of a helix wound in known manner as a continuous structure. The sheath ends in a sleeve 103 and is rigidly joined to this sleeve at 103a.
The sleeve 103 is plugged into a housing 1-4 which in turn is kept fixed in a wall 109. A spring 106 is inserted between the housing 104 and the sleeve 103 and stresses the sleeve 103 towards the housing 104.
The sleeve 103 assumes the shape shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, especially in the left side of Figure 12, the round outer contour shown in Figure 13, whereas in the right side it assumes the outer shape shown in Figure 14. These two cross-sectional shapes abut at 103a where they form a collar. The two parts differ from each other in that the right part has an approxi-mately rectangular cross-section, that is, in one direction its outer dimension `'a" is larger and in the other direction the outer dimension "b" is smaller (Figure 14). In the left part, the cross-section is circular with diameter "c".
A set of spacer panes 106a, 106b is mounted inside the housing 104 in the manner shown in Figure 7 and they have the shapes shown in Figures 15 - 17. Each pair of such spacer panes is enclosed by an elastic ring 107 pressing both spacer panes inward on the sleeve 103.
On the right side of Figure 7, the housing 104 is sealed by a sealing cover 111 which, by means of a bead 110a, enters a groove 104b of the housing 104 and which can be rotated inside this groove by 90 to-and-fro. The end positions of this rota-tion by 90 are set by (omitted) stops.
Figure 18 shows an elevation of this sealing cover. The cover at its center comprises a passage 110 in the shape of the cross-section of the sleeve 103 of Figure 14. The sleeve 103 passes through this passage (Figure 7).
The housing 104 moreover comprises a recess 112 matching the cross-section of the sleeve 103 of Figure 14, this recess being present in the somewhat thicker wall 104a of which the purpose will be discussed below.
The individual components described above cooperate as follows: The initial position is that wherein the sleeve 103 is inserted a maximum distance into the housing 104. In this position, which is not shown, the collar 103a of the sleeve 103 ~2~028 rests against the wall 104a of the housing and all the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b rest on the thicker end ~outside diameter "a") of the sleeve. Illustratively this is shown in Figure 16 and also in the lower part of Figure 15.
If now the sheath 102 is shortened in operation, for instance by a "settling" of the spiral turns, or if the cable 101 becomes longer (this being equivalent as play is introduced into the bowden cable connection), the spring 106 will press the sleeve 103 out of the housing 104. In such process, the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b sequentially drop off the collar 103a and thereby the play is compensated.
The sleeve 103 is already guided straight by the resting pressure of the panes 106a, 106b on it and further by the passage 110 in the sealing cover 111 through which the sleeve is made to pass when being displaced to the right in the representation of Figure 7. This embodiment of the present invention however adds a further rectilinear guidance. Such guidance consists of an elastic, projecting stud 103b cut out of the sleeve 103 and guided in the groove 104c of the housing 104 (Figures 8 and 9).
The sleeve 103 can be displaced to the right in Figure 7 until the stud 103b comes to rest against the first spacer pane.
The dimensions are selected in such a way that this position is simultaneously that in which the last (right-hand) pair of spacer panes drops in front of the collar 103a.
The position is not only the case when the sheath 102 has settled by the corresponding length or when the cable 101 has lengthened by the corresponding amount, but also in the case whenever the bowden cable is removed, for instance in the course of repairs or the like. Whenever the sheath or the housing no longer is held between two fixed points (walls), the spring 105 may relax entirely, whereby the sleeve 103 is fully forced out of the housing 104 and arrives at the end position shown in Figure 20.
In order to reset the device into its initial position, the sleeve 103 must be forced back into the housing 104 against the force of the spring 105. However this requires further steps because the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b are already present in front of the collar 103a blocking the way.
However as regards the embodiment of Figures 7 - 22, the sealing cover 111 can be seized at its outer periphery and be rotated 90. Simultaneously the sleeve 103 is also rotated because it is no longer in the sealing-cap passage 110. Relative to the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b, the sleeve thereby arrives in a position shown cross-sectionally in Figure 17, At the same time, the stud 103b is forced back by cam 104a' (Figure 11) fashioned from the wall 104a onto the circumference "b" which simultaneously is the cross-sectional diameter shown in Figure 13.
Now when in this position, the sleeve 103 can be moved through the pairs of spacer panes (to the left), for instance by .
