Integrated Rotary Drive Assembly for Compact Robot Arm Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary drive devices are not compact enough and lack weight-saving designs, making them unsuitable for efficient implementation in robot arms with arm joints, particularly in terms of response behavior and air consumption.
Innovation Solution
The control valve arrangement is integrated onto the drive housing of the rotary drive device, forming a compact drive assembly with short fluid paths and enabling precise fluid control, allowing for a slim design and flexible application in robot arms by using piezoelectric or electromagnetic control valves distributed around the drive housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the control valve arrangement is mounted separately from the drive housing, then the control system is more modular and easier to manufacture, but the device occupies more space and has longer fluid paths
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve arrangement is merged with the drive housing to form an integrated drive assembly. The control valve arrangement is mounted on the drive housing and combined with the rotary drive to form a uniformly practicable drive assembly group, reducing overall device volume and shortening fluid paths between the control valve and drive chambers.
2Speed
If the control valve arrangement is integrated onto the drive housing, then the device becomes more compact with shorter fluid paths, but the mounting complexity and assembly precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve arrangement is integrated onto the drive housing, resulting in short flow paths between the control valve and the drive chambers. This integration improves response behavior while the unified drive assembly design simplifies overall assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive assembly is designed as a self-contained unit where the control valve arrangement and rotary drive components work together in a coordinated manner. The integrated design allows the assembly to function as a complete unit with internal fluid paths that eliminate the need for external fluid connections.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple control valves are used to control high flow rates, then the fluid control capability is improved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve arrangement can include multiple electrically actuatable control valves that are functionally connected in parallel. These control valves are placed in a space-saving manner distributed around the outside of the drive housing, allowing high flow rate control without excessive complexity.
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 configuration results in a compact, lightweight rotary drive device with improved response behavior and reduced air consumption, enabling precise control and flexible integration into robot arms with undisturbed fluid transfer, enhancing the robot's operational capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
which are piezoelectric control valves, in particular, which are arranged distributed around the outer circumference of the drive housing
Implementation Method 2
The control valve arrangement includes at least one electrically actuated control valve
Implementation Method 3
by a controlled fluid application of at least one pivot piston arranged in the drive housing
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary drive device has a fluid-actuated rotary drive with a drive housing and a drive unit which is rotative relative thereto. The drive unit includes a drive shaft and a pivot piston, non-rotatably arranged thereon, separating two drive chambers from one another. For controlling the fluid-actuated rotary drive, a control valve arrangement including at least one electrically actuatable control valve is provided, which is attached to the drive housing and in this way is combined with the rotary drive to form a drive assembly that can be handled as a single unit. Furthermore, a robot arm is proposed, which has the rotary drive device as an arm joint connecting two arm members.