FR2821133A1 - System for controlling length of protective sheath on control cable, e.g. for car accelerator pedal, comprises sleeve with seating for end of sheath which can be locked at end of tube in extended position - Google Patents

Abstract

The system for controlling the length of a protective sheath (2) on a control cable (3) comprises a tube (4), through which the cable passes, and a sleeve (6) which fits into this. The sleeve has a seating (7) for the end of the sheath which allows it to rotate and move axially. A spring (10) biases the sleeve towards a position in which the sleeve is extended. The sleeve can be rotated so that teeth on its inside cooperate with similar teeth on the tube to lock it in position.

Description

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 The present invention relates to the technical field of cable control devices generally comprising a flexible cable, called control cable, movable in translation inside a protective sheath.

 Such cable control devices are used in many fields such as in particular the automotive field, for example, controlling the opening of doors or hoods or even transmitting commands from a gear lever or a pedal.

 Most often, the control cable has at its end a ball or a stop intended to act on a lever of the member to be controlled and the precision of the action of the cable is a function of the relative length of the sheath relative to the cable. Thus, a sheath that is too short does not make it possible to act on the entire amplitude of the movement of the controlled lever, while a sheath that is too long risks leaving a large, so-called dead, range remaining in which the control cable moves but does not act on the organ to be controlled.

régler la longueur de la gaine ou la longueur libre de câble en fonction des conditions de mise en oeuvre du dispositif de commande. The need therefore appears to have the means to

adjust the length of the sheath or the free cable length according to the operating conditions of the control device.

 In order to meet this need for adjustment, a patent application FR-2 689 189 has proposed a device for adjusting the length of a protective sheath of a control cable comprising a hollow body traversed by an elongated hollow sheath d 'X-X'mobile axis in axial translation. The sheath is traversed by a control cable and has, at one end, a housing for receiving one end of the cable protection sheath. The device further comprises a spring interposed between the body and the sheath to control the sheath in the extended position relative to the body. The device finally comprises means for blocking the translation of the sheath constituted by a key provided with an opening in the form of a keyhole through which the sheath passes. The locking means also include a series of grooves arranged on the outer wall of the sheath.

perpendiculairement à l'axe X-X'du fourreau de manière à venir engager la partie étroite de l'ouverture en trou de serrure sur les rainures du fourreau The device is blocked by translating the key

perpendicular to the axis X-X 'of the sleeve so as to engage the narrow part of the keyhole opening on the grooves of the sleeve

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et empêcher ainsi tout mouvement de translation relatif entre le fourreau et le corps.

and thus prevent any relative translational movement between the sheath and the body.

This device effectively makes it possible to adjust the length of the sheath or the free length of cable semi-automatically. However, it has the disadvantage of involving a blocking key which increases the overall size of the device and whose maneuver is not always easy in difficult access places where the device is likely to be put in artwork.

élément venant augmenter le coût de fabrication du dispositif de réglage. In addition, the implementation of a blocking key constitutes a

element increasing the manufacturing cost of the adjustment device.

It therefore appears the need to have a new device for adjusting the length of a protective sheath of a control cable which has a small footprint, which can therefore be easily implemented in cramped environments and which have also a limited number of components in order to offer a reduced manufacturing cost.

un ressort interposé entre le corps et le fourreau pour asservir le fourreau en position d'extension, - et des moyens de blocage de la translation du fourreau susceptibles de passer d'un état débloqué, dit de translation libre, à un état bloqué par un mouvement de rotation axiale du fourreau. In order to achieve these objectives, the invention relates to a device for adjusting the length of a protective sheath of a control cable which comprises: a hollow body open at its two ends for the passage of the control cable, an elongated hollow sheath of axis X-X ′ which is open at its two ends for the passage of the cable, which is provided at one end with a housing for receiving one end of the protective sheath and which is adapted in the body to be movable in axial rotation and in axial translation between a position of maximum extension and a position of retraction,

a spring interposed between the body and the sheath to control the sheath in the extended position, - and means for blocking the translation of the sheath capable of passing from an unlocked state, called free translation, to a state blocked by a axial rotation movement of the sheath.

