Wireless Valve Manifold With Battery Charging for Free Robot Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional robotic systems with valve manifolds are limited by power-hungry solenoid valves that increase battery size and weight, restricting mobility and causing entanglement issues, especially in dusty environments.
Innovation Solution
A wireless valve manifold with a battery and power receiving part for wireless power transfer, eliminating the need for power harnesses and reducing battery size and weight, enabling stable movement and continuous operation while improving dust and water resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If harnesses are installed along robotic arms to supply electric power to the valve manifold, then continuous power supply is achieved, but the movable range is limited and entanglement occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the power supply system from the external harness configuration and relocates it to a self-contained battery unit mounted on the end effector. This extraction eliminates the physical constraint of harnesses, allowing the robotic arm to move freely without entanglement while maintaining continuous power supply to the valve manifold through the onboard battery.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the valve manifold includes a large number of valves and the end effector is equipped with a battery, then the valve manifold can be powered, but the size and weight of the battery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feeding station that performs preliminary charging actions on the battery-mounted valve manifold. The feeding station wirelessly transmits electric energy to charge the battery before the robotic arm executes tasks requiring the valve manifold. This preliminary charging approach allows the battery to be recharged externally rather than requiring large capacity from the start, thus reducing battery weight and size while ensuring sufficient power availability during operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the valve manifold is moved by a movable unit, then flexibility is improved, but stable movement and continuous operation become difficult without external power connection
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the valve manifold to serve itself by mounting the battery directly on the end effector, making the power supply system self-contained and portable. The battery provides autonomous power without requiring external harness connections, allowing the movable unit to move freely while maintaining reliable and continuous operation of the valve manifold. The system achieves both movability and operational stability through this self-service power configuration.
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 wireless power transfer allows for reduced battery capacity, weight, and size, enhancing mobility and continuous operation while reducing exposure to harsh environments and facilitating easy battery replacement.
Implementation Method 1
a power receiving part connected to the battery and configured to charge the battery by wireless power transfer from a feeding station for the wireless valve manifold
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
This wireless valve manifold (60) is constituted so as to be capable of wireless communication, and so as to have a plurality of solenoid valves (56). This wireless valve manifold (60) is able to move by means of a movable unit (14). In addition, the wireless valve manifold (60) comprises a battery (76) which can supply power to the plurality of solenoid valves (56), and a power-receiving control unit (78) which is connected to the battery (76) and which charges the battery (76) with power by means of wireless power transmission from a feeder station (82) of the wireless valve manifold (60).