FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a releasable joint between two component flanges. More specifically, the flanges have a number of teeth on each part that is pressed into contact by clamps, screws or other means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In order to enhance versatility many robotic systems are constructed in modular form. Any number of various modules can be assembled together as may be needed to arrive at a system arrangement desirable for accomplishing the task required at the time.

Subsequently, the system can be reconstructed with a different arrangement of modules for a different task.

The modules of systems of this type are interconnected in sequential fashion until the correct combination is achieved to obtain the types and ranges of movement necessary for the task. If a wide range of movement is required, sufficient modules are added until the construction is sufficient for accomplishing the movement.

A variety of robotic mechanisms are known in the art particularly for use in automated performance of various manufacturing processes and the like. Such robotic mechanisms typically comprise an assembly of mechanical components. The assembled components commonly comprise a mechanical linkage which supports a so-called end effector or tool for displacement through a desired path of motion. Such robotic mechanisms have been constructed with relatively simple securing means (e.g. nuts and bolts).

In a modular robotic system, the joints can be arranged, or configured, differently. As a result, there are multiple possible robot structures for the same number of modular joints. Based on the task to be accomplished by a modular robotic system, the user would interconnect certain number of modules to form a desired system. The system may consist of one or more mechanisms (robotic arms, or manipulators). Then, the user would connect the control system to program the motion and actions in accordance with the task specification.

WO1999001261 covers a method to assemble 2 robotic joints. The method is however depending on high surface pressure and the here from originating friction between the 2 parts or very tight production tolerances to support the necessary loads.

The limitations on available systems are based on the manner in which the modules have been constructed. A quick and reliable system is needed for interconnecting the modules.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel coupling system for interconnecting the modules in a quick and efficient manner to facilitate easy tailoring of the manipulator assembly to that required to perform a particular assigned task.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a modular coupling suitable for a robotic system is provided. In accordance with the invention, the robotic system includes a robotic arm to receive position command signals from a central processor. The present invention differs from the above mentioned prior art in that it makes use of angled contact faces between the 2 flanges, which enables assembly in a rigid manner of the 2 flanges and lock all 6 degrees of freedom in a single step without the need for tight production tolerances.

Specifically the present invention provides a releasable joint assembly suitable for establishing a robot joint comprising:

a first component having a first annular flange with a first contact surface provided with teeth distributed, preferably evenly, along the circumference of the flange;

a second component having a second annular flange with a second contact surface provided with cavities distributed, preferably evenly, for receiving the teeth along the circumference of the flange;

a clamp for holding the first and second components in place;

wherein the angle of the contact faces of the teeth have the same angle as the contact faces of the cavities so that the first and second flanges fit together, whereby the clamp holds the first and second components in a non-compressible joint, and wherein the peaks of said teeth do not touch the bottoms of said cavities.

Hence the two components are locked together because of the contact faces (preferably V- shaped) that are kept in contact, thus securing the parts are unable to move relative to each other. Advantageously the connection is not dependent on friction (only direct mechanical contact) thereby being able to transmit large forces from one part to the other without slipping. This is true in all directions for both translation and rotation. The connection is not dependent on precise production tolerances since the V-shaped teeth will always fall into direct contact because of the angled contact faces. The teeth are not in contact in top and bottom.

It should also be noted that forces can be transmitted from one component to the other in the perimeter of the components at a large radius, thereby minimizing the need for heavy and costly material in the center of the components to withstand forces.

It is a further advantage that the connection can be assembled with as little as a single screw depending on the design of the V-clamps or other means to keep the angled contact faces in contact.

The angle of the contact faces can be adjusted to optimize the connection to different load cases, material combinations etc. However, the angle of the contact faces is preferably 15- 75 degrees, and more preferably 20-45 degrees.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first and second components are made from metals or metal alloys. In one embodiment of the invention the first and second components have different hardness.

In a particularly practically viable embodiment one of the teeth is wider or narrower than the remaining teeth or one of the teeth has a non-uniform distance or height between teeth to ensure correct connection between the components.

