Flexible drive shaft casing for power operated rotary knife

摘要

A flexible shaft drive transmission (10) for a power driven tool (14). The transmission features a first end connectable to a drive motor (12) and a second end connectable to the power driven tool. The transmission includes a flexible drive shaft assembly (20) comprising a flexible elongated drive transmitting member (24), a first end of the drive transmitting member including a first coupling (26) operatively coupled to the drive motor and a second end of the drive transmitting member including a second coupling (28) operatively coupled to the power driven tool. The transmission further includes a tubular casing (22) 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 (40) comprising a spiral wound strip of material having interlocking opposing edges (50a,50b), a braided wire layer (42) surrounding the core, and a polymer layer (44) surrounding the braided wire layer.