Wearable Rotary Joint Gear Module for Compact Torque Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking assistance robots and devices face challenges in efficiently transmitting force and torque to joints, leading to inconvenience and inefficiency, particularly when used for military, manufacturing, and general walking assistance purposes.
Innovation Solution
A driving module comprising a gear train with a decelerating gear set, a joint aligning ring, and a rotary joint, including planetary gears, which reduces torsion and enhances torque transmission, allowing for a more efficient and compact design that can be worn on the user's body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a conventional actuator structure with motor and decelerator is disposed at the joint position, then power transmission is achieved, but the device becomes thick and inconvenient to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the decelerator inside the motor housing, with the output shaft of the motor serving as the input shaft of the decelerator. This nested configuration eliminates the need for separate mounting spaces for the motor and decelerator, significantly reducing the overall structural thickness while maintaining full power transmission functionality.
2Ease of operation
If force and torque are transmitted to joints using a wearable portion, then joint motion assistance is achieved, but the force transmission efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating a torsion spring that is pre-loaded to generate elastic force before the user's movement occurs. This pre-stored elastic energy is released during the user's motion, providing active force assistance that enhances the efficiency of force transmission to the joint, rather than merely reacting to the movement after it begins.
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
The solution enables effective power transmission and reduced torsion, improving the efficiency and comfort of walking assistance by providing a compact and reliable mechanism for joint motion assistance.
Implementation Method 1
a gear train including a decelerating gear set configured to rotate using power received from the driving source
Implementation Method 2
a joint bearing disposed between the joint aligning ring and the rotary joint, and attached to the gear train
Implementation Method 3
a rotary joint attached to the joint aligning ring, and configured to rotate using power received from the gear train
Data Source
AI summary
A driving module including a driving source configured to generate power, a gear train including a decelerating gear set configured to receive driving power from the driving source and a ring gear attached to one side thereof, and a rotary joint including at least one planetary gear configured to rotate using power received from an output end of the decelerating gear set and to revolve along the ring gear is disclosed.