MXPA00005360A - Swivel insert remote control assembly and method of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

A flexible motion transmitting core element (12) is attached a rod (14) and a conduit (16) movably supports the core element (12) and has an end portion to which is attached an end fitting (18). An insert (20) has a neck portion (22) embedded in the end fitting (18) and a spherical portion (24) presenting a ball-shaped pocket and extending from said neck portion (22) through a maximum inner diameter D. A swivel tube (26) has a bore therethrough for movably supporting the rod (14) and has a convex spherical surface (28) slidably supported in the ball-shaped pocket for swiveling movement relative to the end fitting (18). The end fitting (18) embeds only a portion of the spherical portion (24) of the insert (20) for allowing the open end (30) to move radially to snap the convex spherical surface (28) of the swivel tube (26) into the ball-shaped pocket of the insert (20). The insert (20) includes an anchor flange (32) for anchoring the insert (20) in the end fitting (18).

Description

REMOTE CONTROL INSTRUMENT OF ROTATING INSERT AND METHOD OF DOING IT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 . FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a motion transmitter remote control assembly of the type for transmitting movement in a curved path by a central flexible transmitting motion element. More specifically, the invention relates to such a control assembly where a rotating tube is supported by an end fitting for rotary movement when a rod attached to the central element moves back and forth on the rotating tube. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART To overcome the problems in molding the end fitting around the male convex spherical end of the rotating tube, an insert has been embedded in the end fitting to engage and support the spherical end of the rotating tube. Such a solution is disclosed in copending U.S. Patents 4,380,178 and 4,649,010, both in the name of Bennett et al. And assigned to the assignee of the present invention. According to the solution described therein, the end fitting is molded sufficiently around the spherical end of the rotating tube to prevent the rotating tube from coming off the assembly and / or requires disassembling the rotary tube in position when the end fitting is molded around it. of the insert and rotating tube. An alternative construction is to mold an end fitting without an insert and sized so that the male spherical end of the rotating tube jumps into the spherical cavity in the end fitting. It remains necessary to mold an end fitting around the insert while leaving the spherical end of the rotating tube to be mounted with the insert in a subsequent operation.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES A remote transmitting motion control assembly includes a flexible central moving transmitter element having a terminal portion and a rod attached to the terminal portion of the central element. A conduit movably supports the central member and has an end portion with an end fitting disposed around the end portion of the conduit. An insert has a neck portion embedded in the end fitting and a spherical portion having a ball-shaped cavity and extending from the neck portion through a maximum inside diameter. A rotating tube has a hole therethrough to movably support the rod and has a convex spherical surface slidably supported in the ball-shaped cavity for rotational movement relative to the end fitting. The assembly is characterized in that the spherical portion extends from the maximum inner diameter to an open end which is smaller than the maximum inner diameter and smaller than the convex spherical surface for engaging and retaining the convex spherical surface of the rotating tube in the shaped cavity. of ball. Therefore, the method is characterized by the steps of placing the end portion of the conduit and the insert in a mold cavity, the mold cavity terminating at least in the maximum inner diameter to leave the insert outside the mold cavity. between the maximum inner diameter and the open end, and injecting organic polymeric material into the mold cavity to mold the end that fits around the end portion of the duct and around the insert from the neck portion to a position no further than maximum inside diameter of the spherical portion. Accordingly, the present invention provides an insert molded into the end fitting but which can receive and retain the spherical end of the rotating tube in a subsequent mounting operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as it is better understood by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal view partially in cross section and which represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention. And Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mold assembly for making the preferred embodiment according to the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the figures, where analogous numbers indicate analogous or corresponding parts in all the various views, a set of remote transmitting motion transmitter made according to the present invention is generally represented at 10. The set 10 includes a flexible central transmitting movement element 12 having a terminal or end portion to which a rod 14 is attached by a flange 15. The central element 12 includes a plurality of wires wound together to define a cable, but may include a wire metal. A conduit 16 movably supports the central member 12 and