Patent Publication Number: US-2023133859-A1

Title: Lifting assembly having gear structure and lifting device having the same

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to electric charging, and more particularly, to a lifting assembly and a lifting device having the lifting assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Robots may include lifting devices. The robot can move an object through lifting or lowering the lifting device. However, the lifting and lowering process of the lifting device is not stable. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of embodiment, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG.  1    is a diagrammatic view of a lifting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded view of the lifting structure of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a diagrammatic view of the lifting assembly of  FIG.  1   , with a first mounting base and a second base removed. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagrammatic view of a lifting device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of the lifting structure of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a diagrammatic view of the lifting device of  FIG.  4   , with a second casing removed. 
         FIG.  7    is a diagrammatic view of a second casing of the lifting structure of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  8    is a diagrammatic view of a lifting device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and members have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a lifting structure  100  is provided according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The lifting structure  100  includes a lifting assembly  10  and a driving assembly  40 . 
     The lifting assembly  10  includes a first mounting base  12 , two first links  14 , a second mounting base  16 , two second links  18 , a shaft assembly  19 , and two seats  30 . The shaft assembly  19  includes two first shafts  192  and two second shafts  194 . Each of the two first links  14  includes a first end  14   a  and a second end  14   b  opposite to the first end  14   a . The first ends  14   a  of the two first links  14  are rotatably connected to the first mounting base  12  through the two first shafts  192 . Each of the two second links  18  includes a third end  18   a  and a fourth end  18   b  opposite to the third end  18   a . The third ends  18   a  of the two second links  18  are rotatably connected to the second mounting base  16  through the two second shafts  194 . The second ends  14   b  of the two first links  14  are rotatably connected to the fourth ends  18   b  of the two second links  18  through the two seats  30 . The two seats  30  are arranged along a first direction X. 
     Each of the first links  14  includes two first connecting arms  144  spaced from each other, a first connecting plate  146  connected between the two first connecting arms  144 , and a first gear structure  142  provided at the first end  14   a  of each of the two first connecting arms  144 . The first gear structure  142  of one first connecting arm  144  is engaged with the first gear structure  142  of the other first connecting arm  144 . The first end  14   a  of each first connecting arm  144  defines a first through hole  145 . The second end  14   b  of each first connecting arm  144  defines a second through hole  148 . 
     The second link  18  includes two second connecting arms  184  spaced from each other, a second connecting plate  186  connected between the two second connecting arms  184 , and a second gear structure  182  provided at the third end  18   a  of each of the two second connecting arms  184 . Referring to  FIG.  3   , the second gear structure  182  of one second connecting arm  184  is engaged with the second gear structure  182  of the other second connecting arm  184 . The third end  18   a  of each second connecting arm  184  defines a third through hole  185 . The fourth end  18   b  of the second connecting arm  184  defines a fourth through hole  188 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the first end  14   a  and the third end  18   a  may be hemispherical in shape. Each of the first gear structure  142  and the second gear structure  182  may be defined on the hemispherical edges. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the seat  30  is substantially a rectangular hollow body. Two opposite surfaces of the seat  30  define two first holes  31 . A screw (not shown) passes through the second through hole  148  of the first link  14 , the fourth through hole  188  of the second link  18 , and the two first holes  31 , thereby allowing the first link  14  to rotatably connect to the second link  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the first mounting base  12  includes two first side plates  124  and a bottom plate  120  connected between the two first side plates  12 . Each first side plate  124  defines two second holes  1240 . The first shaft  192  passes through the second hole  1240  of one first side plate  124 , the first through hole  145  of the first link  14 , and the second hole  1240  of the other first side plate  124 , thereby allowing each first link  14  to rotatably connect to the first side plates  124 . 
     The second mounting base  16  includes two second side plates  162  and a top plate  160  connected between the two second side plates  162 . The second side plate  162  defines two third holes  1620 . The second shaft  194  passes through the third hole  1620  of one second side plate  162 , the fourth through hole  188  of the second link  18 , and the third hole  1620  of the other second side plate  162 , thereby allowing each second link  18  to rotatably connect to the second side plates  162 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  to  3   , the drive assembly  40  includes a motor  42 , a coupling  44 , a mounting bracket  46 , and a screw bolt  48 . The screw bolt  48  extends along the first direction X, and includes a fifth end  48   a  and a sixth end  48   b  opposite to the first end  48   a . An output shaft  421  of the motor  42  is connected to the fifth end  48   a  of the screw bolt  48  through the coupling  44 . The motor  42  can rotate the screw bolt  48 . The screw bolt  48  passes through the two seats  30 . One of the seats  30  defines inner screw threads (not shown) matching the external screw threads defined on the screw bolt  48 . Thus, when the screw bolt  48  rotates, the seat  30  having the inner screw threads moves towards or away from the other seat  30  along the first direction X. Then, the first links  14  are rotated relative to the two second links  18 , so that the second mounting base  16  is lifted or lowered along the second direction Y. During the rotation, the first gear structure  142  of one first connecting arm  144  is engaged with the first gear structure  142  of the other first connecting arm  144 , and the second gear structure  182  of one second connecting arm  184  is engaged with the second gear structure  182  of the other second connecting arm  184 . Thus, the lifting and lowering process of the second mounting base  16  is more stable. 
