US1200216A - Flexible shaft. - Google Patents

Description

A dM d w i A. MONARD.

FLEXIBLE SHAFT.

APPLICATION FILED 050.24, 1915.

1,200,216. Patented 0013. 3,1916.

WITNESSES l/Vl/E/VTOR A TTURNEYS ITNITED STATES; PATENT OFFICE.

ARM-AND MONARD, 'OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FZEXIBLE SHAFT.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, ARMAND MONARD, a citizen of Switzerland, and a resident ,of the city of New York, borough of Queens, Ridgewood, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved-Flexible Shaft, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact descrip tion.

My invention relates to flexible shafts consisting of a plurality of interconnecting links, and the objectthereof is to provide a simple and efiicient shaft ofcomparatively little weight and great flexibility and in which .the connections between the links are in the shape of spherical joints.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature ofwhich will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fullydescribed, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a section ofa shaft embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank before the blank is drawn intoa tubular section; Fig. 3 is a section through the blank drawn into a link; Fig. 4 is a 'sectionthrough a shaft fragment showing two links in connection and a third one ready to receive a succeeding link; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank having a modified locking arrangement for the locking of the link extensions; Fig. 7 'is a section through the blank after being drawn into a link;

F ig. 8 is a longitudinal section through a shaft portion formed of links, as shown inv Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 9 is a cross section through a link on line.9 9, Fig. 8; .Fig. 10 is a plan view of a further modified blank; Fig. 11 is a section through a blank after the same 'is drawn; Fig. 12 is a section through a shaft. section formed of such links; Fig; 13 is a section through a shaft section in which the tubular links are provided with reinforcing fillers; Fig. 14 is a cross section of such a shaft; and Fig. 15 is an elevation of a filler.

Referring particularly'to Figs. 1. to 5 inclusive, 16 is a blank substantiallycircular in form having twodiametrically opposite extensions 17 The blank has also a pair of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 24, 1915.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Serial No. 68,522.

arcuate, diametrically opposite slots 18 disposed on an axis at right angles to the extensions. The edge of the blank has diametrically opposite, pointed portions 19 alining with the slots.

When the blank is turned into a link 20 the central part 21 of the blank is raised to form a semi-spherical partition 22 at one end of the tubular link resulted from the drawing of the blank. The openings 18 of the blank extendpartly on the lateral surface of the link at the edge where the partition is formed and partly into the partition, as best seen in Fig. 4. These openings are adapted to receive the extensions 17 of another link. After the extensions have passed through the opening 18 they are bent to encompass the partition; It will be noted that one of the extensions 17 has a notch 23, while the other has a projection 24 adapted to fit into the notch 23' of the 'other'extension, whereby the two ends are locked when 1 the extension, with the projection, is folded over the extension with the recess. It is self-evident that the length of the extension 17 is just sufficient to encompass the partiis in the plane of the edge formed by the partition with the body of the link; and since the apexes 19 are in contact with said edge they also lie in the plane in which the center of the semispherical partition. lies. The said apexes form fulcrums or bearings in addition to the bearings formed by the engagement of the extensions with the partitions, asseen in Fig. 4. The displacement between two links is limited by the degree of sloping from the apexes to the extensions. The blank 16 (see Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive) differs from the blank 16 only in the means for interlocking the extensions 17. It will be noted that each extensionhasa pointed.

9. The engagement or the splicing of the extension ends interlocks the ends, and. considerable stress may be applied. longitudinally on the shaft without in any way endangering the parting of the interconnecting links. In cases where the blank is of considerable thickness (see Figs. 10 to12 inelusive), the extensions 17 have no interlocking means, for the strength of the extension is sufficient to overcome any longitudinal stress upon the shaft. The said extensions 17" may be long enough to meet, but this is not necessary, for if they only partially encompass the semi-spherical partition 22 they will answer the purpose, as can be easily seen from the drawings,

In Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive the links 20 are provided with fillers to increase the lateral strength of the shaft, for each link will be reinforced by a filler 26 which extends from the encompassing extensions 17"to the semi-spherical partition 22 of the adjacent link. It will be noted from-Fig. l3'that the lillers are placed into position as the shaft is built u by the connection offithe links.

' Preferably one end of the filler 26 is concave, having a curvature substantially that of the encompassing end l 'l. The other end of the filler is convex, havingv a curvature substantially that of the semi-spherical partition 22. It will be noted'thattheflexible shaft in which the linksare reinforced by fillers will not only increase the lateral strength of the shaft but also its longitudinal resistance.

