US 5,062,855 AGranted

Artifical limb with movement controlled by reversing electromagnet polarity

OwnerRichard G. Rincoeinventor

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Abstract

A material handling system in the form of a grappling device or of a robotic or prosthetic limb is provided which can function for performing work. The system includes a plurality of magnets including at least one electromagnet. In preferred embodiments the magnets are hinged together at opposite ends and disposed inside a sheath. By reversing the polarity of selected electromagnets in the limb, the limb or an associated material handling device can be moved from an open position to a closed position for gripping an object. In turn, by again reversing the polarity of the electromagnets, the object can be released and the limb returned to an open position. The limb may be in the form of an anatomical hand, an arm or a foot, and the resilient casing may take the form and appearance of an artificial skin. The outer skin may be a glove with the inside of the glove having electrical conductors deposited thereon with contacts engaging opposite ends of the selected magnets. A power source is connected to the conductors for reversing the polarity of the magnets.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A robotic or prosthetic limb such as a hand, arm, foot, or leg, or a portion of such a limb which can be moved to function in a substantially anatomical manner, said limb comprising inn combination:

an outer skin;
at least two magnets including at least one electromagnet, each said magnet having a first end and a second end, each said first end of each magnet carrying or capable of carrying a first magnetic polarity and each said second end of each magnet carrying or capable of carrying a second magnetic polarity, each said magnet being linearly aligned in a manner such that one pole end of each magnet is adjacent to only one pole end of each next adjacent magnet, said magnets being disposed inside said outer skin in a first position, each said electromagnet being located and positioned within said skin inn a manner such that when it is activated its magnetic field will affect each adjacent magnet;
means for pivotally attaching at least one pole end of one said electromagnet to only one pole end of an adjacent magnet by a hinge, said hinge being disposed in a joint area of the limb, wherein at least one said magnet is moveable;
an electrical power source connected to each said electromagnet;
and
means for activating or switching the polarity of at least one said electromagnet, whereby the activating or switching of the polarity of said electromagnet causes either the switched electromagnet or one of said magnets which is adjacent to said switched electromagnet to move from a first position to a second position to thereby cause controllable movement of said limb or a portion of said limb.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.