Conduit shortening adjustment assembly

Abstract

An adjustment assembly in a motion transmitting remote control wherein the overall length of the conduit is adjusted to accommodate the installed post. Male ( 18 ) and female ( 20 ) telescoping members are biased into one another to shorten the overall length of the conduit. A spring ( 22 ) is retained in position on the male member ( 18 ) by a collar ( 26 ) until fully 11 inserted into the female member ( 20 ) where-upon the locking member ( 19 ) which interlocks the telescoping members presents an abutment to engage the collar ( 26 ) as the telescoping members ( 18 and 20 ) are telescoped into one another.

1. A motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) type for transmitting motion in a curved path, said assembly coming:
 first ( 14 ) and second ( 16 ) conduit sections;    a flexible motion transmitting core element ( 12 ) movably supported in said conduit sections;    adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) interconnecting said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) and in telescoping relationship with each other for adjusting the overall length of said first and second conduit sections;    a coil spring ( 22 ) interacting in tension between said adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) to bias said components together to shorten the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ).    
     
     
       2. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  including a retainer ( 24 ) for retaining said spring ( 22 ) in compression on one of said telescoping members. 
     
     
       3. An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said adjustment components include an abutment ( 19 ) for reacting with said spring ( 22 ) in place of said retainer ( 24 ) to bias said telescoping members together in the direction to shorten the overall length of said conduit sections. 
     
     
       4. An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  A motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) for transmitting motion in a curved path, said assembly comprising:
 a first ( 14 ) and second ( 16 ) conduit sections;  
 a flexible motion transmitting core element ( 12 ) movably supported in said conduit sections;  
 adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) interconnecting said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) and in telescoping relationship with each other for adjusting the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) wherein said first telescoping member one of said adjustment components is a female member ( 20 ) and said second telescoping member the other of said adjustment components is a male member ( 18 ) slidably disposed in said female member ( 20 );  
 said spring ( 22 ) beinga coil spring ( 22 ) supported on said male member ( 18 ) and interacting between said members ( 18 ,  20 ) to bias said members ( 18 ,  20 ) together to shorten the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ): and 
 a retainer ( 24 ) for retaining said spring ( 22 ) in compression on one of said members ( 18 ,  20 ), said members ( 18 ,  20 ) including an abutment ( 19 ) for reacting with said spring ( 22 ) in place of said retainer ( 24 ) to bias said members ( 18 ,  20 ) together in the direction to shorten the overall length of said conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ).  
 
     
     
       5. An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said male member ( 18 ) includes adjustment teeth ( 21 ) therealong and a locking member ( 19 ) supported by said female member ( 20 ) for engaging said teeth ( 21 ) in a locked position to prevent relative telescoping movement between engaging said teeth ( 21 ) in a locked position to prevent relative telescoping movement between said telescoping members ( 18  and  20 ), said abutment being presented by said locking member ( 19 ). 
     
     
       6. An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said locking member ( 19 ) includes a tunnel ( 30 ) extending therethough for receiving said retainer ( 24 ) through said tunnel ( 30 ) during telescoping movement of said male and female members ( 18  and  20 ) in the conduit lengthening direction to allow said abutment on said locking member ( 19 ) to react with said spring ( 22 ). 
     
     
       7. An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said male and female member ( 18  and  20 ) include complementary keyways ( 38  and  40 ) for rotary orientation of said male member ( 18 ) relative to said female member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       8. An assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said spring ( 22 ) spiraled around said male member ( 18 ) and includes an annular collar ( 26 ) reacting axially between said retainer ( 24 ) and said spring ( 22 ) and for reacting between said spring ( 22 ) and said locking member ( 19 ). 
     
     
       9. An assembly as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said male member ( 18 ) defines an inner end ( 32 ) and said female member ( 20 ) presents a bottom end wall ( 34 ), said retainer ( 24 ) presenting a reaction surface for reacting with said collar ( 26 ) and which reaction surface is axially spaced toward said bottom end wall ( 34 ) from said abutment presented by said locking member ( 19 ) when said inner end ( 32 ) of said male member ( 18 ) is fully inserted adjacent said bottom end wall ( 34 ) of said female collar ( 26 ). 
     
