Knee joint structure with oil pressure control

Abstract

A knee joint structure with an oil pressure control function comprises a knee joint head, an oil pressure axis and an oil baffle block, the knee joint head is provided with a containing space, an upper oil channel, a lower oil channel and a common channel, the oil pressure axis is arranged in the containing space, and the oil baffle block is arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head and abuts against the oil pressure axis. The containing space is defined into an upper oil chamber and a lower oil chamber, the upper oil chamber is communicated with the upper oil channel, the lower oil chamber is communicated with the lower oil channel, and the oil baffle block is communicated with the common channel. The buffer oil chamber is directly arranged in the knee joint head, so that the cost can be saved, fluid can be mutually circulated by means of the pressure difference between the upper oil chamber and the lower oil chamber when the knee joint head rotates (anticlockwise or clockwise) and is bent, and the oil pressure buffer effect is achieved; therefore, the impact pressure borne by a user during walking can be effectively relieved, and the walking posture is more natural and relaxed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of prosthetic limbs, and in particular to a knee joint structure with oil pressure control. Background Art

[0002] Prosthesis mainly refers to artificial limbs used to replace the functions of disabled limbs or to modify the appearance of disabled limbs. Among them, the knee joint is the key to the design because it is related to the gait and mechanical balance when walking and must have the support and walking functions of replacing the normal knee joint.

[0003] The conventional knee joint structure, as shown in US Pat. No. 9,005,309B, has a buffer oil chamber located at the lower push rod shaft, and utilizes the push rod and transmission plate to achieve the effect of oil pressure buffering when the knee joint head rotates and bends.

[0004] However, the structure of the US patent is relatively complex, resulting in higher manufacturing costs, and the structure is still not ideal. Therefore, how to improve the defects of the conventional knee joint structure is an urgent task for the industry.

[0005] Therefore, the inventor, based on the concept of continuous product research and innovation, based on many years of practical experience in product design and development, as well as active and focused research and development thinking, has come up with the present invention after countless actual tests and experiments. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a knee joint structure with oil pressure control which can achieve an oil pressure buffering effect by allowing fluids to circulate mutually through the pressure difference between the upper oil chamber and the lower oil chamber, in addition to saving costs.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the knee joint structure with hydraulic control of the present invention comprises: A knee joint head, wherein the interior of the knee joint head has a containing space, a fluid is contained in the containing space, and an upper oil channel and a lower oil channel are provided on the inner wall of the knee joint head on one side of the containing space, and the upper oil channel and the lower oil channel are connected to a common channel; A hydraulic axis is disposed in the accommodating space, two ends of the hydraulic axis are respectively connected to one end of a connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to a pivot seat; An oil baffle is arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head and abuts against the oil pressure axis, thereby defining the accommodating space into an upper oil chamber and a lower oil chamber. The upper oil chamber is connected to the upper oil channel, and the lower oil chamber is connected to the lower oil channel. The oil baffle is connected to the common channel and controls the fluid to flow from the upper oil chamber to the lower oil chamber in one direction, or from the lower oil chamber to the upper oil chamber.

[0008] Furthermore, the upper oil channel is connected to an upper cross channel, the lower oil channel is connected to a lower cross channel, and the upper cross channel and the lower cross channel are connected to the common channel together.

[0009] Furthermore, the knee joint head is threaded with an upper valve needle and a lower valve needle, the end of the upper valve needle is located at the connection between the upper oil channel and the upper cross channel to define a gap; the end of the lower valve needle is located at the connection between the lower oil channel and the lower cross channel to define a gap.

[0010] Furthermore, the fluid is one of hydraulic fluid and lubricating oil.

[0011] Furthermore, two positioning members are provided at both ends of the hydraulic axis, and the positioning members are engaged with one end of the linkage rod.

[0012] Furthermore, the oil baffle block includes a first channel and a second channel, one port of the first channel is connected to the upper oil chamber and is provided with a first one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one port of the first channel, one port of the second channel is connected to the lower oil chamber and is provided with a second one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one port of the second channel, and another port of the first channel and another port of the second channel are connected to the common channel.

[0013] Further, the first one-way valve is constructed such that one of the ports of the first channel has a first ball, and the first ball can be movably disposed at one of the ports of the first channel. The first one-way valve further includes a first stopper, and the first stopper is used to stop the first ball; the second one-way valve is constructed such that one of the ports of the second channel has a second ball, and the second ball can be movably disposed at one of the ports of the second channel to control the opening or closing of one of the ports of the second channel. The second one-way valve further includes a second stopper, and the second stopper is used to stop the second ball.

[0014] Furthermore, the oil blocking block is fixed to the inner wall of the knee joint head by two fixing members.

[0015] Furthermore, the oil retaining block and the knee joint head are integrally formed.

[0016] The present invention not only saves costs by directly arranging the buffer oil chamber inside the knee joint head, but also can more directly control the rotation (counterclockwise or clockwise) of the knee joint head. When bending, the pressure difference between the upper oil chamber and the lower oil chamber allows the fluid to circulate with each other, achieving the effect of oil pressure buffering, so that the impact pressure on the user when walking can be effectively reduced, making the walking posture more natural and relaxed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional exploded view of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional exploded view of another direction of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 It is a side view of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view (I) of an example of use of the knee joint head of the present invention when it is rotated and bent clockwise.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view (II) of the use example of the present invention when the knee joint head is rotated and bent clockwise.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of an example of use of the knee joint head of the present invention when it is rotated and bent clockwise (III).

[0023] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view (IV) of an example of use of the knee joint head of the present invention when it is rotated and bent clockwise.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view (I) of an example of use of the knee joint head of the present invention when it is rotated and bent counterclockwise.

[0025] Fig. 9 This is a cross-sectional view (II) of the use example of the present invention when the knee joint head is rotated and bent counterclockwise.

[0026] Fig.10 This is a cross-sectional view of an example of use of the present invention when the knee joint head is rotated and bent counterclockwise (iii).

[0027] Fig.11 This is a cross-sectional view (IV) of an example of use of the knee joint head of the present invention when it is rotated and bent counterclockwise.

[0028] Fig.12 This is a cross-sectional view (I) of the upper valve needle and the lower valve needle of the present invention, their adjustment structure and an example of adjustment use.

[0029] Fig.13 This is a cross-sectional view (II) of the upper valve needle and the lower valve needle of the present invention, their adjustment structure, and an example of adjustment use.

[0030] Description of the accompanying drawings: a knee joint structure with oil pressure control 1; a knee joint head 10; an accommodating space 11; an upper oil chamber 111; a lower oil chamber 112; an upper oil channel 12; an upper cross channel 121; a notch 122; a lower oil channel 13; a lower cross channel 131; a notch 132; a common channel 14; a fixing member 15; an upper valve needle 16; a lower valve needle 17; a hydraulic axis 20; a positioning member 21; an oil baffle 30; a first channel 31; a second channel 32; a first round ball 33; a second round ball 34; a first stopper 35; a second stopper 36; a connecting rod 40; a pivot seat 50. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] See also Figures 1 to 4 and Figure 7 As shown, the knee joint structure 1 with hydraulic control of the present invention comprises a knee joint head 10, a hydraulic axis 20 and an oil stopper 30. The following will describe in detail: The interior of the knee joint head 10 has a accommodating space 11 as a buffer oil chamber, and fluid is placed in the accommodating space 11. The inner wall of the knee joint head 10 on one side of the accommodating space 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 to a common channel 14.

[0032] The hydraulic shaft 20 is disposed in the accommodating space 11 . Two ends of the hydraulic shaft 20 are respectively connected to one end of a connecting rod 40 . The other end of the connecting rod 40 is pivotally connected to a pivot seat 50 .

[0033] The oil baffle block 30 is disposed on the inner wall of the knee joint head 10 and abuts against the hydraulic axis 20, and defines the accommodating 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, and the lower oil chamber 112 is connected to the lower oil channel 13. The oil baffle block 30 is connected to the common channel 14, and controls the fluid to flow from the upper oil chamber 111 to the lower oil chamber 112 in one direction, or from the lower oil chamber 112 to the upper oil chamber 111.

[0034] In one embodiment, the upper oil channel 12 is connected to an upper cross channel 121 , the lower oil channel 13 is connected to a lower cross channel 131 , and the upper cross channel 121 and the lower cross channel 131 are connected to the common channel 14 .

[0035] In one embodiment, the fluid is one of hydraulic fluid and lubricating oil.

[0036] In one embodiment, two positioning members 21 are disposed at both ends of the hydraulic shaft 20 , and the positioning members 21 are connected to one end of the linkage rod 40 .

[0037] In one embodiment, the oil baffle block 30 includes a first channel 31 and a second channel 32. One port of the first channel 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 port of the first channel 31. One port of the second channel 31 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 port of the second channel 32. Another port of the first channel 31 and another port of the second channel 32 are connected to the common channel 14.

[0038] In one embodiment, the first one-way valve is constructed as one of the ports of the first channel 31 having a first ball 33, and the first ball 33 can be movably disposed at one of the ports of the first channel 31. The first one-way valve further includes a first stopper 35, and the first stopper 35 is used to stop the first ball 33; the second one-way valve is constructed as one of the ports of the second channel 32 having a second ball 34, and the second ball 34 can be movably disposed at one of the ports of the second channel 32 to control the opening or closing of one of the ports of the second channel 32. The second one-way valve further includes a second stopper 36, and the second stopper 36 is used to stop the second ball 34.

[0039] In one embodiment, the oil blocking block 30 is fixed to the inner wall of the knee joint head 10 by two fixing members 15 such as screws.

[0040] In one embodiment, the oil retaining block 30 and the knee joint head 10 are integrally formed.

[0041] The above is an introduction to the components and their composition of the present invention. Next, the use examples, features, and benefits of the present invention are introduced as follows: See also Figures 4 to 7 As shown, the present invention divides the buffer oil chamber into an upper oil chamber 111 and a lower oil chamber 112 by means of the hydraulic axis 20 .

[0042] When the knee joint head 10 is rotated and bent clockwise (such as Figure 5 , Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 1 ), the oil baffle block 30 is driven and rotated relative to the hydraulic axis 20. At this time, the upper oil chamber 111 is squeezed and reduced by the oil baffle block 30, resulting in an increase in the oil pressure in the upper oil chamber 111 and the fluid is squeezed and forced to flow to the lower oil chamber 112. The flow path is as follows: As the oil pressure in the upper oil chamber 111 increases, the fluid is squeezed and forced to flow to the upper oil channel 12, and then flows to the oil baffle block 30 through the upper cross channel 121 and the common channel 14. The first round ball 33 on the oil baffle block 30 is in the upper oil chamber 111. Therefore, due to the greater oil pressure in the upper oil chamber 111, the first round ball 33 will block and close one of the ports of the first channel 31 due to the downward pressure of the oil pressure; at this time, the pressure in the lower oil chamber 112 is relatively small, so that the second round ball 34 can be disengaged to open one of the ports of the second channel 32, so the fluid will directly flow out from one of the ports of the second channel 32 under the oil baffle block 30 and flow into the lower oil chamber 112, thereby achieving an oil pressure buffering effect when the knee joint head 10 bends and rotates clockwise.

[0043] In addition, it should be emphasized that the reason why the above-mentioned fluid will not flow into the lower oil channel 13 is mainly because the fluid must first pass through the lower cross channel 131 and then flow into the lower oil channel 13. Therefore, the required fluid pressure is relatively large. Based on the fluid mechanics principle that the fluid will flow toward the place with lower pressure, the oil will flow out from one of the ports of the second channel 32 under the oil retaining block 30.

[0044] See also Figures 8 to 11 As shown, on the contrary, when the knee joint head 10 rotates counterclockwise and bends to return to its original state, its oil pressure buffering principle and function are the same as those described above. Figures 4 to 7 The knee joint head 10 is the same when it is rotated and bent clockwise, and will not be repeated here.

