US3848361A

US3848361A - Conductor transfer assembly

Info

Publication number: US3848361A
Application number: US00397397A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Foster; G Zawadzki; M Godec
Original assignee: Von Duprin LLC
Current assignee: Von Duprin LLC
Priority date: 1973-09-14
Filing date: 1973-09-14
Publication date: 1974-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1991-11-19
Also published as: CA1012636A

Abstract

A transfer assembly providing protective housing for wires, flexible conduits or the like which must extend between the frame of a passage such as a doorway or a window and the hinged closure for the passage to inhibit tangling, kinking or crimping and breakage of such conductors as a result of frequent movement of the closure relative to the frame. In its preferred form, the assembly includes a chambered plate recessed into the frame, a second chambered plate recessed into the hinged edge of the closure, a tubular elbow having one end journalled in the first plate so that its other end is disposed in the chamber of the second plate when the closure is in passage-closing position, a second tubular elbow having one end journalled in the second plate at a point offset from the one end of the first elbow so that the other end of the second elbow is disposed in the chamber of the first plate when the closure is in passage-closing position, a first tubular head communicating with and pivotally movable with respect to the other end of the first elbow, a cylindrical tube supported from that head, a second tubular head communicating with and pivotally movable with respect to the other end of the second elbow, and a cylindrical tube supported from the second head, the two tubes being telescopically associated for relative rotation about their common axis and for relative longitudinal movement, and a plurality of flexible wires, conduits or the like slackly threaded through the elbows and tubes and extending outwardly from the one end of both elbows. It is desirable to protect the slack portions of the conductors against removal or, indeed, any significant bodily longitudinal movement relative to the enclosing elbows, heads and tubes; and several expedients to that end are disclosed.

Description

United States Patent [191 Foster et al.

[451 Nov. 19, 1974 CONDUCTOR TRANSFER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: John R. Foster; George Z.

Zawadzki; Maksimiljan Godec, all

of Indianapolis, Ind.

Primary Examiner-Darrell L. Clay Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hood & Coffey [57] ABSTRACT A transfer assembly providing protective housing for wires, flexible conduits or the like which must extend between the frame of a passage such as a doorway or a window and the hinged closure for the passage to inhibit tangling,'kinking or crimping and breakage of such conductors as a result of frequent movement of IO I? w wart.

the closure relative to the frame. In'its preferred form, the assembly includes a chambered plate recessed into the frame, a second chambered plate recessed into the hinged edge of the closure, a tubular elbow having one end journalled in the first plate so that its other end is disposed in the chamber of the second plate when the closure is in passage-closing position, a second tubular elbow having one end journalled in the second plate at a point offset from the one end of the first elbow so that the other end of the second elbow is disposed in the chamber of the first plate when. the closure is in passage-closing position, a first tubular head communicating with and pivotally movable with respect to the other end of the first elbow, a cylindrical tube supported from that head, a second tubular head communicating with and pivotally movable with respect to the other end of the second elbow, and a cylindrical tube supported from the second head, the two tubes being telescopically associated for relative rotation about their common axis and for relative longitudinal movement, and a plurality of flexible wires, conduits or the like slackly threaded through the elbows and tubes and extending outwardly from the one end of both elbows.

21 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEU w 1 9 1 saw u or 4 3.84 .361

8460 820 W 6769 566 2 082222 222 9 2 7& 2

Fig. 12

CONDUCTOR TRANSFER ASSEMBLY There are numerous environments in which it is desirable that a hinged closure for a passageway shall carry electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically activated units. Thus, wires, conduits or the like must extend between the frame of such a passageway and the body of the door itself and it is obvious that if such wires, conduits or the like have free, unprotected stretches between the frame and the closure, they will be subject to tangling, kinking, crimping and fatigue as the closure is moved, thousands of times during its life, between passage-closing and passage-opening positions.

