In this rod-less cylinder equipped with a guide mechanism (32), the guide mechanism (32) has: a first rail member (34), which is attached to the sidewall of a cylinder tube (2), has an inner rolling groove (34a), and is composed of alloyed steel; a second rail member (36), which is attached to a protrusion (31) of a slider (27), has an outer rolling groove (36a), and is composed of alloyed steel; a guide path (38a) provided in the protrusion of the slider and extending parallel to the second rail member; a connection member (39) having a connection path (39a) that connects the guide path and the inner rolling groove; and a plurality of rolling bodies (43) accommodated within an endless circulation path (42) formed of the inner rolling groove, the outer rolling groove, the guide path, and the connection path.

The present disclosure relates to cable routing approaches that allow cables to pass through a traditional chain joint without reducing the strength capacity or impairing the range of motion of the joint. The routing approaches permit the cables to be housed inside the structure of the robotic arm and pass through the chain joint in a manner that does not limit the width of the chain.

The present disclosure relates to cable routing approaches that allow cables to pass through a traditional chain joint without reducing the strength capacity or impairing the range of motion of the joint. The routing approaches permit the cables to be housed inside the structure of the robotic arm and pass through the chain joint in a manner that does not limit the width of the chain.

The present invention addresses the technical problem of providing an actuator which is provided to prevent leakage through a rod in a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder-type actuator, and in which an existing sealing member may be used, and in particular, a cable (wire) may be used as a rod for solving the problem regardless of surface roughness thereof. An actuator for solving the above-mentioned problem in accordance with the present invention includes: a cylinder having an inner portion filled with a fluid and a front cover for closing a front end portion thereof; a piston displaced inside the cylinder by the fluid; a sealing member having one end portion fixed to the piston and the other end portion fixed to the front cover; and an operation member inserted in the sealing member and having one end portion fixed to the piston and the other end portion extending out of the front cover. In the present invention, due to the above-mentioned configuration, the sealing of a fluid (f) is already achieved by the sealing member, and thus, the operation member serves a moving function if only slipping relative to the sealing member in the sealing member. Accordingly, a rod or a cable does not need to move while being in close contact with the sealing member. Therefore, as in conventional arts, the present invention has merits in that a remarkable improvement is achieved in terms of wear of the sealing member, and it is not necessary to smoothly and precisely process the rod and to smoothly and hardly coat the cable.

This invention discloses a pneumatic and cable-driven hybrid artificial muscle, comprising pneumatic actuator, pneumatic pressure regulating assembly, and cable drive assembly. The pneumatic pressure regulating assembly is connected to the pneumatic actuator to regulate air pressure in the pneumatic actuator for controlling the pneumatic actuator to extend or contract. The cable actuation assembly comprises a cable fixedly connected to the pneumatic actuator for controlling the pneumatic actuator to contract. In this invention, the artificial muscle employs a dual pneumatic and cable actuation mechanism. By leveraging the inherent stiffness of the pneumatic actuator, it can provide substantial actuation force for joint movement. Simultaneously, the cable actuation assembly can provide significant pulling force, effectively ensuring safety in human-machine interaction and offering sufficient bidirectional aiding force to individuals with disabilities who use the artificial muscle as an aiding actuation device.

A fluidic artificial muscle actuator may include at least one inflatable bladder defining a first inflatable segment coupled to a first member and to a second member arranged at opposite ends of the first inflatable segment, and a second inflatable segment coupled to a third member and to a fourth member arranged at opposite ends of the second inflatable segment, and an effector coupled to the first inflatable segment and to the second inflatable segment for providing an actuator output. The first inflatable segment is configured to contract in a longitudinal direction with increase in fluid pressure in the first inflatable segment and the second inflatable segment is configured to extend in the longitudinal direction with increase in fluid pressure in the second inflatable segment.