~ ~3~028 gripping the sheath 102 outside the rubber accordion 113 and by pressing the sheath and the sleeve against the force of the spring 105 until the collar 103a comes to rest against the wall 104a.
tn that position, the sleeve 103 as shown in the right-hand side of Figure 21 still engages by the thickness of one spacer pane ~2 mm) the passage 110 of the sealing cover 111. If now the sealing cover 11 is rotated back those 90 by which it previously was rotated in the other direction, the ends 103c, 103d ~Figure 14) will force apart the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b against the force of the elastic rings 107, whereby the device is reset into its initial position.
However the device must also be kept in that position when the sheath 102 and the housing 104 are not yet installed between two walls or in fixed manner, that is, when the bowden cable 101 is free. This means that the sleeve 103 must be secured against the force of the spring 105 in its initial position relative to the housing 104.
The recess 112 in the wall 104a already mentioned above, is provided for that purpose. As stated, it assumes the shape of the cross-section of the sleeve 103 of Figure 14. This shape illustratively is so oriented in Figure 7 that the dimension "a"
of Figure 14 is vertical. However as the sleeve 103 is trans-verse following the rotation by 90, the sleeve, as stated above, can be guided back only until the collar 103a comes to rest *2~38028 against the wall 104a. The right-hand end of the sleeve 103 also as already mentioned, still remains in the passage 110 of the sealing cover 111 (Figure 21).
If now however the sealing cover 111 is rotated back by 90 to force apart the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b, then the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 103 will "match" that of the recess 112. Thereby the sleeve 103 can be inserted further into the housing 104 by the depth of the recess 112. As a result, the right end of the sleeve 103 shown in Figure 21 slips out of the sealing cover 111. The sealing cover 111 therefore is released and can be rotated through an arbitrary angle up to 90 into the transverse position of the passage 110. In this position, the shape of the passage 110 no longer "matches" the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 103. Therefore the sheath may be released.
The spring 105 cannot expel the sleeve which i6 now held by the sealing cover (Figure 22).
This state of the device is its delivery state in which the bowden cable 101 is furnished to a factory, a shop or the like.
The sleeve 103 is fully pressed into the housing 104 and is held there by the cover 111. At installation, first the housing 104 is fixed into the wall 109 and the other sheath end to another ~omitted) wall. Then the two ends of the bowden cable 101 are fastened to the actuation element and to the gearing component to be driven, and lastly the sealing cover 111 is rotated back into that position wherein the passage 110 and the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 103 are mutually flush.
~ 2~3~s028 Thereupon the spring 105 can relax and can force the sleeve 103 out of the housing 104 until the entire length of the sheath matches the length of the cable lOl. Provision is made that the first, second or possibly also the third pair of spacer panes 106a, 106b, etc., have already dropped in front of the collar 103a. Further dropping of the spacer panes 106a, 106b, etc., then takes place automatically to adjust the length of the sheath 102, as described above.
The housing 104 is enclosed by cladding 114 most clearly shown in Figures 15-17 and 19-22. The entire housing 104 is covered by this cladding, whereby the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b are made safe against any water spray, dirt and the like.
Lastly be it noted that the sleeve 103 is provided at its right side (Figure 12) and in cross-section (Figure 14) with triangular projections 116, 117 at its diametrically opposite corners, These projections are inoperative as regards the resetting of the pairs of spacer panes and the sleeve 103. They are merely present to enlarge the surface of the collar 103a and thereby to reduce the pressure applied to the spacer panes 106a, 106b. In particular these corners do not take part in resetting the spacer panes 106a, 106b into their initial positions. As described, this rèset operation is implemented by the corners 103c, 103d alone.
Such devices already are known, for instance from German patents 20 14 129 and 21 39 278, The devices described in these and other documents automatically to adjust the length of bowden-cable sheaths all operate with gears meshing under spring pressure and which, upon an operationally-determined shortening of the bowden-cable sheath, extend it by other spring mounted between a stationary seat and the sheath, forcing this sheath further away from said seat, namely extending it, the meshing teeth slipping over each other.