The primary object of the present invention, then, is to provide an assembly insertable between the hinged edges of such a frame and closure and capable of protecting such wires, conduits or the like against such tangling, twisting, kinking and fatigue.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary section of a frame and a closure therefor, taken on a plane perpendicular to the direction of extent of such a passage with the closure in passage-closing position and with an embodiment of our transfer device installed therein;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, drawn to a reduced scale and showing mating faces of the frame and associated closure edges, with the closure in passage-opening position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating a structural detail;

FIG. 4 is a view, partly in section, similar to FIG. 1 but showing a simplified version of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the structure shown in FIG. 4 but illustrating in section protective splice boxes associated therewith;

FIG. 6 is an elevation taken from the left side of FIG. 4 and showing the transfer device before installation in a portal recess, a part being broken away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 7 is a similar view of the device of FIG. 5;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views showing the telescoping tube portions of an assembly and two different ways, respectively, of securely positioning conductors therein;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary perspective views of two-wire and three-wire strands in which the several conductors are laterally secured to each other; and

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing still another modified form of the invention.

The present invention has been designed primarily for use between one jamb of a doorway frame and the adjacent, hinged edge of a door for closing the doorway; and it will be described primarily in that relationship, but it will be understood that the passage or opening may be a window frame in which case the closure V will be an associated window, that, unless otherwise specified, the hinge connection between the closure and its frame need not be vertical and that the passage may be any kind of opening at all.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it will be seen that we have illustrated a surface 10 at the edge of a jamb which is formed with a recess 12 into which fits a chambered plate 14 formed with a chamber l6. Said plate may be fitted into the recess 12 and may be secured therein by any suitable means such as the screws 18. In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, the plate 14 is formed at its lower end with a port 20 penetrated by a conduit 22 secured in place therein by a set screw 24 or the like.

In a vertical wall the plate 14 is formed with a circular opening bounded by a peripheral shoulder 26 in which is journalled one end 28 of a tubular elbow 30. A spring ring 32 holds the elbow end 28 against withdrawal.

The reference numeral 34 indicates an edge of a door or other closure which. when the closure is in passageclosing position, matingly faces the surface I0. A second chambered plate 38 is received in a recess 36 in said closure, said plate being formed to provide a chamber 40 which, when the parts are in the positions of FIG. 1, registers'with the chamber 16 of the plate 14. The plate 38 is suitably secured by means of screws 42 or other equivalent fastening means. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a port or opening 44 is provided in the bottom wall of the chamber 40 for a purpose which will appear.

Near its upper end, the plate 38 is formed with a pcripheral shoulder 46 similar to the shoulder 26 in which is journalled one end 47 of a second tubular elbow 48. A spring ring 49 retains the elbow end 47 against withdrawal.

The other end 52 of the elbow 30 has an internally concave mouth as at 50 for cooperation with the partspherical end of a head 54 which is pivotally supported from the elbow 30 by means of a pin 56 supported in spaced ears 57 so that said head may freely rock in the bevelled mouth 50 of the elbow 30; and said head 54 carries an elongated, cylindrical tube 58.

A similar head 60 is similarly supported by a pivot pin 62 from the spaced ears 64 of the other end 66 of the elbow 48; and said head 60 carries an elongated cylindrical tube 68 telescopically and oscillably associated with the tube 58.

It will now be perceived that, as the door or closure is swung about the hinges 102 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the elbow ends 28 and 47 will turn about their own axes, the

tubular members

58 and 68 will turn respectively in opposite directions about their common axis and the

heads

54 and 60 will turn about the axes of their

pivot pins

56 and 62 while the

members

58 and 68 likewise move relatively longitudinally as the distance between the

pivot pins

56 and 62 changes.

Any suitable number of wires 70 leading from a source of energy will be threaded through the conduit 22 to the interior of the chamber 16. A like number of wires 78 leading to electrically-energized units carried on or in the door will be threaded through the port 44 to the interior of the chamber 40.

