Abstract: One or more remotely disposed valves may be opened or closed by a control handwheel by means of rotatable flexible shafting and mechanism associated therewith which may reduce the torque required to rotate the hand wheel and permitting much lighter weight and less costly flexible shafting to be employed. The associated mechanism comprises pulley-belt arrangements and/or gearing structures at each valve to be opened or closed as well as an optional pulley-belt arrangement cooperating with the handwheel. A torque limiting clutch device may readily be incorporated into the system for providing necessary slippage to the valve stems in the event one or more of the remotely disposed valves reaches the end of its travel prior to the remaining valves in the system.

Abstract: A flexible shaft casing assembly for use in permanent installations wherein the flexible shaft may rotate at high speeds along a tight radius bend or bends in power driven application. The assembly includes a plurality of rigid, curved, tubular casing members which are capable of defining the bends. The casing members are provided with a flared portion at one end which secures a bearing member therein. The casing members are frictionally rotatable 360.degree. within each other by means of the flared portion of one engaging the non-flared portion of an adjacent casing member. Suitable high-temperature epoxy resin renders the bearing members secure in the flared portions of the casing members to provide a permanent installation.

Abstract: Flexible shaft assembly includes a central flexible shaft having its ends permanently affixed within axial bores provided in a pair of end fittings. The end fittings are also provided with a plurality of outer bores disposed symmetrically around the axial bores for receiving the ends of a plurality of outer flexible shafts. At least one end of an end fitting's outer bores receives the ends of one end of the outer flexible shafts in free-floating relationship enabling the assembly to maintain substantial symmetrical disposition of the shafts even when rotating in a tight radius of curvature while transmitting high torques. Bearing supports however may be required to maintain the rotating flexible shafts along a predetermined tight path. By selecting shafts of proper lay, i.e., right-lay and left-lay, the entire assembly may be substantially torsionally balanced.

Abstract: A compact, gearless steering control unit for open fishing boats, for example, employs a pivoting stick or rod to control steering rather than a conventional steering wheel. The unit includes a plurality of pulleys and timing belts to rotate a flexible shaft which controls a steering member. The stick is centrally disposed enabling either front seat occupant to easily move it, or at either side of the boat. By eliminating the protruding steering wheel, the front seat fisherman have additional room to manipulate their gear. The steering control stick may readily be removed to deter theft of the vessel.

Abstract: A handwheel rotates an improved flexible shaft assembly which causes a socket member to rotate therewith. The socket seats an adapter therein which is uniquely configured to engage tapered square valve stems of different sizes and degrees of taper. The flexible shaft assembly is provided with a ferrule at the handwheel end and another ferrule at the socket end. The casing of the flexible shaft is free-positioning by virtue of the ability of the casing to slowly rotate in the ferrule provided at either the handwheel end, or at both the handwheel end and socket end, thus automatically relieving casing torsional stresses.

Abstract: In a vehicle steering system for automobiles, for example, a steering column is provided with a rotatable flexible shaft at the end thereof for improving the ability of the column to absorb energy in a crash situation. The flexible shaft has at least one strip of a plastic material, preferably polyvinylidene fluoride film made piezoelectric by known methods, secured to an outermost winding of the flexible shaft. Turning the steering wheel will torsionally deflect the flexible shaft which causes the piezoelectric strips to generate millivoltages thereacross. A deteriorating flexible shaft will deflect more under torsional stress than a comparable newer flexible shaft and the piezoelectric strip or strips secured to the deteriorating shaft will consequently produce higher millivoltages. These millivoltages are amplified and fed to indicating means for indicating the degree of safeness of the flexible shaft.

Abstract: A plastic material, preferably polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film, made highly piezoelectric by known methods, is placed in a sensor unit structure wherein pressure is exerted against the piezoelectric film by means of rotation of the steering wheel of the boat or vehicle to thereby cause the piezoelectric film to generate electric signals which are used in controlling the rpm of a low-inertia, instantaneously reversible steering power assist motor. The rpm of the motor is substantially proportional to the input electric signals, which, in turn, are determined by, and responsive to, the degrees of rotation and speed of rotation of the steering wheel. The direction of rotation of the steering wheel determines the direction of steering assist, i.e., to the left or right. Available torque of the motor however is substantially inversely proportional to rpm of the engine propelling the boat or vehicle.