However devices of this kind are unsuited for bowden-cables transmitting substantial forces. In order that satisfactory automatic adjustment be achieved with these known devices, the tooth-depth of the meshing teeth may not be excessive, just as the spring ensuring meshing must not be excessively strong, As a result, a bowden cable so equipped only can transmit minor forces, for instance the relatively small forces transmitted by a gas-pull in automobiles. Where larger forces are concerned, e.g.
as must be transmitted by the hand or emergency brake in auto-mobiles (on the average 200 kg), the comparatively fine toothing cannot withstand the pressure: the teeth become deformed~ are squeezed, etc. If~ on the other hand, the tooth-depth is made so large that the teeth withstand such high loads, then adjustment no longer is satisfactory.
A principal object of the invention is to provide a device of the initial kind which can be inserted also into bowden cables capable of transmitting substantial forces, e.g. bowden cables actuating the hand or emergency brake of automobiles.
By one broad aspect of this invention, a device is provided for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, where the sheath guides an inside cable tensioned between an actuation element and a gearing component to be driven, the device comprising: a fixed housing structure having an axial bore through which the end of the sheath passes; a compression spring mounted between the fixed housing structure and the sheath to stress the sheath toward expulsion from the axial bore; and a set of mutually parallel spacer panes resting on the sheath, the spacer panes being displaceable transversely to the sheath axis, thereby to drop sequentially in front of the end of the sheath when the end of the sheath, on account of an operationally-caused shortening of the sheath by lengthening of the cable, is expelled from the axial bore by the compression spring, the spacer panes resting on one hand against one end wall of the sheath and on the other hand against the housing or the structure.
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One spring component preferably is provided for each spacer pane, the spring component forcing each individual pane in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bowden cable. The sheath end is preferably formed by a sleeve which is reduced in its outer circumference at the end of the sheath, thereby forming a collar at the transition between the large and the small diameters, and so that the spacer panes at the end of the sheath rest against the collar. The set of spacer panes preferably rests in a housing, and additional mechanical means are preferably provided outside the housing, the additional mechanical means being adapted to be actuated to reset the the spacer panes into their initial positions. The individual spacer panes preferably comprise mutually aligned elongated slots, front and rear walls of the housing each also containing a corres-pondingly aligned elongated slot, and the mechanical means preferably comprising a pin passing through the elongated slots in the front and rear housing walls, the pins being adapted to be seized from the outside at the front and the rear walls in such a manner that all dropped spacer panes are resettable into their initial positions by lifting the pin.
By another aspect of this invention, the device is provided for automatically adjusting the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, where the sheath guides an inside cable tensioned between an actuation element and a gearing component to be driven, the device comprising; (a) the front half of the sleeve having a ~ 2~3~028 circular cross-section whereas the rear half of the sleeve having a cross-section with an outwardly projecting edge; (b) the sleeve being rotatable by 90 about the longitudinal axis between an operational position and a reset position; (c) each spacer pane being provided with a recess which forms a passage for all dropped spacer panes through which the sleeve, with its outwardly projecting edges, when in the reset position can be returned against the force of the compression spring into its initial position; (d) a sealing cover being placed on the housing at the side facing the bowden-cable sheath, the sealing cover comprising a passage with a contour matching the cross-section of the rear half of the sleeve, whereby the sleeve is displaceable within the passage, the sealing cover being rotatable between two end positions by those 90 corresponding to the angular rotation of the sleeve between its operational and reset positions; and ~e) upon the sleeve being returned into its initial position, the outwardly projecting edge being adapted to act as a lifting mechanism when resetting the sleeve into its operational position to reset all spacer panes into their initial positions.
In such aspect, the spacer panes preferably are designed to be pairs of spacer panes, and each pair of spacer panes is mounted symmetrically to both sides of the sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the sleeve. Each pair of spacer panes preferably is enclosed by an elastic ring pressing both the spacer panes inwardly against the sleeve. The housing preferably ~l2~380~8 comprises a recess in its wall, the recess being adapted to be entered by the sleeve when in its operational position by its collar until the sleeve slips out of the passage of the sealing cover whereby the sealing cover can be rotated relative to the sleeve and whereby the sleeve will be secured in its inserted position.
The essential component of the device of broad aspects of this invention is a set of parallel spacer panes displaceable transversely to the axis of the sheath on which they rest and which, upon an operational shortening of the sheath, or lengthening of the cable, sequentially drop in front of the sheath end.
The initial installation of a bowden cable cantaining such a device always takes place by associating the sheath end with the spacers, the sheath being inserted a maximum into the housing of the device and therefore all the spacers are seated on the sheath circumference. Only following the first actuation of the bowden cable and upon subsequent further actuation will the spacers sequentially drop in front of the sheath end.
