Abstract: A flexible shaft assembly of a vehicle power seat adjuster includes a casing having a bracket, and an elongated channel mounted to the bracket, a flexible shaft of a vehicle power seat adjuster received in the elongated channel, and a motor for driving the flexible shaft. The elongated channel includes side walls, a bottom wall and an open top defining an inner cavity for receiving the flexible shaft.

Abstract: A flexible shaft assembly of a vehicle power seat adjuster includes a casing having a bracket, and an elongated channel mounted to the bracket, a flexible shaft of a vehicle power seat adjuster received in the elongated channel, and a motor for driving the flexible shaft. The elongated channel includes side walls, a bottom wall and an open top defining an inner cavity for receiving the flexible shaft.

Abstract: A reamer used in orthopedic surgery that reams and collects bone cement. The reamer may come in different diameters and is used when removal of bone cement is necessary, as is commonly done in revision surgeries. The reamer has a cutting tip with a fluted opening connected to a hollow body in which the bone cement chips or shavings collect after passing through the tip. The other end of the reamer has a hub that can connect to a drill. As the reamer advances into the IM canal it shaves the bone cement off of the walls and/or the bottom of the intramedullary canal. The reamer has a central channel extending throughout its length through which a guide wire may be placed.

Abstract: A locking grip extraction tool has plier handles with jaws having sharp beveled edges for moving in a direction so that an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement is oriented at an acute angle to the handles; the axis intersecting the plane of jaw movement at a point midway between the jaws. A locking link coupled to the handles is adapted to releasably lock the jaws onto an orthopedic implant. A connection rod can be threaded into a hole in one of the handles near the jaws, so that a force applying tool such as a slap hammer can be connected to the rod to apply force to remove the implant. The rod is in alignment with the axis, which alignment makes it easier to remove the implant.

Abstract: A flexible shaft for transmitting torque, for example between a motor and an automobile seat to be adjusted. The shaft has a core including one or more wire layers helically wound in opposite winding directions. The outer layer has a number of wires with a circular cross-section and at least one flat wire. The wires of the outer layer are helically wound in a winding direction opposite to that of the adjacent layer. The flat wire has a thickness substantially less than the maximum diameter of the outer layer wires of circular cross-section. A strand of flocked yarn is wound on the flat wire and protrudes above the adjacent wires of the outer layer, to engage the inner wall of a surrounding casing and reduce noise when the shaft is rotated within the casing.

Abstract: A flexible shaft having square or helical square tips with thermoplastic felt covering and adherent to the tips including the tip ends. The felt has fused bulges adjacent the ends. When the tips are inserted into mating recesses of driving and driven members, the felt is deformed to improve the fit between the tips and the recesses and reduce noise and vibration when the driving member is rotated.

Abstract: A rotary flexible shaft for coupling between driving and driven member having female couplings has ends of noncircular cross-section. A strand of compressible material such as flocked yarn is helically wrapped around each end so as to leave spaces between turns which expose portions of the lateral surfaces of the ends. A coating of a silicone adhesive or other elastomer, or of a highly ductile material such as polytetrafluoroethylene, covers and is adherent to the strands and the exposed portions of the lateral surfaces of the shaft ends. Instead of a strand, the compressible material may constitute spaced ridges, islands, and/or protuberances adhering to the shaft ends.

Abstract: A rotary shaft having ends with a surface layer or raised portions made of a compressible, preferably elastic, material, the ends including the surface layer or raised portions being covered with relatively thin walled durable plastic tubing.

Abstract: A case for storing medical instruments contains a rotating bracket for holding the instruments. The bracket is connected to the tray and hinged lid of the case via a movable frame, and the bracket movement is controlled by opening and closing of the lid. When the lid is closed, the bracket points the tips of the instruments downward to minimize water collection; and when the lid is opened, the instrument holding bracket rotates so that the instruments it holds are moved to a vertical position, facilitating instrument selection.

Abstract: A flexible shaft having ends of square cross-section for coupling a mating female driving member such as a square recess in a motor assembly, with a mating female driven member such as a square recess in a gearbox assembly, for positioning a seat in a motor vehicle. To decrease vibration and noise due to friction and relative movement between the shaft ends and the mating recesses, the sides of the shaft end portions are covered with a deformable polytetrafluoroethylene sheath applied by positioning a length of heat shrinkable tubing over each end portion and heating the tubing to shrink it onto the corresponding end portion so that it assumes the square cross-sectional shape of the end portion.

