초록 ▼

A robotic connector or interface includes a roughly conical male member in which the conical side may be concave. The male member includes a radial indexing pin, and a central bore in which polarized electrical connectors are located. A mating female member includes a cavity with a fundus and movabl

A robotic connector or interface includes a roughly conical male member in which the conical side may be concave. The male member includes a radial indexing pin, and a central bore in which polarized electrical connectors are located. A mating female member includes a cavity with a fundus and movable peripheral lips adapted for grasping the base of the male member when engaged for drawing the male member into full mating relation with the cavity. A tapered slot in the side of the female member guides the index pin to impart rotational forces so that mating can take place even if the approach is skewed. The electrical connectors are mounted on a separately indexed, spring loaded connector plate at the fundus of the cavity. A motor-driven linkage operates the peripheral lip members.

대표청구항 ▼

A coupling arrangement for aligning and mating connectors, and for transfer of structural loads, comprising: a male member including a head, said head having the approximate shape of the frustum of a cone with a concave side, a base and a central bore, said cone, said base and said central bore bein

A coupling arrangement for aligning and mating connectors, and for transfer of structural loads, comprising: a male member including a head, said head having the approximate shape of the frustum of a cone with a concave side, a base and a central bore, said cone, said base and said central bore being centered on a first axis lying in a first plane, said base being affixed to a support structure to which said loads are transferred, said head further comprising at least one index pin having a diameter, said index pin lying in said first plane and projecting from said concave side in a radial direction relative to said first axis; a polarized first connector portion of a mating polarized connector pair, said first connector portion being located in said bore for substantially axial engagement and having a predetermined orientation relative to said first plane; a female member defining a cavity with an opening defining an outer periphery, said cavity being centered on a second axis lying in a second plane and having walls in a shape similar to that of the inside of a bell, said walls defining a fundus remote from said opening of said cavity, said female member further including a slot in said walls, said slot being centered on said second plane, the width of said slot being substantially equal to said diameter of said pin at locations nearest said fundus, and tapering to a width greater than said diameter at locations remote from said fundus, said second axis and said second plane being drawn into a congruent relationship with said first axis and said first plane, respectively, when said male and female members are fully mated; a polarized second connector portion of said mating polarized connector pair, said second connector portion being mounted for axial engagement at said fundus and having said predetermined orientation relative to said second plane, whereby when said male and female members are mated and said first and second planes are congruent, said connectors are correctly poled for mating; movable lip means mechanically coupled to said periphery of said cavity and adapted for movement between an open position exposing said cavity and a closed position, and being adapted for grasping said head of said male member during engagement and for drawing said head into, and thereafter holding, said head in full mating relationship with said cavity, whereby rotary forces are transferred by means including said slot and index pin between said female member and said support structure, and compressive axial forces are transferred by said mating head and cavity, and tensile axial forces are transferred by said lip means between said female member and said base of said head.