Hypocycloid Feed Structure for Compact Gripping Force Amplification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gripping devices face challenges in applying strong gripping forces while maintaining a compact size, as they often suffer from structural limitations and torque loss due to non-uniform load distribution, leading to component damage and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A feed structure incorporating a hypocycloid mechanism with an internal gear having more teeth than the external gear, which allows for a high reduction gear ratio, enabling strong rotational torque transmission and preventing partial contact through engaging mechanisms that act as couples, thus enhancing gripping force and reducing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional force increasing mechanism is added to amplify gripping force, then the gripping force is amplified, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hypocycloid mechanism is nested within the existing feed screw mechanism structure. The internal gear and external gear are positioned concentrically, with the eccentric shaft rotating within the external gear, allowing the force amplification mechanism to be integrated into the existing device footprint without significantly increasing overall size.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from linear force amplification to rotational torque amplification by introducing the hypocycloid mechanism. The eccentric shaft converts rotational motion into reciprocating motion that drives the feed screw, utilizing dimensional transformation to achieve force amplification within a compact space.
2Force
If a conventional gear mechanism is used for force amplification, then gripping force is increased, but torque loss occurs due to non-uniform load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The hypocycloid mechanism employs asymmetric gear tooth engagement where the internal gear has more teeth than the external gear. This asymmetric configuration creates a mechanical advantage that amplifies torque while maintaining uniform load distribution across the gear teeth, reducing sliding friction and torque loss.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the tooth count parameter of the internal gear relative to the external gear, the mechanism achieves a high reduction gear ratio. This parameter modification optimizes the torque transmission efficiency and minimizes energy loss while providing significant force amplification.
3Force
If the internal gear has significantly more teeth than the external gear to achieve high reduction ratio, then gripping force is amplified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hypocycloid mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides force amplification through the gear ratio, acts as a compact coupling between rotational and reciprocating motion, and maintains uniform load distribution to reduce wear. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting complexity increase.
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 feed structure effectively amplifies gripping force, prevents component damage, and minimizes torque loss, allowing for strong and efficient gripping of objects while maintaining a smaller device size compared to conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
an internal gear having a teeth portion formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof coaxially with an outer peripheral surface of the internal gear, and disposed between the first receiving body and the screw body in a state of being engaged with the screw body so as to be rotatable integrally with the cylindrical body about the axis of the cylindrical body
Implementation Method 2
the internal gear having more teeth than the external gear
Implementation Method 3
engaging mechanisms that act as couples, thus enhancing gripping force
Data Source
AI summary
A chuck is composed of a body (2), gripping jaws (10) provided on the body (2), and feed structures (20) disposed in containing chambers (4) of the body (2), and the feed structure (20) is composed of a cylindrical body (21) having a male screw portion (22) formed thereon, a first receiving body (27) fitted in one end side of the cylindrical body (21), a second receiving body (35) fitted in the other end side of the cylindrical body (21), an eccentric shaft (40) consisting of an base shaft portion (41) and an eccentric portion (42), an external gear (45) having a through hole (46) formed to extend from front to rear through an central portion thereof and having the eccentric portion (42) of the eccentric shaft (40) inserted in the through hole (46), an internal gear (50) having a teeth portion partially meshing with a part of a teeth portion of the external gear (45), a screw body (55) composed of a screw member (56) and a flange member (60), and a coupling body (65) disposed between the first receiving body (27) and the external gear (45).