Trunk Assist Exoskeleton With Bowden-Cable Hip Torque Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders, particularly back injuries from lifting loads, are prevalent due to the moment burden on the L5/S1 spine area, leading to muscle fatigue and injuries, necessitating a device that provides assistance to the waist joint and reduces compressive load.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a trunk link, thigh links, hip joint hinges, and a torque generator using Bowden cables to generate assist torque, reducing the moment burden on the waist joint during bending and lifting tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If workers perform bending and lifting tasks manually, then productivity is maintained, but muscle fatigue and back injury risk increase due to moment burden on the L5/S1 spine area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external trunk support device as an intermediary between the worker and the lifting task. The device includes a back support structure with force-generating elements (springs or actuators) that act as mediators to provide auxiliary lifting force, reducing the moment burden on the L5/S1 spine area while enabling the worker to complete lifting tasks
Solution Approach 2:
The force-generating elements in the back support structure create counteracting forces that offset the gravitational moment on the trunk. The springs or actuators generate restorative torque that counterbalances the weight of lifted objects, reducing the net moment burden on the worker's back muscles and spine
2Reliability
If a trunk support device is introduced to reduce moment burden, then back injury risk decreases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trunk support device is divided into modular segments: a back support structure with separate force-generating elements, connection mechanisms, and adjustment components. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each module, simplifying manufacturing and maintenance while achieving the overall function of reducing moment burden through distributed support points
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs adjustable parameters such as spring stiffness, actuator force output, and support point positions that can be modified to match different worker characteristics and task requirements. This parameter adjustability allows a single device design to serve multiple applications, reducing the need for complex customizations
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 device effectively reduces muscle fatigue and moment burden on the waist joint by providing restorative torque, enhancing user comfort and safety during lifting and bending activities.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring, attached between the inner sliding plates; wherein one end of the Bowden cable is fixed to the outer sliding plate and the other end connects to one of the hip joint hinge
Implementation Method 2
a torque generator, coupling to the two hip joint hinges through Bowden cables, and configured to generate an assist torque to reduce moment burden to the user
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to devices that assist the human trunk, and provides a device for human trunk assistance, which includes: a trunk link (1), coupled to an upper back of a user through back straps (2); two thigh links (3), coupled to left and right thighs of the user through leg straps (4) respectively; two hip joint hinges (5), placed align to left and right hip joints of the user respectively, and configured for rotatably coupling the trunk link (1) and the two thigh links (3); and a torque generator (6), coupling to the two hip joint hinges (5) through Bowden cables (7), and configured to generate an assist torque to reduce moment burden to the user.