FORCE GENERATING DEVICE

Abstract

A force generating device includes: a support unit; a link unit rotatably coupled to one side of the support unit; a transfer unit that is coupled to the link unit and transfers wave energy to the outside; and a drive unit that operates the link unit. In particular, the transfer unit is moved on an imaginary sphere by a motion of the link unit, and the transfer unit transfers the wave energy to a center of the imaginary sphere.

Claims

1. A force generating device comprising: a support unit; a link unit rotatably coupled to a first side of the support unit; a transfer unit coupled to the link unit; and a drive unit configured to operate the link unit, wherein: the transfer unit comprises a plurality of transfer parts configured to transfer wave energy to an outside, the link unit is configured to move the plurality of transfer parts, and the transfer unit is further configured to transfer the wave energy toward a center of an internal space defined by the plurality of transfer parts.

2. The force generating device of claim 1, wherein the link unit is rotatably coupled to a second side of the support unit.

3. The force generating device of claim 2, wherein the link unit comprises: a first link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the first side of the support unit; and a second link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the second side of the support unit, and wherein the plurality of transfer parts comprises: a first transfer part provided to be adjacent to a second end portion of the first link part which is opposite to the first end portion of the first link part; and a second transfer part provided to be adjacent to a second end portion of the second link part which is opposite to the first end portion of the second link part.

4. The force generating device of claim 3, wherein the link unit comprises: a third link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the first link part; and a fourth link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the second link part, wherein the plurality of transfer parts further comprises a third transfer part provided to be adjacent to a second end portion of the third link part and a second end portion of the fourth link part, and wherein the second end portion of the third link part and the second end portion of the fourth link part are configured to be rotatable relative to each other.

5. The force generating device of claim 4, wherein each of the first link part and the second link part has an arc shape having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an imaginary concentric sphere having a center identical to the center of the internal space defined by the plurality of transfer parts.

6. The force generating device of claim 5, wherein each of the third link part and the fourth link part has an arc shape having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the imaginary concentric sphere having the center identical to the center of the internal space.

7. The force generating device of claim 3, wherein the drive unit comprises: a first drive part configured to rotate the first link part in a state in which the first end portion of the first link part is fixed to the first side of the support unit; and a second drive part configured to rotate the second link part in a state in which the first end portion of the second link part is fixed to the second side of the support unit.

8. The force generating device of claim 1, wherein the transfer unit comprises: a body portion configured to have a curved surface; and a plurality of energy generators provided on an inner surface of the body portion and configured to generate the wave energy, and wherein each energy generator of the plurality of energy generators is configured to transfer the wave energy to the center of the internal space.

9. The force generating device of claim 8, wherein the body portion has a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an imaginary concentric sphere having a center identical to the center of the internal space.

10. The force generating device of claim 4, further comprising: a first connection part configured to connect the first link part and the third link part and provided in a region in which the first link part and the third link part meet together; and a second connection part configured to connect the second link part and the fourth link part and provided in a region in which the second link part and the fourth link part meet together.

11. The force generating device of claim 10, further comprising: a third connection part configured to connect the third link part and the fourth link part and provided in a region in which the third link part and the fourth link part meet together.

12. The force generating device of claim 2, wherein the link unit comprises: a first link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the first side of the support unit; and a second link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to the second side of the support unit, and wherein the plurality of transfer parts comprises: a first transfer part provided to be adjacent to the first end portion of the first link part; and a second transfer part provided to be adjacent to the first end portion of the second link part.

13. The force generating device of claim 12, wherein the link unit further comprises: a third link part having a first end portion rotatably coupled to a second end portion of the first link part which is opposite to the first end portion of the first link part, and a second end portion rotatably coupled to the second end portion of the second link part which is opposite to the first end portion of the second link part.

14. The force generating device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of transfer parts further comprises: a third transfer part provided to be adjacent to the second end portion of the first link part; and a fourth transfer part provided to be adjacent to the second end portion of the second link part.

15. The force generating device of claim 6, wherein a central angle of each arc shape of the first link part and the second link part corresponds to a central angle of each arc shape of the third link part and the fourth link part.

16. The force generating device of claim 15, wherein the central angle of the arc shape of each of the first to fourth link parts is a right angle.

17. The force generating device of claim 15, wherein the central angle of the arc shape of each of the first to fourth link parts is an obtuse angle.

18. The force generating device of claim 13, wherein each of the first to third link parts has an arc shape having a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an imaginary concentric sphere having a center identical to the center of the internal space, and a central angle of the arc shape of each of the first link part and the second link part is larger than a central angle of the arc shape of the third link part.

19. The force generating device of claim 10, wherein a rotation axis of the first connection part and a rotation axis of the second connection part are configured to pass through the center of the internal space.

