Device for mechanical connection and for optical and/or electrical and/or fluid transmission between a first element and a second element

Abstract

A device for achieving a mechanical link and optical and/or electrical and/or fluidic transmission between a first element (E1) and a second element (E2), including: a first connection part designed to be fixed to the first element (E1), a first joining member connected optically and/or electrically and/or in fluidic communication with the first element (E1) and mounted on the first connection part, a second connection part designed to be fixed to the second element (E2), and arranged at least in part between the first connection part and the first joining member and defining a ball joint link between the first and second elements, and a second joining member connected optically and/or electrically and/or in fluidic communication with the second element (E2), arranged in the second connection part, the first and second joining members being configured to allow an optical and/or electrical and/or fluidic transmission from one to the other.

Claims

1. A device for achieving a mechanical link and optical and/or electrical and/or fluidic transmission between a first element (E1) and a second element (E2), comprising: a first connection part designed to be fixed to the first element (E1), a first joining member connected optically and/or electrically and/or in fluidic communication with the first element (E1) and mounted on the first connection part, a second connection part designed to be fixed to the second element (E2), and arranged at least in part between the first connection part and the first joining member and defining a ball joint link between the first and second elements, and a second joining member connected optically and/or electrically and/or in fluidic communication with the second element, arranged in the second connection part, the first and second joining members being configured to allow an optical and/or electrical and/or fluidic transmission from one to the other.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, the second connection part being movable in rotation about an axis (Z) of the first connection part through an angle greater than 180.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, the second connection part being movable in rotation about at least one axis (X) perpendicular to the axis (Z) through a maximum angle strictly greater than 0.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, the first connection part comprising a concave portion and the second connection part having an opposite exterior concavity.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, the concave portion of the first connection part having an at least partially spherical interior surface and the second connection part comprising an at least partially spherical exterior surface.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, the first joining member comprising a convex portion and the second connection part having an opposite interior concavity.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, the second connection part having an at least partially spherical interior surface and the first joining member comprising an at least partially spherical exterior surface.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, the second connection part comprising an interior surface having a radial groove extending over a part at least of the height of the interior surface.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, the second joining member comprising a rotary plate equipped with a stud designed to be received in the radial groove of the second connection part.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, the two first and second joining members each comprising an electric current transmission collector.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, comprising a plurality of balls arranged between the first transmission collector of the first joining member and the second transmission collector of the second joining member to allow an electric transmission between the first and second collectors.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments that do not limit the invention, and by examining the appended drawing, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic, partial view of a device according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is an expanded view thereof,

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b are views along the arrows A and B of FIGS. 1 and 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic, partial view in transverse section on IV-IV of the device of FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b,

(6) FIGS. 4a to 4c are views of details of FIG. 4,

(7) FIG. 5 is a schematic, partial perspective view of the first connection part of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4,

(8) FIG. 6 is an expanded view thereof,

(9) FIG. 7 is a view along the arrow VII of FIGS. 5 and 6,

(10) FIG. 8 is a view thereof in transverse section along VIII-VIII,

(11) FIG. 9 is a schematic, partial expanded view thereof, of the second connection part of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4,

(12) FIG. 10 is a view along the arrow X of FIG. 9,

(13) FIG. 11 is a view thereof in transverse section along XI-XI,

(14) FIG. 12 is a schematic, partial perspective view of the first joining member of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4,

(15) FIG. 13 is an expanded view thereof,

(16) FIGS. 14a and 14b are views along the arrows A and B of FIGS. 12 and 13,

(17) FIG. 15 is a schematic, partial view in transverse section along XV-XV of the device of FIGS. 12, 13, 14a and 14b,

(18) FIGS. 16a and 16b are schematic, partial perspective views of the second joining member of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4,

(19) FIGS. 17a and 17b are views along the arrows A and B of FIGS. 16a and 16b,

(20) FIG. 18 is a schematic, partial view in transverse section along XVIII-XVIII of the device of FIGS. 16a, 16b, 17a and 17b,

(21) FIG. 19 is an expanded view thereof,

(22) FIG. 20 is a schematic, partial perspective view of the optical transmission of the device of FIGS. 1 to 4,

(23) FIG. 20a is a view thereof along the arrow A and FIG. 20b is a transverse section thereof along B-B,

(24) FIGS. 20c and 20d are views of details of FIG. 20b,

(25) FIGS. 21a and 21b are top and bottom perspective views of one of the joining members,

