JP6629548B2 - Control cable - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control cable in which an inner cable is slidably inserted into a cylindrical liner.

  As shown in Patent Document 1, the control cable includes an inner cable, a liner, a plurality of strands, a covering portion, and the like. The plurality of strands are arranged so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the liner in a state where they are in close contact with each other to form a strand (in particular, see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-225498 A

  The strand is a member that increases the buckling strength of the control cable. For this reason, the bending rigidity of the control cable is increased, and the minimum bending radius must be increased. However, in order to improve the routing of the control cable, it is important to reduce the minimum bending radius and reduce the weight.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a control cable capable of reducing the minimum bending radius and reducing the weight without significantly impairing the buckling strength (bending rigidity).

  In the present application, a flexible tubular liner (5) having a plurality of spiral grooves (5A) on its outer peripheral surface, and a slidable liner (5). The inserted inner cable (3) and the plurality of cord-like strands (7), which are spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the liner (5) while being fitted in the respective plurality of grooves (5A). It comprises a strand (7) and a covering (9) for covering the plurality of strands (7) and the liner (5).

  As a result, in the present invention, the plurality of strands (7) are held by the liner (5), that is, the plurality of strands (7) and the liner (5) are mechanically connected. Therefore, even if the number of the strands (7) is reduced to such an extent that the adjacent strands (7) are separated from each other, it is possible to suppress the buckling strength (bending rigidity) of the control cable from being greatly reduced.

  That is, in the present invention, the number of the strands (7) can be reduced as compared with the related art, so that the minimum bending radius can be reduced while suppressing the buckling strength (bending rigidity) of the control cable from being greatly reduced. It is possible to reduce the size and weight.

  In addition, since the plurality of strands (7) are held by the liner (5), there is a problem that the winding of each "strand (7)" is loosened before the covering portion (9) is formed. Less likely to occur.

  Therefore, the covering portion (9) can be formed in a state where the plurality of strands (7) are securely wound around the liner (5). As a result, when the control cable is bent, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of problems such as the strand (7) being displaced from a regular position.

  Incidentally, the reference numerals in the parentheses above are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations and the like described in the embodiments described later, and the present invention is limited to the specific configurations and the like indicated in the parentheses. Not something.

It is a perspective view showing the structure of control cable 1 concerning an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of liner 5 concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a side view of the control cable 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a sectional view of the control cable 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A is a side view of the control cable 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. B is a cross-sectional view of the control cable 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional view of control cable 1 concerning a 3rd embodiment of the present invention.

  The “embodiment of the invention” described below shows an example of the embodiment. That is, the invention-specifying matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiments.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that arrows and the like indicating the directions attached to the respective drawings are provided for easy understanding of the relationship between the respective drawings. The invention is not limited to the directions given in the figures.

At least one member or site described with a reference numeral is provided, unless otherwise specified, such as "plural" or "two or more".
(1st Embodiment)
1. Configuration of Control Cable In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a control cable for an automobile. As shown in FIG. 1, the control cable 1 according to the present embodiment includes an inner cable 3, a liner 5, a plurality of strands 7, a covering portion 9, and the like.

  The inner cable 3 is a wire rope formed by twisting a number of strands such as a hard steel wire, a stainless steel wire, and an oil-tempered wire. The liner 5 is a flexible cylindrical member, and the inner cable 3 is slidably inserted therein. The space between the inner peripheral surface of the liner 5 and the inner cable 3 is filled with a highly viscous lubricating oil such as grease.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of spiral grooves 5 </ b> A are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5. The liner 5 is made of a resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyamide, or polyacetal. The plurality of grooves 5A are formed integrally with the liner 5 when the liner 5 is extruded or drawn.

  Each strand 7 is a cord-like member having the same diameter. Each strand 7 is made of the same or different metal as the material constituting the strand of the inner cable 3. Each of the strands 7 is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5 (see FIG. 1) while being fitted into each of the plurality of grooves 5A (see FIG. 3A).

  Note that the tension applied to each strand 7 when each strand 7 is wound around the liner 5 is appropriately determined based on the specifications required for the control cable 1 and the like. That is, there may be a state where almost no tension is applied or a state where a predetermined or more tension is applied.

  The covering part 9 is a part that covers the plurality of strands 7 and the liner 5, as shown in FIG. 3B. The coating 9 is made of a resin such as polypropylene, polyethylene or polyamide (in the present embodiment, polypropylene).

  In addition, the coating | coated part 9 is shape | molded as follows. That is, the liner 5 in which the strands 7 are disposed in the respective groove portions 5A passes through a substantially cylindrical molding die. During this passage, a molten resin is injected and injected from the inner peripheral surface of the molding die toward the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5. Then, the resin is cured to form the covering portion 9.

  The depth dimension D1 of the plurality of grooves 5A is equal to or greater than the radius dimension R1 of each strand 7. The depth dimension D1 of the groove 5A is a value obtained by subtracting the radius R3 of the virtual circle contacting the bottom of each groove 5A from the outer radius R2 of the liner 5. That is, D1 = R2-R3.

