Multi-DOF Support Arm Locking via Conical Screw Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional support arms lack the ability to lock and adjust multiple degrees of freedom, making it difficult to firmly position tools during adjustments, especially when dealing with tools that require multiple-axis positioning.
Innovation Solution
A support arm with a multiple degree of freedom locking device, comprising a support arm unit, outer housing, feed screw, conical push block, and conical baffles, which allows for adjustable locking by rotating the feed screw to engage or disengage the conical push block and baffles with the pivot portions, enabling or restricting movement in specific directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional support arm with spring mechanism is used, then the support arm can support and fix the tool with gravity balance, but it cannot lock and adjust multiple degrees of freedom simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into multiple independent locking mechanisms, each corresponding to a specific degree of freedom. The feed screw assembly includes multiple conical push blocks that can independently engage with different pivot portions, allowing each joint to be locked separately while maintaining overall system stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device transitions between dynamic (unlocked) and static (locked) states through the rotation of the feed screw. The conical push blocks can move between engaged and disengaged positions, enabling the support arm to switch between adjustable and fixed states for different degrees of freedom as needed.
2Ease of operation
If the support arm allows free adjustment of multiple degrees of freedom, then positioning flexibility is improved, but the tool cannot be firmly positioned after adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The conical push blocks are pre-positioned within the pivot portions, and the feed screw is pre-threaded to engage with them. When adjustment is needed, the operator simply rotates the feed screw to move the push blocks into or out of engagement, providing a simple and reliable locking action without complex operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism changes the physical state of the joints from movable to fixed by altering the engagement parameter of the conical push blocks with the pivot portions. Rotation of the feed screw changes the position parameter of the push blocks, transitioning them between locked and unlocked states.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to enable multiple degree of freedom adjustment, then positioning capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed screw assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as both the actuating mechanism and the locking mechanism. The same threaded rod that moves the conical push blocks also controls the engagement and disengagement of multiple degrees of freedom, eliminating the need for separate actuators for each joint.
Solution Approach 2:
The conical push blocks are nested within the pivot portions, and the feed screw threads are nested within the push blocks. This nested arrangement allows multiple components to occupy the same spatial envelope, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining multiple locking functions.
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 tools to be adjusted and firmly positioned with multiple degrees of freedom, ensuring stability and precise placement by allowing controlled locking and unlocking of the support arm's movements in various directions.
Implementation Method 1
a feed screw (40), able to move up and down in the outer housing unit (30), comprising a threaded portion (41) disposed in the pivot space (34), and a rotation portion (42) located outside the pivot space (34)
Implementation Method 2
a conical push block (50)... an annular push-block slanting surface (52) disposed on a lateral surface of the conical push block (50)... an inner annular baffle slanting surface (61)... and an outer annular baffle slanting surface (62)
Data Source
AI summary
A support arm with a multiple degree of freedom locking device includes a support arm unit, an outer housing unit, a feed screw, a conical push block, and two conical baffles. When the feed screw rotates in a first direction, the conical push block and the conical baffle are driven are rotated to make the outer annular baffle slanting surface press against the inner surface of the pivot space and the first and second pivot portions, so that the lateral housing is unable to pivot with respect to the upper and lower housing, and the first and second pivot portions are positioned between the two ears in a non-rotatable manner, when the feed screw rotates reversely, the lateral housing will be able to pivot with respect to the upper and lower housing, and the first and second pivot portions are able to pivot with respect to the two ears.