Vhile I have described the principle of operation together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may bemade as are within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having aninwardly raised, semispherical partition at one end thereof and an extension at the other end adapted to en gage an adjacent link and encompass the semi-spherical partition of the said adjacent link.

2. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having an inwardly raised, semispherical partition at one end thereof, each link having. diametrically opposite slots at theedge of said partition, and diametrically opposite extensions from the other end of said link in a plane at right angles to the plane of the slots, said extensions engaging the slots of an adjacent link and-encompassing the semi-spherical partition thereof.

3. A flexible shaft consisting of tubularlinks each having an inwardly raised, semispherical partition at one end thereof, each link having diametrically opposite slots at the edge of said partition, diametrically opposite extensions from the other end of said link ina plane at right angles to the plane of the slots, said extensions engaging the slots of an adjacent link and encompassing thesemi-spherical partition thereof, the extensions encompassing the partition having meansr'locking the ends thereof.

4. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having an inwardly raised, semispherical partition at one end thereof,.each link having diametrically opposite slots at the edge of said partition, and diametrically opposite extensions from theother end of said link in a plane at, right angles to the plane of the slots, said extensions'engaging the slots of an adjacent link andencompassing the semi-spherical partition thereof, the extensions having means at the endsadapted. to interlock when the extension encompasses a partition.

5. A flexible shaft consisting, of tubular links each having an inwardly raised, semisphericalp artition at oneend' thereof, each link having, diametrically opposite slots at the edge of said partition, and diametrically opposite extensions from the other end of said; link in a plane at. right angles to the plane of the slots, said extensions engaging the slots of an adjacent linkv and encompassing the semi-spherical partition thereof,.one of the extensions having a projectiom the other of the extensions having a recess adaptedto be engaged by the projection when the extensions are made to encompassa partition of an adjacent link.

6. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having at one endthereof an inwardly raised, semi-spherical partition, each link having diametrically opposite slots at the edge of the partition, and diametrically opposite extensions at' the other end of the link at a plane at right angles tothe plane of the slots, said extensions being adapted to engage the slots of an adj acent. link and encompass the partition thereof, the edge of the link at the extensions sloping symmetrically toward the extensions, the apexes of the sloping edges being in alinement with the slots and engaging the edge of: the adjacent link.

7; A flexible shaft consisting of'tubular linkseach having at one end.thereof aninwardly raised, semirspherical partition, each link having diametrically opposite Slots at the edge of." the partition, and'diametrically opposite extensions at the other end of'the link in a plane at. right angles to the plane of the. slots, said extensions being. adapted to engage the slots of an adjacent: link and encompass the partition thereof, the edge of the link at the exten- 1 sions sloping, symmetrically toward the. extensions, the apexes of the sloping edges being in alinement with the slots and engaging the edge of the adjacent link, the center of curvature of the partition being in the plane of the edge of the link Where the partition is formed.

8. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having at one end thereof an inwardly raised, semi-spherical partition forming an integral part of the link, said links having diametrically opposite slots at the edge of the partitions, and diametrically opposite extensions at the other end of the link engaging the slots of an adja cent link and encompassing the partition of the adjacent link, said extensions having means locking the ends thereof, the edges of the link at the extensions sloping symmetrically toward the extensions, whereby the apexes of the slopes are in alinement With the slots, said apexes engaging the edge of the adjacent link, the center of curvature of the semi-spherical partition being in the plane of the edge of the link Where the partition is formed.

9. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having at one end thereof an in Wardly-raised, semi-spherical partition, each link having diametrically opposite slots at the edge of the partition, and diametrically opposite extensions at theother end of the link in a plane at right angles to the plane of the slots, the extensions engaging the slots of an adjacent link and encompassing the partition of the said adjacent link, the edge of the link at the extensions sloping toward the extensions whereby the apexes of the slopes are in alinement With the slopes, said apexes engaging the edge of the adjacent link, and a filler Within each link extending from the partition of an adjacent link to the extensions of another adjacent link.

10. A flexible shaft consisting of tubular links each having an inwardly raised semispherical partition at one end thereof, and an extension at the other end adapted to engage an adjacent link and encompass the semi-spherical partition of said adjacent link, and a filler in each link extending between the semi-spherical partition and the extensions of the adjacent links respectively.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

ARMAND MONARD.

v WVitnesses:

PAUL Bisnnorr, GUsTAvn HALTINER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

Images