CA1181665A

CA1181665A - Locking device

Info

Publication number: CA1181665A
Application number: CA000402800A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Alistair G. Taig
Original assignee: Bendix Corp
Current assignee: Bendix Corp
Priority date: 1981-07-06
Filing date: 1982-05-12
Publication date: 1985-01-29
Also published as: AU8509382A; EP0069646A3; JPS5817211A; ES276078U; EP0069646A2; US4418583A; AU546669B2; MX151453A; ES276078Y

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A lock device (30) is provided to securely attach with an elongate member (16). The locking device (30) includes a pair of parts (32, 34) with openings for receiving the elongate member (16).
One of the parts (32) is prevented from rotating on the elongate member (16) and the other part 34 forms teeth (48) which are capable of engaging teeth (40) on the elongate member (16) to prevent axial movement of the pair of parts (32, 34) on the elongate member (16).

(Figure 1)

Description

LOCKING DEVICE

This invention relates to a locking device for an elonga~e member, such as a cable assembly in a vehicle. Examples of such cable assemblies are transmission cable assemblies and clutch cable as-semblies.
With respect to the transmission cable assembly~ the end of the cable is adjusted during assembly by means of friction or by a nut and bolt assembly to rigidly couple the end of the cable assembly with either a shift lever or a transmission lever. Because of vehicle vibration and friction slippage, it is possible for these type of one shot adjusters or locking devices to work loose and introduce undesirable slack into the cable assembly.
The present invention provides a 10cking device for attachment to an elongate member, said locking device comprising a first part and a second part, each of said parts defining an opening through which said elongate member ex~ends, each of said parts bei~g movable axially on said ~longate member in a first mode o~ a~tachment with sai~ elongate member, one of said parts being rotatable relative to said elongate member and said other part to define a second mode of attachment for said parts with said elongate member wherein said first and said second parts are releasably locked to sald elongate member ~o pr~vent axial ~ovement of s~id first and second parts relative to said elongate member.
It is an advantage of the locking device dis_losed herein that a positiv~ stop is established by the parts of the locking device and ehe elongate member so that friction is not relied upon to mairltain the locking device in its attached mode.
One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in ehe ac-companying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an illustration of a cable assembly used for connecting a shifter with a transmission shown immediately before adjustment and at-tachment to a support;
Figure 2 is a side view of the cable assembly and a locking device constructed in accordance with the present invention with the locking device attached to the cable assembly;

