Twisted cord actuator
First Claim
1. A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion to intermittent unidirectional motion for use as a cost effective actuator upon a load, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of longitudinally strung cords of substantially equal length,(b) a coupling means secured to a first end of each of said cords,(c) a rotating shaft secured to said coupling means and being driven by a motor.(d) a second end of each of said cords being secured to said load and being fixed relative to each other,(e) means controlling the motor to regulate the position of the load, the velocity of the load, the acceleration of the load, and/or the force upon the load,(f) whereby the controlling of the motor causes the rotating shaft to impart an intertwining of the cords around each other in helical fashion bringing the first and second ends of the cords towards and away from each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates particularly to a drive mechanism for converting rotary to unidirectional linear movement for use in actuation of hinged members of robotic, prosthetic, and other like devices. The twisted cord actuator includes a motor with an axial shaft to which, by a coupling, the single free end of two or more cords are attached. The opposing ends of the cords are attached to the moveable member. As the shaft rotates the cords are twisted around each other in helical fashion. Thus their combined length is shortened. In this invention the rotating device represents the muscle and the twisting of the cords, the tendons. The twisting pair of cords may then be threaded through a sheath to act as a pull cable for use as a tendon for an artifical finger or robotic arm. The values of this invention are low cost, ease of use and variability of design. In most applications the present invention may be matched to the load by the careful selection of the motor, cord diameter, and cord length without the use of a gear reducer. This combination creates a low inertia resilient actuator.
133 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A drive mechanism for converting rotary motion to intermittent unidirectional motion for use as a cost effective actuator upon a load, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of longitudinally strung cords of substantially equal length, (b) a coupling means secured to a first end of each of said cords, (c) a rotating shaft secured to said coupling means and being driven by a motor. (d) a second end of each of said cords being secured to said load and being fixed relative to each other, (e) means controlling the motor to regulate the position of the load, the velocity of the load, the acceleration of the load, and/or the force upon the load, (f) whereby the controlling of the motor causes the rotating shaft to impart an intertwining of the cords around each other in helical fashion bringing the first and second ends of the cords towards and away from each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification