Sealed Active Exoskeleton Boot Housing for Water Ingress Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exoskeletons are not designed to withstand exposure to water and environmental debris, which can damage internal components and reduce performance.
Innovation Solution
A water-resistant active exoskeleton boot with sealed housings and minimal entry points, using adhesive sealants and precision-machined seals to prevent ingress of water and debris, combined with a compact design to enhance reliability and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the exoskeleton uses open or minimally sealed structures, then ease of manufacture and assembly is improved, but water and debris can ingress into internal components causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible seals and gaskets (thin films) at critical interfaces such as the output shaft penetration and housing joints. These flexible sealing elements create water-tight barriers without requiring complex rigid enclosures, thus protecting internal components while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sealant as an intermediary substance applied at sealing surfaces and joints. This sealant acts as a mediator between mating surfaces, filling microscopic gaps and crevices to prevent water ingress without requiring perfectly precision-machined interfaces, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring reliability.
2Reliability
If the exoskeleton uses multiple seals and sealants, then water resistance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sealing system to be self-aligning and self-adjusting. The flexible seals and sealants automatically conform to the mating surfaces during assembly, compensating for minor dimensional variations. This self-service characteristic reduces the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effective water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes materials with specific physical properties (flexibility, adhesion, elasticity) that allow the seals to deform and conform to surface irregularities. By changing the material parameters rather than relying solely on precise geometric parameters, the system achieves water resistance with relaxed manufacturing tolerances.
3Reliability
If the exoskeleton boot is designed with minimal entry points, then water ingress is reduced, but ease of operation and maintenance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the exoskeleton boot into segmented sections with localized seals at the boundaries. This segmentation allows the boot to be divided into manageable modules that can be independently accessed, removed, and maintained. The seals are concentrated at specific interfaces rather than requiring complete encapsulation, facilitating easier maintenance access while maintaining water resistance.
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 exoskeleton maintains performance in wet environments by protecting internal components, reducing snagging hazards, and improving wearability with a simplified assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
A sealant can be placed in contact with the one or more housings to close the one or more housings and prevent an ingress of water into the one or more housings
Implementation Method 2
A seal can be placed in contact with the output shaft and a portion of the housing including the bore to prevent an ingress of the water into the one or more housings
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for a water resistant active exoskeleton boot includes a shin pad and one or more housings. The one or more housings enclose electronic circuitry and an electric motor that generate torque about an axis of rotation of an ankle joint of the user. A sealant is placed in contact with the one or more housings to close the one or more housings and prevent an ingress of water into the one or more housings. The apparatus includes an output shaft coupled to the electric motor and extending through a bore in a housing of the one or more housings enclosing the electric motor. The apparatus includes a seal to prevent an ingress of the water into the one or more housings. The apparatus includes a rotary encoder enclosed within the one or more housings to measure an angle of the electric motor.