Pennwalt Corporation

William C Ellis

Walter Kulischenko

William F Bogan

A handwheel rotates an improved flexible shaft assembly which causes a socket member to rotate therewith. The socket seats an adapter therein which is uniquely configured to engage tapered square valve stems of different sizes and degrees of taper. The flexible shaft assembly is provided with a ferrule at the handwheel end and another ferrule at the socket end. The casing of the flexible shaft is free-positioning by virtue of the ability of the casing to slowly rotate in the ferrule provided at either the handwheel end, or at both the handwheel end and socket end, thus automatically relieving casing torsional stresses.

Flexible shaft assembly with universal adapter

Clutch assembly which couples rotary motion from an output shaft of a high speed power source to a flexible shaft when the output shaft rotates in the desired direction. Power driven flexible shafts which are subjected to torque loads should desirably be rotated in one direction only. Thus, a flexible shaft having its outermost layer of wire coiled in one direction should be rotated in that direction which tightens up the coiled wire in that layer, and not rotated in the other direction. The clutch consists of a 3-component assembly comprising a cylindrical split spring clip, an input bearing or member, and an output bearing or member. The split spring clip interconnects the input member, which usually receives one end of the power driven flexible shaft; and the output member, which is connected to and rotates the spindle of a suitable handpiece tool. The split spring clip is provided with a tongue and a lip which respectively engage a slot, and a detent or sloping face, provided on the input member to cause the split spring clip to rotate therewith in accordance with the high speed output shaft to which the input member is connected. The lip also engages a detent or sloping surface provided on the output member to cause rotation thereof if the input member and split spring clip are rotating in the proper direction, in which case rotary motion will be coupled to the handpiece tool.

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Bridgewater, NJ, United States of America

William C Ellis