Knee joint structure with hydraulic control

Abstract

The invention relates to a knee joint structure with hydraulic control, comprising: a knee joint head (10) having a receiving space (11), an upper oil channel (12), a lower oil channel (13), and a common channel (14); a hydraulic axis (20) arranged in the receiving space (11); and an oil barrier block (30) arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head (10), in contact with the hydraulic axis (20), and defining the receiving space (11) into an upper oil chamber (111) and a lower oil chamber (112), wherein the upper oil chamber (111) is connected to the upper oil channel (12), the lower oil chamber (112) is connected to the lower oil channel (13), and the oil barrier block (30) is connected to the common channel (14).By arranging the buffer oil chamber directly inside the knee joint head, the present invention not only saves costs but also achieves a buffer effect, allowing fluid to circulate directly through the pressure difference between the upper and lower oil chambers during rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise) and flexion of the knee joint head. For example, the load on the user's walking can be effectively reduced, making the gait more natural and relaxed.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a knee joint structure, in particular to a knee joint structure with hydraulic control, which not only saves costs but also achieves a buffer effect through the fluid circuit due to the pressure difference between an upper oil chamber and a lower oil chamber. State of the art

[0002] Prosthetics mainly refer to artificial limbs used to replace the functions of disabled limbs or to enhance the appearance of disabled limbs. Among these, the knee joint is the key point in the design because it is related to gait and mechanical balance during walking, and must provide support and walking functions to replace the normal knee joint. The conventional knee joint structure, see US Patent US 9 005 309 B2, has a buffer oil chamber at the lower push rod. The push rod and the transmission plate achieve the effect of hydraulic buffering during rotation and flexion of the knee joint. Similar knee joint structures are known from DE 10 2007 015 560 A1 and US 2005 / 0 203 639 A1.

[0003] However, the structure of this US patent is relatively complex, resulting in high manufacturing costs. Its structure is not yet ideal. Therefore, improving the deficiencies in the conventional knee joint structure is a top priority for the industry. Object of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a knee joint structure with hydraulic control, which not only saves costs, but also achieves a buffer effect through the fluid circuit due to the pressure difference between an upper oil chamber and a lower oil chamber.

[0005] This object is achieved by the hydraulic control knee joint structure comprising: a knee joint head in which a receiving space is provided, the receiving space being filled with a fluid, the inner wall of the knee joint head being provided with an upper oil channel and a lower oil channel on one side of the receiving space, and the upper oil channel and the lower oil channel being connected to a common channel; a hydraulic axis arranged in the receiving space, two ends of the hydraulic axis being each connected to one end of a connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod being pivotally connected to a rotary base;and an oil barrier block arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head, in contact with the hydraulic axis, and defining the receiving space into an upper oil chamber and a lower oil chamber, the upper oil chamber being connected to the upper oil passage, the lower oil chamber being connected to the lower oil passage, the oil barrier block being connected to the common passage, the fluid being controlled to flow in only one direction from the upper oil chamber to the lower oil chamber or from the lower oil chamber to the upper oil chamber;

[0006] By arranging the buffer oil chamber directly inside the knee joint head, the present invention not only saves costs but also achieves a buffer effect, allowing fluid to circulate directly through the pressure difference between the upper and lower oil chambers during rotation (counterclockwise or clockwise) and flexion of the knee joint head. For example, the user's walking load can be effectively reduced, making the gait more natural and relaxed. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 an exploded view of the invention, Fig. 2 an exploded view from the other viewing direction of the invention, Fig. 3 a side view of the invention, Fig. 4 to Fig. 7 sectional views when rotating clockwise the knee joint head of the invention, Fig. 8 to Fig. 11 sectional views when rotating counterclockwise the knee joint head of the invention, Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 Cross-sectional view of the structure, adjustment and use of the upper valve needle and the lower valve needle of the invention. Ways to implement the invention

[0007] As in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Fig. 7, the hydraulic control knee joint structure 1 of the present invention comprises a knee joint head 10, a hydraulic axis 20, and an oil barrier block 30. They are explained in detail below: A receiving chamber 11 serves as a buffer oil chamber in the knee joint head 10. The receiving chamber 11 is filled with a fluid. The inner wall of the knee joint head 10, on one side of the receiving chamber 11, is provided with an upper oil channel 12 and a lower oil channel 13. The upper oil channel 12 and the lower oil channel 13 are connected by a common channel 14.

[0008] The hydraulic axis 20 is arranged in the receiving space 11. Two ends of the hydraulic axis 20 are each connected to one end of a connecting rod 40. The other end of the connecting rod 40 is pivotally connected to a rotating base 50.

[0009] The oil barrier block 30 is arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head 10, is in contact with the hydraulic axis 20, and defines the receiving space 11 into an upper oil chamber 111 and a lower oil chamber 112. The upper oil chamber 111 is connected to the upper oil channel 12. The lower oil chamber 112 is connected to the lower oil channel 13. The oil barrier block 30 is connected to the common channel 14. The fluid is controlled to flow in only one direction, from the upper oil chamber 111 to the lower oil chamber 112 or from the lower oil chamber 112 to the upper oil chamber 111.

[0010] The oil barrier block 30 has a first passage 31 and a second passage 32. One end of the first passage 31 is connected to the upper oil chamber 111 and is provided with a first one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one end of the first passage 31. One end of the second passage 32 is connected to the lower oil chamber 112 and is provided with a second one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one end of the second passage 32. The other end of the first passage 31 and the other end of the second passage 32 are connected to the common passage 14.

[0011] In one embodiment, the upper oil passage 12 is connected to an upper cross passage 121. The lower oil passage 13 is connected to a lower cross passage 131. The upper cross passage 121 and the lower cross passage 131 are connected to the common passage 14.

[0012] In one embodiment, the fluid is a hydraulic fluid or a lubricating oil.

[0013] In one embodiment, two positioning parts 21 are provided at both ends of the hydraulic axis 20. The positioning parts 21 are connected to one end of the connecting rods 40.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first one-way valve is configured such that one end of the first channel 31 is provided with a first ball 33. The first ball 33 is movably arranged in the end of the first channel 31. The first one-way valve has a first stopper 35. The first stopper 35 serves to stop the first ball 33. The second one-way valve is configured such that one end of the second channel 32 is provided with a second ball 34. The second ball 34 is movably arranged in the end of the second channel 32 to control the opening or closing of the end of the second channel 32. The second one-way valve has a second stopper 36. The second stopper 36 serves to stop the second ball 34.

[0015] In one embodiment, the oil barrier block 30 is attached to the inner wall of the knee joint head 10 by two fastening elements 15, for example screws.

[0016] In one embodiment, the oil barrier block 30 and the knee joint head 10 are formed in one piece.

[0017] The above is an introduction to the components of the present invention and their assembly. The application, features, and advantages of the present invention are then described: As in Fig. 4 to Fig. 7, the present invention divides the buffer oil chamber into an upper oil chamber 111 and a lower oil chamber 112 by the hydraulic axis 20.

[0018] When the knee joint head 10 is rotated and flexed clockwise (as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6), the oil lock block 30 is carried and rotated relative to the hydraulic axis 20. Since the upper oil chamber 111 is pressed and reduced in size by the oil lock block 30, the oil pressure in the upper oil chamber 111 increases, causing the fluid to be expelled and forced to flow toward the lower oil chamber 112. The flow path is as follows: When the oil pressure in the oil chamber 111 increases, the fluid is ejected and forced to flow to the upper oil channel 12, thereby entering the oil lock block 30 through the upper cross channel 121 and the common channel 14. The upper first ball 33 of the oil lock block 30 is located within the upper oil chamber 111. Due to the high oil pressure in the upper oil chamber 111, the first ball 33 is pushed downward and closes one end of the first channel 31. At this time, the oil pressure in the lower oil chamber 112 is smaller, causing the second ball 34 to open one end of the second channel 32. As a result, the fluid flows directly into the lower oil chamber 112 through the end of the lower second channel 32 of the oil lock block 30. Therefore, when the knee joint head 10 is flexed and rotated clockwise, hydraulic buffering is generated.

[0019] Furthermore, it should be emphasized that the reason why the above-mentioned fluid does not flow into the lower oil passage 13 is mainly because the fluid must flow into the lower oil passage 13 through the lower cross passage 131. Therefore, the required fluid pressure is relatively high. Based on the fluid mechanics principle that the fluid flows to a low-pressure location, the oil flows out of one end of the lower second passage 32 of the oil barrier block 30.

[0020] As in Fig. 8 to Fig. 11, when the knee joint head 10 is rotated and bent counterclockwise and returns to its original state, its hydraulic buffer principle and function are the same as those shown in the Fig. 4 to Fig. 7 when the knee joint head 10 is rotated and flexed clockwise, so the details are not repeated here.

[0021] By arranging the buffer oil chamber directly inside the knee joint head 10, the present invention not only saves costs but also achieves a buffer effect in which, during rotation (counterclockwise or clockwise) and flexion of the knee joint head 10, the fluid circulates directly through the pressure difference between the upper oil chamber 111 and the lower oil chamber 112. For example, the load when the user walks can be effectively reduced, making the gait more natural and relaxed.

[0022] As in Fig. 11, Fig. 12 and Fig.13, in one embodiment, the knee joint head 10 is threadedly connected to an upper valve needle 16 and a lower valve needle 17. The end of the upper valve needle 16 defines a gap 122 at the junction between the upper oil channel 12 and the upper cross channel 121. The end of the lower valve needle 17 defines a gap 132 at the junction between the lower oil channel 13 and the lower cross channel 131. This allows the sizes of the gaps 122, 132 connected to the upper oil channel 12 and the lower oil channel 13 to be adjusted by rotating the upper valve needle 16 and the lower valve needle 17 inward or outward. Therefore, the flow rate or flow velocity of the fluid can be adjusted, thereby changing the magnitude of the oil pressure when the knee joint head 10 is rotated (counterclockwise or clockwise) and flexed.

Claims

[1] A hydraulically controlled knee joint structure, comprising a knee joint head (10) in which a receiving space (11) is provided, the receiving space (11) being filled with a fluid, the inner wall of the knee joint head (10) being provided on one side of the receiving space (11) with an upper oil channel (12) and a lower oil channel (13), and the upper oil channel (12) and the lower oil channel (13) being connected to a common channel (14); a hydraulic axis (20) arranged in the receiving space (11), two ends of the hydraulic axis (20) being each connected to one end of a connecting rod (40), and the other end of the connecting rod (40) being pivotally connected to a rotary base (50); and an oil barrier block (30) arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head (10), in contact with the hydraulic axis (20) and defining the receiving space (11) into an upper oil chamber (111) and a lower oil chamber (112), wherein the upper oil chamber (111) is connected to the upper oil channel (12), wherein the lower oil chamber (112) is connected to the lower oil channel (13), wherein the oil barrier block (30) is connected to the common channel (14), wherein the fluid is controlled so that it flows only in one direction from the upper oil chamber (111) to the lower oil chamber (112) or from the lower oil chamber (112) to the upper oil chamber (111); characterized byin that the oil barrier block (30) has a first channel (31) and a second channel (32), one end of the first channel (31) being connected to the upper oil chamber (111) and being provided with a first one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one end of the first channel (31), one end of the second channel (32) being connected to the lower oil chamber (112) and being provided with a second one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one end of the second channel (32), and the other end of the first channel (31) and the other end of the second channel (32) being connected to the common channel (14). [2] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 1, characterized by that the upper oil channel (12) is connected to an upper cross channel (121) and the lower oil channel (13) is connected to a lower cross channel (131), wherein the upper cross channel (121) and the lower cross channel (131) are connected to the common channel (14). [3] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 2, characterized by in that the knee joint head (10) is screwed to an upper valve needle (16) and a lower valve needle (17), wherein the end of the upper valve needle (16) defines a gap (122) at the connection point between the upper oil channel (12) and the upper cross channel (121), and wherein the end of the lower valve needle (17) defines a gap (132) at the connection point between the lower oil channel (13) and the lower cross channel (131). [4] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 1, characterized by that the fluid is a hydraulic fluid or a lubricating oil. [5] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 1, characterized by that two positioning parts (21) are provided at both ends of the hydraulic axis (20), wherein the positioning parts (21) are connected to one end of the connecting rods (40). [6] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 6, characterized by in that the first one-way valve is configured such that one end of the first channel (31) is provided with a first ball (33), wherein the first ball (33) is movably arranged in the end of the first channel (31), wherein the first one-way valve has a first stopper (35), and wherein the first stopper (35) serves to stop the first ball (33); and the second one-way valve is configured such that one end of the second channel (32) is provided with a second ball (34), wherein the second ball (34) is movably arranged in the end of the second channel (32) to control the opening or closing of the end of the second channel (32), wherein the second one-way valve has a second stopper (36), and wherein the second stopper (36) serves to stop the second ball (34). [7] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 1, characterized bythat the oil barrier block (30) is attached to the inner wall of the knee joint head (10) by two fastening elements (15). [8] Knee joint structure with hydraulic control according to claim 1, characterized by that the oil barrier block (30) and the knee joint head (10) are formed in one piece.

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