20. The force generating device of claim 11, wherein a rotation axis of the third connection part is configured to pass through the center of the internal space.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0034] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a force generating device according to a first exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a structure of the force generating device according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0037] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a structure of a transfer part of the force generating device according to one form of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIGS. 4A to 4C are perspective views illustrating various operational examples of the force generating device according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a force generating device according to a second exemplary form of the present disclosure; and

[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a force generating device according to a modified example of the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0041] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0043] Hereinafter, a structure and an operational principle of a force generating device according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a force generating device according to a first exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a structure of the force generating device according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure. In addition, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a structure of a transfer part of the force generating device according to one form of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 4A to 4C are perspective views illustrating various operational examples of the force generating device according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a force generating device 10 may include a support unit 100. The support unit 100 may be provided at a lower side of the force generating device 10 and configured to support other components of the force generating device 10.

[0046] In more detail, the support unit 100 may include a bottom part 110 configured to define a lower region of the support unit 100 and having a flat shape, a first support part 120 provided at one side of the bottom part 110 and having a shape protruding upward, and a second support part 130 provided at the other side of the bottom part 110 and having a shape protruding upward.

[0047] In addition, the force generating device 10 may include a link unit 200 coupled to the support unit 100 so as to be rotatable with respect to one side and the other side of the support unit 100. In more detail, the link unit 200 may be rotatably coupled to the first support part 120 and rotatably coupled to the second support part 130.

[0048] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, the force generating device 10 according to the present disclosure may further include a transfer unit 300 coupled to the link unit 200 and configured to transfer wave energy to the outside, and a drive unit 400 configured to operate the link unit 200. In one form, at least a part of the link unit 200 is rotated with respect to the first support part 120 and/or the second support part 130 by energy provided by the drive unit 400, and thus the transfer unit 300 coupled to the link unit 200 also moves. Therefore, in accordance with the motion of the link unit 200, the transfer unit 300 may be disposed at various positions and may transfer the wave energy to a specific region.

[0049] In another form, the motion of the transfer unit 300 may be restricted so that the transfer unit 300 is moved along a predetermined trajectory by the motion of the link unit 200.

[0050] In one form, the transfer unit 300 may be moved on an imaginary sphere by the motion of the link unit 200, and the transfer unit 300 may transfer the wave energy to a center F of the imaginary sphere. That is, the transfer unit 300, which is moved in a restricted manner on the imaginary sphere by the motion of the link unit 200, may transfer the wave energy to the center F of the sphere from any point on the imaginary sphere while moving on the imaginary sphere. Therefore, it is possible to freely control a motion of an object provided on the imaginary sphere. Hereinafter, detailed structures of the link unit 200 and the transfer unit 300 of the force generating device 10 according to the present disclosure will be described.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the link unit 200 may include a first link part 210 having one end portion rotatably coupled to one side of the support unit 100, and a second link part 220 having one end portion rotatably coupled to the other side of the support unit 100. In more detail, the first link part 210 may be rotatably coupled to an upper region of the first support part 120, and the second link part 220 may be rotatably coupled to an upper region of the second support part 130.

[0052] In addition, the transfer unit 300 may include a plurality of transfer parts configured to transfer the wave energy to the outside. In more detail, the plurality of transfer parts may include a first transfer part 310 provided to be adjacent to the other end portion of the first link part 210 which is opposite to one end portion of the first link part 210, and a second transfer part 320 provided to be adjacent to the other end portion of the second link part 220 which is opposite to one end portion of the second link part 220. For example, FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate a state in which the first transfer part 310 is coupled to the other end portion of the first link part 210, and the second transfer part 320 is coupled to the other end portion of the second link part 220. In one form, the link unit 200 may move the plurality of transfer parts on the predetermined trajectory.

[0053] In another form, the transfer unit 300 may transfer the wave energy toward the center F of the internal space formed by the plurality of transfer parts. In this case, the internal space formed by the plurality of transfer parts may have a shape of the imaginary sphere, and the center of the internal space may be the center of the imaginary sphere.

[0054] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure, the link unit 200 may further include a third link part 230 having one end portion rotatably coupled to the other end portion of the first link part 210, and a fourth link part 240 having one end portion rotatably coupled to the other end portion of the second link part 220. In this case, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the other end portion of the third link part 230, which is opposite to one end portion of the third link part 230, and the other end portion of the fourth link part 240, which is opposite to one end portion of the fourth link part 240, are rotatably provided to face each other.

[0055] In addition, the plurality of transfer parts provided in the transfer unit 300 may further include a third transfer part 330 provided to be adjacent to the other end portion of the third link part 230 and the other end portion of the fourth link part 240. FIGS. 1 and 4 illustrate a state in which the third transfer part 330 is coupled to the other end portion of the third link part 230, and the other end portion of the fourth link part 240 is provided to face the third transfer part 330 with the third link part 230 interposed therebetween.

