Robot Joint Drive Structure with Detachable Labyrinth Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive parts for rotating components in robots and machinery are prone to damage and deterioration due to foreign substances entering through gaps, which can lead to costly replacements and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A structure for the drive part that includes a seal component and a passage constituent component, where the seal component is fixed to one structure part and contacts the other, and the passage constituent component forms a passage communicating with the outside, allowing for attachment and detachment to prevent foreign substance ingress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal component is disposed in the gap inside the drive part, then foreign substances can be prevented from entering the drive part, but the seal component is exposed to outside air and deteriorates due to contact with foreign substances such as cleaning liquids and metal powder
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the protective function into two separate components: a seal component for preventing foreign substance entry and a passage constituent component for guiding fluid flow. The passage constituent component is disposed on the outer surface and directs cleaning liquids away from the gap, reducing foreign substance contact with the seal component while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage constituent component acts as an intermediary element between the cleaning liquid and the seal component. It intercepts and redirects the cleaning liquid through a controlled passage, preventing direct contact between the harmful foreign substances and the seal component, thus protecting the seal from deterioration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different types of seal components are selected according to foreign substances, then resistance to specific foreign substances is improved, but device complexity and replacement requirements increase when foreign substance types change
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the protective approach from material selection adaptation to structural configuration adaptation. Instead of changing seal component materials based on foreign substance types, the passage constituent component's structure is adjusted to redirect different types of foreign substances away from the seal, allowing the same seal component to resist various foreign substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The passage constituent component serves multiple functions: it guides cleaning liquids away from the gap, protects the seal component from various types of foreign substances, and maintains structural integrity. This universal protective structure eliminates the need to select different seal components for different foreign substance types.
3Ease of operation
If the passage constituent component is made detachable, then ease of operation for attachment and replacement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The passage constituent component is designed as a separate, detachable segment that can be independently attached and removed from the drive part. This segmentation allows for easy maintenance and replacement without disassembling the entire drive part, improving ease of operation despite the added structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a structure of a joint portion which suppresses deterioration or damage of a seal member arranged inside the joint portion. The joint portion rotates a first structure portion and a second structure portion relatively to each other. The structure of the joint portion comprises: an oil seal which is arranged in a gap portion; and a labyrinth member which is arranged on outer surfaces of the first structure portion and the second structure portion. The labyrinth member comprises a passage which communicates with the gap portion. The labyrinth member is formed so as to be attachable to the outer surface of the first structure portion and the outer surface of the second structure portion. Further, the labyrinth member is formed so as to be detachable from the first structure portion and the second structure portion.