The transfer assembly comprising the

elbows

30 and 48, the

heads

54 and 60 with their

pivot pins

56 and 62 and the

tubes

58 and 68 will customarily be threaded with a suitable number of wires 72, the wires 72 being so proportioned that ends 74 thereof will extend significantly beyond the end 28 of the elbow 30 and ends 76 thereof will extend significantly beyond the elbow end 47 so that the ends 74 may be spliced to the wires and the ends 76 may be spliced to the wires 78, leaving some slack in the portion of the wires 72 disposed within the

tubes

58, 68 and a suitable amount of slack in the portions of the wires which are disposed within the

chambers

16 and 40. As a consequence, the wires are effectively protected against tangling, twisting, kinking and abrasion.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIG. 1, a cover plate 80 having a tang 82 at one end engageable in a suitable notch and having one or more holes 84 near its other end for penetration by screws 86 threadable into suitable openings in the plate 38, may be positioned between the

elbows

30 and 48 and the rear wall of the chamber 40, and a similar cover plate 88 having a tang 90 at one end for reception in a suitable slot 93 and having one or more holes 92 near its other end for the accommodation of screws 94 may be positioned between the elbows and therear wall of the chamber 16, thus guarding against any possible damage to the wires disposed in said chambers, as the

tubes

58 and 68 move.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a wide port 96 is illustrated in the upper wallof the plate 38. A bracket 98 having a tang 99 at one end for engagement in a suitable notch in the plate 38 is formed near its opposite end with one or more suitable holes to receive fastening screws 100, said bracket at least partially closing said port 96. I

It will be apparent that, if other suitable arrangements are made for joumal mounting the

elbows

30 and 48, it is feasible to dispense with the partswhich define the

chambers

16 and 40. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 in which 104 indicates a surface of a member ofa door jamb or the like. A plate 106, formed to define a chamber 108, is recessed into said jamb element and is formed to provide an annular shoulder within which is journalled an end 112 of a tubular elbow 114, a spring ring 116 being provided to prevent withdrawal of said elbow.

The numeral 118 identifies the adjacent edge surface of a door hinged to said jamb element.

A plate 120 is formed to provide a chamber 122 and is secured to that edge of the door which faces the surface 104 when the door is in passage-closing position.

One end 124 of a second elbow 126 is suitably journalled upon a similar annular shoulder formed adjacent the opposite end of the plate 120 and a spring ring 128 retains said elbow end 124 against withdrawal.

' A concave mouth 130 is formed upon the opposite end 132 of the elbow 1 14 and a head 134 having a partspherical end for cooperation with said mouth is pivoted for cooperation with said mouth by means of a pivot pin 136 taking into ears like the ears 140 on the elbow 126 through which the pivot pin 138 supports the head 142.

A cylindrical tube 144 is carried by the head 134 and a similar and telescoping tube 146 is carried by the head 142, said tubes being telescopically associated for relative movement longitudinally and rotationally.

The structure of FIG. 4 will be used, and will operate,

in the same way described in connection with FIGS. 1

andthat the splices will be loose in the recesses in the jamb and door edge after completion of installation.

If desired, however,

splice boxes

154 and 156 may be added to the structure of FIG. 4, as suggested in FIG.

5, using the same screws and 152 which fasten the

plates

106 and 120 in place to secure the splice boxes.

In FIG. 8, we have illustrated one form of what may be termed a capsule 160 which may be substituted for the assembly of heads. telescopic body tubes and conductors illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. The capsule 160 consists of

heads

162, 164 similar to the heads 54 v from the abutment is internally threaded as at 174 for threaded attachment to the reduced end of the head the abutment 172. A sleeve 178 having an annular enlargement 180 at one end thereof is inserted into the bore of the head 162. Plural conductors I88, I90 and 192 have their midportions carefully formed into a composite, cylindrical coil 194, the arrangement of the individual conductors being carefully maintained, as indicated in the drawings. The uncoiled,'end regions of the conductors indicated at 196 are then threaded through the sleeve 178 and are long enough to extend beyond the head 162 so that they may be threaded through the associated elbow (not shown) and extend therebeyond far enough to permit splicing or other joining to mating conductors (such as 70 in FIG. I). Now the threaded end of the tube 166 is threaded onto the head 162 as above described.

A sleeve 182 formed at one end with an annular enlargement 184 is entered into the inner end of the bore of the head 164. A flared guide and retainer 186 is carried by the sleeve 182 and the end regions 198 of the group of conductors are extended through the guide, the sleeve and the head in the manner illustrated, said end regions being long enough to extend through the associated elbow (not shown) and therebeyond a sufficient distance to permit them to be spliced or otherwise connected to mating conductors such as the conductors 78 of FIG. 1. It will be apparent that the flaring shape of the retainer 186 permits it to act as an abutment against the upper end of the coil 194.