[0056] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, according to some forms of the present disclosure, each of the link parts, which constitute the link unit 200, may have an arc shape curved to have a predetermined curvature. In more detail, each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 may have an arc shape curved to have a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an imaginary concentric sphere having a center identical to the center F of the imaginary sphere. For example, the imaginary concentric sphere may have the same size as the imaginary sphere. The configuration in which each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 has the curved arc shape may be implemented so that the transfer unit 300 has a motion trajectory on the imaginary sphere which is restricted by the link unit 200. More particularly, the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 may have arc shapes having curvatures having the same magnitudes.

[0057] In one form, the drive unit 400 may include a first drive part 410 configured to rotate the first link part 210 on the imaginary sphere in a state in which one end portion of the first link part 210 is fixed to one side of the support unit 100 (i.e., the first support part 120), and a second drive part 420 configured to rotate the second link part 220 on the imaginary sphere in a state in which one end portion of the second link part 220 is fixed to the other side of the support unit 100 (i.e., the second support part 130). In this case, the first drive part 410 and the second drive part 420 may be inserted into the first support part 120 and the second support part 130, respectively. For example, each of the first drive part 410 and the second drive part 420 may be a motor having a rotary shaft. In this case, the rotary shaft provided in the first drive part 410 and the rotary shaft provided in the second drive part 420 may be coupled to one end portion of the first link part 210 and one end portion of the second link part 220, respectively.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 3, each of the transfer parts 310, 320, and 330, which constitute the transfer unit 300, may include a body portion 302 configured to define a body of each of the transfer parts and having an inner surface curved toward the center F, and a plurality of energy generators 304 provided on the inner surface of the body portion 302 and configured to generate the wave energy. In this case, each of the plurality of energy generators 304 may be configured to transfer the wave energy to the center F of the imaginary sphere. Therefore, the force generating device 10 may consistently transfer the wave energy to a specific region, that is, a region in which the center F is positioned wherever the transfer parts 310, 320, and 330, which constitute the transfer unit 300, are present by the motion of the link unit 200. In one form, the inner surface of the body portion 302 may have a curved shape so as to have a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the imaginary concentric sphere having the center identical to the center F of the imaginary sphere.

[0059] Meanwhile, the force generating device 10 according to one form of the present disclosure may further include a connection unit 500 configured to connect the link parts and disposed in the region in which the link parts, which constitute the link unit 200, face one another.

[0060] In more detail, referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the connection unit 500 may include a first connection part 510 configured to connect the first link part 210 and the third link part 230 and provided in a region in which the first link part 210 and the third link part 230 meet together, a second connection part 520 configured to connect the second link part 220 and the fourth link part 240 and provided in a region in which the second link part 220 and the fourth link part 240 meet together, and a third connection part 530 configured to connect the third link part 230 and the fourth link part 240 and provided in a region in which the third link part 230 and the fourth link part 240 meet together.

[0061] In this case, the first connection part 510 may be provided to surround an outer portion of the first link part 210 and an outer portion of the third link part 230. More particularly, the first connection part 510 may include two members each having an L-shaped cross section, and the two members may be provided to surround the outer portion of the first link part 210 and the outer portion of the third link part 230, respectively. In addition, the second connection part 520 may be provided to surround an outer portion of the second link part 220 and an outer portion of the fourth link part 240. More particularly, the second connection part 520 may include two members each having an L-shaped cross section, and the two members may be provided to surround the outer portion of the second link part 220 and the outer portion of the fourth link part 240, respectively. Lastly, the third connection part 530 may be provided to surround the outer portion of the third link part 230 and the outer portion of the fourth link part 240. More particularly, the third connection part 530 may include two members each having an L-shaped cross section, and the two members may be provided to surround the outer portion of the third link part 230 and the outer portion of the fourth link part 240, respectively. In addition, the force generating device 10 according to the present disclosure may further include penetration members configured to penetrate the link parts and the connection parts to connect the link parts and the connection parts.

[0062] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4C, according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure, when the first link part 210 and/or the second link part 220 rotates, the motions of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 are restricted by the coupling structures between the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240. Therefore, the motions of the first to third transfer parts 310, 320, and 330, which constitute the transfer unit 300, are also restricted. In particular, since each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 has the arc shape having the curvature corresponding to the curvature of the imaginary concentric sphere having the center identical to the center F, each of the first to third transfer parts 310, 320, and 330 may also move only on the imaginary sphere having the center identical to the center F. Therefore, it is possible to freely control a motion of an object provided at the center F (see FIG. 1). For example, according to the present disclosure, the components of the force generating device 10 may be disposed as illustrated in FIG. 4A and then disposed as illustrated in FIG. 4B or 4C, such that it is possible to implement a rotational motion of the object, which is provided at the center, while floating the object in the air.