     The motor  42  and the coupling  44  are connected to one of the seats  30  through the mounting bracket  46 , the motor  42  and the coupling  44  thus moving up or down along the second direction Y during the lifting and lowering process of the second mounting base  16 . 
     The mounting bracket  46  includes a first mounting plate  462 , a second mounting plate  464 , a third mounting plate  466 , and a fourth mounting plate  468  connected in that order. The first mounting plate  462  and the third mounting plate  466  protrude from a same surface of the second mounting plate  464 . The first mounting plate  462  and the third mounting plate  466  may be parallel to each other, and each of the first mounting plate  462  and the third mounting plate  466  may be perpendicular to the second mounting plate  464 . The fourth mounting plate  468  extends from the third mounting plate  466  along a direction away from the first mounting plate  462 . The fourth mounting plate  468  may be perpendicular to the third mounting plate  466 . 
     The first mounting plate  462 , the second mounting plate  464 , and the third mounting plate  466  cooperatively form a receiving cavity S 1 . The coupling  44  is partially received in the receiving cavity S 1 . The motor  42  is placed on a side of the first mounting plate  462  away from the fourth mounting plate  468 . The output shaft  421  of the motor  42  passes through the first mounting plate  462  and extends into the receiving cavity S 1 . The fourth mounting plate  468  is connected to one of the seats  30  close to the motor  42  and thereby holds the housing (not shown) of the motor  42  in a fixed and permanent position relative to the seat  30 . 
     In at least one embodiment, the lifting structure  100  further includes a first microswitch  70  and a second microswitch  90 . The first microswitch  70  is used to determine when the second mounting base  16  reaches a lowest position. The second microswitch  90  is used to determine when the second mounting base  16  reaches a highest position. 
     The first microswitch  70  is disposed below one of the two seats  30 . For example, the first microswitch  70  is below one of the two seats  30  away from the motor  42 . When the second mounting base  16  is lowered to the lowest position, the seat  30  contacts a probe or head of the first microswitch  70  to trigger the first microswitch  70 . The lifting structure  100  may further include a first indication unit (for example, an LED lamp) electrically connected to the first microswitch  70 . The first indication unit outputs an indication signal when the first microswitch  70  is triggered, thereby indicating that the second mounting base  16  is lowered to the lowest position. 
     The second microswitch  90  is disposed on a side of one of the two seats  30  away from the other seat  30 . For example, the second microswitch  90  is disposed on a side of one of the two seats  30  close to the motor  42 . During the lifting process of the second mounting base  16 , a distance between the second connecting plate  186  of the corresponding second link  18  and the second microswitch  90  is decreased. When and the second mounting base  16  is lifted to the highest position, the second connecting plate  186  contacts a probe head of the second microswitch  90  to trigger the second microswitch  90 . The lifting structure  100  may further include a second indication unit (for example, an LED lamp) electrically connected to the second microswitch  90 . The second indication unit outputs an indication signal when the second microswitch  90  is triggered, thereby indicating that the second mounting base  16  is at the highest position. In at least one embodiment, at the highest position, each first link  14  is collinear with the corresponding second link  18  rotatably connected thereto. 
     In at least one embodiment, the first mounting base  12  further includes a third connecting plate  122  mounted on the bottom plate  120 . The third connecting plate  122  is disposed between the two first side plates  124 . The first microswitch  70  is mounted on the third connecting plate  122 . In at least one embodiment, the second microswitch  90  is disposed on the second mounting plate  464  of the mounting bracket  46 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  to  7   , an embodiment of a lifting device  300  including at least one lifting structure  100  is also provided. The lifting device  300  may be applied in a robot (not shown), which is used to lift or lower an object through the lifting device  300 . The lifting device  300  further includes a first support member  320  and a second support member  340  surrounding the first support member  320 . The second support member  340  may surround the first support member  320 . The first support member  320  and the second support member  340  cooperatively form a receiving space S 2 . The at least one lifting structure  100  is received in the receiving space S 2 . The first mounting base  12  of the lifting structure  100  is mounted on the first support member  320 . The second mounting base  16  of the lifting structure  100  is mounted on the second support member  340 . When the lifting structure  100  is lifted, the second support member  340  moves up and away from the first support member  320 . In at least one embodiment, the lifting device  300  includes two lifting structures  100 , enabling perfect horizontality to be found for the second support member  340  and its cargo before a lifting or lowering process. 
     In at least one embodiment, each of the first support member  320  and the second support member  340  is a hollow casing with an opening. In other embodiments, each of the first support member  320  and the second support member  340  may be a flat plate. 
     In at least one embodiment, a cross beam  380  is provided on the second support member  340 . The second mounting base  16  can be mounted on the cross beam  380 . The cross beam  380  improves a strength of the second support member  340 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , an embodiment of a lifting device  400  including at least one lifting structure  100  is also provided. The difference from the lifting device  300  is that the first support member  420  is a flat plate. The support member  440  includes two supporting rods. The first support member  420  is mounted on the two supporting rods. The lifting structure  100  is mounted on the first support member  420 . 
     In at least one embodiment, each supporting rod of the support member  440  is an aluminum extrusion rod, which increases a strength of the first support member  420 . 
     Even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.