GB1101349A - Connectors for the outer casings of flexible drive cable assemblies - Google Patents

Abstract

1,101,349. Flexible shafts; tube joints. S. SMITH & SONS (ENGLAND) Ltd. 2 July, 1965 [2 July, 1964], No. 27414/64. Headings F2G, F2K and F2U. A connector for the outer casing of a flexible drive shaft 10, transmitting linear or, as in a flexible shaft assembly between a vehicle gearbox and speedometer, rotary motion, comprises a nylon sleeve 18 moulded or cast on to the outer casing and having outwardly flaring prongs 21 encircled by a collar 23 which is axially movable to press the prongs inwardly against a member to which the outer casing is to be connected. The outer casing comprises helically wound flat metal strip 11 covered with an outer layer 12 of P.V.C. The nylon sleeve 18 presses the P.V.C. layer into the space between the helical strip. The prongs 21 may engage the screw-threads of a conventional spigot of a device to which the outer easing is connected, may have inturned ends to engage in a groove in the spigot, or may be ribbed or provided with projections to engage the outer casing of a second flexible shaft. The shaft 10 may have a moulded-on square-section male or female coupling member or an integral male square end. The collar 23 may be a split resilient collar. A dirt or moisture-sealing sleeve or rubber or P.V.C. may be fitted to extend between the outer casing and the outer member of the structure co-operating with the sleeve 18. As shown, the sleeve 18, connecting together the outer casings 12, 25 respectively of two flexible drive shafts 10, 24, has an inner wall 19 and an internal step from which project four prongs 21 provided with inner projections 22 and presenting an increasing outside diameter and an end section of constant outside diameter. The outer casings 12, 25 and the shafts 10, 24 have, at their ends remote from the sleeve 18, moulded-on sleeves carrying captive nuts and integral and moulded-on square-section male coupling ends. The ends of the shafts 10, 24 coupled within the sleeve 18 have respectively a moulded-on square socket 16 and a moulded-on or integral square male end 26. The moulded-on sleeve and captive nut at the end of the outer casing 12 remote from the sleeve 18 may be replaced by the connector according to the invention. The shafts 10, 24 are respectively axially located by the engagement of the socket 16 and the inner wall 19 and a similar engagement of parts within the moulded-on sleeve of the outer casing 25. Injection moulding may be used for the sleeve 18 and the socket 16. The shaft may comprise a core around which steel wire is helically wound. To ensure full insertion of the shaft 24 in the socket 16 the outer casing 25 carries a mark to be aligned with the ends of the prongs 21. The sleeve 18 may have an integrally moulded annular internal projection near the base of the prongs to form a dirt-seal with a co-operating spigot.