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US 11,014,249 B1Granted
Castle retention mechanism with tapered annular channel
AssigneeX Development LLC
InventorMarc Strauss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Retention mechanisms are used for coupling two objects, such as coupling end-of-arm tooling to a robotic arm system. The retention mechanisms may include two mounting members, each of which may be attached to a respective object to be coupled, such as an end effector and a robotic device appendage. The retention mechanisms may use interlocking alternating fingers on each mounting members to cooperatively form a tapered annular channel into which an external retaining ring or disc spring fits and applies pressure to secure the opposing mounting members in tight proximity to each other.
Claims20
A retention mechanism comprising:
- a first member comprising:
- a first body comprising a sidewall having an outer surface facing radially outward, and
- a first plurality of fingers arranged radially about the first body, wherein each finger of the first plurality:
- (i) extends radially from the outer surface of the first body, (ii) extends axially beyond a first end of the first body, and (iii) comprises a first annular contact face oriented at a first acute angle to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism;
- a second member comprising:
- a second body comprising a sidewall having an outer surface facing radially outward, and
- a second plurality of fingers arranged radially about the second body, wherein each finger of the second plurality:
- (i) extends radially from the outer surface of the second body, and (ii) comprises a second annular contact face oriented at a second acute angle to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism, wherein each finger of the second plurality is interleaved between each finger of the first plurality;
- and
- a retaining ring located between and contacting both the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces, wherein the retaining ring is configured to push the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces in opposing directions axially, thereby drawing the first body towards the second body.
7 more elements
A retention mechanism comprising:
- a first member comprising:
- a first body having a cylindrical outer surface, and
- a first plurality of fingers arranged radially about the first body, wherein each finger of the first plurality:
- (i) extends radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the first body, (ii) extends axially beyond a first end of the first body, and (iii) comprises a first annular contact face oriented at a first angle to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism;
- a second member comprising:
- a second body having a cylindrical outer surface, and
- a second plurality of fingers arranged radially about the second body, wherein each finger of the second plurality:
- (i) extends radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the second body, and (ii) comprises a second annular contact face oriented at a second angle to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism, wherein each finger of the second plurality is interleaved between each finger of the first plurality;
- and
- a disc spring located between and contacting both the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces, wherein the disc spring is configured to push the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces in opposing directions axially, thereby drawing the first body towards the second body.
7 more elements
A robotic end-of-arm retention mechanism comprising:
- a first member comprising (i) a first body configured to couple with a robotic end effector, and (ii) a first interrupted annular contact wall extending from the first body, wherein the first interrupted annular contact wall includes a first contact face on a first axial end thereof;
- a second member coupled with the first member, wherein the second member comprises (i) a second body configured to couple with a robotic arm system, and (ii) a second interrupted annular contact wall extending from the second body, wherein the second interrupted annular contact wall includes a second contact face on a second axial end thereof, and wherein the second interrupted annular contact wall is arranged opposite the first interrupted annular contact wall, thereby forming an annular channel;
- and
- a retaining ring located at least partially in the annular channel and contacting both the first interrupted annular contact wall and second interrupted annular contact wall, wherein the retaining ring is configured to push the first interrupted annular contact wall and second interrupted annular contact wall in opposing directions axially, thereby drawing the first body towards the second body.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.