EP0560068B1 - Flexible shaft for toy models - Google Patents

Flexible shaft for toy models Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0560068B1
EP0560068B1 EP93102031A EP93102031A EP0560068B1 EP 0560068 B1 EP0560068 B1 EP 0560068B1 EP 93102031 A EP93102031 A EP 93102031A EP 93102031 A EP93102031 A EP 93102031A EP 0560068 B1 EP0560068 B1 EP 0560068B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flexible shaft
elements
ring elements
ring
flexible
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
Application number
EP93102031A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0560068A1 (en
Inventor
Wilfried Weber
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH and Co KG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH and Co KG filed Critical Fischerwerke Artur Fischer GmbH and Co KG
Publication of EP0560068A1 publication Critical patent/EP0560068A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0560068B1 publication Critical patent/EP0560068B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63HTOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H31/00Gearing for toys
    • A63H31/10Gearing mechanisms actuated by movable wires enclosed in flexible tubes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63HTOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H33/00Other toys
    • A63H33/04Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
    • A63H33/042Mechanical, electrical, optical, pneumatic or hydraulic arrangements; Motors

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a flexible shaft for toy models according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Shafts are used for power transmission in toy models or corresponding model arrangements for different purposes, for example for driving or steering a vehicle.
  • a steering shaft consisting of a wire and mounted in a flexible guide tube to the steering column of the vehicle on one side and to a crank on the other side.
  • the steering column and crank have coupling pieces in which the steering shaft is firmly clamped.
  • Such a device is thus an integral part of a finished toy model and therefore not suitable for universal use as a component of a construction kit.
  • functions are often required in toy models that also have to transmit pressure and tensile forces.
  • Bowden cables which, however, are not suitable for the transmission of compressive forces.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a flexible shaft for toy models that can be used universally and is particularly suitable for torque transmission and transmission of tensile and compressive forces.
  • the flexible shaft connection elements are arranged, which are flexibly connected via a plurality of rigidly connected ring elements made of plastic.
  • the ring elements have the advantage over a rod-shaped shaft that on the one hand a high flexibility of the shaft is obtained, while on the other hand a high torque can also be transmitted.
  • the ring elements which are preferably offset at an angle of 90 ° to one another, have the advantage that the flexible shaft is equally flexible in every direction and can transmit a high torque in any position.
  • the ring planes enclosed by the ring elements preferably lie on their central axis when the shaft is aligned. This gives a homogeneous torque transmission, i. H. each ring element is equally stressed during torque transmission. When the flexible shaft is bent, however, the bending stress in the individual ring elements changes depending on the position of the shaft.
  • the flexible shaft is preferably made in one piece from plastic by injection molding, the connection points between adjacent ring elements forming intersection points.
  • the ring elements arranged in series can be partially or completely enclosed by a guide tube, as a result of which higher compressive forces and higher torques can be transmitted without problems.
  • a guide tube or the like is also required if tensile forces are to be transmitted when the shaft is bent.
  • the flexible shaft To connect the flexible shaft to an input shaft or an output shaft, the latter has coupling pieces located on the end faces of each of its connecting pieces.
  • connection elements 1, 2 at its two ends, which are connected to one another via a series of ring elements 3.
  • Successive ring elements 3 are in each case rotated by 90 ° to one another and are connected to one another in one piece via crossing points 4.
  • the ring planes 5 enclosed by the ring elements 3 run through the central axis 6 of the just-aligned flexible shaft.
  • the flexible shaft is made in one piece from plastic using the injection molding process, and depending on the requirements and field of application, a correspondingly elastic or harder plastic can be used.
  • the flexible shaft has coupling pieces 7, 8 on the end faces on the connecting elements 1, 2, which are profiled in such a way that a torque transmission and also a transmission of compressive and tensile forces are possible is.
  • the section A-A is shown enlarged in Figure 2.
  • the ring elements visible here are designated by the reference numbers 31, 32.

Landscapes

  • Toys (AREA)
  • Flexible Shafts (AREA)

Abstract

2.1 For different cases of application, flexible shafts are needed in toy models, which shafts, in the conventional design, are not suitable for torque transmission or for the transmission of compressive and tensile forces. 2.2 In order to provide a universally utilisable flexible shaft suitable for different types of force transmission, an injection moulding is proposed which is produced integrally from plastic and, in the flexible region, consists of a series of annular elements (3) which are preferably arranged in succession, twisted through 90 DEG relative to each other in each case. A guide tube (9) may enclose the series of annular elements, as a result of which, in particular, even relatively large compressive forces can be transmitted via the flexible shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine flexible Welle für Spielzeugmodelle gemäß der Gattung des Anspruches 1.The invention relates to a flexible shaft for toy models according to the preamble of claim 1.

