Force and torque converter
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing output signals for use as command signals with respect to X, Y and Z mutually orthogonal axes, the signals being representative of a translational applied force and an applied torque, the apparatus comprising a base, a body to which the forces and torques are applied, resilient connecting means attached to the body and mounting the body for receiving force in any direction and torque about any axis and for urging the body to be displaced relative to the base, the resilient connecting means comprising a set of resilient connecting arm structures arranged in a three dimensional substantially uniform array with respect to said X, Y and Z axes, and sensor means arranged to detect a response to and to provide said output signals corresponding to components of an applied torque and components of an applied translational force with respect to said axes, wherein the base has a portion at which the X, Y and Z axes intersect and the connecting means comprise respective pairs of resiliently deformable connecting arms extending in the X, Y and Z directions, the arms of each pair extending away from the base portion in opposite directions to be connected to the body, and wherein the sensor means are adapted to detect a displacement in the respective connecting arms and provide said output signals, the sensor means detecting torque about the Y axis or displacement in the X direction at respective locations in the arms extending in the Z direction on opposite sides of the X axis, and detecting torque about the X axis or displacement in the Z direction at respective locations in the connecting arms extending in the Y direction on opposite sides of the Z axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A force and torque converter provides command signals representative of a translational applied force and an applied torque extending about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis along which the translational force is applied. The apparatus comprises of body to which the force and torque are applied, first and second connecting means attached to the body, means for biasing the connecting means to a central position and sensor means comprising two sensor devices arranged to detect a displacement force in each of the first and second connecting means respectively and which respond to the applied translation force and also respond to the torque to resolve the torque into a force comprising two components. A very important embodiment of the invention is arranged to operate in three dimensions and to resolve any applied torque into a respective components related to three mutually perpendicular axes. The apparatus can thus interpret operator applied hand signals for controlling an apparatus such as a computer based system.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. An apparatus for providing output signals for use as command signals with respect to X, Y and Z mutually orthogonal axes, the signals being representative of a translational applied force and an applied torque, the apparatus comprising a base, a body to which the forces and torques are applied, resilient connecting means attached to the body and mounting the body for receiving force in any direction and torque about any axis and for urging the body to be displaced relative to the base, the resilient connecting means comprising a set of resilient connecting arm structures arranged in a three dimensional substantially uniform array with respect to said X, Y and Z axes, and sensor means arranged to detect a response to and to provide said output signals corresponding to components of an applied torque and components of an applied translational force with respect to said axes, wherein the base has a portion at which the X, Y and Z axes intersect and the connecting means comprise respective pairs of resiliently deformable connecting arms extending in the X, Y and Z directions, the arms of each pair extending away from the base portion in opposite directions to be connected to the body, and wherein the sensor means are adapted to detect a displacement in the respective connecting arms and provide said output signals, the sensor means detecting torque about the Y axis or displacement in the X direction at respective locations in the arms extending in the Z direction on opposite sides of the X axis, and detecting torque about the X axis or displacement in the Z direction at respective locations in the connecting arms extending in the Y direction on opposite sides of the Z axis.
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8. An apparatus for providing output signals for use as command signals with respect to X, Y and Z mutually orthogonal axes, the signals being representative of a translational applied force and an applied torque, the apparatus comprising a base, a body to which the forces and torques are applied, resilient connecting means attached to the body and mounting the body for receiving force in any direction and torque about any axis and for urging the body to be displaced relative to the base, the resilient connecting means comprising a set of resilient connecting arm structures arranged in a three dimensional substantially uniform array with respect to said X, Y and Z axes, and sensor means arranged to detect a response to and to provide said output signals corresponding to components of an applied torque and components of an applied translational force with respect to said axes, and wherein the connecting arm structures comprise a series of three connecting structures each comprising an arm extending from the body and pivotally connected to a leg through a joint having universal action through at least a limited range of angles, the leg extending normally in a direction substantially at right angles to an operating axis of the arm extending from the intersection of said X, Y and Z axes through said joint, said leg being attached to the base, and the sensor means being arranged to monitor displacements in the respective legs as follows:
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the leg elongated in the X direction responds to displacement in the Z direction, the leg elongated in the Y direction responds to displacement in the Z direction and in the X direction, and the leg elongated in the Z direction responds to displacement in the X direction. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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- 10. An apparatus for providing output signals for use as command signals with respect to X, Y and Z mutually orthogonal axes, the signals being representative of a translational applied force and an applied torque, the apparatus comprising a base, a body to which the forces and torques are applied, resilient connecting means attached to the body and mounting the body for receiving force in any direction and torque about any axis and for urging the body to be displaced relative to the base, the resilient connecting means comprising a set of resilient connecting arm structures arranged in a three dimensional substantially uniform array with respect to said X, Y and Z axes, and sensor means arranged to detect a response to and to provide said output signals corresponding to components of an applied torque and components of an applied translational force with respect to said axes, wherein the connecting arm structures comprise a series of three connecting structures each comprising a mounting arm extending from the body and pivotally connected through a joint having universal action through at least a limited range of angles to a leg, the leg extending normally in a direction substantially at right angles to an operating axis of the arm extending from the intersection of the X, Y and Z axes through said joint, said leg being attached to the base, and the sensor means being arranged to monitor displacements of the respective legs in respective planes at right angles to the directions in which the respective legs extend from said universal joint towards the base.
- 17. Apparatus for transforming applied forces into translational components along three mutually perpendicular axes and torque components about these three axes, the apparatus comprising a body to which the force is applied, three connecting members attached to the body and extending away therefrom such that in a central position of the body remote connection points on the respective connecting members lie along respective reference axes extending from a central point of the body, these reference axes being mutually perpendicular, respective leg means being pivotally connected to the respective connecting members at said connection points through universal joints of limited range and motion, biasing means being provided to bias the connecting members towards the central position, and sensor means for sensing displacement of each connecting member and/or each leg means whereby the nature of the applied force may be determined.
Specification