(26) FIGS. 22a and 22b are top and bottom perspective views of the other of the joining members,

(27) FIG. 23a is a view

(28) FIG. 23b is a cross section thereof along B-B,

(29) FIGS. 23c and 23d are views of details of FIG. 23b,

(30) FIG. 23e is a perspective view of a variant embodiment of optical rings,

(31) FIG. 23f is an expanded view thereof,

(32) FIG. 23g is a top view thereof,

(33) FIG. 23h is a view thereof in longitudinal section,

(34) FIG. 24 is a schematic, partial perspective view of an assembly according to the invention,

(35) FIG. 25 is a schematic, partial perspective view of a variant embodiment,

(36) FIG. 26 is an expanded view thereof,

(37) FIG. 27 is a view along the arrow XXVII of FIGS. 25 and 26,

(38) FIG. 28 is a view thereof in transverse section along XXVIII-XXVIII,

(39) FIG. 29a is a top view, similar to FIG. 4, of a variant embodiment,

(40) FIG. 29b is a view thereof in transverse section along B-B,

(41) FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a variant embodiment,

(42) FIG. 31a is a top view thereof,

(43) FIG. 31b is a view thereof in transverse section along B-B,

(44) FIGS. 31c and 31d are views of details thereof,

(45) FIG. 32a is a perspective view of the connecting rod of FIG. 30,

(46) FIG. 32b is a view thereof in transverse section along B-B,

(47) FIG. 33 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a variant embodiment,

(48) FIG. 33a is a view thereof along the arrow A, and

(49) FIGS. 33b to 33e are views of details thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

(50) FIGS. 1 to 19 illustrate a device 1 for achieving a mechanical link and for optical and electrical transmission and between a first element E1 and a second element E2, which are indicated in broken lines in FIG. 1.

(51) The device comprises a first connection part 10 designed to be fixed to the first element E1 and a second connection part 20 designed to be fixed to the second element E2.

(52) The device further comprises a first joining member 30 connected optically and electrically to the first element and mounted on the first connection part, as may be seen in FIG. 2, and a second joining member 40 connected optically and electrically to the second element E2, arranged in the second connection part 20.

(53) The second connection part 20 is arranged at least in part between the first connection part 10 and the first joining member 30, as may be seen in FIG. 4. The two connection parts 10 and 20 define a ball joint link between the first and second elements E1 and E2, by virtue of their specific form, which will be described below.

(54) Furthermore, the first and second joining members 30 and 40 are configured such as to allow optical and electrical transmission from one to the other so that the device 1 allows a transmission that is at once mechanical, optical and electrical between the first and second elements E1 and E2. The first joining member and the second joining member are both arranged in the second connection part 20.

(55) A description will now be given in further detail of the configuration of the connection parts.

(56) The second connection part 20 is movable relative to the first connection part 10 through three degrees of freedom. To that end, the second connection part 20 is movable in rotation about an axis Z of the first connection part 10 through an angle of 360. In other words, the second connection part 20 is entirely free in rotation about the axis Z of the first connection part 10. The axis Z is a central axis for the first connection part 10.

(57) Furthermore, the second connection part is movable in rotation about all the axes X perpendicular to the axis Z through a maximum deflection angle of the order of 22.5. The axes X form a plane P perpendicular to the axis Z, which is the plane of FIGS. 3a, 3b and 7.

(58) As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, the first connection part 10 comprises a concave portion 11. This concave portion 11 has an at least partially spherical interior surface. The interior surface of the first connection part has an annular general form, which forms a portion of a first sphere extending to 360 about the central axis Z and extends in an angular portion between two angles and measured from the center of the first sphere perpendicularly relative to the central axis Z, as illustrated in FIG. 8. The angle is, for example, of the order of 12.5. The angle is, for example, of the order of 25. The first sphere has a radius R.sub.1, for example of the order of 20 mm.

(59) As illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11, the second connection part 20 has an exterior concavity opposite the concavity of the concave portion 11. The second connection part is thus partially arranged in the first connection part. The second connection part 20 comprises an at least partially spherical exterior surface 21, which has an annular general form, and which forms a second sphere portion extending to 360 about a central axis Y of the second connection part 20 and extends in an angular portion between two angles and measured from the center of the second sphere perpendicularly relative to the central axis Y, as may be seen in FIG. 11. The angle is, for example, of the order of 50. The angle is, for example, of the order of 5. The second sphere has a radius R.sub.2, for example of the order of 20 mm.

