US 5,884,531 A · Low lash rotating conduit end fitting for a remote control cable assembly that isolates against vibration/noise transmission

Abstract

An end fitting for use in a remote control cable assembly of the type having a control cable that includes a conduit and a wire-like strand or core element. The end of the strand is typically attached to a slider rod that extends within a swivel tube. The swivel tube is supported within a swivel socket provided in the end fitting. The end fitting allows for easy rotation of the end fitting relative to the axis of the conduit and provides for isolation against noise and vibration transmission, while not adding additional lash into the cable system from the rotating end fitting joint. The end fitting has four pieces, a molded sleeve, conduit isolator, outer fitting (side entry fitting) and end cap. The conduit isolator, end cap, molded outer fitting and molded sleeve, are toleranced such that when they are assembled, they have a slight interference and thus reduce the lash generated by the rotational joint. The conduit isolator further is manufactured from a resilient material that isolates against transmission of vibration/noise and can be easily compressed by a snap fitting operation.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A conduit end fitting for a remote control cable assembly that allows for easy rotation of the fitting relative to a conduit having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a molded sleeve fastened directly onto and along the longitudinal axis of the conduit, the molded sleeve including a radially outwardly extending flange;
a conduit isolator formed of a compressible elastomeric material, the conduit isolator further comprising a cavity for receiving the radially outwardly extending flange of the molded sleeve and having a partial spherical seat portion, the conduit isolator surrounding an assembly that has a front portion and a rear portion;
a molded outer fitting having an outside periphery, the molded outer fitting further comprising a spherical seat portion for receiving and supporting a swivel tube, and having a cylindrical cavity for receiving a front portion of the assembly created by the conduit isolator and the molded sleeve, the molded outer fitting also including an outside lip;
an end cap having a cylindrical cavity for receiving the rear portion of the assembly created by the conduit isolator and the molded sleeve, the end cap comprising an internal lip the mates with the outside lip of the molded outer fitting so as to cap the assembly.

1 more element

A motion transmitting remote control assembly of the type for transmitting motion along a curved path, said assembly comprising:

a conduit having an end and a longitudinal axis;
a flexible motion transmitting core element having a length and a central axis and movably supported along said length within said conduit;
a molded sleeve fastened directly onto and along the longitudinal axis of the conduit such that the molded sleeve is fixed against longitudinal movement relative said conduit end, the molded sleeve including a radially extending flange, the flange having an outer edge;
a molded outer fitting rotatably disposed about said molded sleeve for attaching said conduit end to a support structure;
an isolator disposed between said molded outer fitting and said molded sleeve for dampening vibrations and shocks transmitted between the support structure and the conduit end;
an end cap secured to the molded outer fitting;
the outer fitting and the end cap each having annular end surfaces that extend radially inward beyond the outer edge of the flange, the end surfaces of the outer fitting and the end cap being located on opposite sides of the flange such that the flange is sandwiched via the conduit isolator between the end cap in one direction and the outer fitting in the other direction.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low lash rotating conduit end fitting for a remote control cable assembly that isolates against vibration/noise transmission

Life of this patent

Low lash rotating conduit end fitting for a remote control cable assembly that isolates against vibration/noise transmission

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15