PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a self propelling device attached to the insert section of an endoscope, whose bending section can be smoothly bent.SOLUTION: The self propelling device 11 is attached to the insert section 13 by fixing a large ring 42a of a frustum-shaped coil spring 42 on the inner wall surface of an internal hole 44a of a tubular member 41, and a small ring 42b on the external peripheral surface 20a of the bending section 20. A gap 46 is provided between the external surface of the insert section 13 and the inner wall surface of the internal hole 44a of the tubular member 41 of the self propelling device 11. The insert section 13 is suspended in the internal hole 44a so as to be relatively movable and rotatable to the self propelling device 11 within a range of elastic deformation of the coil spring 42, which enables the bending section 20 to be freely bent without hampered by the tubular member 41.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】内視鏡の挿入部に装着される自己推進装置において、湾曲部の湾曲動作を円滑に行わせる。【解決手段】自己推進装置11は、円錐台形状をしたコイルバネ42の大輪42aが筒状部材41の内孔44aの内壁面に、小輪42bが湾曲部20の外周面20aに、それぞれ固定されることにより、挿入部13に取り付けられる。挿入部13の外面と自己推進装置11の筒状部材41の内孔44aの内壁面との間には、隙間46が設けられる。挿入部13は、内孔44a内で宙吊り状態となり、コイルバネ42の弾性変形の範囲内で、挿入部13が自己推進装置11に対して相対的に並進,回転自在となり、筒状部材41によって妨げられることなく、湾曲部20が自由に湾曲動作される。【選択図】図2
