FR2776724A1 - Length adjuster for sleeved control cables - Google Patents

Abstract

One end of the wire shaped element (C) is fixed to an end piece (1) mounted to slide with guidance coaxially in the inside of a body (2) arranged to be fitted to a support. The body and the end piece have complementary locking jaws (1a,2a,1b,2b) which lock each other together in an axial position. This locking action is effected by a spring (4) loaded sleeve (3), which slides on the body (2) and is held back by releasable clips (5,6).

Description

DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF AN ELEMENT

FILIFORM.

  The invention relates to the technical sector of the system for adjusting the length of the control cables, in the automobile sector in particular. The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to be able to adjust the length of a filiform element of the cable type to adapt it to the length of the distance separating the two points where the cable must be connected. This is for example the case of the sheaths of control cables, used for the passage and the selection of the speeds of a motor vehicle. It thus appeared important to be able to adjust the length of the control cables, between the gear lever and the gearbox, since it is necessary to

  set the gear lever to a very precise position relative to neutral.

  If we consider this example of application, it is quite certain that this adjustment must be able to be carried out instantaneously, without being obliged to use attached tools of the pliers, screwdriver type ... In other words, with the same length of standard cable, the aim is to be able to adapt it to the length of the distance which appears between the two points which must be connected, likely to present some dimensional variations of a

vehicle to another.

  Another goal is to be able to immediately block the cable

  in the desired adjustment position.

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  To solve such a problem, according to the invention, a device has been designed and developed for adjusting the length of a filiform element, characterized in that: - at least one of the ends of the element is fixed to a ferrule mounted with coaxial guided sliding capacity, inside a body designed to be coupled to a support, - the body and the ferrule have complementary means of locking in axial position, - the complementary means of locking in position, are put in the cooperation position under the effect of displacement of a ring mounted sliding on the body. To solve the problem posed of automatically securing the cable in position, after having adapted it to the desired length, the body blocking means are constituted by two elastically deformable tongues from the periphery of said body, and the internal faces are equipped with a series of teeth capable of cooperating, under the effect of displacement of the ring, with a series of complementary teeth that

presents the pusher.

  To resolve the problem posed of being able to freely adapt the cable to the desired length and then automatically block it in this position, without requiring the use of attached operating members, the free ends of the tongues are oriented in a divergent manner so that the series of teeth escapes, in the retracted position of the ring, the series of teeth of the nozzle and, conversely, to be brought together under the effect of displacement of

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  said ring in order to engage said teeth corresponding to the

  locking position of the nozzle relative to the body.

  To resolve the problem posed of automatically and instantaneously locking the endpiece in the locking position relative to the body, the ring is subject to an elastic thrust member and is held in the retracted position for compressing said member by a system of clamps integral with the body and elastically deformable under a digital pressure force to release said ring. The free ends of the pliers are curved to act as a hook cooperating with one or more shapes

  profiles which appear projecting from the periphery of the ring.

  To solve the problem of reducing the size of the entire device, the end piece, the body and the ring are arranged

  1 s coaxially and in alignment with the filiform element.

  The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of the figures of the appended drawings in which - Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the adjustment device according to the invention, the device being shown before

  locking in position of the end piece receiving the cable.

  - Figure 2 is a top view of the device in the unlocked position. - Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line

3.3 of Figure 2.

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  - Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, in position

locked from the device.

  - Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line

5.5 in Figure 4.

  - Figure 6 is a purely schematic view, showing an example of non-limiting application of the device for adjusting a cable

  motor vehicle gearbox control.

  As indicated, the device finds an application for adjusting the length of any type of filiform element such as adjusting a cable or

  a cable sheath, generally designated by (C).

  At least one end of the cable (C) is fixed to a ferrule (1) mounted with sliding capacity guided inside a body (2). The body (2) is itself arranged to be coupled to any support o must be connected the cable (C). The cable (C) is attached to the end piece (1)

by any known and appropriate means.

  The end piece (1) is engaged with coaxial sliding capacity guided in a bore (2a) of the body (2). For example, the end piece (1) and the corresponding bore (2g) of the body (2) are of quadrangular cross section. It is therefore understandable that a displacement in translation of the end piece (1) inside the body (2), in one direction or the other, concomitantly causes the

coaxial displacement of the cable (C).

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  According to another characteristic, the body (2) and the end piece (1) have complementary means for locking in the axial position, under the effect of

  displacement of a sliding ring (3).

  For this purpose, the body locking means (2) are constituted by two tongues (2a) and (2b) formed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said body. These two tongues are elastically deformable under the effect of displacement of the ring (3). The free end of the tongues (2a) and (2b), opposite their connection zones (2c) and (2d) with the body (2), has a series of teeth (2e) and (2f) suitable to cooperate with a series of complementary teeth (la) (lb) that has the pusher (1). The toothing systems (2e) and (2f) - (la) and (lb) are arranged vertically and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the entire body (2) and of

the end piece (1).

  After engagement of the end piece (1) in the body (2), the vertical teeth (la) and (lb) appear in overflow from a window that each of the side faces of the body (2) has, in order to arrange said teeth (la) and (lb) opposite the teeth (2e) and (2f) of the locking tabs (2a) and

(2b) of the body (2).

  The free ends of the tongues (2a) and (2b), where the teeth (2e) and (2f) are formed, are oriented in a divergent manner relative to the longitudinal axis of the body (2). These constructive arrangements allow the series of teeth (2e) and (2f) to escape, in the retracted position of the ring (3), the series of teeth (la) and (lb) of the end piece (1). Conversely, when the ring (3) is moved according to the arrow (F) in the direction of the ends

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  divergent tabs, the latter are deformed by elasticity to be brought together, in order to engage the series of teeth (2e) and (2f) - (la) and (lb), thus corresponding to the blocking in the locking position of the mouthpiece

(1) relative to the body (2).

