Patent · US Expired

Electromechanical manipulator assembly

US4733895A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
4References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 1986
Grant dateMar 29, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B41/04
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A powered, electromechanical manipulator assembly is disclosed which includes an electrically powered input device coupled by a hydraulic circuit to a mechanical manipulator. The hydraulic circuit is a fixed-volume, closed circuit in which a master piston-cylinder assembly is driven by a D.C. motor and is hydraulically coupled for direct and proportional displacement of a slave piston-cylinder assembly to enable smooth, accurate and easily controlled displacement of a manipulator arm. The manipulator arm is formed of a plurality of modules each having a fixed-volume, closed, hydraulic circuit and a slave cylinder. Both the slave and master cylinders include ambient pressure surfaces which are exposed to the water pressure at the operating depth of the assembly so that variation in depth does not materially affect the response or dexterity of the remote manipulator apparatus. An improved terminal module or jaw assembly is also disclosed.

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