Integrated Control Unit in Electric Clamp for Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrically driven clamps with two parallel jaws face issues due to external control units that limit mobility, increase bulk and weight, and fail to maintain precise jaw alignment under stress or wear.
Innovation Solution
A compact, lightweight clamp design with a brushless electric motor and integrated microprocessor control unit, utilizing coplanar pushing screws and translation assemblies for synchronous jaw movement, eliminating the need for external control units and ensuring precise, simultaneous jaw positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If an external control unit is used to control the electric motor, then the motor control function is achieved, but the clamp bulk and weight increase, and mobility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control unit with the clamp body, integrating the electronic components directly into the clamp structure. This eliminates the need for a separate external control unit, thereby reducing overall weight and bulk while maintaining the motor control function.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is nested within the clamp body housing, with the electronic components arranged inside the existing clamp structure. This nesting approach allows the control unit to be accommodated without increasing the external dimensions or adding significant weight.
2Extent of automation
If an external control unit is positioned on the manipulator, then motor control is achieved, but the manipulator dynamical performance is negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the control unit with the clamp body rather than positioning it separately on the manipulator, the patent eliminates the additional weight that would affect manipulator dynamical performance. The control unit becomes part of the clamp assembly itself.
3Productivity
If a transmission assembly with gears is used to transmit motion from the motor shaft to the jaws, then motion transmission is achieved, but the gripping center is not maintained under stress or wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional gear-based mechanical transmission system with a direct drive mechanism where the motor shaft directly drives the pushing screws. This elimination of intermediate gears removes the sources of misalignment and gripping center deviation that occur with gear wear and stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic gear transmission assembly from the system. By removing the intermediate mechanical transmission elements, the design achieves more reliable motion transmission that maintains gripping center alignment even under stress and wear conditions.
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 provides a self-centering, compact, and reliable clamp with minimized bulk and weight, ensuring synchronous jaw activation and precise positioning even under stress, reducing the need for external control units and maintaining performance across thousands of cycles.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor, preferably of the brushless type
Implementation Method 2
two coplanar pushing screws, prearranged in parallel with the jaws and mutually engaged by means of respective gear wheels
Implementation Method 3
mutually engaged by means of respective gear wheels
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp (1) is described for manipulators including a body (2) provided with two coplanar seats (21, 22) for housing the respective jaws (G1, G2). The jaws (G1, G2) are translatable in parallel in the respective seats (21, 22) alternately in the two ways, between a retracted position and an extended position, with average- or long-stroke. The clamp further includes an electrical motor (M) for activating the jaws and an electronic unit (CPU) for controlling the electric motor, inside the body (2) of the clamp (1). A transmission assembly is operatively interposed between the electric motor and the jaws, and includes in its turn two pushing screws (V1, V2) and respective translation assemblies (GT1, GT2). The rotation given by the electric motor (M) to the counter rotating pushing screws (V1, V2) causes the translation in opposite directions of the translation assemblies (GT1, GT2), which trail the jaws (G1, G2).