Control cable system incorporating stabilizer guide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9771967-B2
Application number	US-201514875861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 6, 2015
Priority date	Oct 6, 2015
Publication date	Sep 26, 2017
Grant date	Sep 26, 2017

Abstract

A push-pull cable system including a cable assembly, a stabilizing element, and a guide member. The stabilizing element and guide member may maintain alignment of a wire of the cable assembly as it pushes against a mechanism resistive force that is not aligned with the wire itself. As a result, the cable system may be utilized in applications wherein space constraints prevent alignment of the wire with the resistive force vector of the mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control cable system comprising:
a movable member;
a cable housing comprising: a first end secured to a structure; and a remote second end;
a wire slidably received within the cable housing, the wire defining a first end portion that extends outwardly beyond the first end of the cable housing, the first end portion of the wire connected to the movable member at an attachment point;
an elongate stabilizing element also connected to the movable member; and
a guide member secured to the structure, the guide member defining an aperture adapted to slidably receive the stabilizing element therein.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the stabilizing element is parallel with an axis of the first end portion of the wire.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the stabilizing element is coaxial with an axis of the first end portion of the wire.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the aperture is coaxial with an axis of the first end portion of the wire.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing element has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the stabilizing element has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the polygonal cross-sectional shape comprises a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movable member comprises a link having a first end attached to the wire at the attachment point.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the link defines a load path axis that is offset from an axis of the first end portion of the wire.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wire is movable, relative to the cable housing, between a first retracted position and a second extended position, and wherein the stabilizing element is retained within the aperture of the guide member when the wire is in the first retracted position, the second extended position, and any position in-between.

11. A control cable system comprising:
a cable housing comprising a first end secured to a structure;
a wire slidably received within the cable housing, the wire defining a first end portion that extends outwardly beyond the first end of the cable housing to terminate at a wire end;
an elongate stabilizing element operatively attached to the wire end, the stabilizing element defining an axis coaxial with an axis of the first end portion of the wire;
a link connected to the first end portion of the wire at a location between the stabilizing element and the first end of the cable housing; and
a guide member secured to the structure and spaced-apart from the first end of the cable housing, the guide member defining an aperture adapted to slidably receive the stabilizing element therein with clearance.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the aperture defines an axis coaxial with the axis of the first end portion of the wire.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the stabilizing element has a polygonal cross-sectional shape.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the polygonal cross-sectional shape comprises a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the link comprises a wire form member constrained for movement along an axis parallel to, but offset from, the axis of the first end portion of the wire.

16. A powered turf maintenance vehicle comprising:
a chassis supported by two or more wheels;
a prime mover adapted to provide driving power to at least one of the two or more wheels;
a turf maintenance apparatus attached to the chassis;
an actuator adapted to manipulate the turf maintenance apparatus between at least a first condition and a second condition; and
a control cable system mechanically connecting the actuator to the turf maintenance apparatus, the control cable system comprising:
a movable member;
a cable housing comprising: a first end secured to a structure; and a remote second end;
a wire slidably received within the cable housing, the wire defining a first end portion that extends outwardly beyond the first end of the cable housing, the first end portion of the wire connected to the movable member at an attachment point;
an elongate stabilizing element also connected to the movable member; and
a guide member secured to the structure, the guide member defining an aperture adapted to slidably receive the stabilizing element therein.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the turf maintenance apparatus comprises a broadcast spreader.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the movable member is connected to a diffuser for a broadcast spreader, the diffuser movable between a first position corresponding to the first condition of the turf maintenance apparatus, and a second position corresponding to the second condition of the turf maintenance apparatus.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the aperture has a circular shape and the stabilizing element has a hexagonal cross-sectional shape.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the movable member defines a load path axis that intersects, or is offset from, an axis of the first end portion of the wire.

Assignees

• Exmark Mfg Company Incorporated

Inventors

• Papke Clark S
• Nicholson Gary L

Classifications

• B05B12/002

  Manually-actuated controlling means, e.g. push buttons, levers or triggers (for single units B05B11/00) · CPC title

• F16C1/16

  in which the end-piece is guided rectilinearly · CPC title

• A01C17/006

  Regulating or dosing devices · CPC title

• F16C1/102 Primary

  Arrangements to mount end fittings of the sheathings to support walls or brackets · CPC title

• E01C19/20

  Apparatus for distributing, e.g. spreading, granular or pulverulent materials, e.g. sand, gravel, salt, dry binders ({E01C19/21, E01C19/4813, E01C19/482, E01C23/098, E01C23/166 take precedence; } fertiliser distributors A01C15/00 {; permanently-installed devices for applying gritting or thawing materials E01H10/005; mobile spreaders specially adapted for treating wintry roads E01H10/007}) · CPC title