JOINT MECHANISM

Abstract

A joint mechanism comprises at least one body, at least one first roller and at least one second roller mutually positioned on said body and is configured to move any one of said first roller and second roller towards the other so as to allow a beam used particularly in vibration isolation mechanisms to translate along at least one first axis. The body has at least one first part and at least one second part essentially adjacent to each other and said first part and said second part are engaged by means of at least one first flexible element in a manner such that they allow at least partial movement with respect to each other, so as to allow said beam to be rotated at least partially around at least one rotating point in the direction of at least one second axis.

Claims

1. A joint mechanism, comprising at least one body, at least one first roller and at least one second roller, wherein the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller are mutually positioned on the at least one body, any one of the at least one first roller and the at least one second roller is moved towards the other to allow a beam to translate along at least one first axis, and the beam is used particularly in vibration isolation mechanisms; the at least one body has comprises at least one first part and at least one second part, wherein the at least one first part and the at least one second part are essentially adjacent to each other; and the at least one first part and the at least one second part are engaged by at least one first flexible element in a manner of allowing at least partial movement with respect to each other, to allow the beam to be rotated at least partially around at least one rotating point around a direction of at least one second axis.

2. The joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first flexible element is a leaf spring.

3. The joint mechanism according to claim 2, wherein at least two first flexible elements are provided mutually between the at least one first part and the at least one second part.

4. The joint mechanism according to claim 3, wherein extension directions of the at least two first flexible elements on the at least one first part and the at least one second part are engaged with each other in a manner of intersecting at the at least one rotating point.

5. The joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first part and the at least one second part are connected with each other through the at least one first flexible element.

6. The joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one space is provided between the at least one first part and the at least one second part to allow elastic deformation of the at least one first flexible element.

7. The joint mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one third roller is positioned on a side of the at least one second roller on the at least one first part of the at least one body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] An illustrative perspective view of the inventive joint mechanism is given in FIG. 1.

[0016] An illustrative exploded view of the inventive joint mechanism is given in FIG. 2.

[0017] An illustrative side view of the inventive joint mechanism is given in FIG. 3.

[0018] An illustrative side view showing the elastic deformation of the inventive joint mechanism under force is given in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In this detailed description, the subject of the invention is described by means of examples only for clarifying the subject matter such that no limiting effect is created.

[0020] An illustrative perspective view of the inventive joint mechanism (10) is given in FIG. 1. Thus, said joint mechanism (10) is configured so as to allow at least one beam (60) that is used in vibration isolation systems to translate along one first axis (I) and rotate at least partially along the direction of one second axis (II). As mentioned above, said joint mechanism (10) can be used in fields in machine designs where flexible and sliding connections are required such as medicine, transportation, military, robotic technologies, and particularly in vibration isolation systems.

[0021] An illustrative exploded view of the inventive joint mechanism (10) is given in FIG. 2. Thus, in the joint mechanism (10), at least one body (20) having at least one first part (30) and at least one second part (50) is positioned. In the first part (30) of said body (20), at least one first roller (41) and at least one second roller (31) is positioned in a manner such that they allow the beam (60) to pass between them and to translate in the direction of said first axis (I). In a possible embodiment of the invention, mainly at least one third roller (32) is also positioned on the side of the second roller (31). Said first roller (41), second roller (31) and third roller (32) are essentially roller bearings so as to minimize the friction force during the linear movement of the beam (60) along the first axis (I). On the other hand, instead of a roller bearing, sliding or lubricated bearing roller can be used so as to minimize the friction force. Said rollers may have different shapes based on the shape of the beam (60). In case the beam has circular cross section, the surfaces of the rollers that contact the beam are grooved so as to grasp the beam.

[0022] In a possible embodiment of the invention, said first roller (41) is configured on the body (20) in a manner such that it can move towards the second roller (31) and the third roller (32) on at least one compression axis (III). In order to realize this, the first roller (41) is positioned on at least one sliding bracket (40). Said sliding bracket (40) is connected to the first part (30) of the body (20) in a manner such that it can move on the compression axis (III). At least one compression bolt (42) is used so as to engage the sliding bracket (40) and the first part (30) of the body (20). Said compression bolt (42) is mainly fixed by means of at least one nut (44) by being passed through at least one connection hole (34) positioned on the first part (30) and the sliding bracket (40). The nut (44) can be located on the desired location by rotating the same on the threads (not shown in the figures) on the compression bolt (42). Therefore, the compression bolt (42) is provided so as to position the sliding bracket (40) at the desired location of the first part (30). The compression nut (44) compresses the sliding bracket (40) on the compression bolt (42), thus restricts its distance from the first part (30). At least one second flexible element (43) is located on the compression bolt (42) between the connection holes (34). Said second flexible member (43) is a helical spring that creates a compression force so as to enable the sliding bracket (40) and the first part (30) to move away from each other. This compression force can also be formed by a leaf spring or a different shaped flexible element instead of the helical spring. While the first roller (41) is brought closer to the second and third rollers (32) by means of the nut (44), the second flexible element (43) allows the beam (60) to move without any backlash on the first axis (I) by exerting a force in the opposite direction. Thus, even if the joint mechanism (10) is subjected to vibration, no backlash is formed owing to the compression force on the beam (60), and as a consequence, no rattling occurs.

