Patent · US Expired

Manipulator

US4068536A · kind A · utility

69Cited by
2References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1976
Grant dateJan 17, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/19665
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A remotely operable manipulator orients an end-effector mounted to one end of a plurality of serially connected drive shafts. The manipulator has two sets of concentric shafts with individual shafts within each set independently rotatable about an axis common to the set. The common axes of the two sets are obliquely oriented with respect to each other; and a third shaft, rotatable about a third axis, is angularly oriented and connected to the most remote set of shafts. The preferred embodiment has the axes of the two sets and the third shaft intersecting at a single point and permits orientation of the third axis normal to any point upon the spherical surface of a spherical sector generated by the combined movement of the plurality of shafts.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.