Ball Socket Joint with Embedded Spring for Defined Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pendulum support devices for workpieces are complex, expensive, and prone to maintenance issues, with self-aligning pads having multiple components and spring-loaded mechanisms that can lead to undefined positions and tilting, causing handling and transport challenges.
Innovation Solution
A workpiece robot with a simplified pendulum support device designed as a ball socket joint, comprising a one-piece socket and spherical body with an elastically deformable spring element, ensuring automatic return to a defined position without external forces, reducing component count, and preventing tilting during handling and transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If self-aligning pads with spring return are used, then the support device returns to a defined position automatically, but the device complexity increases due to multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spherical body and socket into a single integrated component with an embedded spring element, eliminating the need for separate spring-loaded sliding pieces and reducing the overall component count while maintaining the self-aligning function
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical body serves multiple functions: it provides the support surface for workpieces, acts as the oscillating element, and integrates the spring mechanism within its structure, eliminating the need for separate components for each function
2Reliability
If spring-loaded sliding pieces are used, then the support device achieves springback function, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is integrated directly into the spherical body structure, eliminating the need for separate spring-loaded sliding pieces and reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is preloaded in the basic position from each radial direction approximately the same, creating a toroidal outer surface geometry that provides the springback function through geometric design rather than complex mechanical components
3Reliability
If multiple spring-loaded components are used, then the support device achieves self-aligning function, but the maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical body and socket are designed as integrated components with the spring element embedded within, reducing the number of separate parts that can fail or require maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element automatically returns the spherical body to its basic position after workpiece placement, providing self-correcting functionality without requiring external intervention or maintenance
4Reliability
If the ball socket is designed with transition to smaller radius, then the spring-loaded slide pieces are loaded, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The socket is designed with a toroidal outer surface geometry that provides spring loading through geometric parameters rather than complex mechanical transitions, simplifying the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is integrated within the spherical body structure, eliminating the need for separate spring-loaded sliding pieces and complex socket transitions
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 solution enables reliable, gentle, and defined handling and transport of workpieces by maintaining a consistent support position, reducing maintenance costs and complexity, while ensuring the support device remains aligned and dirt-resistant, with a compact and space-efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
between the pin and the recess at least one elastically deformable spring element is arranged with in the unloaded state preferably rotationally toroidal outer surface, which is preloaded in the basic position from each radial direction approximately the same
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A pivotally mounted support device (1) designed as a ball-and-socket joint for supporting and/or resting workpieces (20), consisting of at least two components, one being a socket (2) of at least one part and the other a ball (3) of at least one part, is characterized in that a pin (10) and a recess (11) circumferentially around the pin (10) are alternately formed on one of the two components, socket (2) or ball (3), and that at least one elastically deformable spring element (4) with a preferably rotationally torsionally flexible outer surface in the unloaded state is arranged between the pin (10) and the recess (11), which is preloaded approximately equally from each radial direction in its home position. The invention provides a pivoting support that can consist of only a few components and is easy to maintain.