Elastic Robot Shroud Mounting for Impact Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial robots operating in environments with human workers face risks of collision damage, and existing impact-absorbing structures often compromise the robot's working range by increasing its external dimensions due to the need for padding to protect joints and cables.
Innovation Solution
An impact-absorbing structure for robot parts featuring a shroud mounted elastically on spacing elements, which allows for a thinner padding layer or complete elimination of external padding, creating a free space for cable movement without increasing the structure's dimensions, utilizing semi-rigid plastic and padding material to absorb impact energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a thick padding layer is used to absorb impact energy, then impact absorption is improved, but the external dimensions of the robot arm increase, compromising its working range
Solution Approach 1:
The impact absorbing structure is segmented into multiple functional layers: a rigid outer shell for structural integrity, a compressible intermediate layer for impact energy absorption, and an inner mounting structure for securing the robot component. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction combining rigid materials (such as metal or hard plastic for the outer shell) with compressible materials (such as foam or elastomeric materials for the intermediate layer). This composite approach enables effective impact absorption within a reduced thickness compared to using compressible material alone.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If padding material is used to protect robot joints and cables from impact, then protection is improved, but the robot's working range is reduced due to increased external dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure incorporates elastic or flexible elements that allow dynamic response to impact forces. The elastic mounting enables the structure to deform temporarily during impact and then return to its original position, providing protection while maintaining the compact form factor needed for adequate working range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the impact absorbing structure in the radial dimension (thickness) while maintaining adequate protection. By achieving efficient impact absorption in the radial direction through composite construction, the robot arm's length in the axial direction remains unaffected, preserving its working range and adaptability.
3Strength
If a rigid shroud is used to protect the robot part, then structural strength is improved, but impact energy is not effectively absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction combining rigid materials (such as metal or hard plastic for the outer shell) with compressible materials (such as foam or elastomeric materials for the intermediate layer). This composite approach enables effective impact absorption within a reduced thickness compared to using compressible material alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid outer shell, which would normally be too stiff to absorb impact energy, is instead used to distribute and transfer impact forces to the compressible intermediate layer. The rigid shell converts the harmful concentrated impact force into a distributed load that the compressible material can effectively absorb, transforming a potential weakness into a functional advantage.
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 impact absorption while maintaining the robot's working range and safety by distributing impact forces, ensuring cable clearance and minimizing damage risks without enlarging the robot's external dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the spacing elements mounts the shroud elastically. By the elastic mounting of the shroud the energy developed from an impact on the shroud is taken up by the spacing element that elastically mounts the shroud.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a robot part (1, 2) such as a robot arm or a robot joint, surrounded by an impact absorbing structure. According to the invention, the impact absorbing structure has a shroud (3) surrounding the robot part (1, 2). The shroud (3) is mounted on two spacing elements (6, 8) such that an interspace is formed between the shroud (3) and the robot part (1, 2). At least one of the spacing elements (6, 8) mounts the shroud (3) elastically. The invention also relates to a method of protecting a robot part by providing the robot part with an impact absorbing structure according to the invention.