(60) Furthermore, as illustrated in FIGS. 12 to 15, the first joining member 30 comprises a convex portion 31, which has the form of a partially spherical exterior surface. The exterior surface of the first joining member 30 has an annular general form, which forms a fourth sphere portion extending to 360 about the central axis Z and extends in an angular portion between the two angles and described above. The fourth sphere has a radius R.sub.4 of the order of 18 mm.

(61) The second connection part 20 has an opposite interior concavity, which has the form of a partially spherical interior surface 22. The first joining member may thus be partially arranged in the second connection part, as may be seen in FIG. 4. The interior surface of the second connection part 20 has an annular general form, which forms a portion of a third sphere extending to 360 about the central axis Y and extends in an angular portion between the angles and described above. The third sphere has a radius R.sub.3 of the order of 18 mm.

(62) Such a configuration makes it possible to ensure that the second connection part 20 is able to rotate between the first connection part 10 and the first joining member 30.

(63) Furthermore, as may be seen in FIG. 9, the second connection part comprises an interior surface 22 having a radial groove 24 extending over a part at least of the height of the interior surface 22. The radial groove 24 extends in a plane containing the central axis Y of the second connection part, as may be seen in FIG. 11.

(64) Furthermore, the second joining member comprises, as illustrated in FIGS. 16a to 19, a rotary plate 42 equipped with a stud 43 designed to be received in the radial groove 24 of the second connection part 20. The rotary plate 42 is of discoid general form, extending, in a substantially planar manner, along the above-mentioned plane P. It is movable in rotation about the above-mentioned axis Z of the first connection part 10 through an angle of 360.

(65) The rotational movement of the rotary plate about the axis Z may be transmitted to the second connection part, and vice versa, by virtue of the interaction of the stud 43 in the radial groove 24. Moreover, the rotary plate remains parallel to the plane P, the stud of the rotary plate moving in the radial groove upon movement of the second connection part about the axes X and the plane P.

(66) The device is configured such as to allow electrical transmission between the first and second elements E1 and E2. To that end, the first and second joining members 30 and 40 each comprise an electrical current transmission collector 35 and 45, respectively. The second transmission collector 46 is fixed to the rotary plate 45, as may be seen in FIG. 16a. Each of the two transmission collectors 36, 46 has a planar, discoid general form.

(67) Each of the transmission collectors 35, 45 comprise six tracks 36 and 46, respectively, for electrical transmission, as illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13, 14a, on the one hand, and 22a on the other. One of the tracks allows the transmission of mass and the others of electrical current. The tracks 36 and 46 of each of the two transmission collectors 35 and 45 are circular and concentric.

(68) The two transmission collectors 35, 45 comprise the same number of tracks with the same design. They are symmetrical with one another relative to the plane P. The two transmission collectors are movable in rotation relative to one another about the axis Z, but fixed relative to the plane P. They are of discoid general form and extend, in a substantially planar manner, parallel to one another along the plane P.

(69) With a view to allowing electrical transmission between the first and second collectors 35, 45, the device comprises a plurality of balls 50 arranged between the first transmission collector 35 of the first joining member 30 and the second transmission collector 45 of the second joining member 40, which are retained in a holding component 52, as illustrated in FIGS. 16a and 19. The balls 50 comprise at least an electrically coating. They may, in particular, be made from an electrically conducting material, for example stainless steel. The holding component 52 has the form of a plate of discoid general form, which is pierced with orifices 53 in which the balls 50 are arranged.

(70) Moreover, the first connection part 10 comprises a first receiving electrical connector 15 that receives electrical data from the first element E1, visible in FIGS. 3b, 6 and 7. The first receiving electrical connector 15 is of discoid general form and extends, in a substantially planar manner, along the plane P.

(71) Similarly, the second connection part 20 comprises a second receiving electrical connector 25 that receives electrical data from the second element E2. The second receiving electrical connector 25 is of discoid general form and extends, in a substantially planar manner, according a plane Q perpendicular to the central axis Y. The plane Q is the plane of FIGS. 17a and 17b.

(72) The second receiving electrical connector 25 comprises flexible electrical connectors 27 connecting it to the second transmission connector 45.

(73) The device is also configured such as to allow optical transmission between the first and second elements E1 and E2. The device comprises to that end an optical ring 60 arranged on one of the joining members 30 or 40, that is to say on the first joining member 30, as illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 20 to 23d.