When assembling an industrial robot there is a number of parts to be fixed together in order to make the complete functional robot. These parts are typically robotic joints which generate the movement of the robot and spacers in between the joints which only acts to have distance between the moving joints. The present invention provides a simple and robust means for establishing the connections between the joints.

Traditional assembly with a ring of screws and nuts is time consuming to assemble because of the typically high number of screws to be tightened individually. This causes a problem especially in modular robotic systems, where the modules are assembled and disassembled more than once. Also for service and repair this is undesirable. The clamped flange joint can be assembled in very short time by placing the clamps around the flanges and tightening with as little as a single screw. Access to the screw or screws in the clamps is easy as they are sitting tangentially in the clamp perimeter. One advantage of the clamped flange joint is that as soon as one of the clamps is put in place, the connection is stable and the connected parts are supported sufficiently so the operator have both hands free to insert and tighten the screws. Another advantage is that the tightening torque of the screws have very wide limits, as the connection will be fully functional in a wide range of screw force. This is generally not the case with traditional screw connections between robotic parts that are dependent on tight limits for screw torque.

In robotic systems it is beneficial to have high strength and low weight of the assembled robot in order to optimize the pay load of the robot. This is made possible by using the clamped flange joint invention, because the material use can be kept low while still having a rigid and fully locked connection. The forces are transferred at the outer diameter of the tubes and joints, which minimizes material use. The use of V-shaped teeth and V-shaped clamps makes it possible to use relatively low clamp forces and still be able to transfer very high torque and bending moments. The rigidity of the clamped flange joint is very high because the transfer of forces happens on the outer diameter of the parts. This is an important feature for most applications and especially in robotics to improve the absolute position of the working robot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a joint assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of this assembly. Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the V-clamp holding the flanges in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a joint assembly according to the present invention. Referring to Figure 2 there is shown an enlarged view of this assembly from which the interaction between the teeth of the respective flanges can be derived. In accordance with the reference numerals shown in Figures 1 to 3 the following description serves to enable a skilled person to work the invention.

Without being limited to the field of robotic joints the present invention is particularly suitable for quickly establishing a rigid and ruggedized robot joint between two flanges. Specifically this is achieved by a first annular flange (1 ) with a first contact surface provided with evenly distributed teeth (2) along the circumference of the flange, and which flange (1 ) may be secured to a second annular flange (3) with a second contact surface provided with evenly distributed cavities (4) for receiving the teeth (3) along the circumference of that flange (3).

In order to hold the flanges in place a user can easily mount a clamp (5) for safely securing the joint. As shown in Figure 2 the angle of the contact faces of the teeth (2) have substantially the same angle as the contact faces of the cavities (4) so that the first and second flanges fit together. In Figure 2 an angle of 30 degrees is shown.

The exact design of the teeth and V-clamps can be adapted to the specific application. Meanwhile a preferred configuration is shown in Figure 3 showing an angle of 30 degrees between the plane dividing the two flanges and the contact surface holding one of the flanges in place. The V-clamp referred to herein is commonly known (also as V-Band Clamps/Couplings) and offer effective fastening solutions in a wide range of applications.

Because V-clamp couplings can be easily assembled and disassembled, they are often used on equipment that requires frequent service or maintenance.

A higher number of teeth will generally raise the connections ability to transfer high loads. The angle of the teeth can be used to control the relationship between the connections strength for moment forces around the center axis and bending forces. The angle of the V- clamps can be adapted to the application. In general a flatter angle raises the load carrying ability, but requires a stronger clamp, and vice versa. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the angle of both the teeth and the V-clamps are 30° from horizontal which represents a good design for most applications. The preferred design of the V-clamps is 2 halves each covering 180° perimeter of the flanges. These 2 clamps are held together by 2 screws (6). Another possibility is to connect 2 or more clamps into a chain with pins or other method, so that only 1 screw is necessary to tighten the clamps around the connection. Yet another possibility is to use an eccentric tightening principle with a permanent handle so the connection can be made without using tools. This system is known from V-clamps in pipe systems that can be quickly coupled.