Partitioned Gripper Shaft Layout for Clean Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping or gripping devices face challenges in reliability and durability due to exposure of sensitive electronic components to harsh conditions from the transmission and clutch portions, leading to issues with dirt, abrasion, and contamination.
Innovation Solution
The clamping or gripping device is designed with a partitioned main housing that separates the transmission and clutch portion from the electronic portion, using seals to protect sensitive components and a drive shaft that extends into the electronic portion for direct measurement, allowing for efficient and reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the transmission device and clutch device are arranged close to the gripping jaws for efficient power transmission, then the drive efficiency is improved, but the sensitive electronic components are exposed to harsh conditions including dirt, abrasion, liquids and greases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a first housing portion containing the transmission and clutch devices, and a second housing portion containing the electronic components. This spatial segmentation separates the dirty mechanical environment from the clean electronic environment, allowing efficient power transmission near the jaws while protecting sensitive electronics from contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the first housing portion (transmission/clutch) and the second housing portion (electronics). The seal acts as a barrier that prevents dirt, abrasion, liquids and greases from the transmission side from reaching the electronic components, while still allowing the overall system to function efficiently.
2Measurement precision
If the position measuring device is arranged in the transmission and clutch portion for direct measurement, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the measuring device is exposed to harsh environmental conditions leading to reduced durability
Solution Approach 1:
The drive shaft serves as an intermediary that transmits rotational position information from the transmission portion to the position measuring device in the electronic portion. This allows accurate position measurement to be achieved while the measuring device itself remains protected in the clean electronic environment, exposed only to clean air and not to dirt, grease and abrasion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical coupling of the position measuring device with the drive shaft by using the drive shaft itself as the measurement interface. The drive shaft extends into the electronic portion, allowing optical or magnetic sensing without direct exposure to the harsh transmission environment, thus substituting a vulnerable mechanical arrangement with a more durable configuration.
3Ease of manufacture
If the main housing is designed as one piece for simplicity, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the ability to separate and protect electronic components from transmission components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into at least two separable portions: a first housing portion for the transmission and clutch devices, and a second housing portion for the electronic components. This segmentation allows each portion to be manufactured and assembled separately, with the seal providing the protective barrier, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving component protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping device includes a housing having a jaw guide arranged in the housing and extending along an axis and a gripping jaw which is movable in the jaw guide between a gripping position and a release position. A drive device for moving the gripping jaw includes a rotary drive and a drive shaft. The drive shaft extends perpendicular to the axis and rotatably mounted in the housing for connecting the rotary drive and the gripping jaw. A transmission device includes a position measuring device for detecting an angle of rotation of the drive device and/or for detecting the position of the gripping jaw. The housing includes a partition wall which divides the interior of the housing into a transmission portion for the transmission device and an electronic portion for the rotary drive and/or the position measuring device.