Walking Assistance Device Electronic Unit Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing walking assistance devices face challenges in securely and accessibly housing electronic/electric units, which can be affected by deformation of the pelvic frame, generate heat, and require increased stiffness to maintain reliability, leading to weight and cost issues.
Innovation Solution
A walking assistance device with a pelvic support assembly featuring a C-shaped main frame that includes an opening for housing the electronic unit, secured via resilient members to minimize deformation transmission, and a back support member acting as a lid for easy access and heat insulation, maintaining mechanical strength without excessive weight or cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pelvic frame is given adequate mechanical strength to support the load, then the reliability is improved, but the frame undergoes deformation during use which impairs the durability and reliability of the electronic/electric units
Solution Approach 1:
The pelvic frame is divided into a rigid main frame structure and a separate deformable back support member. The back support member is detachably connected to the main frame, allowing it to absorb deformation while the main frame maintains its structural integrity and rigidity for supporting the electronic/electric units.
Solution Approach 2:
The back support member acts as an intermediary between the user's body and the main frame. It absorbs the deformation and stress that would otherwise be transmitted to the electronic/electric units mounted on the main frame, protecting them while maintaining the frame's mechanical strength.
2Ease of operation
If the electronic/electric units are mounted on the pelvic frame, then the device complexity is reduced, but the units are difficult to access for servicing and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The back support member is designed as a detachable component that can be easily removed from the main frame. This segmentation allows service personnel to access the electronic/electric units by simply detaching the back support member, without requiring disassembly of the entire pelvic frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The back support member is pre-configured with attachment and detachment mechanisms that enable quick access to the electronic/electric units. This preliminary design allows for rapid servicing and replacement of components without complex procedures.
3Volume of moving object
If the pelvic support assembly is worn closely on the body to minimize space, then the volume is reduced, but there is difficulty in placing the electronic/electric units on or in the pelvic frame
Solution Approach 1:
The pelvic frame is designed with a segmented structure that includes a rigid main frame for mounting electronic/electric units and a separate back support member. This segmentation allows the electronic units to be securely mounted on the main frame while maintaining a compact overall form factor that can be worn closely on the body.
4Reliability
If the stiffness of the main frame is increased to prevent deformation, then the reliability of electronic/electric units is improved, but the weight and cost of the main frame increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a rigid main frame and a separate back support member. The main frame maintains adequate stiffness to support electronic/electric units without excessive weight, while the back support member absorbs deformation forces, allowing the main frame to be optimized for weight and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The back support member serves as an intermediary that absorbs deformation and protective forces, allowing the main frame to be designed with lower stiffness and weight while still protecting the electronic/electric units from frame deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
In a walking assistance device (10) including a main frame (22) supporting a power generator (26, 28) and worn on a pelvic part of a user, the main frame is provided with an opening (23) in a middle part thereof, and an electronic unit (25) is received in the opening. As the electronic unit is placed in the middle part of the main frame which is relatively free from deformation, the electronic unit is protected from deformation or stress that could impair the reliability of the electronic unit. To achieve both an easy access to the electronic unit, and an attractive appearance, the opening may be provided with a lid (24) that selectively closes the opening from a side adjacent to the user, and the lid may be formed as a back support member for supporting a back part of the user. As the lid serves the dual purposes, the weight and cost of the device can be minimized. For the convenience of the handling of the lid, the lid may be supported by the main frame via a hinge (121) provided adjacent to an upper or lower part of the opening.