Rotary actuator arrangement

• US 8,197,554 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2007
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touch Bionics Limited (Ossur hf)
• Original Assignee: Touch Emas Limited
• Inventors: Whiteley, Graham Paul, Fletcher, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US12/377,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 623/24, 623 57- 65, 310/83, 310/84, 310/75.D
• US Class Current: 623/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/701 operated by electrically controlled means, e.g. solenoids or torque motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 49/001 Wave gearings, e.g. harmonic drive transmissions harmonic drives specially adapted for positioning programme-controlled manipulators B25J9/1025
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears

Abstract

A rotary actuator comprises a motor, gearing connected for driving by the motor, an output drive member and bearings for carrying the output drive member, wherein the gearing comprises wave generator gearing and the gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings. In addition, an artificial limb member comprises an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises a motor connected to wave generator gearing.

Claims

1. An artificial limb member comprising an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises:

wave generator gearing;

a motor for causing rotation about an axis, the motor connected to the wave generator gearing;

a first toothed ring driven by the motor; and

bearings for carrying the first toothed ring;

wherein the actuator comprises a second toothed ring, the first and second toothed rings being circular, with the bearings carried between the first and second toothed rings, and the wave generator gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings such that the bearings run on an outer perimeter of the first, circular toothed ring providing concentric constraint of the first, circular toothed ring.

2. A limb member according to claim 1, comprising resilient mounting to enable the motor to deflect from its driving axis.

3. A limb member according to claim 1, comprising an encoder for determining the rotational position of the actuator.

4. A limb member according to claim 1, comprising a limit switch for indicating the maximum range of rotation of the actuator.

5. An artificial limb member comprising an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises:

wave generator gearing;

a shaft for driving the gearing;

a motor for causing rotation about an axis, the motor connected to the wave generator gearing;

a toothed ring driven by the motor; and

bearings for carrying the toothed ring;

wherein the wave generator gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings such that the bearings run on an outer perimeter of the toothed ring providing concentric constraint of the toothed ring; and

wherein the motor is coupled to the shaft via a keyed spherically-formed male mating socket engaging with a matching keyed female socket.

6. A limb member according to claim 5, wherein the male mating is located substantially at the centre of the gearing.

7. A limb member according to claim 5, comprising means for preventing the axial translation of the shaft.

8. A limb member according to claim 7, wherein the axial translation prevention means includes a flange mounted on the shaft.

9. A limb member according to claim 5, wherein the male and female sockets are hexagonal.

10. An artificial limb member comprising an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises:

wave generator gearing;

a motor for causing rotation about an axis, the motor connected to the wave generator gearing;

a toothed ring driven by the motor; and

bearings for carrying the toothed ring;

wherein the wave generator gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings;

the actuator comprises a shaft for driving the gearing, and the motor is coupled to the shaft via a keyed spherically-formed male mating socket engaging with a matching keyed female socket.

11. A limb member according to claim 10, wherein the male and female sockets are hexagonal.

12. A limb member according to claim 10, wherein the male mating is located substantially at the centre of the gearing.

13. A limb member according to claim 10, comprising means for preventing the axial translation of the shaft.

14. A limb member according to claim 13, wherein the axial translation prevention means includes a flange mounted on the shaft.

15. A limb member according to claim 10, comprising resilient mounting to enable the motor to deflect from its driving axis.

16. A limb member according to claim 10, comprising an encoder for determining the rotational position of the actuator.

17. A limb member according to claim 10, comprising a limit switch for indicating the maximum range of rotation of the actuator.

18. An artificial limb member comprising an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises:

wave generator gearing;

a motor for causing rotation about an axis, the motor connected to the wave generator gearing;

a toothed ring driven by the motor; and

bearings for carrying the toothed ring;

wherein the wave generator gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings such that the bearings run on an outer perimeter of the toothed ring;

wherein the actuator comprises a shaft for driving the gearing;

wherein the motor is coupled to the shaft via a spherically-formed male mating socket engaging with a matching female socket; and

wherein the male and female sockets are hexagonal.

19. An artificial limb member comprising an actuator to effect movement of the limb member, wherein the actuator comprises:

wave generator gearing;

a motor for causing rotation about an axis, the motor connected to the wave generator gearing;

a toothed ring driven by the motor; and

bearings for carrying the toothed ring;

wherein the wave generator gearing is at least partially located radially within the bearings;

the actuator comprises a shaft for driving the gearing, and the motor is coupled to the shaft via a spherically-formed male mating socket engaging with a matching female socket; and

wherein the male and female sockets are hexagonal.