Zur Kraftübertragung in Spielzeugmodellen oder entsprechenden Modellanordnungen werden für unterschiedliche Zwecke, beispielsweise für den Antrieb oder für die Lenkung eines Fahrzeuges, Wellen verwendet. Zur Lenkung von Spielzeugmodellen ist es bekannt, eine aus einem Draht bestehende und in einem biegsamen Führungsrohr gelagerte Lenkwelle mit der Lenksäule des Fahrzeuges auf der einen Seite und mit einer Kurbel auf der anderen Seite zu verbinden. Lenksäule und Kurbel weisen zu diesem Zweck Kupplungsstücke auf, in denen die Lenkwelle fest eingeklemmt ist. Eine solche Vorrichtung ist somit fester Bestandteil eines fertigen Spielzeugmodells und demzufolge für eine universelle Anwendung als Bauteil eines Konstruktionsbaukastens nicht geeignet. Neben der Drehmomentübertragung sind in Spielzeugmodellen häufig Funktionen erforderlich, bei denen auch Druck- und Zugkräfte zu übertragen sind. Für Zugkräfte ist es bekannt, Bowdenzüge zu verwenden, die allerdings nicht für die Übertragung von Druckkräften geeignet sind.Shafts are used for power transmission in toy models or corresponding model arrangements for different purposes, for example for driving or steering a vehicle. For the steering of toy models, it is known to connect a steering shaft consisting of a wire and mounted in a flexible guide tube to the steering column of the vehicle on one side and to a crank on the other side. For this purpose, the steering column and crank have coupling pieces in which the steering shaft is firmly clamped. Such a device is thus an integral part of a finished toy model and therefore not suitable for universal use as a component of a construction kit. In addition to the torque transmission, functions are often required in toy models that also have to transmit pressure and tensile forces. For tensile forces it is known to use Bowden cables, which, however, are not suitable for the transmission of compressive forces.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine flexible Welle für Spielzeugmodelle zu schaffen, die universell einsetzbar und insbesondere zur Drehmomentübertragung und zur Übertragung von Zug- und Druckkräften geeignet ist.The invention has for its object to provide a flexible shaft for toy models that can be used universally and is particularly suitable for torque transmission and transmission of tensile and compressive forces.

Die Lösung dieser Aufgabe wird mit den Merkmalen des Anspruches 1 erreicht. An beiden Enden der flexiblen Welle sind Anschlußelemente angeordnet, die über eine Vielzahl von starr miteinander verbundenen Ringelementen aus Kunststoff flexibel verbunden sind. Die Ringelemente haben dabei gegenüber einer stabförmigen Welle den Vorteil, daß einerseits eine hohe Flexibilität der Welle erhalten wird, während andererseits auch ein hohes Drehmoment übertragen werden kann. Die vorzugsweise in einem Winkel von 90° zueinander versetzt angeordneten Ringelemente bringen den Vorteil, daß die flexible Welle in jeder Richtung gleichermaßen biegsam ist und in jeder Lage ein hohes Drehmoment übertragen kann.This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. At both ends of the flexible shaft connection elements are arranged, which are flexibly connected via a plurality of rigidly connected ring elements made of plastic. The ring elements have the advantage over a rod-shaped shaft that on the one hand a high flexibility of the shaft is obtained, while on the other hand a high torque can also be transmitted. The ring elements, which are preferably offset at an angle of 90 ° to one another, have the advantage that the flexible shaft is equally flexible in every direction and can transmit a high torque in any position.

Die von den Ringelementen umschlossenen Ringebenen liegen bei gerade ausgerichteter Welle vorzugsweise auf deren Mittelachse. Dadurch erhält man eine homogene Drehmomentübertragung, d. h. jedes Ringelement wird bei der Drehmomentübertragung gleichermaßen beansprucht. Beim Biegen der flexiblen Welle ändert sich dagegen die Biegebeanspruchung in den einzelnen Ringelementen je nach Stellung der Welle.The ring planes enclosed by the ring elements preferably lie on their central axis when the shaft is aligned. This gives a homogeneous torque transmission, i. H. each ring element is equally stressed during torque transmission. When the flexible shaft is bent, however, the bending stress in the individual ring elements changes depending on the position of the shaft.

Die flexible Welle ist vorzugsweise im Spritzgußverfahren aus Kunststoff einstückig hergestellt, wobei die Verbindungsstellen zwischen benachbarten Ringelementen Kreuzungspunkte bilden.The flexible shaft is preferably made in one piece from plastic by injection molding, the connection points between adjacent ring elements forming intersection points.

