GB476484A - Improvements in and relating to flexible wire cables and bowden mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

476,484. Making wire and like couplings ; change speed gear. TONDEUR, R., and BOWDEN (ENGINEERS), Ltd. April 9, 1936, No. 10581. [Classes 83 (ii) and 83 (iv)] [Also in Group XXIV] Welding ; dividing by fusion.-A flexible stranded wire cable, such as the inner member of a push-and-pull Bowden mechanism, has rodlike pieces attached to the ends thereof by fusing the ends of the cable to produce solid ends and then welding thereto rod-like pieces of substantially the same diameter as that of the cable. The fusing may be effected by fixing the cable in copper electrodes and resistance heating till the cable is severed by melting, the cable being preferably under tension during the operation. The ends may be faced by grinding, prior to welding. The rods may be welded to the cable ends by electric resistance, flash or percussive welding. In the flash welding operation a supplementary magnetic-circuit may be broken when the welding pressure is applied so that a further current is discharged to heat the ends further. The end of the rod-like pieces may be pointed or drilled so as to increase their electric resistance. When the cable forms the inner member of a flexible shaft drive it may be previously hardened by heat treatment. In a push-and-pull Bowden mechanism acting as an operating device for the selector mechanism of a change-speed gear-box for motor cars and having two Bowden transmissions 1, 2, the ends 7 and 8 welded as aforesaid to the cables 3, which operate respectively the first and reverse gear and the second and third gears, pass through casings 4 positively anchored at each end to stops 5 and 6. Eye pieces 9 are screwed on the extensions 7 and cylindrical nuts 11, 12 with peripheral grooves are screwed on the extensions 8. The operating rod 15 is provided with longitudinal grooves on opposite sides engaging lugs 19, 20 on a stop disc 21, which is mounted in recesses 22, 23 in the housing 14. The rod is also provided with a notch 26 engaging a spring-pressed, ball 27 when in neutral position. When the rod is rotated to the right, a tongue 28 on the disc 21 engages the groove in the nut 12 to prevent axial motion of the cable in mechanism 2, and the cable of mechanism 1 may then be operated by longitudinal motion of the rod, which is provided with a projecting lug 25. When the rod is rotated from neutral position in the opposite direction, the tongue 29 engages the groove in nut 11 and the nut 12 is freed for operation by the lug 25. The casing 4 may consist of tubing as described in Specification 412,367, [Group XXIV], consisting preferably of four to eight coils.