[0063] More particularly, referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a rotation axis A1 of the first connection part 510, a rotation axis A2 of the second connection part 520, and a rotation axis A3 of the third connection part 530 may pass through the center F of the imaginary sphere, that is, the center F of the internal space defined by the plurality of transfer parts. In this case, the rotation axis A1 of the first connection part 510 may mean a central axis about which the first link part 210 and the third link part 230 rotate relative to each other, the rotation axis A2 of the second connection part 520 may mean a central axis about which the second link part 220 and the fourth link part 240 rotate relative to each other, and the rotation axis A3 of the third connection part 530 may mean a central axis about which the third link part 230 and the fourth link part 240 rotate relative to each other. According to some forms of the present disclosure, since the rotation axes of the connection parts pass through the center F as described above, the plurality of link parts of the link unit 200 and the transfer parts 310, 320, 330, and 340 are moved on the imaginary sphere, such that it is possible to transfer the wave energy always toward the center F regardless of the positions of the transfer parts 310, 320, 330, and 340.

[0064] As described above, each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 may have an arc shape. In this case, a central angle of the arc of each of the first link part 210 and the second link part 220 may correspond to a central angle of the arc of each of the third link part 230 and the fourth link part 240. For example, the central angle of the arc of each of the first link part 210 and the second link part 220 may be equal to the central angle of the arc of each of the third link part 230 and the fourth link part 240. In addition, for example, the central angle of the arc of each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be a right angle.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a force generating device according to a second exemplary form of the present disclosure. The details of the support unit 100 may be replaced with the contents described above in the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0066] Referring to FIG. 5, a link unit 200 of a force generating device 10 may include a first link part 210 having one end portion rotatably coupled to one side of a support unit 100 (i.e., a first support part 120), and a second link part 220 having one end portion rotatably coupled to the other side of the support unit 100 (i.e., a second support part 130).

[0067] In one form, a transfer unit 300 may include a first transfer part 310 provided to be adjacent to one end portion of the first link part 210, and a second transfer part 320 provided to be adjacent to one end portion of the second link part 220. Therefore, according to the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, the first transfer part 310 may be provided to face the first support part 120 with the first link part 210 interposed therebetween, and the second transfer part 320 may be provided to face the second support part 130 with the second link part 220 interposed therebetween, unlike the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0068] Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, according to the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, the link unit 200 may further include a third link part 230 having one end portion rotatably coupled to the other end portion of the first link part 210 which is opposite to one end portion of the first link part 210, and the other end portion rotatably coupled to the other end portion of the second link part 220 which is opposite to one end portion of the second link part 220. That is, according to the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, the link unit 200 may have the total of three link parts 210, 220, and 230, unlike the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0069] In addition, according to the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, the plurality of transfer parts of the transfer unit 300 may further include a third transfer part 330 provided to be adjacent to the other end portion of the first link part 210 which is opposite to one end portion of the first link part 210, and a fourth transfer part 340 provided to be adjacent to the other end portion of the second link part 220 which is opposite to one end portion of the second link part 220. That is, according to the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, the plurality of transfer parts of the transfer unit 300 may include the total of four transfer parts 310, 320, 330, and 340, unlike the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0070] Meanwhile, even in the case of the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, each of the first to third link parts 210, 220, and 230 may have an arc shape curved to have a curvature corresponding to a curvature of an imaginary concentric sphere having a center identical to the center F of the imaginary sphere. However, according to the second exemplary form of the present disclosure, a central angle of the arc of each of the first link part 210 and the second link part 220 may be smaller than a central angle of the arc of the third link part 230, unlike the first exemplary form of the present disclosure. For example, the central angle of the arc of the third link part 230 may be twice the central angle of the arc of each of the first link part 210 and the second link part 220. In addition, for example, the central angle of the arc of each of the first link part 210 and the second link part 220 may be a right angle, and the central angle of the arc of the third link part 230 may be 180 degrees.

[0071] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a force generating device according to a modified example of the first exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0072] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a configuration of a force generating device 10 according to a modified example of the first exemplary form of the present disclosure may be mostly similar to the configuration of the force generating device according to the first exemplary form of the present disclosure. However, according to the modified example of the first exemplary form of the present disclosure, the central angle of the arc of each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be an obtuse angle. For example, the central angle of the arc of each of the first to fourth link parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be 120 degrees.

[0073] Meanwhile, the transfer unit 300 or the energy generators 304 provided in the force generating device according to the present disclosure may transfer ultrasonic wave energy.

[0074] The present disclosure has been described with reference to the limited exemplary forms and the drawings, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The described exemplary forms may be carried out in various forms by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains within the technical spirit of the present disclosure.