 Preferably, the means for blocking the translation are reversible.

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 The translation blocking means can be made in any suitable manner and, preferably, the translation blocking means comprise at least one rack fitted on one of the two sheath or body elements and at least one tooth fitted on the other element and intended to cooperate with the rack.

 According to another embodiment of the invention, the means for blocking the translation comprise at least one rack fitted on a part of the internal wall of the body and at least one other rack fitted on a part of the external wall of the sheath and intended to cooperate with the rack offered by the body to block the translation of the sleeve relative to the body.

 Preferably, the means for blocking the translation are adapted to pass from the unlocked state to the blocked state by a quarter-turn rotation of the sleeve relative to the body.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the adjustment device comprises means for locking the axial rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the body, at least in the position of blocking the translation. Preferably, these rotation locking means are reversible.

 The means for locking the rotation can be produced in any suitable manner and, preferably, they comprise: - at least one groove substantially parallel to the axis XX 'arranged in an external wall of the body, - and a bar s' extending from one end of the sheath outside the body and comprising a stud intended to cooperate with the groove, when the sheath is in the position of blocking the translation, to oppose the rotation of the sheath relative to the body.

 In order to ensure proper implementation of the adjustment device according to the invention, the latter may also include control means to prevent any locking of the translation of the sleeve when the extension of the sleeve, relative to the body, is located below or beyond a predetermined value.

 Preferably, the control means are adapted to prevent any rotation of the sleeve, from a translation position

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 free, when the extension of the sleeve is not within a predetermined range of values.

 In a preferred embodiment, the rotation locking means comprise: - at least one groove substantially parallel to the axis XX 'arranged in an external wall of the body, - and a bar extending from one end of the sheath outside the body and comprising a stud intended to cooperate with the groove, when the sheath is in the position of blocking the translation, in order to oppose the rotation of the sheath relative to the body.

 In order to prevent locking of the device in an incorrect adjustment position, the means for locking the rotation may be supplemented by: - a second groove substantially parallel to the axis XX ′, arranged in the external wall of the body in which the stud of the bar is engaged in a position of free translation of the sheath, - and stop means arranged on either side of this second groove at one end of the groove to prevent an exit of the stud, out of the groove, and block the rotation of the sheath, so as to prevent locking of the translation of the sheath when the extension of the sheath is such that the stud is between the stop means.

 Thus the second groove and the abutment means constitute means for controlling the correct adjustment of the extension of the sleeve relative to the body.

 Various other characteristics of the invention appear from the description below made with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a non-limiting embodiment of the adjustment device according to the invention.

 Figure 1 is an axial cross section of an adjustment device according to the invention adapted on a protective sheath of a control cable, and placed in the free translation position.

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 Figure 2 is an axial section substantially similar to Figure 1 of the device according to the invention in a locked position and on which appear neither the control cable, nor the protective sheath of the latter.

 Figures 3 and 4 are perspectives of the adjusting device according to the invention in two different positions of extension of the sheath.

 Figures 5 and 6 are sections along the line V-V of Figure 1 showing the device according to the invention in two separate states.

 Figure 7 is a perspective similar to Figures 3 and 4 showing the device according to the invention in the locked position.

 As can be seen from FIG. 1, a device, in accordance with the invention and generally designated by the reference 1, for adjusting the length of a sheath 2 for protecting a control cable 3 comprises a hollow body 4 of elongated shape, open at its two ends for the passage of the control cable 3.

corps 4, le fourreau 6 présente également une forme allongée d'axe X-X'. According to the example illustrated and as shown in FIG. 2, the body 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an axis XX ′. Of course, the body 4 could have any other shape suitable for its function. The body 4 defines a chamber 5 intended to receive a sheath 6. As the

body 4, the sheath 6 also has an elongated shape of axis XX ′.

