Conduit shortening adjustment assembly

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 ) being 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 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 ).