Robot Arm Coupling Layout for Protected Internal Cable Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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, using 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 eliminating the need for ball 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 the external peripheries of the master plate and tool plate, then sufficient space can be ensured for arranging fluid pressure supply conduits and electrical cables, but it becomes difficult to determine external dimensions accurately and the conduits or electrical cables easily suffer damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from radial arrangement (conduits projecting outward) to axial arrangement (conduits passing through the center). By changing the dimensional orientation from radial to axial, the conduits and electrical cables are positioned through the central through-holes of the master and tool plates, eliminating external projection while ensuring adequate space for arrangement within the coupling device structure.
2Stress or pressure
If ball housing grooves are formed to reduce surface pressure at ball type locking mechanism contact locations, then surface pressure is reduced, but processing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the ball housing grooves from the design. By using an engagement portion with a inclined surface that directly engages the engagement members without requiring intermediate housing grooves, the design removes the need for costly groove processing while still achieving effective load distribution and pressure reduction through the inclined engagement surface geometry.
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 space for fluid pressure and electrical components within the central area, preventing external protrusion and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for ball housing grooves while maintaining effective locking and connection functionality.
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
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
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).