There is a practical difficulty in using such a bowden cable, for instance in automobiles, if the bowden cable has to be removed during its service life. This may take place, for instance, in a service station. If the ends of the cable are detached from the actuating element and from the gearing component to be driven, the compression spring will force the sheath end out of the housing, with all the spacers then dropping . ... .
~2~8028 in front of the sheath end. Upon reinstallation, therefore, first all the spacers in front of the sheath end must be forced away, i.e., they must be forced back into their initial positions. Accordingly means must be provided allowing the mechanic to force back the spacer disks so that the bowden cable can be reinstalled in its initial state (i.e. the sheath inserted a maximum into the housing). These means are provided as described above in preferred features of this invention.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic of a first embodiment of a device of the invention with a section of the bowden cable;
Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 at the level II-II;
Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 at the level III-III;
Figure 4 is a schematic of a device of the type shown in Figure 1 but of a second embodiment of this invention and equipped with means for resetting the spacer disks;
Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 at the level V-V;
Figure 6 is a section of Figure 4 at the level VI-VI;
Figure 7 is a schematic of a third embodiment of the device of this invention and also provided with resetting spacer disks, shown in longitudinal section;
Figures 8 and 9 are elevations of the housing of Figure 7, seen from two directions relative to each other by 90;
Figure 10 is a section of Figure 8 at the level X-X;
Figure 11 is an elevation of Figure 8 seen in the direction A;
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of the sleeve of the sheath end of the third embodiment;
Figure 13 is a section of Figure 12 at the level XIII-XIII;
Figure 14 is a section of Figure 12 at the level XIV-XIV;
Figure 15 is a section of Figure 7 at the level XV-XV;
Figure 16 is a section of Figure 7 at the level XVI-XVI;
Figure 17 is a section similar to Figure 16, with the sleeve rotated by 90;
Figure 18 is the sealing cover in front view;;
Figure 19 is a top view of Figure 7 in the direction B and partly in section;
Figure 20 is an elevation of the device of Figure 7 in its displaced end position;
Figure 21 is a view of the device of Figure 7 in its reset position; and Figure 22 is a view like that of Figure 21 but the sleeve has been set back further.
In Figures 1 - 6, the cable of the bowden cable is denoted by 1 and is guided in a sheath 2 which consists, in known manner, of a helically wound wire that, as a rule, is covered inside and out with a layer of synthetic plastic material. The sheath is plugged into a sleeve 3 which thereby forms the sheath end. The outside diameter of the sleeve 3 is stepped and the sleeve therefore evinces a collar 3a.
h~38~)28 The sleeve 3 is inserted into the axial bore of a housing 4 and is displaceable longitudinally inside this bore. A
compression spring 5 stresses the sleeve 3 together with the sheath 2 as shown in Figure 1 to the right and toward the outside of the housing 4. The housing 4 is kept in place against a wall 9 by means of a securing ring 10.
The housing 4 contains a number of mutually parallel spacer panes 6 of which the outer contour is shown in Figures 2 and 3.
These spacer panes 6 are all the same thickness and, for instance, are 2 mm thick. Some of such spacer panes are seated on the larger diameter of the sleeve 3, and some of such spacer panes have dropped on the smaller diameter of the sleeve 3. Each pane 6 is stressed by a compression spring 7 enclosing a pin 8 in the housing.
The operation of such device is as follows: In the initial phase, for instance, when installing the bowden cable 1, the sheath end, i.e., the sleeve 3, has been displaced all the way to the left (Figure 1), whereby all the spacer panes 6 are seated on the large diameter of the sleeve 3. After the ends of the cable 1 have been fastened to the actuation element and the gearing component to be driven (omitted), the sheath 2 is released, so that the compression spring 5 now can press the sheath 2 to assume its proper length. Already the first (left) spacer panes 6 have thereby dropped on the small diameter of the sleeve 3.
.. . .
g If now, during operation, the sheath 2 becomes shorter (or if the cable 1 becomes longer, which is equivalent), then the sheatll 2 must be extended. This is preformed by the compression spring 5 which forces the sleeve 3 out of the housing 4. In the process, the spacer panes 6 sequentially drop onto the small diameter of the sleeve 3 and as a whose form the support for the force exerted on the cable 1. The dropped panes 6 are clamped between the collar 3a and the wall 4a of the housing 4. With a support chosen so large, it is manifest that the cable 1 can transmit substantially larger forces than with similar devices of the state of the art.
