Flexible drive shaft casing for power operated rotary knife
A flexible shaft drive transmission for a power driven tool. The transmission features a first end connectable to a drive motor and a second end connectable to the power driven tool. The transmission includes a flexible drive shaft assembly comprising a flexible elongated drive transmitting member, a first end of the drive transmitting member including a first coupling operatively coupled to the drive motor and a second end of the drive transmitting member including a second coupling operatively coupled to the power driven tool. The transmission further includes a tubular casing surrounding and coaxial with said drive shaft assembly and supporting said drive shaft assembly for rotation generally about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft assembly relative to said casing. The casing includes a core comprising a spiral wound strip of material having interlocking opposing edges, a braided wire layer surrounding the core, and a polymer layer surrounding the braided wire layer.
1 . A flexible shaft drive transmission having a first end connectable to a drive motor and a second end connectable to a power driven tool to drive the tool, the transmission comprising:
a) a flexible drive shaft assembly comprising a flexible elongated drive transmitting member, a first end of the drive transmitting member operatively coupled to the drive motor and a second end of the drive transmitting member operatively coupled to the power driven tool; and
b) a flexible tubular casing surrounding and coaxial with said drive shaft assembly and supporting said drive shaft assembly for rotation generally about a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft assembly relative to said casing, said casing comprising:
1) a core comprising a spiral wound strip of material having interlocking opposing edges;
2) a braided wire layer surrounding the core; and
3) a polymer layer surrounding the braided wire layer.
2 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein the polymer layer is extruded over the braided wire layer, the polymer layer impregnating and binding to the braided wire layer and the core.
3 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein the core is metal.
4 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein spiral wound strip includes a middle portion extending between opposing edges, a first portion of the middle portion being radially offset from a second portion of the middle portion.
5 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein the braided wire comprises a herringbone braid.
6 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein the braided wire comprises stainless steel wire.
7 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein the core comprises stainless steel.
8 . The transmission of claim 1 wherein the core comprises flexible conduit.
9 . A flexible casing rotatably supporting a flexible drive shaft assembly comprising a flexible elongated drive transmitting member, a first end of the drive transmitting member operatively coupled to a drive motor and a second end of the drive transmitting member operatively coupled to a power driven tool, the flexible casing comprising:
1) a core comprising a spiral wound strip of material having interlocking opposing edges;
2) a braided wire layer surrounding the core; and
3) a polymer layer surrounding the braided wire layer.
10 . The casing of claim 9 wherein the polymer layer is extruded over the braided wire layer, the polymer layer impregnating and binding to the braided wire layer and the core.
11 . The casing of claim 9 wherein the core is metal.
12 . The casing of claim 9 wherein spiral wound strip includes a middle portion extending between opposing edges, a first portion of the middle portion being radially offset from a second portion of the middle portion.
13 . The casing of claim 9 wherein the braided wire comprises a herringbone braid.
14 . The casing of claim 9 wherein the braided wire comprises stainless steel wire.
15 . The casing of claim 9 wherein the core comprises stainless steel.
16 . The transmission of claim 9 wherein the core comprises flexible conduit.