Motion Assist Mount With Friction-Reducing Shaft Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motion assist devices for joints, such as those worn by elderly users or patients, often suffer from increased friction and noise due to the interaction of moving parts, which can reduce wearability and comfort.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a friction reducing member, such as a bush or bearing, within a mount structure that accommodates a shaft connecting the driving frame to a slider, reducing the transmission of torsion, rotation, and shearing forces, thereby minimizing noise and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mount structure without a friction reducing member is used to connect the driving frame to the slider, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the friction and noise increase, reducing wearability and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
A friction reducing member is introduced as an intermediary component between the shaft and the mount. This member mediates the interaction between moving parts, reducing direct metal-to-metal contact and thereby decreasing friction and noise while maintaining the overall mount structure
Solution Approach 2:
The friction reducing member changes the physical parameters of the contact interface by providing a low-friction surface. This alters the coefficient of friction between moving parts, directly addressing the harmful friction and noise without requiring major structural changes to the mount
2Ease of operation
If a friction reducing member is added to the mount to reduce friction and noise, then wearability and comfort are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction reducing member serves as a mediator that improves the operational comfort by reducing friction and noise during movement. It is integrated into the existing mount structure in a way that adds functionality without significantly complicating the overall device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The friction reducing member is nested within the mount structure, fitting into the existing spatial arrangement. This nesting approach allows the additional component to be accommodated within the current device footprint, minimizing the increase in overall structural complexity
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
Enhances the wearability and comfort of the motion assist apparatus by reducing friction and noise, improving the overall usability and maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a friction reducing member configured to support the shaft and accommodated in the mount
Data Source
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AI summary
A motion assist apparatus comprising a mount receiving a friction-reducing member, according to an embodiment, comprises: a proximal support portion for supporting the proximal portion of a user; a distal support portion for supporting the distal portion of the user; an actuator connected to the proximal support portion and generating driving power; a driving frame transferring the driving power from the actuator to the distal support portion; a slider housing connected to the distal support portion and provided with a sliding space; a slider comprising a slider body provided to be slidable in the sliding space, a slider head protruding from the slider body, and a head hole formed through the slider head; a mount connected to the driving frame and accommodating the slider head therein; a shaft passing through the head hole and fixed to the slider head; and a friction reducing member supporting the shaft and accommodated in the mount.