Elastic Joint Cover for Dust-Sealed Robot Spherical Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parallel link robots face challenges in preventing abrasion powder and dust from entering spherical bearings, which can lead to joint failure and require complex tool-based maintenance for cover attachment and removal.
Innovation Solution
A joint cover made of elastic material with through-holes and a slit that opens to facilitate easy attachment and removal, covering the spherical bearing and preventing abrasion powder and dust entry, while allowing visual inspection of abrasion powder accumulation through a transparent design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional sealed spherical bearing is used, then abrasion powder and dust are prevented from entering, but the cover cannot be easily removed for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into a cover body and a separate seal member, allowing the seal member to be attached to the cover body to form a sealed structure. This segmentation enables the seal to be integrated while maintaining the ability to remove the cover for maintenance by simply detaching the seal member.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is inserted into a groove on the cover body, creating a nested structure where the seal is housed within the cover. This nesting allows the seal to be securely attached while enabling easy removal by extracting the seal from the groove, facilitating maintenance without complex tools.
2Reliability
If the cover is made completely sealed, then contamination is prevented, but visual inspection of abrasion powder accumulation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The cover body is made transparent or translucent in the regions where visual inspection is needed, while maintaining sealing functionality through the separate seal member. This local quality change allows light to pass through for inspection purposes without compromising the overall sealing effectiveness of the joint cover assembly.
3Strength
If a rigid cover is used, then structural strength is maintained, but adaptability to different joint configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed with elastic properties, allowing it to deform and adapt to different joint configurations and positioning requirements. This dynamic characteristic enables the seal to maintain effective sealing across various joint positions while the rigid cover body provides structural strength and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member's elastic properties allow it to change its physical parameters (shape, position) in response to different joint configurations. This parameter change capability enables the same seal design to adapt to multiple joint positions and orientations while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
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
Enables quick and tool-free attachment and removal of the joint cover, effectively preventing abrasion powder and dust from reaching the bearing surfaces, thus enhancing maintenance efficiency and reducing the risk of joint failure.
Implementation Method 1
the cover body includes two through-holes respectively allowing for insertion of the shaft part and the second joint member, and the joint cover includes a slit configured to open and close and to make the two through-holes continuous with each other
Implementation Method 2
the cover body made of an elastic material and configured to cover the holder and the end of the second joint member
Data Source
AI summary
A joint cover is removably attached to a joint of a robot including first and second joint members, and a spherical bearing coupling the first and second joint members, wherein the bearing includes a ball shank including a shaft part fixed to the first joint member and including a ball part at one end of the shaft part, and a holder fixed to an end of the second joint member and including a ball receiver configured to enclose and support the ball part, the joint cover includes a body made of an elastic material and configured to cover the holder and the end of the second joint member, and the body includes two through-holes respectively allowing for insertion of the shaft part and the second joint member, and the joint cover includes a slit configured to open and close and to make the two through-holes continuous with each other.