Swivel connection
First Claim
1. A swivel connection for attachment to a robot arm for the supply of a fluid therethrough to associated tool means comprising a rotatable, cylindrical hub having a first transverse surface, a second transverse surface and an outer cylindrical surface, and attachment means on said first transverse surface for attachment to said robot arm, a non-rotatable coupling member having an inner surface surrounding said outer surface of said cylindrical hub, first and second concentric contact members juxtaposed with said coupling member and electrically isolated from each other and from said coupling member, a cover member on said second transverse surface of said cylindrical hub and rotatable therewith, first and second concentric ring members surrounding said cover member, said first concentric ring member juxtaposed with said first concentric contact member and said second concentric ring member juxtaposed with said second concentric contact member, said first and second concentric ring members being electrically isolated from each other and from said cover member, said coupling member including coupling member channel means extending therethrough including a first externally accessible end and a second end on said inner surface of said coupling member proximate to said outer cylindrical surface of said cylindrical hub, said cylindrical hub including hub channel means extending therethrough including a first end proximate to said second end of said coupling member channel means and a second end proximate to said cover member, said cover member including cover member channel means extending therethrough including a first end proximate to said second end of said hub channel means and a second end proximate to said first and second concentric ring members, and said first and second concentric ring members including ring member channel means extending therethrough, including a first end proximate to said second end of said cover member channel means and a second end for attachment to said tool means associated with said robot, whereby said fluid can be supplied from said first end of said coupling member channel means to said second end of said ring member channel means during rotation of said swivel connection.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A swivel connection for attachment to robot arms is disclosed for supplying a fluid to an associated tool mounted on the robot arm. The swivel connection includes a rotatable cylindrical hub, an attachment device mounted on one surface of the hub for rotation therewith, a non-rotatable coupler surrounding the cylindrical hub, first and second concentric contacts juxtaposed with the coupler and electrically isolated from each other and from the coupler, a cover on a second surface of the hub and rotatable therewith, first and second concentric rings surrounding the cover, the first concentric ring juxtaposed with the first concentric contact and the second concentric ring juxtaposed with the second concentric contact, the first and second concentric rings being electrically isolated from each other and from the cover, and the coupler, the hub, the cover, and the first and second concentric rings each including channels extending respectively therethrough so that a fluid can be supplied from a first end of a channel in the coupler to a second end of the channel in the ring during rotation of the swivel connection.
15 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A swivel connection for attachment to a robot arm for the supply of a fluid therethrough to associated tool means comprising a rotatable, cylindrical hub having a first transverse surface, a second transverse surface and an outer cylindrical surface, and attachment means on said first transverse surface for attachment to said robot arm, a non-rotatable coupling member having an inner surface surrounding said outer surface of said cylindrical hub, first and second concentric contact members juxtaposed with said coupling member and electrically isolated from each other and from said coupling member, a cover member on said second transverse surface of said cylindrical hub and rotatable therewith, first and second concentric ring members surrounding said cover member, said first concentric ring member juxtaposed with said first concentric contact member and said second concentric ring member juxtaposed with said second concentric contact member, said first and second concentric ring members being electrically isolated from each other and from said cover member, said coupling member including coupling member channel means extending therethrough including a first externally accessible end and a second end on said inner surface of said coupling member proximate to said outer cylindrical surface of said cylindrical hub, said cylindrical hub including hub channel means extending therethrough including a first end proximate to said second end of said coupling member channel means and a second end proximate to said cover member, said cover member including cover member channel means extending therethrough including a first end proximate to said second end of said hub channel means and a second end proximate to said first and second concentric ring members, and said first and second concentric ring members including ring member channel means extending therethrough, including a first end proximate to said second end of said cover member channel means and a second end for attachment to said tool means associated with said robot, whereby said fluid can be supplied from said first end of said coupling member channel means to said second end of said ring member channel means during rotation of said swivel connection.
-
7. The swivel connection of 6, wherein said electrical insulation means comprises elastic O-ring members.
Specification