FLEXIBLE CABLE CONTROL AND TAKE-UP MECHANISM

摘要

FLEXIBLE CABLE CONTROL AND TAKE-UP MECHANISM () A control and take-up mechanism for controlling and protecting at least one elongated cable and the like which may be employed to supply operating power, fluids, controls and so on to an operating member mounted within an apparatus and wherein the operating member is selectively movable within the apparatus through an operating plane between a first position and a second position spaced therefrom. The take-up mechanism is comprised of an arcuate cable trough fixedly mounted to the apparatus in a plane parallel to the operating plane with a portion of the elongated cable leading to the operating member longitudinally disposed therein. A cable wheel assembly is received in the trough in rolling engagement therewith and includes a hub and opposed sides which define a cable channel therebetween. The cable wheel assembly is constructed so that the sides and hub are rotatable about the assembly axis independently of each other in order to eliminate undesired sliding of the cable in the trough and/or around the hub during pay out of the cable in response to movement of the operating member between the first and second positions. The cable extends from its source through the trough, around a portion of the cable wheel assembly hub and then to the operating member itself. When the operating member is in the first position, the cable wheel assembly is disposed adjacent one end of the cable trough and as the operating member is moved toward the second position, the cable wheel assembly is pulled by the cable tension along the trough toward the other end thereof. Biasing means communicate with the cable wheel assembly to continuously urge the assembly toward one end of the cable trough against the tension of the cable. Means are also provided for maintaining the cable in substantially the same degree of contact with the wheel assembly hub as the cable moves therearound when the operating member is moved between the first and second positions.