Remote-controlled mobile machine using flexible shafts

• US 8,335,597 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kagoshima University
• Original Assignee: Kagoshima University
• Inventors: Hayashi, Ryota, Tsujio, Showzou, Yu, Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US12/066,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/045 shaped as armoured cars, tanks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/00 Drive mechanisms for toys in general
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 31/10 Gearing mechanisms actuated by movable wires enclosed in flexible tubes

Abstract

A remote-controlled mobile machine has a pair of flexible shafts (10) formed by inserting torque transmission driving wires (11) into tubes (12). One ends of the flexible shafts (10) are respectively connected to power sources (2), and the other ends thereof are respectively connected to a pair of left and right crawler mechanisms (102). The crawler mechanisms (102) are driven/controlled by remote control via the flexible shafts (10) to make the mobile machine travel.

Claims

1. A remote-controlled mobile machine using flexible shafts comprising:

a first flexible shaft having a first torque transmission driving wire inserted into a first tube;

a second flexible shaft having a second torque transmission driving wire inserted into a second tube, wherein the first and second flexible shafts are arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other,

wherein one ends of said first and second flexible shafts are respectively connected to power sources, and the other ends thereof are respectively connected to a pair of left and right crawler mechanisms being a driven side;

wherein the crawler mechanisms are driven/controlled by remote control via said first and second flexible shafts to make said mobile machine travel;

wherein bearings rotatably support the first and second driving wires in the first and second tubes, respectively, and the bearings are arranged in said first flexible shaft and said second flexible shaft, respectively, and

wherein each bearing comprises;

a flange portion fixed to a flange portion of an adjacent bearing; and

a stopper that is attached to a side of the bearing and fixed to a corresponding one of the first and second driving wires.

5. The remote-controlled mobile machine using the flexible shafts according to claim 1, further comprising

an imaging device mounted on a main body of said mobile machine,

wherein said mobile machine can be operated by remote control while monitoring a video obtained by said imaging device,

wherein said mobile machine can be operated by remote control while monitoring a video obtained by said imaging device.

2. A remote-controlled mobile machine using flexible shafts comprising:

a first flexible shaft having a first torque transmission driving wire inserted into a first tube;

second flexible shaft having a second torque transmission driving wire inserted into a second tube, wherein the first and second flexible shafts are arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other,

wherein one ends of said first and second flexible shafts are respectively connected to power sources, and the other ends thereof are respectively connected to a pair of left and right crawler mechanisms being a driven side;

wherein the crawler mechanisms are driven/controlled by remote control via said first and second flexible shafts to make said mobile machine travel;

wherein the first and second driving wires are each composed of a wire of multi-layer structure having a twist direction thereof being reversed at every layer;

wherein the crawler mechanisms are designed to rotate in a same direction or an opposite direction in accordance with coincidence or non-coincidence of rotational directions of a pair of driving wires

wherein bearings rotatably support the first and second driving wires in the first and second tubes, respectively, and the bearings are arranged in said first flexible shaft and said second flexible shaft, respectively, and

wherein each bearing comprises;

a flange portion fixed to a flange portion of an adjacent bearing; and

a stopper that is attached to a side of the bearing and fixed to a corresponding one of the first and second driving wires.

6. The remote-controlled mobile machine using the flexible shafts according to claim 2, further comprising

an imaging device mounted on a main body of said mobile machine,

wherein said mobile machine can be operated by remote control while monitoring a video obtained by said imaging device.

3. A remote-controlled mobile machine using flexible shafts comprising:

a first flexible shaft having a first torque transmission driving wire inserted into a first tube;

a second flexible shaft having a second torque transmission driving wire inserted into a second tube, wherein the first and second flexible shafts are arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other,

wherein one ends of said first and second flexible shafts are respectively connected to power sources, and the other ends thereof are respectively connected to a pair of left and right crawler mechanisms being a driven side;

wherein the crawler mechanisms are driven/controlled by remote control via said first and second flexible shafts to make said mobile machine travel;

wherein said first and second flexible shafts are bound together in parallel as a bundle;

wherein bearings rotatably support the first and second driving wires in the first and second tubes, respectively, and the bearings are arranged in said first flexible shaft and said second flexible shaft, respectively, and

wherein each bearing comprises;

a flange portion fixed to a flange portion of an adjacent bearing; and

a stopper that is attached to a side of the bearing and fixed to a corresponding one of the first and second driving wires.

7. The remote-controlled mobile machine using the flexible shafts according to claim 3, further comprising

an imaging device mounted on a main body of said mobile machine,

wherein said mobile machine can be operated by remote control while monitoring a video obtained by said imaging device.

4. A remote-controlled mobile machine using flexible shafts comprising:

a first flexible shaft having a first torque transmission driving wire inserted into a first tube;

a second flexible shaft having a second torque transmission driving wire inserted into a second tube, wherein the first and second flexible shafts are arranged longitudinally adjacent to each other,

wherein one ends of said first and second flexible shafts are respectively connected to power sources, and the other ends thereof are respectively connected to a pair of left and right crawler mechanisms being a driven side;

wherein the crawler mechanisms are driven/controlled by remote control via said first and second flexible shafts to make said mobile machine travel;

wherein the first and second driving wires are each composed of a wire of multi-layer structure having a twist direction thereof being reversed at every layer

wherein the crawler mechanisms are designed to rotate in a same direction or an opposite direction in accordance with coincidence or non-coincidence of rotational directions of a pair of driving wires;

wherein said first and second flexible shafts are bound together in parallel as a bundle;

wherein bearings rotatably support the first and second driving wires in the first and second tubes, respectively, and wife the bearings are arranged in said first flexible shaft and said second flexible shaft, respectively, and

wherein each bearing comprises;

a flange portion fixed to a flange portion of an adjacent bearing; and

a stopper that is attached to a side of the bearing and fixed to a corresponding one of the first and second driving wires.

8. The remote-controlled mobile machine using the flexible shafts according to claim 4, further comprising

an imaging device mounted on a main body of said mobile machine,

wherein said mobile machine can be operated by remote control while monitoring a video obtained by said imaging device.