Driving Module Power Transmission for Motion Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion assistance apparatuses for individuals with joint problems or elderly users lack efficient power transmission mechanisms, leading to inadequate support and increased effort during movement, and there is a need for improved muscular strength enhancement for both civilian and military applications.
Innovation Solution
A driving module with a power transmitting rotary body and decelerators, including a parallel shaft decelerator and a planetary decelerator, that transmits power from a driving source to assist joint movement, combined with a tensile force adjusting device to optimize power transmission and reduce user effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If separate motors are provided at left and right hip joint portions to transmit driving power, then driving power can be transmitted to each joint portion, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate driving sources into a single driving source located at the user's back. This single driving source transmits power through a transmission mechanism that drives both left and right hip joint portions, thereby reducing device complexity and weight while maintaining the capability to transmit driving power to both sides simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transmission mechanism as an intermediary between the single driving source and the hip joint portions. This transmission mechanism includes gears and shafts that distribute power from the single driving source to both left and right hip joint portions, enabling efficient power transmission without requiring separate motors at each joint
2Power
If a decelerator is added to transmit power between the driving source and the power transmitting rotary body, then power transmission efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the first decelerator and second decelerator into a single integrated decelerator unit. This unified decelerator structure performs both deceleration functions sequentially, reducing the overall number of components and simplifying the device complexity while maintaining effective power transmission and torque multiplication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested decelerator configuration where the first decelerator and second decelerator are arranged in series within a compact structure. The output shaft of the first decelerator connects to the input of the second decelerator, creating a nested arrangement that achieves multiple stages of deceleration in a space-efficient manner
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 effective power transmission and support to assist joint movement, reducing user effort and enhancing muscular strength, thereby improving mobility and usability for both civilian and military purposes.
Implementation Method 1
a first decelerator configured to transmit power between the driving source and the power transmitting rotary body. The first decelerator includes an input side rotary body configured to receive power from the driving source, and an output side rotary body configured to transmit power to the power transmitting rotary body
Implementation Method 2
the second decelerator may include a central rotary body configured to receive power transmitted from the first decelerator, a connecting rotary body coupled to or connected to an outer circumferential surface of the central rotary body, and a ring member surrounding the central rotary body and the connecting rotary body
Data Source
AI summary
A driving module and a motion assistance apparatus including the same may be provided. For example, the driving module including a driving source provided on one side of a user and configured to transmit power, a power transmitting rotary body configured to rotate by the power transmitted from the driving source, and a first decelerator configured to transmit power between the driving source and the power transmitting rotary body, the first decelerator having an input side rotary body configured to receive power from the driving source, and an output side rotary body configured to transmit power to the power transmitting rotary body may be provided.