[0023] At least one roller shaft (33) is used in positioning the first roller (41) on the sliding bracket (40) and the second roller (31) and the third roller (32) on the first part (30) of the body (20).

[0024] Said roller shaft (33) provides the rollers to be positioned at predetermined locations by passing through the rollers. Thus, its high-strength leads to a durable structure.

[0025] An illustrative side view of the inventive joint mechanism (10) is given in FIG. 3. Thus, said joint mechanism (10) is configured so as to allow the beam (60) to rotate around one rotating point (IV) along the direction of one second axis (II) at least partially. In order to realize this, the first part (30) and the second part (50) on the body (20) are connected to each other by means of at least one first flexible element (51). In a possible embodiment of the invention, said first flexible member (51) is at least one leaf spring and is connected to the first part (30) and the second part (50) by means of at least one connection element (52). In the joint mechanism (10), the point where essentially the alignment of the first roller (41) with the second roller (31) and the third roller (32) and the extension directions (V) of the first flexible elements (51) intersect is said rotating point (IV).

[0026] An illustrative side view showing the deformation of the inventive joint mechanism (10) under force is given in FIG. 4. Thus, the beam (60) is rotated about the rotation point (IV) along the direction of the second axis (II) at least partially under force loading. When the beam (60) is rotated about the rotation point (IV) along the direction of the second axis (II), the first part (30) moves at least partially relative to the second part (50). This movement is provided by at least partially elastic deformation of the first flexible elements (51). As soon as the load on the beam (60) is removed, the first part (30) returns to its original form. In addition, while the first part (30) and the second part (50) are connected to each other, at least one space (53) is left between them. Said space (53) provides gap for movement to the first flexible members (51) so as to allow the first part (30) and the second part (50) to move at least partially relative to each other.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the beam (60) is engaged between the first roller (41) and the second roller (31) and the third roller (32) in the joint mechanism (10). It is ensured that the beam (60) of the first roller (41) presses tightly towards the second roller (31) and the third roller (32) by tightening the compression bolt (42) by means of the nut (44) so as to move the beam (60) backlash-free in the direction of the first axis (I) and the second axis (II). Subsequently, while the beam (60) is used in any place, after it is subjected to force; the beam (60) can slide in the first axis (I) relative to the first part (30). Moreover, the beam (60) can be held from the rotation point (IV) and is provided to rotate at least partially in the direction of the second axis (II). Therefore, the beam (60) is provided to perform two different movements simultaneously.

[0028] Together with all of these embodiments; while the degree of freedom is provided to the joint mechanism (10) in two axes, the beam (60) is allowed to move backlash-free in the body (20) despite the environmental conditions (vibration, quake etc.) during these movements. Therefore, high precision can be obtained in applications such as ultrasonic motors or impact motors etc. where dynamic or impact excitation is provided.

[0029] The protection scope of the invention is specified in the appended claims and cannot be limited to the description made for illustrative purposes in this detailed description. Likewise, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can present similar embodiments in the light of the above descriptions without departing from the main theme of the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0030] 10 Joint Mechanism [0031] 20 Body [0032] 30 First Part [0033] 31 Second Roller [0034] 32 Third Roller [0035] 33 Roller Shaft [0036] 34 Connection Hole [0037] 40 Sliding Bracket [0038] 41 First Roller [0039] 42 Compression Bolt [0040] 43 Second Flexible Element [0041] 44 Nut [0042] 50 Second Part [0043] 51 First Flexible Element [0044] 52 Connection Element [0045] 53 Space [0046] 60 Beam [0047] (I) First Axis [0048] (II) Second Axis [0049] (III) Compression Axis [0050] (IV) Rotating Point [0051] (V) Extension Direction