Joints and connections – Articulated members – Pivoted
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-04-10
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Pivoted
C403S127000, C074S502600, C384S208000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213674
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a ball joint for use in various industrial appliances, in particular, for use in a cable guide.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a ball joint for a cable guide is structured as shown in FIG.
4
. Reference numeral
1
designates a ball joint and
2
designates a cable. The ball joint
1
is interposed between a cable fixation table
3
for fixing one end of the cable and a cable supporting table
4
for supporting an intermediate portion of the cable and changing the drawn out direction approximately at 90 degrees. The ball joint
1
comprises a U-letter shaped retainer
5
, a shaft
6
bridged between a pair of legs
5
a
of U-letter shaped retainer, a cubic body
7
coupled rotatably with the shaft
6
and an outer ring
8
to be coupled with the cubic surface of the cubic body
7
. The retainer
5
is mounted on a mounting plate
9
with a bolt
10
connected to the bottom of the leg portions
3
a
of the cable fixation table
3
with bolt
9
. The outer ring
8
is mounted on one end
4
a
of the supporting table
4
with bolt
11
.
In operation, the cable
2
is drawn downward approximately vertically from the cable fixation table
3
, then wound two or three times in loop on the cable supporting table
4
, and further drawn out in an approximately horizontal direction through a ring guide
12
on the cable supporting table
4
. In the above mentioned ball joint
1
, the cubic body
7
rotates against shaft
6
and the outer ring
8
also rotates against the cubic body
7
, so that the cable supporting table
4
can swing three-dimensionally, which guarantees the cable
2
is able to move freely.
According to the above mentioned cable guide system, if the cable
2
is not wound in a loop on the cable supporting table
4
, it is swung excessively. An inordinate tension is put on the cable
2
, or the cable
2
is forced to be bent at a sharp angle. Therefore, it has become unavoidable to wind the cable in a loop on the supporting table
4
.
However, there is a problem where the cable
2
is wound in a loop on the cable supporting table
4
, and the cable supporting table
4
is swinging. The cable
2
is apt to be damaged due to frictional contact between the cable and the cable supporting table. In addition, due to the three-dimensional swinging of the cable supporting table
4
, the cable
2
is apt to be twisted at the looped portion, so that a lead in the cable can be broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to solve the above problem and provides a ball joint for guiding a cable which guarantees a smooth movement of the cable, thereby contributing greatly to increase the endurance of the cable.
To attain the above object, in the present invention, a ball joint comprises a ball and an outer ring coupled with the cubic surface of the ball, which is supported by a stationary retainer. Said ball is pierced with a cable insertion hole which has an widened portion shaped like a horn toward one opening as a guide member provided adjacently to the ball for guiding a cable inserted in this insertion hole.
In the ball joint for cable guide thus constructed, by guiding a cable through the ball under the outer ring and inside the guide member which is in communication with the ball, the free movement of the cable is guaranteed because the ball and the guide member follow the movement of the cable in unitary manner. In addition, since the cable is guided along the inside and horn-like face of the guide member, it can be prevented from bending at a sharp angle or twisting.
In the present invention, a hollow shaft having screw threads at its end can be inserted in the cable insertion hole of the ball and connected by being screwed in the guide member, thereby those are made in a unit, and the hollow portion of the hollow shaft can be used as a cable guide path.
Also the retainer is configured as a housing. At the top where the outer ring supporting member is disposed and on the side of the retainer an outlet is provided for taking out the cable drawn out from the guide member. In this case, by engaging the guide member with the side of the retainer, a turning angle of the cubic body can be limited.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2140426 (1938-12-01), Hodson
patent: 3215405 (1965-11-01), Walsh
patent: 5570611 (1996-11-01), Pospisil et al.
patent: 5862711 (1999-01-01), Oda
patent: 5911790 (1999-06-01), Bates
Fujino Makoto
Sasaki Gen
Browne Lynne H.
Minebea Co. Ltd.
Oliff & Berridge PLC.
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