Infinitely Adjustable Cable Controlled Apparatus and Method

This application generally relates to the type of cable-controlled apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 675,025, filed on Apr. 8, 1976 by Michael E. Moore et al for "Cable Mounting and Adjustment Means and Method for Assembling the Same".

Cable controls are employed for selectively actuating control linkages used in transmissions, steering clutch and brake controls and like devices employed on earthworking vehicles. For example, the cable control may be employed to actuate a valve spool employed in the hydraulic control for a transmission and is normally connected to the valve spool by linkage means, including interconnected bellcranks and levers. Such a valve spool must be closely calibrated and adjusted upon assembly of the transmission control and may require periodic readjustment thereafter.

One problem with conventional cable controls is that they necessarily require substantial demantling thereof to precisely adjust or readjust the valve spool. Such a laborious procedure unduly increases service time as well as down-time of a particular vehicle. In addition, detachment of the cable mounting apparatus from a housing, retaining the control valve and actuating linkages therefor, necessarily exposes the same to contaminants and permits the escape of fluid from those types of transmission controls which require continuous exposure to clean lubricant.

This invention overcomes the above, briefly described problems by providing an economical and non-complex method and cable-controlled apparatus which is infinitely adjustable externally of a housing thereof. the housing has a control member movably mounted therein and a flexible push-pull cable means is connected to the control member for selectively moving it. A bracket, mounted on the housing by a retaining means, has a cable means mounted thereon and adjustment means are provided for adjustably mounting the cable means for axial movement on the bracket.

Thus, adjustment of the cable means will selectively move and adjust the position of the control member relative to the housing upon rotation of the bracket. The retaining means preferably comprises a releasable clamping member mounting a flange of the bracket on the housing to permit selective rotation thereof upon adjustment of the control member. The clamping member prevents axial movement of the bracket during such adjustment.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an infinitely adjustable cable-controlled apparatus embodying this invention with a control member thereof shown in one adjusted position of operation;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the control member in a second adjusted position of operation; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of arrows III--III in FIG. 2.

FIG. 1 discloses an infinitely adjustable cablecontrolled apparatus 10 comprising a housing or support member 11 having a control member 12 movably mounted therein. The control member may comprise a lever suitably secured on a rock shaft 13 which is, in turn, suitably connected to a valve spool (not shown) employed in a directional control valve for transmission or the like. Pivotal movements of the lever and rock shaft are effected by a flexible push-pull cable means 14 having a flexible cable 15 reciprocally mounted in a tubular sheath 16 in a conventional manner.

One end of the cable may be suitably connected to actuating means (not shown) mounted in an operator's cab of a vehicle for selectively reciprocating the cable in the sheath. The second end of the cable has a member 17 threadably mounted thereon and locked in place on the cable by a lock nut 18. The member has a U-shaped slot 19 formed on the end thereof to engage a pin 20 secured on lever 12. Sheath 16 of the cable means has a threaded coupling member 21 secured thereto and threadably mounted on a first or outer end of a bracket 22 at interengaging screw threads.

A lock washer 23 and a lock nut 24, threadably mounted on coupling member 21, secure cable means 14 in a fixed axial position relative to the bracket and housing 11. The second or inner end of the bracket has an annular flange 25 formed thereon. The flange is clamped in place by an annular retaining means or clamping member 26 having an annular groove 27 defined circumferentially therein to accommodate flange 25. A plurality of cap screws 28 (FIG. 3) releasably attach member 26 to housing 11 and an O-ring seal 29 is mounted in a recess defined on bracket 22 to sealingly engage the housing.

When it is desired to adjust control member 12 from its FIG. 1 position to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, lock nut 24 is backed-off on coupling member 21 and cap screws 28 are each backed-off approximately one turn. The clamping force imparted to flange 25 of bracket 22 by member 26 is thus released to permit the bracket to be rotated whereby the interengaging screw threads between the coupling member and the bracket will move cable means 14 leftwardly to its FIG. 2 position. Thus, cable 15 will also move axially (due to its frictional "capture" within sheath 16) to pivot control member 12 counterclockwise about the axis of rock shaft 13. Upon final adjustment, lock nut 24 and cap screws 28 are retightened to retain control member 12 in its adjusted position.

In addition to the infinitely variable adjustment of the cable, housing 11 provides for full enclosure and protection of control lever 12 and attendant linkages. The fact that the adjustments of control lever 12 can be made externally of the housing substantially reduces the service time and "down-time" of the vehicle required to effect the same. Also, since bracket 22 and seal 29 are maintained in close contact with the housing during such adjustment, the ingress of contaminants into the housing is substantially prevented. The latter desideratum is particularly useful with transmission controls wherein housing 11 would be at least partially filled with a lubricating fluid. The control linkages are also fully protected during operation of the vehicle against accidental movement, such as being struck by an object during movement of the vehicle.