Patent EP0386921A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0386921A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Torque transmitter
Assignee: Microspring Co LLC
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Filing: 1990-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A torque transmitter (10) includes three coaxial helically wound springs (12, 14, 16) of different inner and outer diameters positioned relative to each other such that the inner and outer generally circumferential surfaces of the center spring (14) form interference fits with, respectively, the outer generally circumferential surface of the inner spring (12) and the inner generally circumferential surface of the outer spring (16). The inner (12) and outer (16) springs are wrapped in one direction and the center spring (14) is wrapped in the opposite direction.
Inventors
- 👤 William Sprague Hodgson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:21
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C1/00; F16C1/02; A; A61; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/09; A61M2025/09058; A61M2025/09083; A61M2025/09108; F16C2316/00; F16C2316/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A torque transmitter comprising three coaxial helically wound springs of different inner and outer diameters positioned relative to each other such that the inner generally circumferential surface of the center one of said springs forms an interference fit with the outer generally circumferential surface of the inner one of said springs and the outer generally circumferential surface of said center one of said springs forms an interference fit with the inner generally circumferential surface of the outer one of said springs, said inner and said outer springs being wrapped in one direction and said center spring being wrapped in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
A torque transmitter comprising three coaxial helically wound springs of different inner and outer diameters positioned relative to each other such that the inner generally circumferential surface of the center one of said springs forms an interference fit with the outer generally circumferential surface of the inner one of said springs and the outer generally circumferential surface of said center one of said springs forms an interference fit with the inner generally circumferential surface of the outer one of said springs, said inner and said outer springs being wrapped in one direction and said center spring being wrapped in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The torque transmitter of claim 1 wherein the adjacent end portions of said inner, central and outer springs are fixed against relative rotation relative to each other and the portions of said springs intermediate said ends thereof are relatively movable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The torque transmitter of claim 1 wherein each of said springs is wrapped from generally flat wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The torque transmitter of claim 1 wherein at least one of said springs is wrapped from a multiple wire strand.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The torque transmitter of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the generally circumferential outer surface of said outer spring is not more than about 0.060 in.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The torque transmitter of claim 5 wherein said diameter is not more than about 0.030 in.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The torque transmitter of claim 1 wherein the length of said transmitter is not less than about 100 times the diameter of the generally circumferential outer surface of said outer spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The torque transmitter of claim 7 wherein said length is not less than about 500 times said diameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The torque transmitter of claim 1 wherein each of said springs is wrapped from wire having a thickness or diameter (measured radially of said torque transmitter) less than about 0.007 in.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The torque transmitter of claim 8 wherein said thickness or diameter is in the range of 0.0005 to 0.003 in.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
171 words
The method of making a torque transmitter comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first spring helically wrapped in one direction and having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, (b) providing a second spring helically wrapped in the direction opposite said one direction and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said first spring, (c) providing a third spring helically wrapped in the same one direction as said first spring and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said second spring, and (d) placing said springs generally in axial alignment with each other and moving said ones of springs relatively towards each other such that said third spring and said second spring are positioned generally coaxially with each other with said third spring surrounding and forming an interference fit with said second spring, and such that said second spring and said first spring are positioned generally coaxially with each other with said second spring surrounding and forming an interference fit with said first spring.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
171 words
The method of making a torque transmitter comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first spring helically wrapped in one direction and having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, (b) providing a second spring helically wrapped in the direction opposite said one direction and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said first spring, (c) providing a third spring helically wrapped in the same one direction as said first spring and having an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of said second spring, and (d) placing said springs generally in axial alignment with each other and moving said ones of springs relatively towards each other such that said third spring and said second spring are positioned generally coaxially with each other with said third spring surrounding and forming an interference fit with said second spring, and such that said second spring and said first spring are positioned generally coaxially with each other with said second spring surrounding and forming an interference fit with said first spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
The method of claim 11 wherein step (d) includes the steps of (i) inserting said first spring into said second spring to form a first spring-second spring assembly in which said second spring generally surrounds said first spring and there is an interference fit between the generally circumferential outer surface of said first spring and the generally circumferential inner surface of said second spring, and, (ii) thereafter inserting said first spring-second spring assembly into said third spring to form a said torque transmitter in which said third spring generally surrounds said first spring-second spring assembly and there is an interference fit between the generally circumferential outer surface of said first spring-second spring assembly and the generally circumferential inner surface of said third spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method of claim 12 wherein step (i) comprises the steps of placing said first and second springs in spaced apart axial alignment on a mandrel having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said first spring, rotating said mandrel, wrapping said first spring down towards said mandrel while said mandrel is rotating, and moving said springs towards each and moving said second spring over said first spring to form said first spring-second spring assembly while said mandrel is rotating.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 13 wherein step (ii) comprises the steps of placing said third spring and said first spring-second spring assembly in spaced apart axial alignment on a mandrel having an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of said first spring-second spring assembly, rotating opposite to the direction of rotation of said first-mentioned mandrel, wrapping said first spring-second spring assembly down towards said mandrel while said mandrel is rotating, and moving said first spring-second spring unit towards said third spring and moving said third spring over said first spring-second spring unit while said mandrel is rotating.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A medical guide wire assembly comprising: the torque transmitter of claim 1; and, a main portion connected to said torque transmitter and generally axially aligned therewith, said main portion extending from a point proximal to the end of said torque transmitter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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