Robot Charging Interface With Floating Contacts for Collision Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing charging interfaces for robots suffer from wear and tear due to mechanical and electrical components being integrated, leading to damage from collisions during engagement, necessitating frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
Decoupling mechanical and electrical interface components, such as charge and data contact members, from the electrical contact pins, allowing them to move relative to the housing and absorb collision forces, while incorporating drainage openings to prevent pooling and using biasing members for spring-loaded engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If mechanical and electrical interface components are integrated into the same component, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to wear and tear from collisions during engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the interface component into separate mechanical and electrical elements. The mechanical interface component handles physical engagement and collision forces, while the electrical interface component (contact pins) remains separate and protected. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical interface component is extracted from the mechanical interface component. The contact pins are positioned to engage with robot contacts through openings in the housing, while the mechanical interface components (such as guide pins and engagement surfaces) handle the physical docking. This extraction protects the electrical components from wear and damage.
2Reliability
If mechanical interface components are designed to withstand collision forces, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases due to need for robust mechanical structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate mechanical elements such as guide pins, engagement surfaces, and the housing structure that act as mediators between the robot and the electrical contact pins. These intermediaries absorb and manage collision forces, protecting the electrical components while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical interface components are designed with features that cushion and absorb collision forces before they can reach the electrical contact pins. The housing and mechanical engagement elements are positioned to take the initial impact, protecting the more fragile electrical components from damage.
3Ease of operation
If electrical contact pins are positioned to engage through openings in housing, then ease of operation improves, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to potential pooling of substances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates drainage openings in the housing that allow any pooled substances (such as water or cleaning solutions) to drain away from the electrical contact pins. These openings prevent substance accumulation while maintaining the ease of engagement through the openings in the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a drainage dimension to the housing design by incorporating drainage openings and sloped surfaces that direct substances away from the contact areas. This dimensional addition (drainage pathways) prevents harmful pooling while preserving the engagement functionality.
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
Prevents damage to electrical components by absorbing collision forces and reducing wear, while ensuring reliable electrical and data connections, and maintaining cleanliness of contact pins.
Implementation Method 1
a charge contact member (108) and a data contact member (112) that are moveably coupled to the housing (104)... using biasing members for spring-loaded engagement
Implementation Method 2
incorporating drainage openings to prevent pooling
Data Source
AI summary
A charging interface for a robot includes a housing comprising a plurality of recesses, one or more charge contact members, and one or more data contact members. The charge contact members can be at least partially disposed within on or more of the plurality of recesses. Each charge contact member can include an electrical charge pin extending through an opening of a surface of the charge contact member. The data contact members can be at least partially disposed within one or more of the plurality of recesses. Each data contact member can include an electrical data pin extending through an opening of a surface of the data contact member. The charge contact member and the data contact members can be moveably coupled to the housing.