Accordingly the device of broad aspects of this invention is especially well suited as a length-ad~usting means for the handbrake of an automobile. If such a device were absent, the handbrake-cable to lock the car would have to be pulled out in the new condition of this vehicle, for instance 5 cm. If then, after several thousand actuations, the sheath has correspondingly settled and possibly, in addition, the cable has stretched somewhat, then the brake always would have to be pulled ever more in order to achieve again the initial locking, finally as much as 10 or 15 cm, until locking could not be achieved anymore at all and the sheath length would have to be re-adjusted in the shop using the known threaded end-fittings.
This is avoided by the device of aspects of this invention whereby the length pulled out of the handbrake is practically -- 1 o kept constant because whenever the sheath is shortened by one pane-thickness, the next spacer pane 6 will drop onto the sleeve 3 when the brake is released and thus correspondingly will shorten length the sheath.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show a further development of the device of another aspect of this invention wherein the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment both the spacer panes 6 and the walls 4b and 4c of the housing 4 are provided with mutually aligned elongated slots 6a, 4b' and 4c'.
A pin 11 passes through these elongated slots and can be seized by means of knobs lla outside the walls 4b and 4c. This pin 11 is used to reset the already dropped spacer panes into their initial positions.
In Figure 4, some of the spacer panes 6 already have dropped and thereby the pin 11 was forced into the lower position shown.
If, starting from the shown position, the sleeve 3 is to be displaced, for instance, by another adjustment of the bowden cable 1, and again as shown in Figure 4, against the force of the spring 5, farther to the left, then this shall be possible only when the already dropped spacer panes 6 are raised again and thereby are reset into their initial positions. This can be implemented by seizing the two knobs lla, for instance by means of the index finger and the thumb, and by raising the pin 11 in the direction of the arrow A, as obvious without further graphic representation.
Figures 7 - 22 show another embodiment of the device of another aspect of this invention. This embodiment too allows resetting the spacer panes into their initial positions after they have dropped in part or in whole. However, contrary to the embodiment of Figures 4, 5 and 6, this embodiment comprises a housing closed on all sides. Thereby the elongated slots 4b' and 4c' are eliminated, which during operation might admit water and dirt into the device.
In these Figures the cable is denoted by 101 and is ten-sioned between an omitted actuation element and a gearing com-ponent which also is omitted. The cable lOl is guided inside a sheath 102 which consists of a helix wound in known manner as a continuous structure. The sheath ends in a sleeve 103 and is rigidly joined to this sleeve at 103a.
The sleeve 103 is plugged into a housing 1-4 which in turn is kept fixed in a wall 109. A spring 106 is inserted between the housing 104 and the sleeve 103 and stresses the sleeve 103 towards the housing 104.
The sleeve 103 assumes the shape shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, especially in the left side of Figure 12, the round outer contour shown in Figure 13, whereas in the right side it assumes the outer shape shown in Figure 14. These two cross-sectional shapes abut at 103a where they form a collar. The two parts differ from each other in that the right part has an approxi-mately rectangular cross-section, that is, in one direction its outer dimension `'a" is larger and in the other direction the outer dimension "b" is smaller (Figure 14). In the left part, the cross-section is circular with diameter "c".
A set of spacer panes 106a, 106b is mounted inside the housing 104 in the manner shown in Figure 7 and they have the shapes shown in Figures 15 - 17. Each pair of such spacer panes is enclosed by an elastic ring 107 pressing both spacer panes inward on the sleeve 103.
On the right side of Figure 7, the housing 104 is sealed by a sealing cover 111 which, by means of a bead 110a, enters a groove 104b of the housing 104 and which can be rotated inside this groove by 90 to-and-fro. The end positions of this rota-tion by 90 are set by (omitted) stops.
Figure 18 shows an elevation of this sealing cover. The cover at its center comprises a passage 110 in the shape of the cross-section of the sleeve 103 of Figure 14. The sleeve 103 passes through this passage (Figure 7).
The housing 104 moreover comprises a recess 112 matching the cross-section of the sleeve 103 of Figure 14, this recess being present in the somewhat thicker wall 104a of which the purpose will be discussed below.