     
       10. An assembly as set forth in  claim 9  including a detent ( 27 ) for holding said locking member ( 19 ) in an intermediate position out of engagement with said teeth ( 21 ) while in engagement with said collar ( 26 ). 
     
     
       11. An assembly as set forth in  claim 10  wherein said male member ( 18 ) includes a sealing length adjacent said inner end ( 32 ) thereof in sliding engagement with said female member ( 20 ) and a reduced cross section defining a spring seat ( 44 ) therebetween, said spring ( 22 ) reacting between said spring seat ( 44 ) and said collar ( 26 ). 
     
     
       12. An assembly as set forth in  claim 11  including a seal ( 46 ) sealing said sealing length of said male member ( 18 ) and said female member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       13. An assembly as set forth in  claim 12  including a pillar ( 36 ) extending into said female member ( 20 ) from said bottom end wall ( 34 ) thereof, said pillar ( 36 ) having a bore therethrough, said core element extending through said bore in said pillar ( 36 ). 
     
     
       14. An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said keyways ( 38  and  40 ) extend axially along the exterior of said pillar ( 36 ). 
     
     
       15. An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said male member ( 18 ) presents an internal limit surface ( 42 ) for engaging the inner end ( 32 ) of said pillar ( 36 ) to limit the insertion of said male member ( 18 ) into said female member ( 20 ) to define the shortest overall length of said conduit. 
     
     
       16. An assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said locking member ( 19 ) is U-shaped with teeth ( 23 ) on the interior of said legs for engaging said teeth ( 21 ) on said male member ( 18 ) and hooks ( 25 ) at the distal ends of said legs, said detent ( 27 ) including recesses in said female member ( 20 ) for engaging said hooks ( 25 ) in said intermediate position, said female member ( 20 ) presenting catches ( 28 ) for engaging and retaining said hooks ( 25 ) to lock said locking member ( 19 ) in said locked position. 
     
     
       17. The motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) of  claim 4  wherein said spring ( 22 ) expands axially to bias the components ( 18 ,  20 ) together to shorten the overall length of said first and second conduit section ( 14 ,  16 ). 
     
     
       18. A motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) for transmitting motion in a curved path, said assembly comprising:
 a first ( 14 ) and second ( 16 ) conduit sections;    a flexible motion transmitting core element ( 12 ) movably supported in said conduit sections;    adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) interconnecting said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) and in telescoping relationship with each other for adjusting the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) wherein one of said adjustment components includes adjustment teeth ( 21 ) and the other of said adjustment components supports a locking member ( 19 ) that selectively engages said teeth ( 21 ) to prevent relative telescoping movement between said adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ); and    a coil spring ( 22 ) interacting between said adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) to bias said components ( 18 ,  20 ) together to shorten the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ).   
     
     
       19. A motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) for transmitting motion in a curved path, said assembly comprising:
 a first ( 14 ) and second ( 16 ) conduit sections;    a flexible motion transmitting core element ( 12 ) movably supported in said conduit sections;    adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) interconnecting said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) and in telescoping relationship with each other for adjusting the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 );   a coil spring ( 22 ) interacting between said adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) to bias said components together to shorten the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ); and    a collar ( 26 ) supported on one of said adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) for reacting axially between said one of said adjustment components and said spring ( 22 ).   
     
     
       20. A motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) for transmitting motion in a curved path, said assembly comprising:
 a first ( 14 ) and second ( 16 ) conduit sections;    a flexible motion transmitting core element ( 12 ) movably supported in said conduit sections;    adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) interconnecting said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) and in telescoping relationship with each other for adjusting the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) wherein said adjustment components include a female member ( 20 ) and a male member ( 18 ) slidably disposed in said female member ( 20 ); and    a coil spring ( 22 ) supported on said male member ( 18 ) and interacting between said members ( 18 ,  20 ) to bias said members ( 18 ,  20 ) together to shorten the overall length of said first and second sections ( 14 ,  16 ).   
     