  In FIG. 3A and the like, the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the liner 5 and the inner cable 3 is large, but in reality, it is very small, about 0.2 mm, and the gap is filled with grease. Have been.

2. Features of the Control Cable According to the Present Embodiment In the present embodiment, a plurality of grooves 5 </ b> A are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5, and each strand 7 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5 in a state fitted into each groove 5 </ b> A. Has been. Thus, in the present embodiment, a state in which the plurality of strands 7 are held by the liner 5, that is, a state in which the plurality of strands 7 and the liner 5 are mechanically connected.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, even if the number of the strands 7 is reduced to such an extent that the adjacent strands 7 are separated from each other, the buckling strength (bending rigidity) of the control cable 1 is greatly reduced. Can be suppressed.

  That is, in the present embodiment, since the number of strands 7 can be reduced as compared with the conventional case, the minimum bending radius can be reduced while suppressing the buckling strength (bending rigidity) of the control cable 1 from greatly decreasing. It is possible to reduce the size and weight.

Further, since the plurality of strands 7 are held by the liner 5, problems such as loosening of the "winding of the strands 7" before the coating 9 is formed are less likely to occur.
Therefore, the covering portion 9 can be formed with the plurality of strands 7 securely wound around the liner 5. As a result, when the control cable 1 is bent, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of troubles such as the strand 7 being displaced from a regular position.

  In the present embodiment, the depth dimension D1 of the plurality of grooves 5A is equal to or larger than the radius dimension R1 of each strand 7. Thereby, each strand 7 can be in a state of being securely held by the liner 5.

(2nd Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a plurality of spiral grooves 5B (hereinafter, also referred to as second grooves 5B) are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the liner 5. Note that the same components and the like as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus redundant description will be omitted.

  The second groove 5B according to the present embodiment is circumferentially offset from a groove 5A (hereinafter, also referred to as a first groove 5A) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5. The circumferential direction refers to a direction parallel to the outer peripheral surface of the liner 5 or the coating 9.

  The second groove 5B has the same pitch and the same twist direction as the first groove 5A. In other words, the second groove 5B draws a spiral with the same pitch that is shifted in phase in the circumferential direction with respect to the first groove 5A.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the contact area between the inner peripheral surface of the liner 5 and the inner cable 3 is reduced, so that the sliding resistance can be reduced. Since the second groove 5B can be used as a lubricant (grease) reservoir, the sliding resistance of the inner cable 3 can be kept low for a long time. Therefore, the operability of the control cable 1 can be improved.

  Since the second groove 5B draws a spiral having the same pitch with a phase shifted in the circumferential direction with respect to the first groove 5A, it is possible to suppress the thickness dimension of the liner 5 from being locally reduced. Therefore, when the control cable 1, that is, the liner 5 is curved, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cracks starting from the first groove 5 </ b> A or the second groove 5 </ b> B.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the depth dimension D1 of the plurality of grooves 5A is larger than the depth dimension D1 of the groove 5A according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. Specifically, the depth dimension D1 of the groove 5A is set to be about 70% or more of the diameter of each strand 7. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment.

  FIG. 5 illustrates this embodiment taking the first embodiment as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the second embodiment, that is, the second groove portion 5B is provided in the liner 5. It is also applicable to those that are.

(Other embodiments)
In the above embodiment, the number of the strands 7 is six, but the present invention is not limited to this, and at least two strands are sufficient. The number of the strands 7 and the first grooves 5A, the depth D1 of the first grooves 5A, the pitch dimension, and the twist direction are not specified.

  That is, the number of the strands 7 and the first grooves 5A, the depth D1 of the first grooves 5A, the pitch dimension, and the twist direction are appropriately determined based on the specifications required for the control cable 1.

  Therefore, for example, the second groove 5B according to the second embodiment has the same pitch and the same twist direction as the first groove 5A, but the present invention is not limited to this. The direction of twisting of the groove 5B may be opposite to the direction of the first groove 5A.

  The structure of the inner cable 3 and the cover 9 is not limited to the structure described in the above embodiment. For example, the surface of the inner cable 3 may be covered with a resin such as polyethylene, polyacetal, or polyamide.

  Although the control cable 1 according to the above-described embodiment is applied to an automobile, the application of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a control cable for a building such as a smoke exhaust window or an automatic control cable may be used. It is also applicable to motorcycle clutch cables and the like.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it conforms to the gist of the invention described in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control cable 3 ... Inner cable 5 ... Liner 5A ... Groove 7 ... Strand 9 ... Covering part

Claims (2)

A tubular liner having flexibility, wherein a plurality of spiral first grooves are provided on an outer peripheral surface;
An inner cable slidably inserted into the liner,
A plurality of strands spirally wound around an outer peripheral surface of the liner in a state of being fitted into each of the plurality of first groove portions;
Comprising a covering portion that covers the plurality of strands and the liner,
A control cable, characterized in that a plurality of spiral second grooves are provided on an inner peripheral surface of the liner and are shifted in a circumferential direction with respect to the first groove. The control cable according to claim 1, wherein a depth dimension of the plurality of first grooves is equal to or greater than a radius dimension of the strand.

Images