has an end portion to which an end fitting 18 is attached when the end accessor 18 is disposed about the end portion of the conduit 16. The assembly includes an insert, indicated generally at 20, having a neck portion 22 embedded in the end fitting 18 and a spherical portion 24 having a ball-shaped cavity and extending from said neck portion 22 through a maximum inside diameter D. A rotating tube 26 has a hole therethrough to movably support the rod 14 and has a convex spherical surface 28 slidably supported in the ball-shaped cavity for rotational movement relative to the end fitting 18. The assembly 10 is characterized in that the spherical portion 24 extends from the maximum inner diameter D to an open end 30 having smaller diameter than the inner diameter m maximum D and less than the convex spherical surface 28 to engage and retain the convex spherical surface 28 of the rotating tube 26 in the ball-shaped cavity. More specifically, the end fitting 18 imbibes a portion of the spherical portion 24 of the insert 20 to allow the open end 30 to move radially to blow the convex spherical surface 28 of the rotating tube 26 into the ball-shaped cavity. of the insert 20. The end fitting 18 terminates at least on or before the maximum inner diameter when extending from the neck portion 22 to leave the insert 20 free of radial restriction between the maximum inner diameter D and the open end. The insert 20 includes an anchor 32 for securing the insert 20 to the end fitting 18. The anchor 32 includes a radially extending flange, embedded in the end fitting 18. In other words, the end fitting 18 it extends to smaller diameters on both sides of the flange to prevent relative axial movement between the end fitting 18 and the insert 20, ie, to prevent the insert 20 from coming off of the end fitting 18. The neck portion 22 of the insert 20 contacts the end of the conduit 16. More specifically, the conduit 16 includes an inner tubular covering 34 surrounded by load bearing filaments 36 and an envelope 38 surrounding 38. the filaments 36, the neck portion 22 contacting the inner tubular sheath 34. The sheath 38 ends in longitudinally spaced relation to the neck portion 22 to expose the filaments 36 to the end fitting 18. The filaments 36 have flared end portions 40. which extend radially to the end fitting 18 to retain the end fitting 18 in the conduit 16. The end fitting 18 consists of organic polymeric material and said insert 20 consists of a metal, although the insert 20 may also consist of organic polymeric material, but with the end fitting 18 molded around the insert 20. Therefore, the invention also encompasses an all of making such a motion transmitter remote control assembly characterized by the steps of placing the end portion of the conduit 16 and the insert 20 in a mold cavity 42, the mold cavity 42 terminating at least the maximum inside diameter D to leave the insert 20 outside the mold cavity 42 between the maximum inside diameter D and the open end 30, and injecting organic polymeric material into the mold cavity 42 to mold the end fitting 18 around the end portion of the duct 16 and around the insert 20 from the neck portion 22 to a position no further than the internal diameter. -ior maximum D of the spherical portion. As indicated above, the method is further defined by forming an anchor 32 in the neck portion 22 of the insert 20 and molding the end fitting 18 to mechanical interlocking engagement with the anchor 32 to prevent the insert 20 from slipping off. end fitting 18. This step is further defined as forming a flange extending radially from the neck portion 22 of the insert 20 and molding the end fitting 18 to mechanical interlocking engagement with the flange to prevent the insert 20 from exit the end fitting 18. The method is further defined as flaking a portion 40 of the end portion of the duct 16 radially outside and molding the end fitting 18 around the flared portion 40 to imbibe the portion, flared 40 in the end fitting 18. The method includes placing the end portion of the conduit 16 in contact relation with the neck portion 22 of the insert 20 in the cavity. of mold 42 and insert a mandrel 44 into portion 22 and conduit 16 before injecting organic polymeric material into cavity 42. After molding end fitting 18 around the end portion of conduit 16, the method of assembly includes the step of blowing the convex spherical surface 28 of the rotary tube 26 through the open end 30 of the insert 20 and the ball-shaped cavity to be retained there when the open end 30 moves radially outward so that the convex spherical surface more big can pass through it.

The mold includes two parts and lower and upper halves 46 and 48 with pins 50 that align the two mold parts. The cavity in the mold parts 46 and 48 extends to a position where the mold portions 46 and 48 engage the insert 20 in or diametrically in a plane corresponding to the maximum diameter D of the insert 20. end pad 52 is disposed at the distal end of the rotating tube 26 and the rod 14 has a terminal 54 for attachment to a control element The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology is intended to be It is understood that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the foregoing ideas, therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the foregoing Within the scope of the appended claims, where the reference numbers are merely indicated for reasons of convenience and are not in any way limiting, the invention can be practiced otherwise than described. it specifically.