The individual components described above cooperate as follows: The initial position is that wherein the sleeve 103 is inserted a maximum distance into the housing 104. In this position, which is not shown, the collar 103a of the sleeve 103 ~2~028 rests against the wall 104a of the housing and all the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b rest on the thicker end ~outside diameter "a") of the sleeve. Illustratively this is shown in Figure 16 and also in the lower part of Figure 15.
If now the sheath 102 is shortened in operation, for instance by a "settling" of the spiral turns, or if the cable 101 becomes longer (this being equivalent as play is introduced into the bowden cable connection), the spring 106 will press the sleeve 103 out of the housing 104. In such process, the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b sequentially drop off the collar 103a and thereby the play is compensated.
The sleeve 103 is already guided straight by the resting pressure of the panes 106a, 106b on it and further by the passage 110 in the sealing cover 111 through which the sleeve is made to pass when being displaced to the right in the representation of Figure 7. This embodiment of the present invention however adds a further rectilinear guidance. Such guidance consists of an elastic, projecting stud 103b cut out of the sleeve 103 and guided in the groove 104c of the housing 104 (Figures 8 and 9).
The sleeve 103 can be displaced to the right in Figure 7 until the stud 103b comes to rest against the first spacer pane.
The dimensions are selected in such a way that this position is simultaneously that in which the last (right-hand) pair of spacer panes drops in front of the collar 103a.
The position is not only the case when the sheath 102 has settled by the corresponding length or when the cable 101 has lengthened by the corresponding amount, but also in the case whenever the bowden cable is removed, for instance in the course of repairs or the like. Whenever the sheath or the housing no longer is held between two fixed points (walls), the spring 105 may relax entirely, whereby the sleeve 103 is fully forced out of the housing 104 and arrives at the end position shown in Figure 20.
In order to reset the device into its initial position, the sleeve 103 must be forced back into the housing 104 against the force of the spring 105. However this requires further steps because the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b are already present in front of the collar 103a blocking the way.
However as regards the embodiment of Figures 7 - 22, the sealing cover 111 can be seized at its outer periphery and be rotated 90. Simultaneously the sleeve 103 is also rotated because it is no longer in the sealing-cap passage 110. Relative to the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b, the sleeve thereby arrives in a position shown cross-sectionally in Figure 17, At the same time, the stud 103b is forced back by cam 104a' (Figure 11) fashioned from the wall 104a onto the circumference "b" which simultaneously is the cross-sectional diameter shown in Figure 13.
Now when in this position, the sleeve 103 can be moved through the pairs of spacer panes (to the left), for instance by .
~ ~3~028 gripping the sheath 102 outside the rubber accordion 113 and by pressing the sheath and the sleeve against the force of the spring 105 until the collar 103a comes to rest against the wall 104a.
tn that position, the sleeve 103 as shown in the right-hand side of Figure 21 still engages by the thickness of one spacer pane ~2 mm) the passage 110 of the sealing cover 111. If now the sealing cover 11 is rotated back those 90 by which it previously was rotated in the other direction, the ends 103c, 103d ~Figure 14) will force apart the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b against the force of the elastic rings 107, whereby the device is reset into its initial position.
However the device must also be kept in that position when the sheath 102 and the housing 104 are not yet installed between two walls or in fixed manner, that is, when the bowden cable 101 is free. This means that the sleeve 103 must be secured against the force of the spring 105 in its initial position relative to the housing 104.
The recess 112 in the wall 104a already mentioned above, is provided for that purpose. As stated, it assumes the shape of the cross-section of the sleeve 103 of Figure 14. This shape illustratively is so oriented in Figure 7 that the dimension "a"
of Figure 14 is vertical. However as the sleeve 103 is trans-verse following the rotation by 90, the sleeve, as stated above, can be guided back only until the collar 103a comes to rest *2~38028 against the wall 104a. The right-hand end of the sleeve 103 also as already mentioned, still remains in the passage 110 of the sealing cover 111 (Figure 21).
If now however the sealing cover 111 is rotated back by 90 to force apart the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b, then the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 103 will "match" that of the recess 112. Thereby the sleeve 103 can be inserted further into the housing 104 by the depth of the recess 112. As a result, the right end of the sleeve 103 shown in Figure 21 slips out of the sealing cover 111. The sealing cover 111 therefore is released and can be rotated through an arbitrary angle up to 90 into the transverse position of the passage 110. In this position, the shape of the passage 110 no longer "matches" the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 103. Therefore the sheath may be released.
The spring 105 cannot expel the sleeve which i6 now held by the sealing cover (Figure 22).