Preferably but not strictly necessary, the sheath 6 and the chamber 5 both have a substantially cylindrical shape of revolution of axis XX ′. The sheath 6 is movable in the chamber 5 both in translation parallel to the axis XX 'and in rotation on itself around this same axis XX'. The sleeve 6 is then movable in translation between a maximum extension position Emax, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, and a retraction position R, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in which the sleeve 6 is almost fully tucked into the body 2.

 The sheath 5 is hollow and open at its two ends in order to allow the passage of the cable 3. Furthermore, the sheath 6 has, at its end which is not located in the body 4, a housing 7 for receiving 'one end of the cable protection sheath 2 3. The housing 7 preferably has a shape complementary to that of

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 the end of the sheath 2 allowing an elastic locking of the latter in the housing 7. For this purpose, according to the example illustrated, the housing 7 has a substantially triangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 5. Of course , the housing 6 could have any other shape such as for example a substantially circular cross section.

 The adjustment device 1, in accordance with the invention, comprises a spring 10, preferably helical, interposed between the body 4 and the sheath 6 to control the sheath 6 in the position of maximum extension Emax relative to the body 4. Thus, the spring 10 takes support, on the one hand, on a shoulder 11 arranged in the chamber 5 opposite its end of passage of the sleeve 6. According to the example illustrated, the shoulder 11 defines a flange 12 on which the spring 10 is engaged. The spring 10, on the other hand, bears against the sheath 6 opposite the shoulder 11. According to the example illustrated, the spring 10 is engaged in a housing of complementary shape 13 arranged in the sheath 6.

It is then possible to vary the extension of the sheath 5 relative to the body 2 by more or less compressing the spring 10. However, as soon as the compression force is released, the spring 10 tends to bring the sheath 6 back into position maximum extension Emax. In order to allow the sheath 6 to be immobilized relative to the body 4 in a given extension, the adjusting device 1 further comprises means 15 for blocking the translation of the sheath 6 relative to the body 4. According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the means for blocking the translation 15 pass from an unlocked state D, called free translation, to a blocked state B preventing any translation, by a simple movement of axial rotation of the sheath 6 relative to the body 4.

According to the example illustrated, the means for blocking the translation 15 comprise, at the level of the sheath 6, two racks 16 diametrically opposite and arranged on only part of the outer wall of the sheath 6, as shown more particularly in FIG. 5.

partie seulement de la paroi interne de la cavité 4. Les dents 17 sont, bien The locking means 15 further comprise, at the level of the body 4, two teeth 17 arranged in the internal wall of the cavity 5. The teeth 17 are located opposite one another and extend over a

part only of the internal wall of the cavity 4. The teeth 17 are, well

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débloqué D tel qu'illustré à la figure 5 à l'état de déblocage B de la translation tel qu'illustré à la figure 6 par une rotation d'un quart de tour ou 9oho. understood, intended to cooperate with the racks 16. The teeth 17 and the racks 16 are arranged so as to be able to pass from a position in which they cooperate, corresponding to the blocking B of the translation, to a position D in which they are released from each other, corresponding to the state of free translation, by a simple rotation of the sheath 6 relative to the body 4. According to the example illustrated, the means for locking the translation 15 are adapted to pass from the state

unlocked D as illustrated in FIG. 5 in the unlocked state B of the translation as illustrated in FIG. 6 by a rotation of a quarter turn or 9oho.

In order to ensure the stability of the device 1 in the position for blocking the translation B, the device 1 comprises, in a preferred embodiment, means 20 for locking the axial rotational movement of the sleeve 6 relative to the body 4, at less in position B for blocking the translation.

According to the example illustrated and as shown in FIG. 7, the means for blocking the rotation 20 comprise a groove 21 arranged in the external wall of the body 2. The groove 21 is substantially parallel to the axis X-X 'of the body and of the sleeve 6, and extends over a length corresponding at least to the amplitude for adjusting the extension of the sleeve 6.

