Carrier Arm Joint with Adjustable Lever Axis for Wide Payload Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical stand systems face challenges in accommodating a wide range of payloads without requiring design changes, as they need to support both large and small payloads while maintaining freedom of movement and stability, and existing solutions often require multiple spring force settings for different payload ranges.
Innovation Solution
A carrier arm joint device with adjustable axial distance between pivot and support axes, allowing for a broad payload spectrum without changing the component design, using a single type of spring for various lever arm lengths and masses, and enabling on-site adjustment of spring force for any payload range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a compression spring or tension spring supported kinematics is used to balance the medical device, then the carrier arm can hold or balance the medical device in the vertical position, but the adjustment range for different payloads is limited and requires additional settings
Solution Approach 1:
The support axis is made dynamically adjustable along the strut, allowing the lever arm length to be changed based on the payload requirements. This dynamic reconfiguration enables a single spring to serve multiple payload ranges, eliminating the need for multiple spring force settings while expanding the adjustment range.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameter (lever arm length) by adjusting the support axis position along the strut. This parameter change allows the same spring to accommodate different payloads by modifying the mechanical advantage, thus expanding the payload adjustment range without increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the axial distance between pivot and support axes is fixed, then the design is simplified for manufacturing, but the payload spectrum is limited and requires multiple design variants
Solution Approach 1:
The support axis is segmented into multiple discrete positions along the strut, allowing selection of different lever arm lengths. This segmentation enables a single standardized design to accommodate multiple payload spectra through simple reconfiguration, reducing the need for multiple design variants while maintaining ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable support axis mechanism provides multi-functionality, allowing a single carrier arm joint device to handle various payload spectra. By making the support axis repositionable, the same hardware design serves multiple functions across different payload ranges, eliminating the need for multiple specialized design variants.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple spring force settings are used to accommodate different payloads, then the payload range is expanded, but the device complexity and configuration requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing spring force settings, the invention changes the geometric parameter (lever arm length) by repositioning the support axis. This approach achieves payload adjustment with simpler configuration requirements, as it involves mechanical repositioning rather than complex spring force calibration, thus improving ease of operation while expanding payload range.
4Length of moving object
If the support axis is positioned at a fixed distance from the pivot axis, then the structure is simplified, but the adjustment range for different lever arm lengths is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The support axis is designed to be dynamically repositionable along the strut at discrete intervals. This dynamic capability allows the lever arm length to be adjusted for different applications while using a relatively simple adjustment mechanics that leverages the existing structural elements, thus increasing the adjustment range without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
This solution provides a large adjustment range that allows the medical stand system to support a broad payload spectrum with minimal production variants, simplifying application planning and reducing the risk of payload misclassification, while enabling robust and stable support of medical devices across different heights and positions.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring or a tension spring supported kinematics may be used, which is adapted as a parallelogram... the spring is here arranged on one of the struts and acts as energy storage and as a force generating component
Data Source
AI summary
A carrier arm joint device for a carrier arm of a stand device for arranging in the operating room and for displacing a medical device held on the carrier arm is configured for setting a payload corresponding to a weight of the medical device to be taken up by the carrier arm. The device includes at least one pivot axis for mounting at least one strut of the carrier arm, respectively; and a support axis for supporting a lever configured to transmit forces holding the carrier arm between the strut and the carrier arm joint device A distance between the axes is adjustable within an adjustment range in order to set the payload; the size and/or the extent of the adjustment range is independent of the position of the pivot axis. It is possible to maximize the adjustment range and therefore the payload spectrum in a comparatively compact and structurally rigid joint. A carrier system and a stand device can include at least one such carrier arm joint device.