Rotary coupler for a robot
First Claim
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1. A rotary coupler for a robot arm comprising:
- an outer shell having an inner bore fluidly connected with the outside of said outer shell via a first conduit;
a first inner shell rotatably mounted within said outer shell having a first generally annular sealed clearance with said outer shell, said annular clearance being fluidly connected with said first conduit, and said first inner shell having a first eccentric axial bore fluidly connected with said annular clearance and said eccentric axial bore having a concentric annular gap;
at least a second inner shell fixedly connected with said first inner shell and having an extension of said first eccentric axial bore aligned therewith; and
a tubular insert sealed by a surrounding O-ring captured in said concentric annular gap adjacent an end of said tubular insert, said tubular insert being mounted within said first eccentric axial bore whereby said second inner shell may be removed from its fixable connection with said first inner shell.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a rotary fluid coupler for attachment to a robot arm. The present inventive apparatus and method allows the coupling to connect in a nonconcentric manner a plurality of separate fluid streams allowing the outer shell of the coupler to be fixably attached or restrained from angular movement by the robot arm and having an inner portion adaptable for connection to a rotatable wrist of a robot for a complete 360 degree rotation.
41 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A rotary coupler for a robot arm comprising:
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an outer shell having an inner bore fluidly connected with the outside of said outer shell via a first conduit; a first inner shell rotatably mounted within said outer shell having a first generally annular sealed clearance with said outer shell, said annular clearance being fluidly connected with said first conduit, and said first inner shell having a first eccentric axial bore fluidly connected with said annular clearance and said eccentric axial bore having a concentric annular gap; at least a second inner shell fixedly connected with said first inner shell and having an extension of said first eccentric axial bore aligned therewith; and a tubular insert sealed by a surrounding O-ring captured in said concentric annular gap adjacent an end of said tubular insert, said tubular insert being mounted within said first eccentric axial bore whereby said second inner shell may be removed from its fixable connection with said first inner shell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A rotary coupler for a robot arm comprising:
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an outer shell having an inner bore fluidly connected with the outside of said outer shell via noncommingling first and second conduits; a first inner shell rotatably mounted within said outer shell and having first and second generally annular sealed clearances with said outer shell, said annular clearances being fluidly connected with said first and second conduits respectively; and said first inner shell having a first and second eccentric axial bores with concentric annular gaps, said first and second eccentric axial bores being fluidly connected with said first and second annular clearances respectively; at least a second inner shell fixably connected with said first inner shell and having first and second extensions of said first and second eccentric axial bores aligned therewith; and first and second tubular inserts mounted within said first and second eccentric axial bore respectively and sealed by a surrounding O-ring captured in said respective annular gap adjacent an end of said tubular inserts whereby said second inner shell may be removed from its fixable connection with said first inner shell. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A multiple fluid stream rotary coupler for a robot arm comprising:
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an outer shell with an inner bore, said inner bore having a plurality of axially separated noncommingling conduits fluidly connecting said inner bore with the outside of said shell; a fixably connected multiple member inner shell rotatably mounted within said outer shell having a plurality of axially separated generally annular sealed clearances individually fluidly connected with said noncommingling conduits, and said inner shell having a plurality of eccentric axial bores having annular concentric gaps and being individually fluidly connected with a respective annular sealed clearance; and a plurality of tubular inserts inserted within said respective eccentric axial bores sealed by a surrounding O-ring captured in said annular gaps adjacent an end of said tubular inserts whereby at least one of said inner shell members may be removed from its fixable connection with another said member of said inner shell. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of rotatably coupling a fluid from a robot arm to an applicator controlled by said robot comprising:
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communicating a fluid through a conduit in an axially bored outer shell; axially sealing said fluid between said outer shell and a multiple member inner shell rotatably mounted therein in an annular shaped clearance in communication with said conduit; communicating said fluid from said clearance through an eccentric axial bore having a concentric annular gap in said inner shell; and sealing said eccentric axial bore with a tubular insert surrounded adjacent one end by an O-ring in said annular gap in one member of said inner shell and sealed at another end in at least a second member of said inner shell.
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Specification