# US 10,320,175 B2 · Mechanical link

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- Number: US 10,320,175 B2
- Document ID: US10320175B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/697,195
- Filed: 2017-09-06
- Published: 2018-03-08
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-07
- Assignees: Ultra Electronics Limited
- Applicants: Ultra Electronics Limited
- Inventors: Phil Keen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320175B2

## CPC

- H02G 11/00: Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
- H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES

## Abstract

A mechanical link includes a carrier for supporting a conductor within a mechanical link. The mechanical link may include a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being arranged for movement with respect to the first arm, and a flexible helical carrier for supporting a conductor, wherein the flexible helical carrier is received within the first and second arms. The carrier may be, or may include a generally helical member of a flexible material, the generally helical member comprising a continuous support portion having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mechanical link comprising:
a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being arranged for movement with respect to the first arm;
an intermediate housing member interposed between first and second housing members, wherein the first, second and intermediate housing members are configured to form a universal joint; and
a flexible helical carrier for supporting one of an electrical cable or an optical cable wound around a continuous support portion of the flexible helical carrier, wherein the flexible helical carrier is received within the first and second arms and the first arm comprises a first arm end received in a first housing member, the second arm comprises a second arm end received in a second housing member, and wherein the flexible helical carrier is attached at a first end thereof to the first arm end and at a second end thereof to the second arm end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the flexible helical carrier is of an elastomeric material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A mechanical link according to claim 2 wherein the elastomeric material comprises neoprene.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the continuous support portion of the flexible helical carrier having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions for retaining the conductor in position when the conductor is wound on the continuous support portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A mechanical link according to claim 1 wherein the second arm is arranged for pivotal movement with respect to the first arm about two mutually orthogonal axes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A mechanical link according to claim 5 wherein the mutually orthogonal axes are offset from one another.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A mechanical link according to claim 1, wherein the first housing member and the second housing member are formed as hollow cylinders.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A mechanical link according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate housing member is formed as a ring.

### Claim 9

A carrier for supporting a conductor in a mechanical link, the carrier comprising a helical member of a flexible material terminated by ends configured for coupling to a mechanical link, the helical member consisting essentially of a continuous support portion having on both sides thereof upstanding wall portions for supporting one of an electrical cable or an optical cable;
a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being arranged for movement with respect to the first arm;
an intermediate housing member interposed between first and second housing members, wherein the first, second and intermediate housing members are configured to form a universal joint;
wherein the carrier is received within the first and second arms and the first arm comprises a first arm end received in a first housing member, the second arm comprises a second arm end received in a second housing member, and wherein the carrier is attached at a first end thereof to the first arm end and at a second end thereof to the second arm end.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A carrier according to claim 9 wherein the flexible material comprises an elastomeric material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A carrier according to claim 10 wherein the elastomeric material comprises neoprene.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A carrier according to claim 9, wherein continuous support portion having on both sides thereof the upstanding wall portions forms a helical open channel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The carrier according to claim 12, wherein the helical open channel is configured for holding multiple cables in a parallel arrangement.