Castle retention mechanism with tapered annular channel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014249-B1
Application number	US-201715833205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Dec 6, 2017
Priority date	Dec 6, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

Retention mechanisms are used for coupling two objects, such as coupling end-of-arm tooling to a robotic arm system. The retention mechanisms may include two mounting members, each of which may be attached to a respective object to be coupled, such as an end effector and a robotic device appendage. The retention mechanisms may use interlocking alternating fingers on each mounting members to cooperatively form a tapered annular channel into which an external retaining ring or disc spring fits and applies pressure to secure the opposing mounting members in tight proximity to each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retention mechanism comprising:
a first member comprising:
a first body comprising a sidewall having an outer surface facing radially outward, and
a first plurality of fingers arranged radially about the first body, wherein each finger of the first plurality: (i) extends radially from the outer surface of the first body, (ii) extends axially beyond a first end of the first body, and (iii) comprises a first annular contact face oriented at a first acute angle to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism;

a second member comprising:
a second body comprising a sidewall having an outer surface facing radially outward, and
a second plurality of fingers arranged radially about the second body, wherein each finger of the second plurality: (i) extends radially from the outer surface of the second body, and (ii) comprises a second annular contact face oriented at a second acute angle to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism, wherein each finger of the second plurality is interleaved between each finger of the first plurality; and

a retaining ring located between and contacting both the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces, wherein the retaining ring is configured to push the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces in opposing directions axially, thereby drawing the first body towards the second body.

2. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein where each interleaved finger of the second plurality is in radial contact with each adjacent finger of the first plurality.

3. The retention mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the radial contact is via a respective tapered contact interface having an axial taper angle.

4. The retention mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the radial contact is via a respective tapered contact interface having a radial taper angle.

5. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a hollow cavity therethrough.

6. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first member includes a hollow cavity therethrough and the second member includes a hollow cavity therethrough.

7. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the retention mechanism is configured to couple a robotic end effector to a robotic arm system.

8. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first acute angle and the second acute angle are the same.

9. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first acute angle and the second acute angle combined define an included interface angle, wherein the included interface angle is within a range of about 2° to about 90°.

10. The retention mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the first acute angle and the second acute angle combined define an included interface angle, wherein the included interface angle is within a range of about 5° to about 20°.

11. A retention mechanism comprising:
a first member comprising:
a first body having a cylindrical outer surface, and
a first plurality of fingers arranged radially about the first body, wherein each finger of the first plurality: (i) extends radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the first body, (ii) extends axially beyond a first end of the first body, and (iii) comprises a first annular contact face oriented at a first angle to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism;

a second member comprising:
a second body having a cylindrical outer surface, and
a second plurality of fingers arranged radially about the second body, wherein each finger of the second plurality: (i) extends radially from the cylindrical outer surface of the second body, and (ii) comprises a second annular contact face oriented at a second angle to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the retention mechanism, wherein each finger of the second plurality is interleaved between each finger of the first plurality; and

a disc spring located between and contacting both the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces, wherein the disc spring is configured to push the first annular contact faces and the second annular contact faces in opposing directions axially, thereby drawing the first body towards the second body.

12. The retainer mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first annular contact faces are parallel to the second annular contact faces.

13. The retention mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first angle and the second angle combined define an included interface angle, wherein the included interface angle is within a range of about 0° to about 20°.

14. The retention mechanism of claim 11 , wherein where each interleaved finger of the second plurality is in radial contact with each adjacent finger of the first plurality.

15. The retention mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the radial contact is via a respective tapered contact interface having an axial taper angle.

16. The retention mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the radial contact is via a respective tapered contact interface having a radial taper angle.

17. The retention mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first member includes a hollow cavity therethrough.

18. The retention mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the first member includes a hollow cavity therethrough and the second member defines a hollow cavity therethrough.

19. A robotic end-of-arm retention mechanism comprising:
a first member comprising (i) a first body configured to couple with a robotic end effector, and (ii) a first interrupted annular contact wall extending from the first body, wherein the first interrupted annular contact wall includes a first contact face on a first axial end thereof;
a second member coupled with the first member, wherein the second member comprises (i) a second body configured to couple with a robotic arm system, and (ii) a second interrupted annular contact wall extending from the second body, wherein the second interrupted annular contact wall includes a second contact face on a second axial end thereof, and wherein the second interrupted annular contact wall is arranged opposite the first interrupted annular contact wall, thereby forming an annular channel; and
a retaining ring located at least partially in the annular channel and contacting both the first interrupted annular contact wall and second interrupted annular contact wall, wherein the retaining ring is configured to push the first interrupted annular contact wall and second interrupted annular contact wall in opposing directions axially, thereby drawing the first body towards the second body.

20. The robotic end-of-arm retention mechanism of claim 19 , wherein fingers on each of the first member and the second member are configured to radially couple the first member and the second member together, thereby preventing radial movement of the first member relative to the second member.

Assignees

• X Dev Llc

Inventors

• Strauss Marc

Classifications

• F16B7/0426

  for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof · CPC title

• B25J15/0408 Primary

  Connections means · CPC title

• Y10T403/7045

  Interdigitated ends · CPC title

• B25J9/16

  Program controls (total factory control, i.e. centrally controlling a plurality of machines, G05B19/418) · CPC title

• B25J15/0475 Primary

  Exchangeable fingers · CPC title