Stewart Platform Electromagnetic Drive for 360 Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hexapods face limitations in spatial positioning due to holders being guided on a common circular rail, leading to restricted 360° rotations and inability to accomplish complex positioning tasks, as well as issues with cable winding and mechanical drive connections.

Innovation Solution

Each holder is arranged on a separate carrier ring with a rotor-stator drive system, eliminating mechanical connections and enabling 360° rotations without cable winding, using a magnetic field to drive the carrier rings relative to a stationary stator, allowing for precise and complex spatial positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If holders are guided on a common circular rail with mechanical drive connections, then the structure is simple and cables can be connected, but 360° rotations are limited and complex positioning tasks cannot be accomplished

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoiddrive system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical drive system with an electromagnetic drive system. Each holder is equipped with an electromotive drive means (motor) that directly drives the carrier ring, eliminating the need for mechanical connections between holders and the circular rail. This substitution enables unrestricted 360° rotations and complex positioning tasks while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the drive system into independent segments, with each holder having its own electromotive drive means and carrier ring. This segmentation allows each holder to rotate independently 360° without affecting others, enabling complex positioning tasks while avoiding the cable winding problems of centralized mechanical drives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If each holder has its own drive motor with cable connections, then positioning control is precise, but cables wind up during 360° rotations limiting the rotation range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidrotation range
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces cable-connected mechanical drives with electromagnetic drives where the motor is integrated into the holder assembly. The electromotive drive means directly drives the carrier ring without requiring flexible cables, eliminating cable winding issues and enabling unlimited 360° rotations while maintaining precise positioning control through electronic control of each motor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If holders are rigidly connected to a common circular path carrier, then the structure is stable, but the system cannot perform complex control tasks requiring multiple 360° rotations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcontrol task capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the rigid common circular path carrier into individual carrier rings, each associated with a specific holder and electromotive drive means. This segmentation maintains the structural stability of each individual carrier ring- holder assembly while enabling independent 360° rotations and complex control tasks that require multiple rotations, as each segment operates independently without rigid constraints from a common carrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enables unrestricted 360° rotations and precise control of spatial positions, facilitating complex control tasks and eliminating the need for mechanical drive connections and cable management, thereby enhancing the hexapod's ability to handle intricate positioning requirements.

Implementation Method 1

using a magnetic field to drive the carrier rings relative to a stationary stator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

Each carrier ring holding the rotor or a part of a rotor of an electromotive drive means further comprising an annular stator assigned to the respective carrier ring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic propulsion: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Data Source

PatentEP2585257B1Stewart platform
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 SCHWAB MARTIN
  • EP2585257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2585257B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2585257B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a Stewart platform comprising a preferably plate-type receiving portion (2) on which at least five, preferably six rods (4) are disposed, said rods being mounted in joints (3). Each rod is hinged with the other end thereof to a mounting (8), and all the mountings can be moved along a circular path. The invention is characterized in that each mounting lies on a separate supporting ring (13), the respective supporting ring being movable together with the mounting arranged thereon, and in that each supporting ring forms the rotor (15) or a part of a rotor of an electric motor driving means further comprising an annular stator (14) that is associated with the respective supporting ring.