Die in Reihe angeordneten Ringelemente können teilweise oder vollständig von einem Führungsrohr umschlossen sein, wodurch sich höhere Druckkräfte und höhere Drehmomente problemlos übertragen lassen. Ein Führungsrohr oder dgl. ist auch dann erforderlich, wenn bei gebogener Welle Zugkräfte übertragen werden sollen.The ring elements arranged in series can be partially or completely enclosed by a guide tube, as a result of which higher compressive forces and higher torques can be transmitted without problems. A guide tube or the like is also required if tensile forces are to be transmitted when the shaft is bent.

Zur Verbindung der flexiblen Welle mit einer Antriebswelle oder einer Abtriebswelle besitzt diese an ihren Anschlußstücken jeweils stirnseitig befindliche Kupplungsstücke.To connect the flexible shaft to an input shaft or an output shaft, the latter has coupling pieces located on the end faces of each of its connecting pieces.

Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand eines in der Zeichnung dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels näher erläutert.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

Es zeigen:

Figur 1
die Seitenansicht einer flexiblen Welle,
Figur 2
den Schnitt A-A gemäß Figur 1 und
Figur 3
die perspektivische Ansicht der in Figur 1 dargestellten flexiblen Welle.
Show it:
Figure 1
the side view of a flexible shaft,
Figure 2
the section AA according to Figure 1 and
Figure 3
the perspective view of the flexible shaft shown in Figure 1.

Die in Figur 1 dargestellte flexible Welle besitzt an ihren beiden Enden Anschlußelemente 1,2, die über eine Reihe von Ringelementen 3 miteinander verbunden sind. Aufeinanderfolgende Ringelemente 3 sind jeweils um 90° zueinander verdreht angeordnet und sind über Kreuzungspunkte 4 einstückig miteinander verbunden. Die von den Ringelementen 3 umschlossenen Ringebenen 5 verlaufen durch die Mittelachse 6 der gerade ausgerichteten flexiblen Welle.The flexible shaft shown in FIG. 1 has connection elements 1, 2 at its two ends, which are connected to one another via a series of ring elements 3. Successive ring elements 3 are in each case rotated by 90 ° to one another and are connected to one another in one piece via crossing points 4. The ring planes 5 enclosed by the ring elements 3 run through the central axis 6 of the just-aligned flexible shaft.

Die flexible Welle ist einstückig aus Kunststoff im Spritzgießverfahren hergestellt, wobei je nach Anforderungen und Anwendungsgebiet ein entsprechend elastischer oder härterer Kunststoff verwendet werden kann. Um eine kraftschlüssige Verbindung mit hier nicht dargestellten Antriebswellen und Abtriebswellen herstellen zu können, besitzt die flexible Welle an den Anschlußelementen 1,2 stirnseitig angeordnete Kupplungsstücke 7,8, die so profiliert sind, daß eine Drehmomentübertragung und auch eine Übertragung von Druck- und Zugkräften möglich ist.The flexible shaft is made in one piece from plastic using the injection molding process, and depending on the requirements and field of application, a correspondingly elastic or harder plastic can be used. In order to be able to establish a non-positive connection with drive shafts and output shafts (not shown here), the flexible shaft has coupling pieces 7, 8 on the end faces on the connecting elements 1, 2, which are profiled in such a way that a torque transmission and also a transmission of compressive and tensile forces are possible is.

Der Schnitt A-A ist in Figur 2 vergrößert dargestellt. Die hier sichtbaren Ringelemente sind mit den Bezugszahlen 31, 32 bezeichnet.The section A-A is shown enlarged in Figure 2. The ring elements visible here are designated by the reference numbers 31, 32.

In Figur 3 ist die flexible Welle im Bereich der Ringelemente 3 von einem Führungsrohr 9 umschlossen, welches hier mit unterbrochenen Linien angedeutet ist.In Figure 3, the flexible shaft in the area of the ring elements 3 is surrounded by a guide tube 9, which is indicated here by broken lines.