The upper end of the tube 168 is now press fitted onto the reduced end of the head 164.

It will be seen that the arrangement as above describedprotects the individual turns of the coil 194 against tangling, kinking or the like as the

tubes

166 and 168 relatively reciprocate axially and oscillate about their common axis during movement of the closure relative to the passageway which it guards. Abutment of one end of the coil 194 with the enlargement 180 of the sleeve 178 affirmatively prevents downward movement of the lower end portions of the coil relative to said sleeve, while permitting such movement with said sleeve; and the engagement of the large end of the guide 186 with the upper turns of the coil 194 substantially prevents upward movement of those turns relative to the guide while permitting such movement of In assembly, the threaded end of the tube 166 is introduced through the end of the tube 168 remote from those turns with the guide. Thus, the coil will expand and contract in response to relative longitudinal movement of the tubes and in response to relative oscillation of the tubes about their common axis, without permitting substantial movement of the

conductor end regions

196 and 198 relative to the

heads

162 and 164 and the parts connected to such heads.

Still another form of capsule 200, providing similar protection for the conductor means 202, is illustrated in FIG. 9.

The conductor means 202 of FIG. 9 may be a single strand, a plurality of separate strands as illustrated in FIG. 8, or a composite strand of the character suggested at 204 in FIG. 10 or at 206 in FIG. 11. In the latter figures, the reference numeral 208 indicates each actual conductor, each of which is enrobed in a cover material 210, the covers being laterally secured to each other. As specifically illustrated, each conductor 208 is a wire and the cover material is a moldable plastic insulating material, the several sections of which are integrally joined in the molding process.

In any case, the conductor means 202 is formed into a single coil 212 having elongated, protruding

end regions

214 and 216. A sleeve 218 of deformable plastic and having an annular enlargement 220 receives the end region 216 and is then deformed as at 226 to hold the end region 214 against movement relative to the sleeve. The other end region 216 is threaded through a similar sleeve 222 which is then deformed in the same way as at 228.

The

tubes

166 and 168 are assembled as before and, with the sleeve 218 in place and coil 212 inside the telescoped tubes, the tube 168 is threaded to the head 162. Preferably, a coiled spring 230 is engaged by the enlargement 220 with its distal coil in contact with the bottom-most turns of the coil 212. A similar spring 232 is engaged by the enlargement 224 of the sleeve 222 and similarly engages the uppermost turns of the coil 212. With the sleeve 222 in place in the bore of the head 164, said head is press fitted to the tube 166, as shown.

In FIG. 12 we have shown-still another modified form of the invention which we presently believe to be an optimum form.

A tubular member 234 is formed at one end to provide a right-cylindrical exterior surface 236 adapted to be journalled in a hole 238 in a support plate 240. A tubular element 242 is bifurcated at one end to receive the other end 244 of the member 234, both members being pierced to receive a pivot pin 246 whereby the member 242 is mounted to oscillate about the pivot axis, the members being formed, in the region immediately opposite the pivot pin 246, with mating, radiused surfaces 248.

A second tubular member 250 is formed to provide a right-cylindrical exterior surface 252 adapted to be journalled in a hole 254 in a second support plate 256.

A second tubular element 258 is bifurcated at one end to receive the other end 260 of the member 250 and the member 250 and element 258 are pierced to receive a pivot pin 262 whereby the element 258 is mounted to oscillate relative to the member 250. At a region immediately opposite the pin 262, the member 250 and the element 258 are formed with mating, radiused surfaces 264.

A sleeve 266 is provided with ahead 268 which is externally threaded to receive the turns 270 at one end of a coiled spring 272, whereby the sleeve is connected to the spring, the sleeve being proportioned and designed for reception in the bore 274 of the other end ofthe fitting 258.

A similar sleeve 276 is similarly formed with ahead 278 externally threaded for reception of the first few coils 280 at the other end of the spring 272; and the sleeve 276 is proportioned and designed for reception in the bore 282 of the other end of the fitting 242.

