Patent · US Expired

Manipulator shoulder mechanism

US4922782A · kind A · utility

88Cited by
9References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 16, 1986
Grant dateMay 8, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 16, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/20317
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a two-arm type manipulator, it is very rare that two arms develop trouble simultaneously due to malfunction of motors and/or cables. In view of the above fact, motors for actuating manipulator joint mechanisms and cables connected between the motors and the manipulator frame are removably mounted on the shoulder section of the frame of the manipulator. Further, the first arm is so arranged as to be accessible to the second shoulder section or the second arm is so arranged as to be accessible to the first shoulder section. Therefore, it is possible to allow an access of one manipulator arm to the other disabled manipulator elements (motors and/or cables) for removal and replacement of the disabled elements with new elements without aid of another manipulator, in particular, where the manipulator is equipped in atomic facilities which refuse access, thus saving equipment investment.

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