Flex shaft-drive motor connection for power operated rotary knife

摘要

A flexible shaft drive transmission for transmitting rotational power between a drive motor and a gear train of a power operated tool. The flexible shaft drive transmission includes an elongated drive shaft assembly including a rotatable drive transmitting shaft assembly extending through an outer casing. The shaft drive transmission includes a motor end coupling affixed to one end the outer casing and adapted to be releasably connected to a mating coupling of the drive motor. The motor end coupling includes a coupling body having an outer surface tapered region tapering from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter at a distal end of the tapered region to facilitate insertion and proper alignment with the drive motor coupling. The drive transmitting shaft assembly includes a driven fitting having a plurality of drive faces surrounding an axially extending locating member for engagement with a mating drive fitting of the drive motor.

主权项

1. A flexible shaft drive transmission coupled between a coupling of a drive motor and a gear train of a power operated tool, the flexible shaft drive transmission comprising:
a) an elongated drive shaft assembly including a flexible, rotatable drive transmitting shaft extending along a longitudinal axis, a first driven fitting at one end of the drive transmitting shaft and a second drive fitting at a second end of the drive transmitting shaft, the first driven fitting and the second drive fitting rotating with the drive transmitting shaft; b) a flexible outer casing including first and second ends and defining a through bore, the outer casing receiving the drive transmitting shaft within the through bore and supporting the drive transmitting shaft for rotation within the outer casing; and c) a motor end coupling affixed to the first end of the outer casing and adapted to be releasably connected to the drive motor coupling, the motor end coupling including a coupling body defining a central opening through which the drive transmitting shaft passes and having an outer surface defining a tapered region, the tapered region having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the tapered region of the coupling body being closer in proximity to the outer casing than the distal end of the tapered region, the tapered region tapering from a first diameter at the proximal end of the tapered region to a second diameter at the distal end of the tapered region, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, the tapered region of the coupling body configured to contact and interfit with the drive motor coupling and including a plurality of axially extending raised ribs radially spaced apart by a plurality of channels, each pair of adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs being separated by a channel of the plurality of channels, the tapered region having a configuration of a frustoconical, tapered cone.