Rotary coupling device for a multi-axis manipulator
AssigneeRobocoaster Limited
InventorGino De-Gol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-axis manipulator in the form of a robotic arm includes a safety disc (41) and safety collar (42) at one or more of the pivoting joints (14, 17, 19, 21, 23) thereof. The disc and collar define a small running clearance in normal use, but make contact in the event of excessive wear or failure of the rotary bearing at the respective joint. An inspection window (48) permits the running clearance to be checked, and the collar may comprise a caliper brake.
Claims14
A rotary device comprising an input member, an output member rotatable on said input member about an axis of rotation, and one or more rolling element support bearings between said input member and output member, said bearings being adapted to resist axial and cantilever loads of said output member in use,
- wherein one of said input and output members includes a rim having a circular periphery co-axial with said axis, and wherein the other of said input and output members includes a safety collar having an arcuate groove overlapping said rim with a running clearance, such that in the event of a loss of structural integrity in the one or more rolling element support bearings, the rim contacts the safety collar and prevents substantial movement of the output member with respect to the input member.
A multi-axis manipulator comprising
- one or more rotary devices, each rotary device comprising:
- an input member,
- an output member rotatable on said input member about an axis of rotation, and
- one or more rolling element support bearings between said input member and output member, said bearings being adapted to resist axial and cantilever loads of said output member in use;
- a stator connected to said input member, and
- a rotor connected to said output member,
- wherein
- one of said input and output members includes a rim having a circular periphery co-axial with said axis, and
- the other of said input and output members includes a safety collar having an arcuate groove overlapping said rim with a running clearance, defining a space that does not abut the one or more rolling element support bearings and such that in the event of a loss of structural integrity in the one or more rolling element support bearings, the rim contacts the safety collar and prevents substantial movement of the output member with respect to the input member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.