Patent ID: 6477913
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: B25J,Y10T

Abstract:
A robot assembly, comprising:a plurality of pivotally interconnected robot parts relatively movable with respect to each other and adapted for exposure to an explosive atmosphere, at least two of the robot parts each having an airtight chamber formed respectively therein which is movable with respect to one another when the robot parts having said airtight chamber move, said airtight chambers having openings respectively interconnected for fluid communication therebetween; communicating means including said openings for interconnecting the airtight chambers; a non-explosion-proof electric motor encased respectively in each of said airtight chambers; a cable bundle including at least one flexible non-explosion-proof cable that extends from one of said airtight chambers through the respective openings to another of said airtight chambers for connection to at least one of said motors and that flexes in respect to the relative movement of said robot parts; and gas supply means connected to at least one of said airtight chambers for supplying sufficiently clean air or inert gas to at least one of said airtight chambers and to at least one more of said airtight chambers through said openings from a gas source outside said explosive atmosphere at a pressure above the pressure of said explosive atmosphere to compensate for any leakage from said chambers and prevent the entrance of gases from said explosive atmosphere to said chambers while the sufficiently clean air or inert gas being supplied surrounds the respective motor in said chambers and the cable at said openings, whereby to obviate the need that said motor and said wiring be heavy and explosion-proof so that the robot parts may be compact and lightweight.