 The rotation locking means 20 further comprise a bar 22 extending from one end of the sheath 6 outside the body 4. The bar 22 comprises, at one end situated opposite its end connecting with the sleeve 6, a stud 23 intended to cooperate with the groove 21, when the sleeve 6 is in position B for blocking the translation, in order to oppose the rotation of the sleeve 6 relative to the body 4. Thus, the bar 22 is angularly positioned relative to the racks 16, so that when the stud 23 is located in the groove 21, the racks 16 cooperate with the teeth 17 of the body 2.

 According to the example illustrated, the rotation blocking means 20 comprise a second groove 25 delimited, on the one hand, by a series of four studs 26 and, on the other hand, by a shoulder 27 of the external wall of the body 4. This groove 25 is located 900 from the first 21, so as to correspond to the position of free translation of the sleeve 6.

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Thus, in the unlocked position D of the means for blocking the translation 15, the stud 23 is guided by the groove 25 which limits the risks of inadvertent locking of the translation during the use of the device 1 and its adjustment.

travers la gaine 2 puis du fourreau 6 et ensuite du corps 4 pour déboucher à l'extrémité du corps 4 située à l'opposée à l'extrémité de passage du fourreau 6. L'extrémité du câble située du côté du dispositif 1 comprend généralement un organe 30 de manoeuvre d'un dispositif à commander. The device 1 according to the invention is implemented in the following manner. It is first of all adapted to one end of the protective sheath of a control cable. Then, cable 3 is passed to

through the sheath 2 then the sheath 6 and then the body 4 to open at the end of the body 4 located opposite to the end of passage of the sheath 6. The end of the cable located on the side of the device 1 generally comprises a member 30 for operating a device to be controlled.

 The adjustment device, associated with the sheath 2 and the cable 3, is then delivered to an operator responsible for mounting it in the unlocked position D of the translation, the stud 23 being located in the groove 25.

corps 4 en butée contre un organe d'arrêt 32 offert par la structure supportant l'organe à commander. Au cours de ces manoeuvres, les possibilités de translation du fourreau par rapport au corps qui ont permis de faire varier, de façon automatique, la longueur libre du câble 3 de la longueur de la gaine en fonction des mouvements de l'opérateur sans intervention particulière de ce dernier. For mounting, the operator introduces the control member 30 of the cable 3 into a device to be controlled 31 and then comes to place the

body 4 in abutment against a stop member 32 offered by the structure supporting the member to be controlled. During these maneuvers, the possibilities of translation of the sheath relative to the body which made it possible to vary, automatically, the free length of the cable 3 from the length of the sheath according to the movements of the operator without any particular intervention. of the last.

Once the body 4 is placed in abutment on the member 32, the extension of the sheath 6 corresponds, taking into account the presence of the spring 10, to the optimal adjustment of the length of the sheath of which the device 1 is an integral part or, according to the point of view from which we stand, to the optimal adjustment of the free length of the cable 3.

The operator can then lock the translation by rotation of the sleeve 6 in the body 4 so as to engage the stud 23 in the groove 21. Thus, the device 1 is in the fully locked position and cannot be adjusted. It should be noted that the passage from the locked or unlocked position takes place without variation in the size of the device and can be carried out in a reduced space.

 Of course, since the means for blocking the translation and for locking the rotation are reversible, the operator can just as easily disassemble the device 1.

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It should be noted that in a preferred but not strictly necessary embodiment, the second groove 25 has stops 35 located at its end oriented opposite the free end of the sleeve 6. These stops 35 are intended to prevent any rotation of the sleeve 6 and therefore a locking of the translation when it is in the retraction position R as illustrated in FIG. 4. This arrangement of the invention constitutes, very advantageously, means of control preventing any locking of the translation of the sheath 6 when the extension of the sheath 6 relative to the body 4 is located below a predetermined value. This arrangement which prevents, according to the illustrated example, a locking of the device, when the sheath is fully retracted, allows, for example, to inform the operator that the system he is installing does not respond to tolerances required.

 According to the example illustrated, the control means 35 prevent locking of the translation only when the sheath is in the retraction position R but it could also be envisaged to use control means preventing a blocking of the translation when the sheath is for example in position of maximum extension Emax.

