Motion Assistive Actuator Reducer Sealing for Lubricant Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a growing need for assistive devices to alleviate joint-related inconveniences and pain, particularly for the elderly and patients with joint problems, to enhance muscular strength and facilitate motion assistance.
Innovation Solution
A motion assistive device comprising a waist frame, waist belt, force transfer frame, thigh belt, and an actuator with a housing, stator, rotor, reducer, and lubrication system to generate and transfer power, including features like outer and inner washers to guide lubricant movement and sealing members to prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a reducer is inserted inside the rotor to generate power, then the actuator can transfer power to the force transfer frame, but lubricant may leak from the reducer into surrounding spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an outer washer and an input terminal sealing member as intermediary components between the reducer and the surrounding space. The outer washer guides lubricant flow, while the sealing member blocks lubricant from entering the space between the outer washer and the first sun gear, thus preventing harmful lubricant leakage while maintaining power transfer functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the lubricant containment function from the reducer assembly by adding separate components (outer washer and sealing member). The outer washer is attached to the ring gear and the sealing member is connected to the outer washer, creating a dedicated lubricant management system that separates the power transmission function from the lubricant containment function
2Productivity
If multiple gear components are assembled inside the rotor, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the reducer is inserted inside the rotor, and the first planetary gears are disposed between the first sun gear and the ring gear. The first carrier connects to the central axis of each planetary gear, creating a compact nested arrangement that achieves high power transfer efficiency while minimizing structural complexity through space-efficient design
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
The device effectively assists in motion by generating power and transferring it to the user's joints, improving wearability and reducing lubricant leakage, thus enhancing user comfort and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a stator fixed to the housing, a rotor positioned inside the stator and rotatable relative to the stator
Implementation Method 2
a reducer inserted inside the rotor, having an input terminal connected to the rotor, and accommodates a lubricant
Data Source
AI summary
A motion assistive device is provided. The motion assistive device includes a waist frame to be worn on a user's waist, a waist belt connected to the waist frame and covers a portion of the user's waist, a force transfer frame that covers a portion of the user's thigh, a thigh belt connected to the force transfer frame and surrounds the user's thigh, an actuator connected to the waist frame and generates power, and a driving frame connected to the actuator and transfers the power to the force transfer frame, wherein the actuator includes a housing, a stator fixed to the housing, a rotor positioned inside the stator and rotatable relative to the stator, a reducer inserted into the rotor, having an input end connected to the rotor, and accommodates a lubricant, an outer washer attached to the reducer and guides movement of the lubricant discharged from the reducer, and an inner washer disposed between the outer washer and the reducer.