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Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cable assembly and locking device when the locking device is orientated for attachment to the cable assembly;
Figure ~ is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2.
In Figure 1, a transmission generally indicated at 10, is provided with the usual settings, such as, drive, reverse, neutral, park, etc. A lever 12 is operatively connected to the gears of the transmission to control the setting therefore. Within a vehicle compartment, a shifter 14 is provided to remotely select the seiting for the transmission. A cable assembly 16 connects the shifter to the transmission and a support 18 mounts the shifter on the vehicle.
The cable assembly 16 comprises an elongate member such as a sheath or conduit 20 with a longitudinally extending bore for movably receiving a cable 22. One end ?4 oF the slleath adjacent the transmission is fixed to a bracket 26 and the end of the cable 22 at the one end 24 is con-nected to the lever such that movement of the cable 22 within the ~0 conduit 20 changes the setting for the lever and gears of the trans-mission. The cable 22 extencls from the other end 28 of the conduit 20 to connect with the shifter 1ll. The other end 28 of the conduit 20 suppor~s a locking device 30 constructed in accordance with the present invention and adapted to fix the end 23 of the conduit 20 to the sup-port 18 after the cable assembly is adjus~ed to index the transmission 10 and the shifter 14 to the same settings.
In accordance with the invention, the locking device 30 com-prises a first part 32 and a second part 34 made from a light weight plastic material. The first part 32 forms a triangular opening 36 which substan-tially stantially matches the cross sectional dimension oF a rigid extension 38 swaged to the conduit 20 and considered to be a part thereof. The ex-tension 38 also defines teech 40 at three edges of the triangle and flat surfaces 42 separate the teeth from each other. The flat surfaces 42 slidably engage the wall of the triangular opening 3~ so that the first part 32 can move longitudinally on the extension 38 but can not rotate relative thereto~ when the extension extends into the opening 36. Th~
second part 34 also forms an opening 4~ with three portions of teeth 48 and three portions of smooth surfaces 50. The teeth 48 are capable of meshing with the teeth 40 on the ex~ension 38 and the smooth surFaces 42 form a diameter large enough to permit the triangular extension to freely rota~e and slide within the opening 4G relative to the smooth surfaces 42 When the teetIl 48 and 40 are engaged, the second part is prevented from movin~ longitudinally relative to the extension 3~, however9 when the teeth 40 are aligned with the surfaces 50, the second part 34 is free to move longitudinally on the extension 38.
Turning to Figures 2 and 5~ the second part Forms an annular recess 52 between a pair of radial flanges ~4 and 56~ The flange 56 in-cludes a reduced diameter portion 58 with a pair of grooves 62 and 640 The first part 32 includes an axially extending flange 68 overlayiny the radial flange 54 and forming a tab 70 and a finger 72~ The tab 70 extends into the recess 52 and the finger 72 fits into the groove 62 or 64 when the parts 32 and 34 are carried on the extension. The flange 6~ is resiliently biased into either groove 62 or 64 so that the finger remains in the groove until manual removal by rotating part 34 relative to part 32~
In Figure 4 it is seen that the recess 52 is cut away at opposite locations to form a reduced diameter section 74 which substantially matches the diameter of a slot 76 leading to an opening 78 on support 13, see Figure l. The diameter of opening 7~ is substantially the same as the diame~er of the recess 52~
During assembly, the first part 32 is attached to the second part 34 so that the tab 70 i s disposed in the recess 52 and the finger 72 is disposed in the groove 62. The coupled parts are fitted on the ex-tension 38 with the teeth 48 oF second part 34 aligned with the flat sur-Faces 42 on extension 3~. Consequently, the parts will freely move axially on the extension. Next, the cable 22 is connected to the lever 12 and the shifter 14. The shifter 14 and the transmission are indexed to the same setting and the locking device 30 is moved axially on the extension 38 to align the recess 52 with the slot 76~ The locking device is fitted through the slot 76 and ;nto the opening 7~ It is noted that the arcuate width of flange 68 is equal to or less than the wid~h of the slot 76 so that the flange fits into the slot 76~ In order to fixedly attach the locking device 30 to the support 18 as well as simultaneously fix the extension 38 to the support l8, the second part 34 is rotated counter clockwise to the position shown in Figures 4 and 5, viewed from the shifter 14, so that the finger 72 is fitted into groove 64 to prevent rota~ion between the parts. At the same time, the re-duced diameter section 74 is rotated out of alignment with the slot 76 so ~hat the second part i5 coupled to the support to prevent the second part from withdrawing from the slot 76 and opening 7$, thereby preventing separation between the locking device 30 and the sup-port. With the finger 72 positioned in groove 64, the teeth 4~ on the second part 34 are engaged with the teeth 40 on the extension so that the second part prevents axial movement between the extension 38 and the support 18. Any slight angular movement of the extension 33 is ac-companied by the same angular movement of parts 32 and 34 as the part 32 rotates with the extension 38 because of its contoured opening 36 to also rotate the part 3~ with the extension. Consequently, the teeth 4$
remain fully engaged with the teeth 40 regardless of a slight, rotational movement for the extension 3~.
Many variations to the locking device 30 are faasible by one skilled in the art. For example, it is possible to engage the first part 32 with the support 18 rather than engage the second part therewith. Also, sccond part 31~ could bc provided with a flexible finger and the -first part could be provided with grooves for receiving the flexible -Finger. These variations as well as others which are feasible by one skilled in the art are intended to be covered by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A locking device (30) for attachment to an elongate member (16) said locking device comprising at least a first part (32) and a second part (34), each of said parts defining an opening (36, 46) through which said elongate member (16) extends, each of said parts being movable axially on said elongate member (16) in a first mode of attachment with said elongate member, one of said parts (34) being rotatable relative to said elongate member (16) and said other part (32) to define a second mode of attachment for said parts with said elongate member (16) wherein said first and said second parts (32, 34) are releasably locked to said elongate member (16) to prevent axial move-ment of said first and second parts (32, 34) relative to said elongate member (16).

2. The locking device of claim 1 further characterized by said first and second parts forming a tongue and groove connection (70, 52) when said first and second parts (32, 34) are mounted on said elongate member (16) to provide uniform axial movement for said first and second parts (32, 34) relative to said elongate member (16).

3. The locking device of claim 1 further characterized by said first and second parts (32, 34) cooperating to form a releasable latch (72, 64) for maintaining said parts in their second mode of attachment.

4. The locking device of claim 1 further characterized by said elongate member (16) including a substantially triangular cross section with the edges (40) of the triangular cross section defining gripping sur-faces at the edges and the triangular cross section forming sliding surfaces (42) between the edges (40).

5. The locking device of claim 2 further characterized by said one part 34 defining a recess (52) said other part including a flange (68) with a tab (70) extending into said recess (52) to substantially prevent axial movement between said parts (32, 34) and said flange (68) further defining a finger (72) cooperating with said other part (32) to oppose rotation between said parts.

6. The locking device of claim 5 further characterized by a support (18) engageable with said one part (34) to prevent axial movement of said elongate member (16), said support (16) extending into said one part recess (52) to attach the locking device thereto.

7. The locking device of claim 6 further characterized by said one part (34) cooperating with said support (18) when said one part (34) is rotated to the second mode of attachment for said parts to fixedly attach said one part (34) to said support.

8. The locking device of claim 1 further characterized by said elongate member (16) including an outer surface defining a first set of teeth (40) partially covering the outer surface, said one part (34) opening (46) including an inner surface (46) defining a second set of teeth (48) partially covering the inner surface, and said first and second sets of teeth (40, 48) are meshed together to form a positive lock preventing longitudinal movement of said one part (34) relative to said elongate member (16) when said one part (34) is rotated relative to said elongate member (16).