Endless belt power transmission systems or components – Means for adjusting belt tension or for shifting belt,...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-02-27
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Endless belt power transmission systems or components
Means for adjusting belt tension or for shifting belt,...
C474S255000, C074S50150R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193621
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Technical Field
The subject invention relates to a mechanical device for automatically taking-up slack in a control cable of a motion transmitting system.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Conventional take-up devices used for taking-up slack in control cables are well known in the art. For it is recognized that, in many motion transmitting control systems, it is desirable to include some form of a take-up device in relation to the control cable to take-up any slack generated in the motion transmitting system. It is understood that excessive slack in the control cable may significantly diminish the operating efficiency of the motion transmitting system.
Many conventional devices implemented to take-up slack in a control cable are deficient in that the operation of taking-up slack is not automatic. Nor is the operation of taking-up slack with these take-up devices continuous. That is to say that many conventional take-up devices do not automatically account for the tendency of the control cable in a motion transmitting system to return to a slackened position. For example, although a common turnbuckle takes-up slack in a control cable, the operation is not automatic because the turnbuckle requires manual adjustment. Furthermore, in the time interval between manual adjustment of the turnbuckle, the control cable returns to the slackened position and the operating efficiency of the motion transmitting system is diminished due to the excessive slack in the control cable. Examples of such conventional take-up devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,403,828, 2,813,733, and 5,702,196.
In a similar conventional manner simple extension springs in combination with a linear ratchet mechanism have been employed to take-up slack in a control cable. In such conventional devices, the extension spring takes-up slack in the control cable, and the linear ratchet mechanism performs a mechanical locking function to prevent the control cable from returning to the slackened position. However, in the time interval between increasing mechanical locks of the linear ratchet mechanism, the control cable returns to the slackened position. In sum, such locking linear ratchet mechanisms are deficient because they do not account for the control cables tendency to return to the slackened position in between increasing mechanical locks of the control cable.
Due to the inefficiencies identified in conventional take-up devices, it is desirable to implement a take-up device that automatically takes-up slack in a control cable while accounting for the continuous tendency of the control cable to return to the slackened position by preventing this return from taking place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES
A take-up device for taking-up slack in a control cable. The take up device comprises a first cable mount for fixedly receiving one end of the control cable. A first actuator operatively engages the first cable mount for continuously biasing the first cable mount to a take-up position. A stop element selectively engages the first cable mount to retain the first cable mount in the take-up position. The take-up device is characterized by a second actuator for automatically moving the stop element into selective engagement with the first cable mount as the first actuator biases the first cable mount to the take-up position thereby automatically preventing the first cable mount from returning to a slackened position.
Accordingly, the subject invention provides a take-up device that automatically takes-up slack in a control cable while continuously, and therefore permanently, accounting for the tendency of the control cable to return to the slackened position by automatically preventing the control cable from returning to the slackened position with a stop element.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4051742 (1977-10-01), Johansson et al.
patent: 4229138 (1980-10-01), Hurst
patent: 4344518 (1982-08-01), Gilmore
patent: 4378713 (1983-04-01), Haskell et al.
patent: 4543849 (1985-10-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 4631955 (1986-12-01), Brolin et al.
patent: 4653364 (1987-03-01), Hansen
patent: 4682760 (1987-07-01), Baumgarten
patent: 4693137 (1987-09-01), Deligny
patent: 4753123 (1988-06-01), Stormont
patent: 4787263 (1988-11-01), Jaksic
patent: 4798100 (1989-01-01), Baumgarten
patent: 4813304 (1989-03-01), Kobayashi
patent: 4892004 (1990-01-01), Segura et al.
patent: 5138897 (1992-08-01), Beard et al.
patent: 5156064 (1992-10-01), Truman
patent: 5377556 (1995-01-01), Byrnes
patent: 5415057 (1995-05-01), Nihei et al.
patent: 5435202 (1995-07-01), Kitamura
patent: 5485762 (1996-01-01), Rothman
patent: 5555769 (1996-09-01), Lichtenberg
patent: 5664461 (1997-09-01), Kitamura
patent: 5706706 (1998-01-01), Kitamura
patent: 5813290 (1998-09-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 5846151 (1998-12-01), Hormann
patent: 5902201 (1999-05-01), Vermeer et
Fanuc Robotics North America Inc.
Hannon Thomas R.
Howard & Howard
LandOfFree
Take-up device for tensioning motion transmitting control... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Take-up device for tensioning motion transmitting control..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Take-up device for tensioning motion transmitting control... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2560625