This state of the device is its delivery state in which the bowden cable 101 is furnished to a factory, a shop or the like.
The sleeve 103 is fully pressed into the housing 104 and is held there by the cover 111. At installation, first the housing 104 is fixed into the wall 109 and the other sheath end to another ~omitted) wall. Then the two ends of the bowden cable 101 are fastened to the actuation element and to the gearing component to be driven, and lastly the sealing cover 111 is rotated back into that position wherein the passage 110 and the cross-sectional shape of the sleeve 103 are mutually flush.
~ 2~3~s028 Thereupon the spring 105 can relax and can force the sleeve 103 out of the housing 104 until the entire length of the sheath matches the length of the cable lOl. Provision is made that the first, second or possibly also the third pair of spacer panes 106a, 106b, etc., have already dropped in front of the collar 103a. Further dropping of the spacer panes 106a, 106b, etc., then takes place automatically to adjust the length of the sheath 102, as described above.
The housing 104 is enclosed by cladding 114 most clearly shown in Figures 15-17 and 19-22. The entire housing 104 is covered by this cladding, whereby the pairs of spacer panes 106a, 106b are made safe against any water spray, dirt and the like.
Lastly be it noted that the sleeve 103 is provided at its right side (Figure 12) and in cross-section (Figure 14) with triangular projections 116, 117 at its diametrically opposite corners, These projections are inoperative as regards the resetting of the pairs of spacer panes and the sleeve 103. They are merely present to enlarge the surface of the collar 103a and thereby to reduce the pressure applied to the spacer panes 106a, 106b. In particular these corners do not take part in resetting the spacer panes 106a, 106b into their initial positions. As described, this rèset operation is implemented by the corners 103c, 103d alone.
Claims (9)
1. A device automatically to adjust the length of the sheath of a bowden cable, where said sheath guides an inside cable tensioned between an actuation element and a gearing component to be driven, said device comprising: a fixed housing structure having an axial bore through which the end of said sheath passes; a compression spring mounted between said fixed housing structure and said sheath to stress said sheath toward expulsion from the axial bore; and a set of mutually parallel spacer panes resting on said sheath, said spacer panes being displaceable transversely to the sheath axis, thereby to drop sequentially in front of the end of said sheath when said end of said sheath, on account of an operationally-caused shortening of said sheath by lengthening of said cable, is expelled from the axial bore by said compression spring, said spacer panes resting on one hand against one end wall of said sheath and on the other hand against said fixed housing structure.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, including: one spring component provided for each spacer pane, said spring component forcing each individual pane in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said bowden cable.
3. Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of said sheath is formed by a sleeve which is reduced in its outer circumference at said end of said sheath, thereby forming a collar at the transition between the large and the small diameters thereof; and wherein said spacer panes at the end of said sheath rest against said collar.
4. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said set of spacer panes rests in a housing; and further wherein, additional mechanical means are provided outside said fixed housing, said additional mechanical means being adapted to be actuated to reset said spacer panes into their initial positions.
5. Device as claimed in claim 4, wherein: each individual spacer panes includes mutually aligned elongated slots; wherein front and rear walls of said fixed housing each also contains a correspondingly aligned elongated slot; and wherein said mechanical means comprise a pin passing through said elongated slots in said front and rear walls of said fixed housing, said pins being adapted to be seized from the outside at the front and the rear walls in such a manner that all dropped spacer panes are resettable into their initial positions by lifting said pin.
6. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
(a) the front half of said sleeve has a circular cross-section, whereas the rear half of said sleeve has a cross-section with an outwardly projecting edge;
(b) said sleeve is rotatable by 90° about the longitudinal axis between an operational position and a reset position;
(c) each spacer pane is provided with a recess which forms a passage for all dropped spacer panes through which said sleeve, with its outwardly projecting edges, when in the reset position, can be returned against the force of said compression spring into its initial position;
(d) a sealing cover is placed on said housing at the side facing the bowden-cable sheath, said sealing cover comprising a passage with a contour matching the cross-section of the rear half of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve is displaceable within said passage. said sealing cover being rotatable between two end positions by those 90° corresponding to the angular rotation of said sleeve between its operational and reset positions, and (e) upon said sleeve being returned into its initial position, said outwardly projecting edge being adapted to act as a lifting mechanism when resetting said sleeve into its opera-tional position to reset all spacer panes into their initial positions.