[0045] The present invention not only saves costs by directly arranging the buffer oil chamber inside the knee joint 10, but also can more directly control the rotation (counterclockwise or clockwise) and bending of the knee joint 10. By using the pressure difference between the upper oil chamber 111 and the lower oil chamber 112, the fluids can circulate with each other to achieve the effect of oil pressure buffering. For example, the impact pressure on the user when walking can be effectively reduced, making the walking posture more natural and relaxed.

[0046] See also Fig.11 , Fig.12 , Fig.13 As shown, in one embodiment, the knee joint head 10 is threadedly connected with an upper valve needle 16 and a lower valve needle 17, and the end of the upper valve needle 16 is located at the connection between the upper oil channel 12 and the upper cross channel 121 to define a gap 122; the end of the lower valve needle 17 is located at the connection between the lower oil channel 13 and the lower cross channel 131 to define a gap 132.

[0047] Accordingly, the size of the notches 122 and 132 leading to the upper oil channel 12 and the lower oil channel 13 can be adjusted by rotating the upper valve needle 16 and the lower valve needle 17 inward or outward, and the flow rate or flow velocity of the fluid can be adjusted, thereby changing the size and rate of the buffering oil pressure when the knee joint head 10 rotates (counterclockwise or clockwise) and bends.

[0048] The embodiments of the present invention cited above are only for the purpose of explanation and should not be used to limit the significance of the present invention. That is, all kinds of modified designs made according to the listed patent application scope should be included in the patent scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A knee joint structure with oil pressure control, characterized in that: Contains: A knee joint head, wherein the interior of the knee joint head has a containing space, a fluid is contained in the containing space, and an upper oil channel and a lower oil channel are provided on the inner wall of the knee joint head on one side of the containing space, and the upper oil channel and the lower oil channel are connected to a common channel; A hydraulic axis is disposed in the accommodating space, two ends of the hydraulic axis are respectively connected to one end of a connecting rod, and the other end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected to a pivot seat; An oil baffle is arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head and abuts against the oil pressure axis, thereby defining the accommodating space into an upper oil chamber and a lower oil chamber. The upper oil chamber is connected to the upper oil channel, and the lower oil chamber is connected to the lower oil channel. The oil baffle is connected to the common channel and controls the fluid to flow from the upper oil chamber to the lower oil chamber in one direction, or from the lower oil chamber to the upper oil chamber.

2. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper oil channel is connected to an upper cross channel, the lower oil channel is connected to a lower cross channel, and the upper cross channel and the lower cross channel are connected to the common channel together.

3. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 2, characterized in that: The knee joint head is threaded with an upper valve needle and a lower valve needle. The end of the upper valve needle is located at the connection between the upper oil channel and the upper cross channel to define a gap; the end of the lower valve needle is located at the connection between the lower oil channel and the lower cross channel to define a gap.

4. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fluid is one of hydraulic fluid and lubricating oil.

5. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two positioning pieces are arranged at two ends of the hydraulic axis, and are connected to one end of the linkage rod by the positioning pieces.

6. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil baffle block includes a first channel and a second channel. One port of the first channel is connected to the upper oil chamber and is provided with a first one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one port of the first channel. One port of the second channel is connected to the lower oil chamber and is provided with a second one-way valve for controlling the opening or closing of one port of the second channel. Another port of the first channel and another port of the second channel are connected to the common channel.

7. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first one-way valve is constructed as follows: one of the ports of the first channel has a first ball, and the first ball is movably disposed at one of the ports of the first channel. The first one-way valve further includes a first stopper, and the first stopper is used to stop the first ball; the second one-way valve is constructed as follows: one of the ports of the second channel has a second ball, and the second ball is movably disposed at one of the ports of the second channel to control the opening or closing of one of the ports of the second channel. The second one-way valve further includes a second stopper, and the second stopper is used to stop the second ball.

8. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil blocking block is locked and arranged on the inner wall of the knee joint head by two fixing pieces.

9. The knee joint structure with oil pressure control according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil retaining block and the knee joint head are integrally formed.

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