Application (pre-grant publication)
DRIVE SYSTEM USING BALLS WITHIN A CONDUIT FOR TRANSMISSION OF MOTIVE POWER
- Number
- 20180231111
- Published
- 2018-08-16
- Filed
- 2017-02-14
- Assignee
- DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
- Inventors
- MIKA; JEREMY ANDREW; SNODDY; JON HAYES; WATSON; SCOTT FRAZIER
- CPC
- F16H49/00
- Verdict
- Medium Hardware
- Source
- Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline
The keeper's note
Ball-drive mechanical power-transmission mechanism.
Abstract
A system for transmitting motive force. The system includes a conduit or tube and a plurality of balls (e.g., spherical objects) positioned within the tube. The system includes a drive assembly moving the balls within the tube, and the system includes an actuated element operating to generate an output in response to movement of the balls within the tube. In some cases, the balls are metal ball bearings, and the tubing is one of polyethylene tubing, tubing with a metal lining, or tubing having a hardness greater than a hardness of polyethylene. The drive assembly may include a feed screw driven by a motor to provide positive displacement of the balls in the tube. The actuated element may take a variety of forms to practice the system. For example, the actuated element may be a linear or rotational actuator, e.g., an actuator used to actuate a robotic joint.
Background
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Description.
The present description relates, in general, to drive or actuation systems for selectively actuating or driving devices such as actuators and, more particularly, to a system for transmitting motive power to an actuator or a driven device with high precision through the use of a plurality of balls (i.e., nearly any spherical object) moving through a transmission line (e.g., a conduit).2. Relevant Background.
There are many applications where it is desirable to actuate or drive a component or portion of a system to achieve desired movement or other results. For example, robots are used in industrial settings and in entertainment venues, and each of these robots typically has one-to-many joints. There is a need for an efficient way to actuate each of these joints, and the motor or driver for these joints often is located in a different location within the robot than the driven or actuated joint. Further adding to the design challenges is the demand for higher levels of precision in actuation to accurately represent animated emotion in the robot.
Presently, a wide variety of techniques and devices are used to actuate robotic joints (and other components of a system), but each presents design challenges for implementation that may make them inappropriate or impractical for some applications. For example, a component such as a robotic joint may be provided direct actuation with an electric motor and gearbox, which can be nois