     
       21. An assembly as set forth in  claim 20  including a retainer ( 24 ) disposed on one of said ajustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) for retaining said spring ( 22 ) in compression. 
     
     
       22. An assembly as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said retainer ( 24 ) is formed as a projection on said male member ( 18 ). 
     
     
       23. An assembly as set forth in  claim 20  including a locking member ( 19 ) supported by said female member ( 20 ) and movable between a locked position to prevent relative telescoping movement between the adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) and an unlocked position to allow relative telescoping movement between the adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ). 
     
     
       24. An assembly as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said male member ( 18 ) includes adjustment teeth ( 21 ) and said locking member ( 19 ) includes locking teeth ( 23 ) for selectively engaging said adjustment teeth ( 21 ) when said locking member ( 19 ) is moved to said locked position. 
     
     
       25. An assembly as set forth in  claim 24  wherein said locking member ( 19 ) includes at least one detent ( 25 ) and said female member ( 20 ) includes at least one recess ( 27 ) for receiving said detent to hold said locking member ( 19 ) in said unlocked position while prohibiting relative movement between said female member ( 20 ) and said locking member ( 19 ). 
     
     
       26. An assembly as set forth in  claim 25  wherein said female member ( 20 ) includes at least one catch ( 28 ) for engaging and retaining said detent ( 25 ) when said locking member ( 19 ) is moved to said locked position. 
     
     
       27. An assembly as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said locking member ( 19 ) defines an abutment that reacts with said spring ( 22 ) during assembly of said male member ( 18 ) into said female member ( 20 ) such that said adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) are biased together to shorten the overall length of said conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ). 
     
     
       28. An assembly as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said male ( 18 ) and female ( 20 ) members includes complementary keyways ( 38 ,  40 ) for rotary orientation of the male member ( 18 ) relative to the female member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       29. An assembly as set forth in  claim 28  including a retainer ( 24 ) formed on said male member ( 18 ) for retaining said spring ( 22 ) in compression and a locking member ( 19 ) supported on said female member ( 20 ), said locking member ( 19 ) being selectively engagable with said male member ( 18 ) to prevent relative movement between said male ( 18 ) and female ( 20 ) members wherein said keyways align said retainer ( 24 ) within said locking member ( 19 ) as said male member ( 18 ) is inserted into said female member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       30. A motion transmitting remote control assembly ( 10 ) for transmitting motion in a curved path, said assembly comprising:
 a first ( 14 ) and second ( 16 ) conduit sections;    a flexible motion transmitting core element ( 12 ) movably supported in said conduit sections;    adjustment components ( 18 ,  20 ) interconnecting said first and second conduit sections ( 14 ,  16 ) and in telescoping relationship with each other for adjusting the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 .  16 );    a pillar ( 36 ) extending into said adjustment components ( 18 .  20 ) and having a bore therethrough for receiving said core element ( 12 ); and    a coil spring ( 22 ) interacting between said components ( 18 .  20 ) to bias said components ( 18 .  20 ) together to shorten the overall length of said first and second conduit sections ( 14 .  16 ).   
     
     
       31. An assembly as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said adjustment components include a female member ( 20 ) and a male member ( 18 ) slidably disposed in said female member ( 20 ) including complementary keyways ( 38 ,  40 ) for rotary orientation of the male member ( 18 ) relative to the female member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       32. An assembly as set forth in  claim 31  wherein said male member ( 18 ) presents an internal limit surface ( 42 ) for engaging an inner end ( 32 ) of said pillar ( 36 ) to limit insertion of said male member ( 18 ) into said female member ( 20 ) to define the shortest overall length of said conduit. 
     
     
       33. An assembly as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said adjustment components include a female member ( 20 ) and a male member ( 18 ) slidably disposed in said female member ( 20 ), said pillar ( 36 ) being slidably disposed in said male member ( 18 ).