Flexible Structure With Elastomeric Dampening For Robotics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible structures in robotics and orthopedic braces often sacrifice strength when attempting to achieve high degrees of freedom and impact load absorption, leading to component damage under overload conditions.
Innovation Solution
A flexible structure comprising resilient members and elastomeric members that interact to increase stiffness and prevent deformation beyond elastic limits, providing axial, bending, and twisting flexibility while dampening impact loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If resilient members are used to achieve high degrees of freedom and impact load absorption, then flexibility and impact dampening are improved, but strength deteriorates under overload conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines resilient members (metallic springs) with elastomeric members (rubber or polymer elements) to create a composite structure. The resilient members provide flexibility and elastic energy storage, while the elastomeric members provide damping and prevent excessive deformation. This composite approach allows the structure to achieve both high flexibility and maintained strength under overload conditions, as the elastomeric members engage when resilient members approach their elastic limits.
2Loss of energy
If resilient members deform to absorb impact loads, then impact dampening is improved, but reliability deteriorates when deformation exceeds elastic limits
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric members are positioned to engage before the resilient members can deform beyond their elastic limits. These elastomeric elements act as a protective cushion that absorbs excess energy and prevents catastrophic failure. The structure is designed so that under normal impact conditions, the elastomeric members deform first, providing a safety mechanism that maintains reliability even during high-impact events.
3Force
If multiple resilient members are used to provide restoring forces, then flexibility and restoring force are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional elements into an integrated assembly where resilient members and elastomeric members work together as a unified system. Rather than separate mechanisms for flexibility and strength, the design combines these functions into a single multi-element structure that achieves both goals simultaneously. The resilient and elastomeric members are arranged to interact mechanically, providing restoring forces while maintaining structural integrity without requiring additional separate components.
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 structure maintains high strength and integrity by preventing resilient members from deforming beyond their elastic limits, effectively absorbing and distributing mechanical loads, and allowing for motion and flexibility in applications like robotics and orthopedic braces.
Implementation Method 1
resilient members which are stiff enough to provide support for an unloaded structure, yet can deform a relatively large amount when subjected to moderate loading conditions
Implementation Method 2
possess impact load dampening characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible structure that exhibits axial, bending, and twisting compliance, allowing for limited freedom of deformation and impact load dampening characteristics tailored accordingly for the applications of the flexible structure. The flexible structure comprises two or more formers, a plurality of resilient members supporting and affixed to the perimeters of the formers, and either an elastomeric central member located between each former and in the center of the resilient members, or an elastomeric surrounding member located between each former and around the resilient members, or both. The presence of the central member or surrounding member acts to inhibit excessive deformations of the resilient members through contact forces. This construction provides a strong and flexible structure that can be incorporated with robots, orthopedic braces, and other devices.