Claims (16)

Claims

1. A remote transmitting motion control assembly (10) comprising: a central flexible movement transmitting element (12) having a terminal portion, a conduit (16) for movably supporting said central element (12) and having a portion of end, an end fitting (18) disposed about said end portion of said conduit (16), a rod (14) attached to said terminal portion of said central element (12), an insert (20) having a portion neck (22) embedded in said end fitting (18) and a spherical portion (24) having a ball-shaped cavity and extending from said neck portion (22) through a maximum inside diameter, and a rotating tube (26) having a hole therethrough to movably support said rod (14) and having a convex spherical surface (28) slidably supported in said ball-shaped cavity for rotational movement relative to said a End fitting (18), characterized in that said mounting because said spherical portion (24) extends from said maximum inner diameter to an open end (30) that is smaller than said maximum inner diameter and smaller than said convex spherical surface for engaging and retaining said convex spherical surface (28) of said rotating tube (26) in said ball-shaped cavity.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said end fitting (18) soaks a portion of said spherical portion (24) of said insert (20) to allow said open end (30) to move radially to cause said convex spherical surface (28) of said rotating tube (26) to said ball-shaped cavity of said insert (20).

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said end fitting (18) terminates at least said maximum inside diameter D to leave said insert (20) free of radial restriction between said maximum inside diameter D and said open end ( 30).

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said insert (20) includes an anchor (32) for securing said insert (20) to said end fitting (18).

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said anchor (32) includes a radially extending flange, embedded in said end fitting (18).

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said end fitting (18) extends to smaller diameters on both sides of said flange to prevent relative axial movement between said end fitting (18) and said insert ( twenty) .

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said neck portion (22) of said insert (20) contacts said conduit (16).

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein said conduit (16) includes an inner tubular covering (34) surrounded by load bearing filaments (36) and a sheath (38) surrounding (38) said filaments (36) , said neck portion (22) contacting said inner tubular covering (34), said sheath (38) terminating in longitudinally spaced relation to said neck portion (22) to expose said filaments (36) to said end fitting (18) .

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said filaments (36) have flared end portions (40) radially extending to said end fitting (18) for retaining said end fitting (18) in said duct (16)

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said end fitting (18) consists of organic polymeric material and said insert (20) consists of a metal.

11. A method of making a motion transmitter remote control assembly that includes a central flexible movement transmitter element (12) having a terminal portion, a conduit (16) for movingly supporting the central element (12) and it has an end portion, an end fitting (18) disposed around the end portion of the conduit (16), a rod (14) attached to the terminal portion of the central element (12), a rotating tube (26) which It has a hole through it for rotary movement with relation, to the end fitting (18) and movably supporting the rod (14), the rotary tube (26) having a convex spherical surface (28) for coupling engagement and support in a ball-shaped cavity defined by an insert (20) having a neck portion (22) embedded in the end fitting (18) and a spherical portion (24) defining the ball-shaped cavity and extending from the neck portion (22) through a maximum diameter D to an open end (30) of smaller diameter, said method characterized by the steps of placing the end portion of the conduit (16) and the insert (20) in a mold cavity (42), terminating the mold cavity. (42) at least in the maximum inner diameter D to leave the insert (20) outside the mold cavity (42) between the maximum inner diameter D and the open end (30), and inject organic polymeric material into the cavity of mold (42) for molding the end fitting (18) around the end portion of the duct (16) and around the insert (20) from the neck portion (22) to a position not beyond the maximum inner diameter D of the spherical portion (24).

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, further defined as forming an anchor (32) in the neck portion (22) of the insert (20) and molding the end fitting (18) to mechanical interlocking engagement with the anchor ( 32) to prevent the insert (20) from coming out of the end fitting (18).

13. A method as set forth in claim 11, further defined as forming a flange extending radially from the neck portion (22) of the insert (20) and molding the end fitting (18) to mechanical interlocking engagement with the flange to prevent the insert (20) from being removed from the end fitting (18).

14. A method as set forth in claim 12, further defined as flapping a portion (40) of the end portion of the duct (16) radially outwardly and molding the end fitting (18) around the flared portion (40) for embed the flared portion (40) in the end fitting (18).

15. A method as set forth in claim 11, including the step of blowing the convex spherical surface (28) of the rotating tube (26) through the open end (30) of the insert (20) and into the cavity in the form of ball for retention in it when said open end (30) moves radially outwardly so that the largest convex spherical surface (28) can pass to its path.

16. A method as set forth in claim 11, further defined by placing the end portion of the conduit (16) in contact relation with the neck of the insert (20) in the mold cavity (42), inserting a mandrel (44) in the neck and the conduit (16) before injecting organic polymeric material into the cavity.