Abstract: A hybrid flexible wire shaft having an inner portion with the characteristics of a push/pull shaft having at least one layer of wire groups helically wound on a core wire at a relatively high pitch angle, and an outer portion with the characteristics of a torsional transmission flexible shaft having two or more layers of wire groups wound on the central portion at a relatively low pitch angle. Each layer of the outer group is wound in a direction opposite to the wind direction of each adjacent layer of that group. In an alternate construction, the high and low pitch portions are reversed and an additional outer layer is provided which is wound in a direction opposite to the outermost layer of the high pitch portion.

Abstract: A wire wound flexible shaft has layers of wire wound one upon another, with a dry film of lubricant bonded to the outer surfaces of a number of the outer layers; or if desired, to the outer surfaces of all layers of the shaft. The lubricant is applied by preheating the partially completed flexible shaft to a temperature substantially above 212° F. but below the decomposition temperature of the lubricant. A liquid medium comprising a carrier and particles of the lubricant is sprayed onto the shaft surface, causing the liquid to vaporize and the lubricant particles to be deposited on the shaft. One or more successive wire layers may then be wound onto the partially completed shaft and the spraying step repeated. Thereafter the shaft is heated to cause the lubricant particles to bond to the adjacent wire layers and to reduce internal stresses in the shaft.

Abstract: A wire wound flexible shaft has layers of wire wound one upon another, with a dry film of lubricant bonded to the outer surfaces of a number of the outer layers; or if desired, to the outer surfaces of all layers of the shaft. The lubricant is applied by preheating the partially completed flexible shaft to a temperature substantially above 212° F. but below the decomposition temperature of the lubricant. A liquid medium comprising a carrier and particles of the lubricant is sprayed onto the shaft surface, causing the liquid to vaporize and the lubricant particles to be deposited on the shaft. One or more successive wire layers may then be wound onto the partially completed shaft and the spraying step repeated. Thereafter the shaft is heated to cause the lubricant particles to bond to the adjacent wire layers and to reduce internal stresses in the shaft.

Abstract: A flexible shaft having at least one end formed to have a helical square shape, wherein successive cross-sections have square shapes progressively rotated with respect to each other. The overall rotation from where the square cross-section begins to the adjacent end of the shaft is preferably in the range of 10 to 20 degrees. The helical square end is preferably shaped by swaging utilizing helical square dies preferably made by electron discharge machining. When the helical square end of the flexible shaft is forced into a mating square opening of an end fitting, the helical square configuration of the shaft end causes it to be deformed and bind tightly in the fitting with an interference fit, thus reducing vibration and noise when the shaft is rotated. Instead of a helical square shape, the end of the flexible shaft may alternatively have another helical polygonal shape.

Abstract: A flexible shaft having at least one end formed to have a helical square shape, wherein successive cross-sections have square shapes progressively rotated with respect to each other. The overall rotation from where the square cross-section begins to the adjacent end of the shaft is preferably in the range of 10 to 20 degrees. The helical square end is preferably shaped by swaging utilizing helical square dies preferably made by electron discharge machining. When the helical square end of the flexible shaft is forced into a mating square opening of an end fitting, the helical square configuration of the shaft end causes it to be deformed and bind tightly in the fitting with an interference fit, thus reducing vibration and noise when the shaft is rotated. Instead of a helical square shape, the end of the flexible shaft may alternatively have another helical polygonal shape.

Abstract: An abrasive nozzle assembly comprises a casing, a nozzle head and an abrasive nozzle mounted coaxially to generate a high-velocity abrasive airstream. The nozzle head has a cavity with a nozzle orifice. The casing includes an air passage, which communicates, at one end, with a compressed air supply tube and, at another end, with the cavity. The abrasive nozzle includes an abrasive supply tube which passes axially through the casing and cavity to terminate at the nozzle orifice. A compressed air source feeds the compressed air supply tube. An abrasive mixture source feeds the abrasive supply tube. The abrasive nozzle acts as a primary nozzle directing a narrow abrasive airstream from the center of the nozzle orifice. The nozzle head, which acts as a secondary nozzle, discharges a ring-shaped, high-velocity, abrasive-free airstream from the periphery of the nozzle orifice.

Abstract: A flexible shaft assembly for transmitting rotary motion between spaced components that are mounted on articulated members. The flexible shaft, which has a significant bending flexibility, comprises a proximal section connected to a driver device, a distal section connected to a driven component, and an intermediate section. The proximal and distal sections, which are free to bend, rotate about curved axes. One or more rigid sleeves coaxially mount on the intermediate section for reducing torsional deflections of the shaft as it rotates.