Abstract: Position indicating device for constantly visually indicating angular disposition of the rudder of a marine vessel. The device employs a first ball screw cylinder which converts the linear motion from a second ball screw cylinder into rotary motion, which rotary motion is transmitted by a rotatable flexible shaft to the needle pointer of the device. Linear motion of the second ball screw cylinder is generated when the vessel's steering wheel is turned which rotates another flexible shaft connected to the second ball screw cylinder. Linear motion of the second ball screw cylinder controls the position of the rudder simultaneously with conversion of said linear motion into rotary motion by the first ball screw cylinder.

Abstract: A marine vessel is provided with substantially identical steering mechanisms at a main deck dashboard and flying bridge, for example. The vessel may be steered from either location by flexible shafting interconnecting the two steering mechanisms. No gears of servomechanisms are required in the entire steering system, although a modification of the invention discloses a conventional T-coupling device employing bevel gears therein for coupling the outputs of each steering mechanism to a common output which controls the rudder. Structure is disclosed for disengaging that steering wheel not actually steering.

Abstract: Steering mechanism utilizes a pair of serially connected pulley-belt systems having a stepped-up output which causes a flexible shaft to rotate in the remote steering of a marine vessel. Upon fracture of a belt and/or when travelling at high speeds, the safeguard mechanism permits a rapid changeover to a direct drive steering capability such that steering shaft rotation is transmitted directly to the output shaft which rotates the flexible shaft.

Abstract: Boat's engine speed and direction of rotation of the engine's propeller shaft are remotely controlled at the helm. Movement of hand control knobs through a semicircular area controls the full range of speed of the engine as well as its forward-neutral-reverse actuator. The knobs rotate a pulley structure which steps up rotation to flexible shafts. The stepped-up rotation of the flexible shafts is converted to linear motion by ball screw cylinders having output members connected to the engine's speed and propeller shaft actuators.

Abstract: A device for coupling power from a high speed rotating flexible shaft to a spindle of a portable worktool. The flexible shaft is contained within a casing. The casing is crimped within a ferrule which is threaded into a handpiece which an operator holds in one hand to guide the worktool. Upon movement of the worktool on the workpiece by the operator, the casing becomes twisted to encourage loosening of the threaded connection between the ferrule and handpiece, thus endangering the operator. In lieu of the prior art threaded connection between the ferrule and handpiece, a retaining member engages both to prevent their dangerous separation by virtue of the handpiece and retaining member being free to slowly rotate about the ferrule in a direction to automatically relieve twisting stresses introduced into the casing caused by movement of the worktool by said handpiece on or about a workpiece.

Abstract: Clutch assembly which couples rotary motion from an output shaft of a high speed power source to a flexible shaft when the output shaft rotates in the desired direction. Power driven flexible shafts which are subjected to torque loads should desirably be rotated in one direction only. Thus, a flexible shaft having its outermost layer of wire coiled in one direction should be rotated in that direction which tightens up the coiled wire in that layer, and not rotated in the other direction. The clutch consists of a 3-component assembly comprising a cylindrical split spring clip, an input bearing or member, and an output bearing or member. The split spring clip interconnects the input member, which usually receives one end of the power driven flexible shaft; and the output member, which is connected to and rotates the spindle of a suitable handpiece tool.

Abstract: Simple and inexpensive steering mechanism for marine craft wherein motion from a manually-operated steering wheel controls a remotely disposed rudder or other steering member. The present invention is characterized by an absence of gear mechanisms after the steering wheel for "stepping-up" the number of revolutions from the steering wheel in order that the steering member may be moved into steering position without requiring an excessive number of steering wheel revolutions. In lieu of such gear mechanism, a pulley-belt device is employed. As in the prior art, the stepped-up revolutions are conventionally fed into a rotatable flexible shaft assembly; and a ball screw cylinder or the like converts the rotary motion of the stepped-up revolutions into linear motion of a member which controls the steering.