Robotic Arm Housing Shell Zipper Joint for Even Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing robot arm designs face challenges with the limited rigidity and resilience of plastic materials, leading to local overloading and deformation, especially in joints connected by screws or nuts, which affects the stability and accuracy of the robot arm.
Innovation Solution
The use of a zipper as a connecting means between housing shells to distribute loads over a large area, rather than at discrete points, providing a stable and robust connection while allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If screws or nuts are used to connect housing shells, then the connection is stable, but local overloading and deformation occur due to discrete point connections
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface is segmented into multiple discrete connection elements (protrusions and recesses) distributed along the connecting edge, transforming a single point load into multiple distributed contact points that reduce local stress concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The connection transitions from point-based (screws/nuts) to line-based (edge-to-edge connecting), adding a dimensional aspect that distributes loads across the entire connecting edge rather than at discrete points
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic material is used for housing shells, then ease of manufacture and cost are improved, but rigidity and resilience are reduced leading to overloading
Solution Approach 1:
The housing shell connection combines plastic material with a reinforced connecting edge structure featuring protrusions and recesses, creating a composite connection system that maintains plastic manufacturing advantages while achieving metal-like connection strength and rigidity
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting edges are given special local quality with reinforced geometry (protrusions and recesses) compared to the rest of the housing shell, concentrating structural strength where needed while maintaining overall plastic construction benefits
3Ease of operation
If discrete point connections are used, then assembly is simple, but load distribution is poor causing local stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface is segmented into multiple discrete connection elements (protrusions and recesses) distributed along the connecting edge, transforming a single point load into multiple distributed contact points that reduce local stress concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The connection geometry parameters are optimized with specifically shaped protrusions and recesses that ensure optimal contact pressure distribution, transforming the stress distribution pattern from concentrated to uniform across the connecting edge
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 solution prevents overloading and deformation, ensuring even load distribution and reducing local stresses, thereby enhancing the stability, accuracy, and flexibility of the robot arm.
Implementation Method 1
the first housing shell is positively connected to the second housing shell to form a hollow link by connecting means, wherein the connecting means have at least one zipper
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a robotic arm comprising a plurality of joints (5) and a plurality of links (4) which each connect two adjacent joints (5) to one another in a fixed arrangement, at least one of the links (4) having at least one first housing shell (6.1) and at least one second housing shell (6.2), and the first housing shell (6.1) being connected to the second housing shell (6.2) by connecting means in a form-fitting manner in order to form a hollow link (4), wherein the connecting means have at least one zip fastener (7, 7a, 7b).