Hexapod With Separate Carriers For 360 Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hexapods have limited positioning capabilities due to the rigid connection of holders to a common circular rail, restricting the variety of spatial movements and requiring complex cable management that limits 360° rotations.
Innovation Solution
Each holder is mounted on a separate carrier, allowing for independent movement or carrier movement with fixed holders, enabling diverse geometric configurations and eliminating the need for a common circular path, along with stationary drive motors to prevent cable winding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If holders are connected to a common circular rail, then the structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the positioning capability and spatial movement variety are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the common circular rail into six separate carriers, each independently controllable. This segmentation allows each holder to access different spatial paths and positions, dramatically increasing positioning capability while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control of carrier positions through independent actuators for each carrier. The carriers can be positioned dynamically at different locations and orientations, enabling adaptive positioning capabilities while the carriers themselves maintain simple geometric structures
2Ease of operation
If holders are moved along a circular path, then the mechanism achieves six degrees of freedom, but cable winding occurs during 360° rotations
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the circular path into six independent carriers, each with its own actuator, the system eliminates the need for long cables that wind during rotation. Each carrier's actuator is locally positioned, allowing 360° rotations without cable entanglement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces stationary drive units with cable drums as intermediaries between the actuators and holders. These fixed drive units prevent cable winding by maintaining a constant reference point for cable attachment, allowing unlimited rotations
3Device complexity
If a common circular rail is used, then the device structure is simpler, but the variety of spatial movement paths is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single circular rail into six separate carriers that can be independently positioned and oriented. While this increases component count, each carrier maintains a simple structure, and the segmentation enables diverse spatial movement paths through coordinated carrier positioning
Solution Approach 2:
Each carrier is designed as a universal platform that can hold and position a holder in multiple orientations and locations. This multi-functionality allows the same carrier structure to support various spatial movement paths depending on its configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
A hexapod, comprising a preferably plate-shaped receptacle, on which at least five, preferably six, rods mounted in separate joints are arranged, wherein the other end of each rod is articulated on a mounting, wherein all the mountings can be moved along a path of movement, characterized in that each mounting (8) is arranged on a separate support (3). Either the respective mounting (8) is movable along the respective support (3) or the respective support (3) is movable together with the associated mounting (8), a support (3) being a ring or a ring section or having a two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally convoluted spatial form, defining a closed or open path of movement.