  According to another characteristic, the ring (3), slidably mounted on the body (2) including the two tongues (2a) and (2b), is subject to an elastic member (4) in the form of a compressed spring at rest . For this purpose, the ring (3) is held in the retracted position away from the divergent ends of the tongues, by a system of two clamps (5) and (6) secured to the body (2) and more particularly, of the tongues (2a) and (2b). These clamps (5) and (6) are elastically deformable under a digital pressure force to release said ring. The clamps (5) and (6) are integral with the tongues (2a) and (2b), very substantially at their median part, by a boss (5a) (6a) to allow them to deform elastically, as indicated, when 'a

  digital support is exerted at their end (5b) and (6b).

  In contrast, each of the clamps (5) and (6) has a curved portion (5c) and (6c) acting as a hook to cooperate with one or more shapes

  sections (3a) and (3b) which appear projecting from the periphery of the ring (3).

  The ring (3) is held in the retracted position by the hooking system (5c) and (6c) - (3a) and (3b) corresponding to the compression of the thrust spring (4). Note that the spring (4) can be supported against the connection shoulders (Sa) and (6a) of the clamps (5) and (6) and against the bosses (3a) and

(3b) corresponding to the ring (3).

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  The cable (C) is therefore adjusted in a particularly

simple, efficient and rational.

  In the retracted position of the ring (3) Figures 2 and 3, the teeth (2e) and (2f) of the tongues (2a) and (2b) are not engaged with the teeth (la) and (lb)

  the end piece (1) which can thus freely slide inside the body (2).

  When the operator has adjusted the pusher (1) inside the body (2) corresponding to the adjustment of the length of the cable (C), it suffices to exert a digital pressure on the ends (5b) and (6b ) pliers (5) and (6), to release the ring (3), the picking zones (5c) and (6c) escaping the projecting bosses (3a) and (3b) of the ring (3). Under the detent effect of the spring (4), the ring (3) is moved towards the free ends of the tongues (2a) and (2b) in order to engage the teeth (2e) and (2f) of the divergent ends. 1 5 with the teeth (la) and (lb) of the pusher (1) concomitantly ensuring the locking in translation of the pusher (1) and therefore of the cable (C) by

  relation to the body (2) (lines 4 and 5).

  It therefore appears that this device makes it possible to obtain two positions, either an unlocking position or a locking position. Note that the profile of the teeth (2e) and (2f) - (la) and (lb) is very close to allow

  very fine adjustment of the pusher (1) relative to the body (2).

  Given the characteristics of the device as described and illustrated, it appears that the end piece (1), the body (2) and the ring (3), are arranged coaxially and in alignment with the filiform element (C) thus reducing

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  the overall size. In the example illustrated, the body (2) constitutes a connecting member with a part of a motor vehicle, in particular a gearbox (BV). For example, the end of the body (2), opposite to that having the connection end piece has a hemispherical cage intended to cooperate with an element of the ball joint type that has an appropriate part of the gearbox (BV) . The other end of the cable

  (C) is connected to the gear lever (L) (figure 6).

  The advantages are apparent from the description, in particular one

  underlines and recalls: - the possibility of immediately adapting the length of the cable to a predetermined distance considered between two points, - immediate locking in the locking position, - the simplicity of construction, 1 5 - the small footprint given that all the elements of the device are arranged in coaxial alignment,

  - the effectiveness of the lock obtained.

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Claims (1)

CLAIMS - 1 - Device for adjusting the length of a filiform element (C), characterized in that: - at least one of the ends of the element (C) is fixed to a nozzle (1) mounted with sliding capacity coaxial guided inside a body (2) arranged to be coupled to a support, - the body (2) and the end piece (1) have complementary locking means in an axial position, - the complementary locking means in position are placed in the cooperation position under the effect of displacement of a ring (3) slidably mounted on the body (2).   1 5 -2- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body locking means (2) are constituted by two tabs (2a) and (2b) elastically deformable from the periphery of said body, and whose faces internals are equipped with a series of teeth (2e) and (2f) capable of cooperating with a series of complementary teeth (la) and (lb) that have   the pusher (1) under a displacement effect of the ring (3).   -3- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the free ends of the tongues (2a) and (2b) are oriented in a divergent manner so that the series of teeth (2e) and (2f) escapes, in the retracted position of the ring (3), the series of teeth (la) and (lb) of the end piece (1) and, conversely, to be brought together under the effect of displacement of said ring (3) in order to put cn 2776724   taken the series of teeth corresponding to the locking position of the nozzle (1) relative to the body (2).   -4- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring (3) is subject to an elastic thrust member (4) and is held in the retracted position of compression of said member by a clamp system (5) and (6 ) integral with the body (2) and elastically deformable under pressure   digital, to release said ring (3).   -5- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the free ends of the clamps (5) and (6) are curved to act as a hook cooperating with one or more shaped shapes (3a) and (3b) which appear in   projection from the periphery of the ring (3).   -6- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the end piece (1), the body (2) and the ring (3) are arranged coaxially and in alignment with the threadlike element (C).   -7- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the tip (1) is   quadrangular cross section.   -8- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the filiform element is a cable (C).   1l 1 2776724 -9- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (2) constitutes a connecting member with a part of a motor vehicle, including a gearbox.