Teleflex, Inc.

Capro Ltd.

John A Carlson

A steering helm (11) for a boat (13) having a motion-transmitting core element assembly (10) connected between the steering helm (11) of a boat (13) and a steering system (15). The motion-transmitting core element assembly (10) has a motion-transmitting core element (12) extending through a conduit (14) to the steering system (15). The conduit (14) is attached to the steering helm (28) via a coupler (16). The coupler (16) comprises a female housing (28) and a male coupler (22). The male coupler (22) is attached to the flexible conduit (14) and is substantially cylindrical with an outer diameter smaller than the first inner diameter of female housing (28). The male coupler (22) has a leading chamfered surface (24) and a relief (26) disposed adjacent to the leading chamfered surface (24). The female housing (28) has a locking assembly (30) comprising a ring (32) and a spring ( 34). The ring (32) has an inner chamfered surface (40) and a flat side surface (38) wherein the flat side surface (38) abuts the relief (26) of the male coupler (22) when the male coupler (22) is fully inserted into the female housing (28). The spring (34) biases the ring (32) off-axis, thus locking the male coupler (22) in place. A hole (42) in the female housing (28) receives a tool to force the ring (32) on-axis thereby unlocking the male coupler (22).

Helm/cable latching mechanism

A motion-transmitting remote control assembly (10) comprises a flexible conduit (14) with a flexible core element (12) passing therethrough. The flexible conduit (14) has a male coupler (22) attached to one end of the flexible conduit (14). The male coupler (22) comprises a leading chamfered surface (24) and a relief (26) for being locked into a first type of female housing (28) via a spring biased locking ring (32). The male coupler (22) also includes a truncated convex surface (29) which, along with the relief (26), allows the male coupler (22) to be locked into a second type of female housing (110) having removable bolt (116) passing therethrough. The long cylindrical body portion (118) of the bolt (116) positively abuts the relief (26) to lock the male coupler (22) in the female housing (110).

Male end fitting

A telescopic helm (10) having a steering drive shaft (12) and a steering wheel shaft (14) separated by a collet (32) to axially adjust the position of a steering wheel hub (18) of a vehicle. The steering wheel shaft (14) has an inner wedged surface (20) and the collet (32) has an outer wedged surface (22) which, when in contact with each other, produce a radially, inwardly directed force that grips the steering drive shaft (12) preventing axial movement of the steering wheel shaft (14). When the wedged surfaces (20,22) are moved out of contact with each other, the radially inwardly directed force is relieved allowing the steering wheel shaft (14) to move axially relative to the support structure (24). The assembly is characterized by the collet (32) having fingers defining the wedged surfaces (22) for clamping engagement inwardly about the steering wheel shaft (14).

Telescopic helm

An assembly to eliminate slack in a length of cord (20, 120) extending between axially spaced first (12, 112) and second (14, 114) cylindrical members. The cord (20) is wrapped in coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124) on the interior side walls (18, 19, 118, 119) of each member (12, 14, 112, 114). A control means (34, 134) acts between the members (12, 14, 112, 114) and coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124) to coil the cord (20, 120) onto one coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124) while uncoiling the cord (20, 120) from the other coiled length (24, 22, 124, 122). A guide means (36, 136) guides the cord (20, 120) onto and off of one of the coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124) while rolling means (38, 138) hold the coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124) in position to eliminate slack. The control means (34, 134) specifically includes at least two spokes, one (42, 142) to engage the U-shaped loop (32, 132) in the cord (20, 120) between the coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124) with the one or more spokes (40, 140) disposed within circular O-rings in rolling engagement with the respective coiled lengths (22, 24, 122, 124).

Turning cord

A motion-transmitting remote control assembly of the type including a flexible motion-transmitting core element movably supported in a conduit (28) supported by a fitting (12). A helical groove (24 ) is formed in a bore (14) in the fitting (12) and a raised helical ridge (30) extends radially from the conduit (28) and fills the helical groove (24) to provide retention of the conduit (28) within the bore (14) of the fitting (12). An apparatus (10) and method for attaching the fitting (12) to the conduit (28) wherein the fitting (12) is rotatably supported by a mandrel (82) as the conduit (28) is clamped (42) and forced into the bore whereby frictional engagement with the bore (14) of specific configuration causes the material of the conduit (28) to soften and move radially outwardly (30) to fill the helical groove (24).

Method for attaching a fitting to a conduit of a push-pull control

A small engine throttle control which includes three molded plastic parts, two mating parts forming a housing and a third part, a lever pivotally mounted in side the housing and extending to the exterior thereof with a spring detent and rack structure between the lever and the housing to retain the throttle lever in any desired set position and with an enlarged ridge maintaining the throttle lever in idle position and preventing inadvertent stopping because such detent is larger and thus requires a positive force to move the throttle lever to stop position.

Engine throttle control

A lawn mower having a housing mounted on wheels, an engine, a cutting blade, a brake connected to stop the cutting blade's rotation, a brake actuating arm connected to the brake, a spring biasing the brake arm to the set or braking position, a U-shaped handle connected to the housing and extending upward and rearward with a cross portion at its outer end, an actuating arm on the engine, a control housing secured to the side of the handle, a spring biasing the actuating arm toward stopped position, a control line connected to actuating arm extending through a sheath to a control lever in the control housing, a deadman lever in the control housing, the control lever and the deadman levers being interconnected so that the deadman lever retains the control lever in running position while the deadman lever is held in operating position but the control lever is released to stop position when the deadman lever is released.

Lawn mower and controls therefor

A lawn mower having a housing mounted on wheels, an engine, a centrifugal clutch connected to the engine drive shaft, a cutting blade connected to the clutch, a brake connected to stop the cutting blade's rotation, a brake actuating arm connected to the brake, a spring biasing the brake arm to the set or braking position, a U-shaped handle connected to the housing and extending upward and rearward with a cross portion at its outer end, a throttle actuating arm on the engine, a control plate secured to the side of the handle, a spring biasing the throttle actuating arm toward idle and shut-off position, a throttle control line connected to a throttle actuating arm extending through a sheath to a throttle control lever on the control plate, a brake control line connected to the brake actuating arm, extending through a sheath and connecting to a brake control lever, the brake control lever and the throttle control levers being interconnected so that the brake control lever retains the throttle control lever in running position while the brake control lever is held in operating position but the throttle control lever is released to idle position when the brake control lever is released.

Growing community of inventors

Conroe, TX, United States of America

John A Carlson