Tool attachment, tool changer and corresponding method of use
AssigneeSaab Seaeye Limited
InventorJon Mortimer Robertson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool attachment (200) for a robotic manipulator (100), comprising: a housing (202), an input shaft (208) configured to be engaged by an end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100), an output shaft (210), and a tool (214) coupled to the output shaft (210). The housing (202) comprises means (206) for preventing relative rotational movement between the housing (202) and a housing of the robotic manipulator (100). Upon engagement of the end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100) with the input shaft (208), the tool attachment (200) is retained on the robotic manipulator (100), and rotational movement of the end effector (105) of the robotic manipulator (100) acts to rotate said input shaft (208) and drive said tool (214).
Claims20
A tool attachment for a robotic manipulator, comprising:
- a housing configured to engage with a robotic manipulator;
- an input shaft configured to be engaged by an end effector of the robotic manipulator;
- an output shaft coupled to the input shaft;
- and
- a tool coupled to said output shaft, wherein:
- said housing comprises means for preventing relative rotational movement between said housing and a housing of the robotic manipulator;
- and
- upon engagement of the end effector of the robotic manipulator with the input shaft, the tool attachment is retained on the robotic manipulator, and rotational movement of the end effector of the robotic manipulator acts to rotate said input shaft and drive said tool.
A tool attachment for a robotic manipulator according to claim 13, wherein said linear tool is one of:
- a cable cutter;
- a gripper comprising three or more jaws;
- an “orange peel” grabber;
- and a sample collector.
A tool changer according to claim 15, wherein said tooling basket is configured to be mounted to an unmanned underwater vehicle.
A method of use of a tool changer comprising a plurality of tool attachments for a robotic manipulator, the method comprising the steps of:
- engaging an input shaft of a first tool attachment of the plurality of tool attachments with an end effector of the robotic manipulator;
- dismounting the first tool attachment from a first mount of the tool changer;
- and
- remounting the first tool attachment onto the first mount of the tool changer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.