Exoskeleton Lifting Rod Dynamics for Shoulder Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletons fail to accurately follow the elevation of the human shoulder joint when lifting arms, leading to relative movement issues, unwanted motion paths, and discomfort for the user.
Innovation Solution
An exoskeleton design featuring a torso attachment device, a lifting rod with reversible movement, a cantilever for arm support, and a spring element to provide ergonomic support that adapts to the shoulder joint's elevation, along with a coupling rod and compensating mechanism to guide and stabilize the cantilever's movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pivot bearings between the supporting strut and arm support remain in one position, then the structure is simple and stable, but the exoskeleton cannot adapt to the elevation of the human shoulder joint, causing relative movement and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static pivot bearing position into a dynamic one that follows the shoulder joint elevation. The coupling rod connects the supporting strut to the arm support, allowing the pivot point to move vertically as the shoulder elevates during arm lifting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by enabling the exoskeleton to track shoulder movement without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling rod serves as an intermediary element between the supporting strut and the arm support. It mediates the movement transmission from the shoulder joint elevation to the arm support position, allowing the system to adapt to anatomical changes while maintaining structural simplicity. The coupling rod translates vertical shoulder movement into corresponding arm support positioning.
2Ease of operation
If the arm support follows the shoulder elevation movement, then wearing comfort improves, but the risk of unwanted lateral movement or twisting of the cantilever increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics by allowing the cantilever to rotate dynamically around a moving pivot point rather than being constrained to a fixed position. This rotational freedom accommodates shoulder elevation while the coupling rod ensures the movement follows the correct anatomical path, preventing unwanted lateral deviations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention addresses the stability issue by adding a rotational degree of freedom in a different dimension. Instead of constraining the cantilever in a fixed plane, the system allows rotation around a vertically moving pivot point, enabling the arm support to adapt to shoulder elevation while maintaining proper alignment through the coupling rod mechanism.
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 exoskeleton provides improved support and comfort by aligning with the natural movement of the shoulder joint, reducing strain and enhancing the user's ability to lift heavy loads without discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element (60) for exerting a force on the cantilever (4) and the lifting rod (7)
Data Source
AI summary
An exoskeleton for supporting an arm of a user includes a torso attachment device for releasably connecting the exoskeleton to a torso of the user, a bracket which is connectable to the torso attachment device, a lifting rod which is connectable to the torso attachment device via the bracket and which is reversibly movable in a first direction and a second direction relative to the bracket, a cantilever for supporting the arm of the user which is releasably connectable to the arm of the user, and a spring element. A force is exertable on the cantilever and the lifting rod by the spring element.