Articulated mechanism for linear compliance
US10626963B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 2016 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 24, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16H21/06
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An articulated compliance mechanism for use with a support structure includes a carriage and a pair of parallel four-bar linkage arrangements. The arrangements collectively have a first set of links configured to rigidly connect to the support structure, a second set of links rotatably coupled to the carriage a distance from the first set of links, and a third set of links rotatably coupled to and spanning the distance. The compliance mechanism supports and provides the carriage, e.g., a rectangular shaped frame, with a stable equilibrium point using a gravitational restoring force, and provides the carriage with a passive translational degree of freedom along a horizontal axis in response to an input force from an operator. An additional compliance mechanism may be serially connected to provide a passive translational degree of freedom along a vertical axis. A system includes the compliance mechanism and support structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.