Patent ID: 7866229

Claim:
An automatic length compensating device ( 30 ) for a flexible cable transmission ( 8 ) having a core ( 12 ) sliding inside a first sheath part and a second sheath part, said device ( 30 ) comprising: an outer member ( 31 ) and an inner member ( 32 ) inserted at least partly inside the outer member in a predetermined direction (B) and defining, in said direction (B), respective through seats ( 33 , 34 ) fitted through with the core ( 12 ) of said transmission ( 8 ), the outer member ( 31 ) being engaged with an end of the first sheath part and having first and second opposed outer arms ( 38 ) that extend parallel to said direction (B), and the inner member ( 32 ) being engaged with an end of the second sheath part and having first and second opposed inner arms ( 40 ) that extend parallel to said direction (B), and that together fit between the first and second outer arms ( 38 ), wherein the first and second inner arms ( 40 ) have an outwardly facing toothed portion, and the first and second outer arms have an inwardly facing toothed portion that releasably engages the outwardly facing toothed portion over a range of relative positions between the outer and inner members corresponding to a range of degrees of extension of the automatic length compensating device; and elastic means ( 35 ) interposed between said outer and inner members ( 31 , 32 ), wherein the inwardly and outwardly facing toothed portions contain teeth that are shaped to permit the elastic means to mutually withdraw the inner and outer members ( 31 , 32 ) from each other sufficiently to maintain engagement between the outer and inner members with the respective ends of the first and second sheath parts in the event of a lengthening of the core.