(74) The optical ring 60 is of annular general form and extends, in a substantially planar manner, parallel to the plane P. Light is conveyed toward or from the optical ring 60 by two optical fibers 61, as illustrated in FIG. 20, for example.

(75) The device further comprises two optical transceivers 62 and 63, each on one of the transmission collectors, which are each arranged facing the above-mentioned optical ring 60.

(76) In a variant embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 23e to 23h, optical transmission may be achieved by means of two optical rings 60 arranged facing one another. Each optical ring 60 has a form configured such as to allow the arrival of light in the ring via an inlet 64 of disk form, the light then being distributed over the entire surface 65 of the ring having an annular form. There is then optical transmission toward the second ring 60 of annular form, then reconcentration of the light toward an outlet 66 of disk form.

(77) Each optical ring 60 has undergone an external anti-dispersion surface treatment such as to permit internal radiation. All the exterior surfaces of the optical rings 60, aside from inlet 64 and outlet 66, may be coated with an opaque diffusing material, for example of aluminide, silvering or other type. Internal radiation is thus transmitted solely between the inlet 64 and outlet 66 and the annular beam.

(78) The invention further relates to an assembly 5 comprising four devices 1 as described above, coupled to one another, as illustrated, by way of example, in FIG. 24.

(79) In this example, the first connection part 10 of the first device 1 forms the first element for the adjacent second device. The first device 1 is connected to the second device 1, one via its first connection part 10 and the other via its second connection part 20.

(80) The adjacent second and third devices 1 are each connected together via their first connection part 10, and the adjacent third and fourth devices 1 via their second connection part 20.

(81) Two adjacent devices are coupled together by an assembly ring 70 so as to ensure the holding of the two consecutive connection parts of both devices.

(82) Each of the first and second connection parts comprises snap-fit lugs 72 to allow the fixing of one connection part to another. The snap-fit lugs may all be identical, unless provision is made for a locator system to ensure the satisfactory orientation of the connection parts relative to the axis Z.

(83) In a variant embodiment, the transmission collectors 35, 45 and the balls 50 may be arranged in a tubular manner rather than in a planar manner. By way of example, FIGS. 25 to 28 illustrate an embodiment comprising five transmission tracks 36, 46, the tracks each having the form of a ring of which the interior surface is a portion of a cone, as may be seen in FIG. 26, between which are arranged balls 50 retained in a holding component 52, as in a bearing. There are thus five holding components 52 accommodating five series of balls 50.

(84) Current is supplied to each of the tracks by axial rods 37, 47, passing inside the tracks or outside.

(85) In a variant embodiment, the second part of and the second joining member may be articulated together in a rigid manner. By way of example, FIGS. 29a and 29b illustrates the possibility of connecting the second connection part 20 and the second joining member 40 via a synchronization connecting rod 80 that makes it possible to ensure transmission of the rotational movement of the rotary plate of the second joining member about the axis Z to the second connection part, and vice versa.

(86) The connecting rod may be fixed by means of a ball joint link, on the one hand to the second connection part and on the other to the second joining member.

(87) The device according to the invention may, in a variant, further allow a mechanical link and optical, electrical and fluidic transmission.

(88) By way of example, a further exemplary embodiment is likewise illustrated in FIGS. 30 to 32b, which also comprises a connecting rod 80, wherein the ball joint join is leaktight in such a manner as also to allow a fluidic link in the connecting rod. The connecting rod 80 is hollow and, in this case, comprises a first connecting rod part 81 and a second connecting rod part 82 connected by a translational join, limited in terms of travel and leaktight, such as to allow the fluidic link in the connecting rod 80. The first connecting rod part 81 is configured such as to slide in part in the second connecting rod part 82.

(89) This example differs likewise from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 19 in terms of the value of the angles and and and .

(90) Further illustrated in FIGS. 33 to 33e is a variant embodiment configured such as to allow, simultaneously or successively, optical, electrical and fluidic transmissions. In this example, the device comprises a fluidically leaktight link connecting rod 80 forming a fluidic path F.

(91) Naturally, the invention is not limited to the examples just described. The device may, furthermore, comprise one or more sensors, for example one or more ultrasonic sensors, or even one or more infrared sensors. Such sensors may make it possible to play an anti-collision role or, alternatively, a spatial referencing role.