GB627944A - Improvements in artificial hands - Google Patents

Abstract

627,944. Artificial hands. PICKNELL, M. D. Sept. 2, 1947, No. 24173. [Class 81(ii)] An artificial hand of the kind including a wrist element rotatably mounted in a socket secured to the forearm and having a pair of opposed artificial fingers operated by cords, is characterized in that one or both of the fingers is or are urged into the closed position by a spring housed in the hollow stem forming the wrist. As shown in Fig. 2, a socket 10 is provided with a block 14 fitted with a bearing tube 15 which receives a wrist member 16 rotatable therein. Finger members 27 pivoted to the member 16, Fig. 6, at 56 are operated by a rod 47 having a slot 55 which acts upon pins 59 on the fingers, the rod being operated by means of a lever 24, Fig. 2, and plunger 19, to open the fingers against pressure of springs 49 and 20. The wrist member has a circular plate 29 provided with holes 46 which are engaged by spring- pressed balls 28 mounted in the block 14, to provide positive location at a number of angularly-spaced positions, a bolt 32 serving to lock the wrist when required. Axial movement of the wrist is prevented by a locking lever 38 which engages a circumferential groove 40 in the wrist. In a modification, Fig. 7, when rod 47 is advanced, pins 65, 66 on the fingers ride in slots 63, producing movement of the fingers in parallel directions, until pins 65 abut against the outer limits of the slots, when further movement of the rod causes the fingers to pivot about the pins 65.