Claims (7)

  1. Flexible shaft for toy models for the transmission of torque and for the transmission of tensile and compressive forces, which shaft has at each of its ends connecting elements for connection to drive shafts and driven shafts, characterized in that the connecting elements (1, 2) are flexibly connected by a plurality of ring elements (3) made of plastics, which ring elements are arranged in series and are solidly connected to one another.
  2. Flexible shaft according to claim 1, characterized in that successive ring elements (3) are arranged rotated through 90° with respect to one another.
  3. Flexible shaft according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that when the shaft is straightened out its central axis (6) and the ring planes (5) enclosed by the individual ring elements (3) run along a single axis.
  4. Flexible shaft according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring elements (3) form a cross-over point (4) where they join an adjacent ring element.
  5. Flexible shaft according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (1) together with the ring elements (3) are manufactured in one piece from plastics using an injection-moulding process.
  6. Flexible shaft according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that either some or all of the ring elements (3) arranged in series are enclosed by a guide tube (9).
  7. Flexible shaft according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (1, 2) are straight shaft sections, each of which has a coupling piece (7, 8) at its free end face.
EP93102031A 1992-03-13 1993-02-10 Flexible shaft for toy models Expired - Lifetime EP0560068B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE4208018A DE4208018A1 (en) 1992-03-13 1992-03-13 FLEXIBLE SHAFT FOR TOY MODELS
DE4208018 1992-03-13

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0560068A1 EP0560068A1 (en) 1993-09-15
EP0560068B1 true EP0560068B1 (en) 1995-08-09

Family

ID=6453972

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93102031A Expired - Lifetime EP0560068B1 (en) 1992-03-13 1993-02-10 Flexible shaft for toy models

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0560068B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE126082T1 (en)
DE (2) DE4208018A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3838532A1 (en) * 1988-11-14 1990-05-17 Henkel Kgaa CLAIMS OR FLAKES FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND METHOD USING THIS MEANS
WO2020185815A1 (en) 2019-03-11 2020-09-17 Rhodan Marine Systems Of Florida, Llc Stiffening shafts for marine environments

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH664903A5 (en) * 1984-07-11 1988-04-15 Interlego Ag OPERATING DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTION MODELS, IN PARTICULAR CONSTRUCTION TOYS.
DE4114109A1 (en) * 1991-04-30 1992-11-05 Fischer Artur Werke Gmbh DEVICE FOR POWER TRANSMISSION IN TOY MODELS

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE126082T1 (en) 1995-08-15
EP0560068A1 (en) 1993-09-15
DE59300436D1 (en) 1995-09-14
DE4208018A1 (en) 1993-09-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
DE4029696A1 (en) VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN
DE3843825C1 (en)
EP1818556B1 (en) Method of making a loop unit
DE1886753U (en) ELASTIC COUPLING FOR TRANSMISSION OF TORQUE.
DE69821310T2 (en) toy building
EP1347192A2 (en) Torsionally stiff but radially deformable coupling
EP0175867B1 (en) Double coupling with a cardan joint
EP0768472A2 (en) Carbon-fibres-reinforced-resin shaft
DE3419176C2 (en)
EP0560068B1 (en) Flexible shaft for toy models
DE69210820T2 (en) Shaft coupling
DE102009009683A1 (en) Torque transmission device for e.g. automobile, has coupling elements for coupling pivot points of drive element with pivot points of output element in opposite peripheral directions, where elements are formed as leaf spring-like elements
DE9200486U1 (en) Flexible connection arrangement for torque transmission
DE4211619A1 (en) Monolithic flexible coupling piece - transmits drive between misaligned shafts with min. fluctuations in speed
DE2612829C2 (en) Split steering column
DE102010053691A1 (en) Elastic coupling element for connection of two drive shafts, has axially aligned openings, through which connection elements are guided
DE3400918A1 (en) CONNECTION FOR TRANSMITTING MOVEMENT FROM A DRIVING SHAFT TO A DRIVEN SHAFT
EP0511501A1 (en) Device for power transmission in construction toys
DE102017011608A1 (en) 90 ° -Gelenkgetriebe
EP0204322B1 (en) Drive shaft
EP0204323B1 (en) Deformable drive shaft
DE102018121795B4 (en) Connection coupling
EP0724087A1 (en) Steel coupling for axial force transmission
DE3346061A1 (en) Shaft for vibration-insulating torque transmission, in particular drive shaft for motor vehicles
DE19729923C2 (en) Linear drive with articulated function attachment

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19940128

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19950131

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LI LU NL PT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 19950809

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19950809

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19950809

Ref country code: DK

Effective date: 19950809

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 126082

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 19950815

Kind code of ref document: T

ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: 64812

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 59300436

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19950914

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Effective date: 19951109

GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)

Effective date: 19951115

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Effective date: 19960210

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19960214

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19960228

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19960228

Ref country code: BE

Effective date: 19960228

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19960229

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FD4D

Ref document number: 64812

Country of ref document: IE

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: FISCHERWERKE ARTUR FISCHER G.M.B.H. & CO. K.G.

Effective date: 19960228

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Effective date: 19961031

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 19961205

Year of fee payment: 5

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Effective date: 19970210

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19970901

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19970210

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 19970901

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19981103