Patent ID: 7395609
Filing Date: 2008-07-08
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
1. A 3-dimensional cable guide, comprising: a chassis; a cable comprising a centerline; a swivel frame rotatably attached to the chassis, the swivel frame comprising a rotation axis; first and second sheaves rotatably attached to the swivel frame, each sheave comprising a rotation axis and a circumferential groove, the two sheave axes substantially parallel to each other, and the two sheave grooves substantially adjacent to each other forming a retaining opening between the sheaves for the cable; a cable extension arm pivotally attached to the swivel frame on a pivot axis substantially coincident with the first sheave axis, the extension arm having a distal end with a low-friction cable contact surface, a centerline of the extension arm substantially tangent to a cable bend arc of the first sheave; a cable take-up drum for spooling the cable; and the cable routed from the take-up drum to the opening between the sheaves, then to the distal end of the extension arm, then extending beyond it; whereby the cable extends from the take-up drum through the opening between the sheaves to a range of directions, and the extension arm tracks the cable direction by pivoting about the pivot axis and rotating the swivel frame in response to cable pressure on the low-friction cable contact surface.