Multifunctional robot tool

• US 20070107917A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hug, Hans, Doherty, Brian, Reynolds, William, Osborne, Michael, Desmeule, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US11/355,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070107917A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/192
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/04 Arrangements for mounting spades or shields spades per se A01B1/02; shields per se F41H5/06
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/20 Attachments for wire cutting
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/11 Clearing or neutralising barbed wire obstacles devices mounted on vehicles for cutting wire-type obstructions B60R19/545; smallarm attachments for wire cutting F41C27/20
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/20 with ground-penetrating elements, e.g. with means for removing buried landmines from the soil F41H11/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/28 using brushing or sweeping means or dozers to push mines lying on a surface aside; using means for removing mines intact from a surface
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/005 Unmanned ground vehicles, i.e. robotic, remote controlled or autonomous, mobile platforms carrying equipment for performing a military or police role, e.g. weapon systems or reconnaissance sensors F41H11/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A multifunctional robot tool includes a pair of driven fingers configured as a gripper and a blade depending from each finger. The blades are configured as a digging spade when closed together by the fingers. A knife is associated with at least one blade for cutting wire.

Claims

1. A multifunctional robot tool comprising:

a pair of driven fingers configured as a gripper;

a blade depending from each finger, the blades configured as a digging spade when closed together by the fingers; and

a knife associated with at least one blade for cutting wire.

2. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 1 further including an enclosed gear box including upwardly extending drive shafts each received in a rearward clamp in each finger.

3. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 1 in which each blade includes a rearwardly extending frame member removably securable to a side of a finger.

4. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 1 in which the knife includes a concave cutter extending outwardly from a first blade and a socket extending inwardly from a second blade for receiving the cutter.

5. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 4 in which the cutter is fixed to a C-channel member secured over an inside edge of the first blade.

6. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 5 in which the inside edge of the first blade includes a cut-out for receiving the C-channel member.

7. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 4 in which the socket includes a first plate secured over a cut-out in the second blade.

8. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 7 in which the socket further includes a second plate secured behind the cut-out in the second blade.

9. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 8 in which the second plate includes a concave cutter.

10. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 1 in which each finger includes concave portion.

11. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 1 in which each finger includes a distal gripping plate.

12. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 3 in which the blades each include a beveled portion forming an edge of each blade.

13. The multifunctional robot tool of claim 3 in which the blades each include a beveled portion forming outer edges of the digging spade.

14. A multifunctional robot tool comprising:

a pair of driven fingers configured as a gripper;

a blade depending from each finger, the blades configured as a digging spade when closed together by the fingers, each blade including a rearwardly extending frame member removably securable to a side of a finger;

a knife associated with at least one blade for cutting wire; and

an enclosed gear box including an upwardly extending drive shaft received in a rearward clamp in each finger.

15. A multifunctional robot tool comprising:

a pair of driven fingers configured as a gripper;

a blade depending from each finger, the blades configured as a digging spade when closed together by the fingers.

16. A robot comprising:

a track driven body;

an articulable main arm;

a pair of driven fingers configured as a gripper on the articulable main arm; and

a blade depending from each finger, the blades configured as a digging spade when closed together by the pair of driven fingers.