Spring devices – Resilient shock or vibration absorber – Nonmetallic – resilient element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-10
2001-07-24
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Resilient shock or vibration absorber
Nonmetallic, resilient element
C188S372000, C188S373000, C296S182100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264182
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motion converting device and an impact absorbing/buffering device, and in particular, to a motion converting device which converts one of linear motion and rotational motion to the other, and to an impact absorbing/buffering device which includes the motion converting device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional examples of devices which convert rotational motion to linear motion are a robot actuator (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) No. 61-127015) which includes a nut joined to a shape memory effect alloy wire and a screw rotary shaft (ball screw) engaged with the nut, and a linear actuator (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) No. 7-46789) which uses a mechanism for converting rotational motion into linear motion by rotating a motor and winding up a flexible, tape-shaped sheet body.
However, in order to convert rotational motion to linear motion, the robot actuator uses the nut and the screw rotary shaft (ball screw), and has a sliding joint portion. Further, the linear actuator has a sliding surface between sheets, and further, cannot convert linear motion to rotational motion.
When a sliding portion is used, there arise problems such as noise, wear, backlash, and friction loss. Further, sliding portions require maintenance with lubricating oil. Therefore, sliding portions cannot be used in special environments such as in certain medical facilities in which oil and the like should be avoided for sanitary reasons, or in outer space where there is a low-gravity environment. Accordingly, the range of application is limited. Further, when motion is being converted, the nut, the screw rotary shaft and the like must be slid, and thus a load is not transmitted smoothly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in view of the aforementioned problems, one object of the present invention is to provide a novel motion converting device which can convert one of linear motion and rotational motion to the other without a sliding portion, and to provide an impact absorbing/buffering device which includes the motion converting device.
In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a motion converting device which converts between linear motion and rotational motion. The device has four branched elements, each comprising: a first beam which is elastically deformable, one end of the first beam being fixed to a base such that the first beam is slanted with respect to the base; a second beam which is elastically deformable, one end of the second beam being fixed to the first beam at a position which is offset from a central portion of the first beam towards the other end of the first beam; and a third beam which is elastically deformable, one end of the third beam being fixed to the position at which the one end of the second beam is fixed to the first beam. At each of the branched elements, the other end of the first beam is fixed to the other end of the second beam of another branched element such that the four branched elements are disposed in a loop-like arrangement. Respective other ends of the third beams of the respective branched elements are fixed together directly. The respective one ends of the first beams of the respective branched elements are fixed to the base so as to be symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotational motion. Thus, the plural branched elements are formed integrally and rotate as a whole.
Speaking summarily, each of the four branched elements includes a first beam, a second beam and a third beam. The first beam is elastically deformable, and one end thereof is fixed onto the base, such that the first beam is slanted with respect to the base. The second beam is elastically deformable, and one end thereof is fixed to a position of the first beam which is offset from the central portion of the first beam toward the other end of the first beam. The third beam is elastically deformable, and one end thereof is fixed to the position at which the one end of the second beam is fixed to the first beam.
For example, when the joined other ends of the third beams of the branched elements are moved linearly so as to move away relatively from the base, the third beams are moved so as to move away from the base. When the third beams move in this way, the first beams as well also attempt to move away from the base. However, the respective one ends of the first beams are fixed to the base. Thus, the respective first beams attempt to rotate around the respective fixed end. Further, at each of the branched elements, the other end of the first beam is fixed to the other end of the second beam of another branched element, such that the four branched elements are disposed in a loop-like arrangement. Therefore, the first beam of each branched element moves while being pulled by the second beam of another branched element. As a result, the respective other ends of the first beams of the branched elements rotate as a whole.
The one end of the third beam is fixed to the position at which the one end of the second beam is fixed to the first beam. The other end of the first beam of each branched element is fixed to the other end of a second beam of another one branched element. In this way, in place of sliding portions, the first beam, second beam and third beam elastically deform such that the motion is converted. Thus, one of linear motion and rotational motion can be converted into the other without any sliding portions.
A second aspect of the present invention is a motion converting device which converts between linear motion and rotational motion. The device has plural branched elements, each comprising: a first beam which is elastically deformable, one end of the first beam being fixed to a base such that the first beam is slanted with respect to the base; a second beam which is elastically deformable, one end of the second beam being fixed to the first beam at a position which is offset from a central portion of the first beam toward the other end of the first beam; and a third beam which is elastically deformable, one end of the third beam being fixed to the first beam at a position which is offset from a central portion of the first beam toward the other end of the first beam.
The principles of conversion of the second aspect from one of linear motion and rotational motion to the other are the same as those of the first aspect, and thus description thereof will be omitted. It is not absolutely necessary that the other ends of the third beams of the respective branched elements linearly move so as to move away relatively from the base and then the other ends of the first beams of the respective branched elements rotate as a whole. Instead, the other ends of the first beams of the respective branched elements may rotate as a whole and then the other ends of the third beams may linearly move so as to move away relatively from the base. The linear movement of the other ends of the third beams away from the base may occur in any of the following three forms: the other ends of the third beams move so as to move away from the base; the base moves so as to move away from the other ends of the third beams; and the base and the other ends move away from one another.
In the second aspect as well, the first beam, the second beam and the third beam are fixed, and the other end of the first beam of each of the branched elements is fixed to the other end of the second beam of another branched element. Thus, motion can be converted by the first beam, second beam and third beam elastically deforming, without any sliding portions. Therefore, one of linear motion and rotational motion can be converted to the other, even if there are no sliding portions.
In the second aspect, the respective other ends of the third beams of the plural branched elements may be fixed to an opposing base which opposes the above-mentioned base, or may be directly fixed to one another. Further, in the second aspect, for precise rotation, the respective one ends of the first b
Kikuchi Noboru
Nishiwaki Shinji
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
Oberleitner Robert J.
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Williams Thomas J.
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