Robot Arm Coupling Locking Structure for Internal Cable Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing robot arm coupling devices face challenges in accurately determining external dimensions due to protruding fluid pressure supply conduits and electrical cables, which can cause obstructions and damage, and the cost of processing ball housing grooves for ball type locking mechanisms is high.
Innovation Solution
A robot arm coupling device with a concave engagement portion on the master plate and a convex engagement portion on the tool plate, utilizing an annular fluid pressure cylinder that shifts engagement members inwardly for locking, allowing fluid pressure passages and electrical cables to be positioned radially inward, avoiding external projection, and using an annular gap for steel balls to reduce surface pressure and eliminate the need for housing grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conduits and electrical cables are placed near external peripheries or outside external peripheries of master plate and tool plate, then sufficient space is ensured for arranging fluid pressure supply conduits and electrical cables at center portions, but external dimensions cannot be determined accurately and conduits or electrical cables easily suffer damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions conduits and electrical cables from external peripheral locations to internal central locations within the master plate and tool plate. This dimensional relocation allows sufficient space for conduit arrangement while protecting them from external damage, as they are now enclosed within the plate structures rather than exposed on the periphery.
2Stress or pressure
If ball housing grooves are formed to reduce surface pressure at steel ball contact locations, then surface pressure is reduced, but processing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the steel balls from traditional housing grooves and relocates them to a ball receiving space formed by an annular groove. This eliminates the need for complex housing groove processing while maintaining the function of reducing surface pressure through the annular groove structure that distributes the load across a larger area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the ball support structure by using an annular groove to create a ball receiving space, rather than forming traditional housing grooves. This parameter change reduces surface pressure at contact points while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs.
3Device complexity
If fluid pressure cylinder is disposed at center portions of master plate and tool plate, then normal construction is used, but sufficient space cannot be ensured for arranging fluid pressure supply conduit and electrical cables
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fluid pressure supply conduit and electrical cable arrangement with the central fluid pressure cylinder location. By positioning both the cylinder and conduits/cables in the central region, the design utilizes the same space efficiently, ensuring sufficient room for both the cylinder construction and conduit routing without requiring peripheral placement.
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
This design ensures sufficient central space for conduit and wire arrangement, prevents external projection of conduits and cables, reduces production costs by eliminating housing grooves, and enhances the drive force of the fluid pressure cylinder.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pressure cylinder that is formed in the master plate, and is capable of changing over the plurality of engagement members from their unlocking positions to their locking positions
Data Source
AI summary
A locking mechanism (6) of the robot arm coupling device (1) includes: a concave engagement portion (3a) on the master plate (3); convex engagement portion (4a) on the tool plate (4) for inserting into the concave engagement portion (3a); a plurality of steel balls (16) installed at an external circumferential wall portion (15) of the concave engagement portion (3a), and are capable of being changed over between locking positions and unlocking positions; and an annular fluid pressure cylinder (20) capable of changing over the positions of the plurality of steel balls (16); and a space is defined more radially inward than the plurality of steel balls (16) and the fluid pressure cylinder (20).