Sensorless adaptive safety actuator (SASA)
AssigneeNational Taiwan University
InventorsRen C. Luo, Yi-Wen Perng, Jing Wen Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One aspect of the instant disclosure is to provide a sensorless adaptive safety actuator. The safety actuator comprises a driving unit, a transmission unit coupled to the driving unit, and an output unit coupled to the transmission unit. The transmission unit comprises a load-adaptable retracting mechanism. When the output unit experiences a mechanical load exceeding a critical value, the load-adaptable retracting mechanism causes the transmission unit to decouple from the driving unit. Thus, responding to an accident where the impact on the output unit causes a force/torque overload, the instant safety actuator is capable of effectively stopping the force/torque transmission to the work output device without the use of active sensors.
Claims8
A load-adaptable sensorless retractable apparatus in a transmission unit of an actuator, comprising:
- (i) a transmission mechanism including a retractable transmission member capable of transmitting an axial load, a load-reactive spring, and a spring adjustment mechanism coupled to the load-reactive spring,
- wherein the retractable transmission member is rotatably mounted on a sliding base, and
- wherein the sliding base is guided by at least one guiding rail in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the axial force load;
- and
- (ii) a load-adaptable retracting mechanism having a retracting slide and a collapsible mechanism having a toggle sliding mechanism,
- wherein when the transmission member experiences an axial load exceeding a critical value, the load-adaptable retracting mechanism causes the transmission member to decouple from the transmission unit of the actuator.
A load-adaptable sensor-less retractable apparatus in a transmission unit of an actuator, comprising:
- a transmission mechanism including a retractable transmission member capable of transmitting an axial load and a load-reactive spring;
- and
- a load-adaptable retracting mechanism having a retracting slide and a collapsible mechanism, the collapsible mechanism comprising:
- a toggle mechanism having at least one toggle link for coupling the retracting slide,
- at least one toggle spring for exerting tension on the toggle mechanism, and
- at least one toggle stopper for holding the toggle mechanism in a driving configuration;
- wherein when the transmission member experiences an axial load exceeding a critical value, the load-adaptable retracting mechanism causes the transmission member to decouple from the transmission unit of the actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.