The reference numeral 284 indicates generally conductor means which. as in previously-discussed embodiments of our invention. may be a single conductor or a plurality of conductors whether or not attached to each other. One end region 288 of the conductor means is threaded through the bore 290 of sleeve 266.

through the element 258 and the member 250 and ex tends significantly outwardly beyond said member 250. The other end region 292 of the conductor means is threaded through the bore 294 of the sleeve 276 and extends through the element 242 and the member 234 and significantly beyond said member 234.

A rectilinear tube 298 is press fitted onto the other end of the element 258, its internal diameter being substantially equal to the outer diameter of the coiled spring 272. An outer, rectilinear tube 300 is telescopically associated with the tube 298 for longitudinal reciprocation and coaxial oscillation relative thereto. and

said tube 300 is press fitted onto the other end of the The form of invention here under discussion may be assembled as follows. The conductor means is coiled at its mid-region as at 286 and one end of the conductor means is threaded through the bore of the sleeve 266 and that sleeve is distorted to anchor the conductor means within its bore. Now the sleeve is threadedly engaged with the end turns 270 of the spring 272 and the sleeve 266 is seated in the bore 274. Now the other end region 292 of the conductor means is threaded through the bore 294 of the sleeve 276 and the sleeve is threadedly engaged with the end turns 280 of the spring 272. With the

sleeves

266 and 276 distorted to anchor the end regions of conductor means therein, we have a capsule or subassembly which may be sold and handled in that condition.

Now, the tube 298 is press fitted onto the upper end of the element 258, with the sleeve 266 already seated. The tube 300 may now be telescoped over the tube 298 and moved all the way into contact with the element 258. Now the sleeve 276 may be seated in the bore 282 of the element 242 and the tube 300 may be press fitted onto the other end of the element 242. With the

conductor end regions

288 and 292 pulled through the bores of the element 258 and the member 250 and of the element 242 and the member 234, the assembly is complete and may be mounted in the

plates

240 and 256 so that the conductor means may be connected or spliced to service lines.

We claim:

1. The combination with a passage having a frame and a hinged closure, of a wire transfer assembly comprising a first chambered plate recessed into an element of said frame and elongated in a direction parallel with the hinge axis of said closure, a second chambered plate recessed into an edge of said closure adjacent said frame element and registering with said first chambered plate, a first tubular elbow having one end penetrating and journalled about its own axis in one of said plates and having its other end disposed at times in the chamber of the other of said plates, a second tubular elbow having one end penetrating and journalled about its own axis in the other of said plates, said last-named axis being offset from but parallel with the axis of said one end of said first elbow and having its other end disposed at times in the chamber of said one plate, a first tubular head mounted to rock about a transaxial axis relative to said other end of said first elbow, a first tube coaxially supported from said first head, a second tubular head mounted to rock about a transaxial axis relative to said other end of said second elbow, and a second tube coaxially supported from said second head, said tubes being telescopically associated with each other for relative coaxial rotation and longitudinal extension and contraction.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said transaxial axes are parallel when said closure is in frame-closing position.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which one of said chambered plates is provided with a wire ingress port,

- the other of said chambered plates is provided with a 5. A Z-shaped tubular fitting comprising two end 7 parts and a telescopic body joining said end parts, the free ends of said end parts being journalled respectively in separate, relatively hinged elements for oscillation about separated, parallel axes and said body part being .pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said end parts, respectively, said body part further comprising two cylindrical members telescopically assembled for relative axial movement and relative oscillation about their common longitudinal axis.

6. In combination, a frame for a passageway, a closure hingedly mounted in said frame, a chambered plate recessed into a part of said frame, a second ch'ambered plate recessed into that edge of said closure which is hinged to said frame part to mate with said first-named chambered plate, and a fitting according to claim having the free ends of said end parts journalled respectively in said plates.

7. A wire transfer assembly comprising a telescopic bodyprovided by a pair of cylindrical tubular members telescopically assembled for relative axial movement and relative oscillation about their common longitudinal axis, said body having opposite ends, a connecting tube at each of said opposite ends communicating with said tubular members, and means for connecting each said opposite end to one end of the adjacent connecting tube for pivotal movement relative thereto.