(a) the front half of said sleeve has a circular cross-section, whereas the rear half of said sleeve has a cross-section with an outwardly projecting edge;
(b) said sleeve is rotatable by 90° about the longitudinal axis between an operational position and a reset position;
(c) each spacer pane is provided with a recess which forms a passage for all dropped spacer panes through which said sleeve, with its outwardly projecting edges, when in the reset position, can be returned against the force of said compression spring into its initial position;
(d) a sealing cover is placed on said housing at the side facing the bowden-cable sheath, said sealing cover comprising a passage with a contour matching the cross-section of the rear half of said sleeve, whereby said sleeve is displaceable within said passage. said sealing cover being rotatable between two end positions by those 90° corresponding to the angular rotation of said sleeve between its operational and reset positions, and (e) upon said sleeve being returned into its initial position, said outwardly projecting edge being adapted to act as a lifting mechanism when resetting said sleeve into its opera-tional position to reset all spacer panes into their initial positions.
7. Device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said spacer panes are designed to be pairs of spacer panes, and wherein each said pair of spacer panes is mounted symmetrically to both sides of said sleeve in a plane perpendicular to said sleeve.
8. Device as claimed in claim 6 wherein each pair of spacer panes is enclosed by an elastic ring pressing both said spacer panes inwardly against said sleeve.
9. Device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said housing includes a recess in its wall, said recess being adapted to be entered by said sleeve when in its operational position by its collar until said sleeve slips out of said passage of said sealing cover, whereby said sealing cover can be rotated relative to said sleeve, and whereby said sleeve will be secured in its inserted position.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3740776 | 1987-12-02 | ||
| DEP3740776.7 | 1987-12-02 | ||
| DE3805046A DE3805046A1 (en) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-02-18 | Device for the automatic length adjustment of a Bowden cable |
| DEP3805046.3 | 1988-02-18 | ||
| DEP3818323.4 | 1988-05-30 | ||
| DE3818323A DE3818323C1 (en) | 1988-05-30 | 1988-05-30 | Device for the automatic adjustment of a Bowden pull |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1288028C true CA1288028C (en) | 1991-08-27 |
Family
ID=27196856
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000584685A Expired - Lifetime CA1288028C (en) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-12-01 | Device automatically to adjust the length of a bowden cable |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0318720B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH01188713A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR910008225B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1288028C (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2032932T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5537890A (en) * | 1995-05-17 | 1996-07-23 | General Motors Corporation | Motor vehicle steering column |
| DE19609255C1 (en) * | 1996-02-28 | 1997-08-28 | Brose Fahrzeugteile | Device for rope length adjustment in Bowden tube window regulators |
| JP3950875B2 (en) | 2004-07-28 | 2007-08-01 | 株式会社シマノ | Bicycle electrical wiring support structure |
| KR100969530B1 (en) * | 2010-04-26 | 2010-07-12 | 주식회사 인팩 | Ecu fixation structure of the epb |
| CN113233384B (en) * | 2021-05-17 | 2022-08-26 | 济南华北升降平台制造有限公司 | Tool and equipment for disassembling and assembling tuyere middle sleeve of iron-making blast furnace |
| CN113623310A (en) * | 2021-08-13 | 2021-11-09 | 重庆海德世拉索系统（集团）有限公司 | Steel wire rope exposed length adjusting device for controlling inhaul cable |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB443123A (en) * | 1934-11-14 | 1936-02-21 | Arens Controls | Improvements in and relating to flexible controls |
| US3572159A (en) * | 1969-06-12 | 1971-03-23 | Teleflex Inc | Motion transmitting remote control assembly |
-
1988
- 1988-11-04 EP EP88118395A patent/EP0318720B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-11-04 ES ES198888118395T patent/ES2032932T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-01 CA CA000584685A patent/CA1288028C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-12-01 KR KR1019880015991A patent/KR910008225B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-12-02 JP JP63304285A patent/JPH01188713A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH0481645B2 (en) | 1992-12-24 |
| JPH01188713A (en) | 1989-07-28 |
| EP0318720B1 (en) | 1992-05-20 |
| KR890010456A (en) | 1989-08-08 |
| EP0318720A3 (en) | 1990-05-23 |
| EP0318720A2 (en) | 1989-06-07 |
| KR910008225B1 (en) | 1991-10-12 |
| ES2032932T3 (en) | 1993-03-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |