Robot Arm Joint Wire Assembly Straight Path Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot arm joint connections face issues with insufficient strength, prone to damage from external forces, and suffer from high resistance and overheating due to the design of power and signal contacts, and the helical winding of wire harnesses leads to metal fatigue, especially in miniature robotic arms where space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A robot arm joint design featuring a joint wire assembly that twists along a straight path within the joint body, connected by a slip ring, with power and signal contacts in the form of plug pins and sockets, ensuring minimal deformation and reduced risk of metal fatigue, and a connector design that uses a socket and plug pin configuration for secure contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wire harness winds several turns around the output shaft to prevent cutting during rotation, then the wire harness is protected from damage, but the wire harness experiences metal fatigue due to frequent pulling and loosening, and requires more space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wire harness from the helical winding configuration around the output shaft and repositions it to extend substantially along the rotation axis. This removes the wire from the harmful rotational environment, eliminating metal fatigue while maintaining electrical connection during shaft rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a slip ring as an intermediary component between the stationary wire harness and the rotating output shaft. The slip ring enables electrical connection to be maintained during rotation without requiring the wire harness to wind or unwind, thus preventing metal fatigue while allowing continuous power and signal transmission.
2Ease of manufacture
If the power supply terminal is designed as a protruding plate to enable connection, then the connection can be made, but the protruding terminal is easily bent or damaged due to contact with foreign objects or positional errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional protruding terminal design by using a recessed terminal structure. Instead of having the terminal protrude outward and be vulnerable to damage, the terminal is recessed into the circuit board, providing mechanical protection while maintaining electrical connection capability through the inverted configuration.
3Ease of operation
If the recessed power supply terminal does not completely cover the protruding terminal to enable insertion, then the connection can be made, but the contact area is limited resulting in high resistance and overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by using a recessed terminal structure that completely covers the protruding terminal from above, maximizing the contact area. This inverted design ensures full coverage for reliable electrical connection while maintaining ease of insertion through the recessed configuration.
4Ease of manufacture
If the signal terminal is designed as a spring to enable connection, then the connection can be made, but the spring terminal is easily deflected due to contact with foreign objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fragile spring terminal with a robust plug pin configuration. Instead of using a spring that is prone to deflection and failure, the design employs rigid plug pins that provide superior mechanical strength and resistance to foreign object contact, while maintaining electrical connection capability.
5Ease of manufacture
If the first circuit board and second circuit board directly serve as coupling planes to enable connection, then the connection can be made, but the coupling strength is insufficient and the boards are damaged easily by external force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite coupling structures that combine rigid circuit boards with flexible coupling mechanisms. The coupling assembly integrates both rigid elements for structural support and flexible elements for accommodation, creating a composite system that provides both strong mechanical coupling and flexibility to withstand external forces.
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 provides enhanced structural strength, reduced risk of contact damage, improved signal strength, and minimized overheating, while being suitable for small robotic arms by eliminating the need for helical winding and reducing torsional radius, thus extending the service life and maintaining performance in limited spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a slip ring, with power and signal contacts in the form of plug pins and sockets
Implementation Method 2
the joint wire assembly twists on the straight path when the transmission end rotates
Data Source
AI summary
A robot arm joint, a connector and a robot arm are disclosed. The robot arm joint has a joint body and a joint wire assembly. The joint body includes a fixing end and a transmission end. The joint wire assembly is arranged in the joint body and extends on a preset connection path. The preset connection path includes a straight path. The joint wire assembly includes a torsion section connected to the transmission end and a fixed section connected to the fixing end. When the transmission end rotates, the torsion section is simultaneously driven to twist on the straight path.