8. The assembly of claim 7 including a pair of plates. one for mounting on a frame fora passageway and one for mounting on a closure hingedly mounted in said frame, said connecting tubes having their other ends journalled respectively in said plates.

9. The assembly of claim 8 in which the plane which is common to the axes of both ends of each connecting tube is perpendicular to the axis about which said telescopic body pivots relative to that tube.

10. The assembly of claim 7 in which each connecting means includes a tubular head rigidly fastened to the adjacent tubular member of said telescopic body. and a plurality of wires extending through said transfer assembly, said wires having end portions respectively outside said tubular heads and intermediate portions passing through said telescopic body, said intermediate portions coiling about the longitudinal axis of said telescopic body.

11. The assembly of claim 10 including means for gripping the wire portions disposed respectively in said tubular heads.

12. The assembly of claim 11 in which said pair of tubular members of said telescopic body includes an inner member and an outer member, said gripping means disposed in said tubular head which is connected to said outer member providing an axially extending guide for said wires, the distal end of said guide engaging the internal diameter of said inner member.

13. A transfer assembly comprising a first tubular elbow having a first end and a second end, a second tubular elbow having a first end and a second end. the first end of each elbow having a cylindrical exterior surface and the second end of each elbow having a concave interior surface, an intemiediate body comprising an outer rectilinear tube and an inner rectilinear tube telescopically assembled for relative reciprocation and oscillation about their common axis, means pivotally connecting the outer end of said outer tube to the second end of said first elbow upon the center of the con cave surface thereof, means pivotally connecting the outer end of said inner tube to the second end of said second elbow upon the center of the concave surface thereof, and a plurality of conductors threaded through said elbows and body, extending outwardly beyond the first ends of both elbows for connection to other'conductors and providing slack within said body for accommodating such relative reciprocation and oscillation.

14. The assembly of claim 13 including means anchoring said conductors at each end of said body against longitudinally outward movement relative to said body ends.

15. The assembly of claim 13 including means adjacent the outer end of said outer tube for restraining longitudinallyoutward movement of such slack and means adjacent the outer end of said inner tube for restraining longitudinally outward movement of such slack.

16. The assembly of claim 13 in which the slack in said conductors within said body is formed into a coaxial coil, a coaxially tubular head for the outer end of each tube, a sleeve received in each head, each sleeve having an enlargement at its inner end, and a coiled spring disposed between each such enlargement and the adjacent end of said coil, the respective end portions of said conductors being threaded through said sleeves.

17. The assembly of claim 16 including means anchoring the portions of said conductors which are threaded through said sleeves against longitudinal movement relative to said respective sleeves.

18. The assembly of claim 13 in which the conductors of said plurality are laterally connected to each other substantially from end to end.

19. The assembly of claim 18 in which the slack in said conductors within said body is formed into a coaxial coil. and means at opposite ends of said body disposed in blocking association with the respective ends of said coil to restrain longitudinal movement of said coil.

20. A transfer assembly comprising a first tubular member formed to provide a right-cylindrical exterior surface at one end, a first tubular element bifurcated at one end to receive the other end of said tubular member, pivot means located wholly outside the bores of said member and said element upon an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane common to the axes of said bores. a second tubular member formed to provide a right-cylindrical exterior surface at one end, a second tubular element bifurcated at one end to receive the other end of said second tubular member. pivot means located wholly outside the bores of said second member and said second element upon an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane common to the axes of said bores. a first tube connected to the other end of said first element. a second tube connected to the other end of said second element and telescopically associated with said first tube for coaxial reciprocation and oscillation relative thereto. a first sleeve received in the bore of said other end of said first element. a second sleeve received in the bore of said other end of said second element. a coiled spring disposed within said tubes and connected to said sleeves. and conductor means having its midportion formed into a coil disposed within said spring, one end region of such conductor means extending through said first sleeve. through said first element and through said first member and therebeyond and being fixed relative to said first sleeve. and the other end region of such conductor means extending through said second sleeve. through said second element and through said second member and therebeyond.

