Flexible manipulator

US5816769A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Jochen Bauer · Gettorf, DE
• Wendelin Feiten · Neubiberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 6, 1996
• Grant date: Oct 6, 1998
• Expiry date: Nov 6, 2016

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T74/20323
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A flexible manipulator is constructed of parallel elements which are layered one over the other along a stacking axis and preferably have at least three bores on the circumference, which are aligned to form a guide arrangement. Projecting sleeves are provided at the bores and extend telescopically into one another from respectively two adjacent elements. Elastic rods are guided through the bores, which rods are fastened at one end of the manipulator and exit freely at the other. The manipulator can be brought into an arbitrary shape through the tension and pressure created by displacing of these rods in a particular manner. In addition, a blocking material is provided in the invention which can lock the sleeves of adjacent elements from movement so that a displacement of a rod will be directed between a different pair of elements. The locking or blocking of the movement of the sleeves can be obtained by utilizing the rotation of the actuating rods.