Patent ID: 8235254

Claim:
An articulated driving mechanism comprised of several inflexible links in succession, the links of each pair of adjacent links being interconnected by means of a link pin, which is arranged in both adjacent links in such a manner that the links are pivotal in relation to one another about the axis of the pin, and each pair of adjacent links being lockable against pivoting in relation to one another, wherein the links of each pair of adjacent links are mutually displaceable, in the transverse direction of the link pin, between a first position, in which the adjacent links are pivotal in relation to one another about the axis of the link pin, and a second position, in which mutually corresponding meshing surfaces of each adjacent link abut one another and lock against mutual pivoting of the adjacent links, wherein the link pin is displaceable in an elongated hole in at least one of the links, wherein the driving mechanism is arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner by means of a driving wheel and a displacement wheel, engaging with each their link of the driving mechanism, and wherein the driving wheel and the displacement wheel are driven at different roll speeds on their respective pitch circles, so that, on longitudinal displacement of the driving mechanism, as a consequence of rotation of the driving wheel and the displacement wheel, the adjacent links are displaceable between their first position and their second position.