 Likewise, according to the examples illustrated above, the means for blocking the translation and the rotation are completely independent; however, they could be associated. Thus, the means for blocking the translation and the rotation could be constituted by an eccentric shape imparted to the external wall of the sheath 6 which would, by rotation, bear and block against the wall of the chamber of the body 2.

 According to the example illustrated, the means for blocking the translation of the sheath 6 are formed at the level of the body 4 by two teeth.

However, these blocking means could also be constituted, at the level of the body 4, by two racks complementary to the racks 16 offered by the sleeve 6.

 Of course, any other embodiment of the means 15 for blocking the translation by rotation of the sheath in the body could be envisaged.

 Similarly, according to the examples illustrated, the means for blocking the translation and for locking the rotation are reversible. However, it could be envisaged that these means are not reversible in

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 for example involving breakable bridges or immobilizations by hooks in wolf's teeth coming to engage in complementary openings. Thus, unlocking could only be ensured by breaking the hooks.

Claims (11)

 CLAIMS 1. Device for adjusting the length of a sheath (2) for protecting a control cable (3), characterized in that it comprises: a hollow body (4) open at its two ends for passage of the control cable (3), - a hollow sheath (6), elongated with axis XX ′, open at its two ends for the passage of the cable (3), which is provided at one end with a housing ( 7) receiving one end of the protective sheath (3) and which is adapted in the body (4) to be movable in axial rotation and in axial translation parallel to the axis XX 'between a position maximum extension Emax and a retraction position (R), - a spring (10) interposed between the body (4) and the sleeve (6) to control the sleeve (6) in the extended position, - and means (15 ) for blocking the translation of the sheath capable of passing from an unlocked state (D), called free translation, to a state blocked by an axial rotation movement of the furnace reau (6) relative to the body (4).  2. Adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for blocking the translation (15) are reversible.  3. Adjustment device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for blocking the translation (15) comprise at least one rack fitted on a part of the internal wall of the body (2) and at least one rack fitted on a part of the outer wall of the sleeve (6) and intended to cooperate with the rack offered by the body to block the translation of the sleeve relative to the body.  4. Adjustment device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for blocking the translation (15) comprise at least one rack (16) arranged on one of the two sheath or body elements and at least one tooth (17) fitted on the other element and intended to cooperate with the rack (16).  5. Adjustment device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for blocking the translation (15) are <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  adapted to pass from the unlocked state (D) to the blocked state (B) by a quarter-turn rotation of the sleeve (6) relative to the body (4).  6. Adjustment device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises means (20) for locking the axial rotation movement of the sleeve (6) relative to the body (4), at least in translation locking position (B).  7. Adjustment device according to claim 6, characterized in that the rotation locking means (20) are reversible.  8. An adjustment device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the means (20) for locking the rotation comprise: - at least one groove (21) substantially parallel to the axis XX 'arranged in an outer wall of the body (4), - and a bar (22) extending from one end of the sheath (6) outside the body (4) and comprising a stud (23) intended to cooperate with the groove (21 ), when the sheath is in the translation locking position, to

 oppose the rotation of the sheath (6) relative to the body (4).  9. Adjustment device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises means (35) for controlling to prevent any locking of the translation of the sheath (6) when the extension of the sheath (6) , relative to the body (4), is located below or beyond a predetermined value.  10. Adjustment device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control means (35) are adapted to prevent any rotation of the sleeve (6) from a free translation position (D), when the extension of the sleeve (6) is not located within a predetermined value range.  11. An adjustment device according to claim 8, characterized in that the rotation locking means (15) comprise: - a second groove (25) substantially parallel to the axis X- X ′, arranged in the external wall of the body in which the stud (23) of the bar (22) is engaged in the position (D) of free translation of the sheath, <Desc / Clms Page number 13>  - And stop means (35) arranged on either side of this second groove (25) at one end of the groove (25) to prevent an exit of the stud (23) from the groove, and block the rotation of the sleeve (6), so as to prevent locking of the translation of the sleeve (6), when the extension of the sleeve (6) is such that the stud is between the stop means (35.