21. The device of claim 20 in which said other end region is fixed relative to said second sleeve.

Claims

3. The combination of claim 1 in which one of said chambereD plates is provided with a wire ingress port, the other of said chambered plates is provided with a wire egress port, and a removable cover plate for each chamber disposed between said tubes and the respective ports.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which each cover plate is formed at one end with a tang received in a slot formed in the associated chambered plate and is formed near its other end with a hole receiving a screw threaded into a threaded socket formed in its associated chambered plate.

5. A Z-shaped tubular fitting comprising two end parts and a telescopic body joining said end parts, the free ends of said end parts being journalled respectively in separate, relatively hinged elements for oscillation about separated, parallel axes and said body part being pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said end parts, respectively, said body part further comprising two cylindrical members telescopically assembled for relative axial movement and relative oscillation about their common longitudinal axis.

6. In combination, a frame for a passageway, a closure hingedly mounted in said frame, a chambered plate recessed into a part of said frame, a second chambered plate recessed into that edge of said closure which is hinged to said frame part to mate with said first-named chambered plate, and a fitting according to claim 5 having the free ends of said end parts journalled respectively in said plates.

7. A wire transfer assembly comprising a telescopic body provided by a pair of cylindrical tubular members telescopically assembled for relative axial movement and relative oscillation about their common longitudinal axis, said body having opposite ends, a connecting tube at each of said opposite ends communicating with said tubular members, and means for connecting each said opposite end to one end of the adjacent connecting tube for pivotal movement relative thereto.

8. The assembly of claim 7 including a pair of plates, one for mounting on a frame for a passageway and one for mounting on a closure hingedly mounted in said frame, said connecting tubes having their other ends journalled respectively in said plates.

10. The assembly of claim 7 in which each connecting means includes a tubular head rigidly fastened to the adjacent tubular member of said telescopic body, and a plurality of wires extending through said transfer assembly, said wires having end portions respectively outside said tubular heads and intermediate portions passing through said telescopic body, said intermediate portions coiling about the longitudinal axis of said telescopic body.

13. A transfer assembly comprising a first tubular elbow having a first end and a second end, a second tubular elbow having a first end and a second end, the first end of each elbow having a cylindrical exterior surface and the second end of each elbow having a concave interior surface, an intermediate body comprising an outer rectilinear tube and an inner rectilinear tube telescopically assembled for relative reciprocation and oscillation about their common axis, means pivotally connecting the outer end of said outer tube to the second end of said first elbow upon the center of the concave surface thereof, means pivotally connecting the outer end of said inner tube to the second end of said second elbow upon the ceNter of the concave surface thereof, and a plurality of conductors threaded through said elbows and body, extending outwardly beyond the first ends of both elbows for connection to other conductors and providing slack within said body for accommodating such relative reciprocation and oscillation.

15. The assembly of claim 13 including means adjacent the outer end of said outer tube for restraining longitudinally outward movement of such slack and means adjacent the outer end of said inner tube for restraining longitudinally outward movement of such slack.

19. The assembly of claim 18 in which the slack in said conductors within said body is formed into a coaxial coil, and means at opposite ends of said body disposed in blocking association with the respective ends of said coil to restrain longitudinal movement of said coil.

20. A transfer assembly comprising a first tubular member formed to provide a right-cylindrical exterior surface at one end, a first tubular element bifurcated at one end to receive the other end of said tubular member, pivot means located wholly outside the bores of said member and said element upon an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane common to the axes of said bores, a second tubular member formed to provide a right-cylindrical exterior surface at one end, a second tubular element bifurcated at one end to receive the other end of said second tubular member, pivot means located wholly outside the bores of said second member and said second element upon an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane common to the axes of said bores, a first tube connected to the other end of said first element, a second tube connected to the other end of said second element and telescopically associated with said first tube for coaxial reciprocation and oscillation relative thereto, a first sleeve received in the bore of said other end of said first element, a second sleeve received in the bore of said other end of said second element, a coiled spring disposed within said tubes and connected to said sleeves, and conductor means having its midportion formed into a coil disposed within said spring, one end region of such conductor means extending through said first sleeve, through said first element and through said first member and therebeyond and being fixed relative to said first sleeve, and the other end region of such conductor means extending through said second sleeve, through said second element and through said second member and therebeyond.