Robust tilt and lock mechanism for hopping actuator
| DWPI Title: Tilt and lock apparatus for a hopping robotic vehicle, comprises a spiral torsion spring having an inner end mechanically coupled to a tilt servomechanism, where a lock wheel is coupled to an outer end of the spiral torsion spring |
| Abstract: A tilt and lock apparatus that includes a tilt servomechanism, a spiral torsion spring, a lock wheel, and a lock hook is described herein. The spiral torsion spring is mechanically coupled to the tilt servomechanism and the lock wheel (which includes an opening). When a shaft is positioned through the opening, rotation of the lock wheel is in unison with rotation of the shaft. An external surface of the lock wheel includes one or more grooves. The lock hook includes a head that engages and disengages the grooves. The lock wheel is stationary when the head engages one of the grooves and is rotatable when the head disengages the grooves. The head and the grooves are geometrically aligned when engaged to prevent creation of a force that acts to disengage the head responsive to an applied force acting on the shaft. |
| Use: Tilt and lock apparatus for a hopping robotic vehicle (Claimed). |
| Advantage: The head and the grooves of the lock wheel are geometrically aligned to prevent creation of the force that acts to disengage the head responsive to an applied force acting on the shaft, thus tilting and locking the payload mechanically coupled to the shaft in an efficient manner. |
| Novelty: The tilt and lock apparatus (100) comprises a tilt servomechanism (102) and a spiral torsion spring (104) having an inner end mechanically coupled to the tilt servomechanism. A lock wheel (106) is coupled to an outer end of the spiral torsion spring. The lock wheel has an internal surface that defines an opening through the lock wheel. A head engages and disengages the grooves of the lock wheel, where the lock wheel is stationary when the head engages one of the grooves of the lock wheel. |
| Filed: 11/4/2013 |
| Application Number: US14070939A |
| Tech ID: SD 12342.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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