Four-Link Hydraulic Knee Joint with Adjustable Center Axle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional artificial knee joints have varying shock absorbing effects and lengths, making them less adaptable to different user heights and inconvenient for users with diverse walking speeds, due to their complex linkage design.
Innovation Solution
A four-link hydraulic buffer knee joint assembly with an adjustable hydraulic center axle and auto-oil-cycling mechanism, incorporating a safety device that adjusts buffering speed and provides a buffered safety brake, to enhance user conformity and reduce overall joint size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex linkage assembly is used to simulate knee joint bending effects, then the shock absorbing effect can be achieved, but the overall length of the knee joint increases and adaptability to different users is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the hydraulic buffer mechanism with the linkage assembly, integrating the shock absorption function into the existing structural components. The hydraulic buffer is incorporated within the linkage assembly rather than being a separate add-on, thereby maintaining shock absorbing effectiveness while reducing the overall length of the knee joint prosthesis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic buffer mechanism that uses fluid pressure to absorb impact forces. The hydraulic system provides controlled resistance during knee joint movement, effectively dampening shocks without requiring extensive mechanical linkages. This hydraulic approach enables compact design while maintaining reliable shock absorption.
2Reliability
If conventional linkage assembly is used, then the knee joint can absorb shock, but the buffering speed varies greatly for different users and conformability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable components that allow the buffering characteristics to be dynamically modified according to user needs. The hydraulic buffer can be adjusted to provide different buffering speeds and shock absorption levels, enabling the same knee joint prosthesis to adapt to users with varying walking speeds and shock absorption requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables adjustment of critical parameters such as buffering speed and shock absorption level through modifiable hydraulic components. Users or clinicians can adjust the hydraulic pressure, flow characteristics, and buffer stiffness to match individual user profiles, thereby improving conformability while maintaining reliable shock absorption.
3Length of moving object
If the overall length of the knee joint is reduced for better adaptability, then the joint can be worn by more users, but the shock absorbing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a hydraulic buffer mechanism that provides effective shock absorption within a compact space. The hydraulic system generates sufficient buffering force without requiring long mechanical linkages, enabling the knee joint to maintain both reduced length and reliable shock absorption capability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic buffer utilizes phase changes or pressure transitions in the fluid to absorb impact energy. This phase transition mechanism allows for high energy absorption efficiency within a compact volume, enabling short knee joint design while maintaining effective shock absorption.
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 allows for improved adaptability to different user heights, adjustable bending speed, and enhanced safety through the hydraulic center axle and safety device, ensuring effective shock absorption and reduced joint size, thus improving user experience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic buffer mechanisms and are capable of generating better buffering effects or shock absorptions
Implementation Method 2
the hydraulic center axle as well as the safety device to adjust the buffering speed
Implementation Method 3
a spring device, a buffering device and a cushion member assembled with axles respectively
Implementation Method 4
secured thereon by attaching needle bearings and flat-head inner hexagon screws as well as center axles thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A four-link hydraulic buffer knee joint assembly which includes a hydraulic center axle configured at a center hole of a four-link hydraulic main body and utilizes a spring force and an oil-filling piston to achieve the auto-filling of hydraulic oil. The hydraulic center axle is able to utilize adjustable knobs provided on an outer side of the center axle to adjust the bending speed and the spring-back recovery speed. The setting location of the hydraulic center axle differs from the one of conventional joint assembly such that the overall size of the knee joint assembly is reduced while the joint assembly includes the functions of adjustable hydraulic bending and stretching speeds and buffering for the hydraulic head to return to its horizontal state. The four-link hydraulic main body comprises a setting changeable controlling axle for achieving the function of the buffered safety brake against the ground.