Arm Support Actuation for Safe Mounting and Force Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing arm support devices exert a constant force on the arm shells, requiring inconvenient manual adjustment and posing risks of injury or damage due to uncontrollable actuator ends.
Innovation Solution
A device with an actuator that can be adjusted between states to apply varying forces on arm support elements, featuring a mechanism to safely transition between these states without releasing the actuator ends, allowing for customizable force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a passive actuator exerts a constant force on the arm support element, then the arm support function is provided, but the device cannot be conveniently mounted and removed, and there is a risk of injury or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator's force application is made dynamic rather than constant. The actuator can be positioned in different locations along the force transmission element, allowing the force to be applied only when needed (during arm support) and deactivated during mounting and removal operations, thereby eliminating safety risks while maintaining operational convenience
Solution Approach 2:
A control mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user and the actuator. This intermediary allows the user to activate or deactivate the actuator's force application by positioning it at different locations, providing safe and convenient control over when the force is applied without requiring direct manipulation of the actuator itself
2Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator end is released for adjustment, then the force can be adjusted, but the actuator end may swing around uncontrollably and cause personal injury and property damage
Solution Approach 1:
A control mechanism acts as an intermediary that mediates between the adjustment need and the actuator end. This intermediary allows force adjustment to be achieved through controlled positioning rather than direct release of the actuator end, maintaining adaptability while eliminating the uncontrolled swinging hazard
Solution Approach 2:
The system prevents the harmful effect (uncontrolled swinging) by applying preliminary control measures. The actuator end is kept secured at all times through the control mechanism, which provides preliminary restraint that prevents the dangerous swinging motion before it can occur
3Reliability
If the arm support elements are in the upward-reaching position when the device is being mounted, then the support force is ready, but it requires inconvenient manual adjustment and poses risks of hitting other objects
Solution Approach 1:
The arm support elements' position and force application are made dynamic. During mounting, the actuator is deactivated allowing convenient positioning without support force. Once mounted, the actuator is activated to provide the support force, achieving readiness without compromising mounting convenience or creating obstruction risks
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and convenient mounting and removal of the device while adjusting forces to suit user needs, reducing the risk of injury and damage.
Implementation Method 1
at least one passive actuator which is configured to exert a force on at least one of the arm support elements
Data Source
AI summary
A device for supporting at least one arm of a user, has one or more arm support elements, each of which has an arm shell for mounting on an arm. Passive actua-tor(s) are configured to exert a force on an arm support element by way of which an upward movement of the arm in the arm shell is supported when the device is in the mounted state. The device includes at least one counter bearing for the force to be applied, and at least one actuating element, the actuation of which allows the actuator to be moved into a first state where the actuator exerts the force on the at least one arm support element, and into a second state in which it exerts a smaller or no force on the arm support element.