JP2001105380A - Cooperating contact - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce frictional force and electric resistance in contact surfaces to stably supply electric power to a load. SOLUTION: In this contact, a cylindrical contact member 4, i.e., a part of a first movable body 1, contacts with a contact plate 3, i.e., a part of a second movable body 2, in a contact surface S. A housing 8 having a cylindrical internal space slidably guides the contact member 4 on the inner side wall of a contact holder 8a. A cylindrical relay member 5 is equally divided into three along the center axis, while a slant angle α of a slant face 5a in a conical recessed part at the upper face center of the relay member 5 is set such that a ratio of a press force f1 of the contact member 4 acting on the contact plate 3 to a press force f2 of the relay member 5 acting on the inner side wall of the housing 8 is optimum. A spring constant k of a spring 7 minimizes the press force f1 of the contact member 4 acting on the contact plate 3 within a range allowing a certain and stable electric continuity state. Thereby, frictional force accompanying sliding in respective faces becomes small to stably supply electric power to a load.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooperating contact for sharing a contact surface and electrically connecting a pair of movable bodies relatively movable along the contact surface with each other. The present invention relates to a bearing using a moving contact.

[0002]

FIG. 7 shows a cooperative contact 900 according to the prior art.
FIG. The cooperating contact point 900 has a function of electrically connecting the first movable body 1 and the second movable body 2 that share the contact surface S and are relatively movable along the contact surface S with each other. The first movable body 1 constitutes a portion located above the contact surface S of the cooperating contact 900 (the positive direction of the z-axis in the figure), and is a substantially columnar part of the first movable body 1. The contact member 4 having a shape is in contact with the contact plate 3 constituting a part of the second movable body 2 at the contact surface S.

A housing 8 comprising a contact holder 8a and a spring cap 8b formed of an insulator and having a substantially cylindrical internal space guides the contact member 4 slidably on the inner side surface of the contact holder 8a. are doing. The spring 7 is located between the bottom surface of the internal space of the housing 8 and the contact member 4, and constantly applies a substantially constant pressure toward the contact surface S to the contact member 4. A band contact C (contact) is arranged between the inner side surface of the contact holder 8a and the contact member 4 in order to keep them both in contact at all times.

FIG. 8 is a side view (a) and a front view (b) of a band contact C used for the cooperating contact 900. Such a contact (band contact C)
Is disposed between the inner side surface of the contact holder 8a and the contact member 4, so that the contact member 4 is moved in the z-axis direction due to irregularities on the contact surface S of the contact plate 3 or abrasion of the contact member 4. (Sliding such as piston movement)
The movable body 1 and the second movable body 2 can always be electrically connected.

[0005]

However, when such a cooperative contact 900 is manufactured, the first movable body 1 and the second movable body 1 are always required for the dimensional accuracy of the mass-produced contact member 4 and the contact holder 8a. To ensure conduction with the body 2,
The spring constant of the band contact C in the radial direction (r direction) of the substantially cylindrical contact member 4 must be increased to some extent, and as a result, the spring constant of the spring 7 must be increased accordingly. .

For this reason, the force exerted on the contact surface S by the contact member 4 also increases, and it becomes difficult to suppress the frictional force generated between the contact member 4 and the contact plate 3. Therefore, there has been a problem that the wear rate of the contact member 4 increases or the force and energy required when the first movable body 1 and the second movable body 2 are relatively moved increase. .

When the spring constant of the band contact C in the radial direction (r direction) is increased to some extent, the movement of the contact member 4 in the z-axis direction (cylindrical axis direction) is not performed smoothly, and the contact member 4 is not in contact with the contact member 4. Since the contact state with the plate 3 is not stable, the contact resistance at the contact surface S tends to fluctuate,
There was a problem that the power supplied to the load became unstable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to reduce the friction between a contact member and a contact plate, to stably supply power to a load,
An object of the present invention is to realize a cooperating contact that can reliably conduct a set of movable bodies.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the following means are effective. That is, the first means is a cooperating contact that shares one contact surface and electrically connects the first movable body and the second movable body that are relatively movable along the contact surface with each other; The second contact surface
A contact plate that forms part of the movable body, a contact member that has this contact surface and forms part of the first movable body, and a part that forms part of one movable body, and slides the contact member on the inner side surface A housing having a substantially columnar internal space for movably guiding, and a surface slidably guided on the inner side surface of the housing to simultaneously contact both the inner side surface and the contact member and to contact the contact member; A substantially columnar relay member having a concave portion at a substantially center of a surface on the opposite side, and a substantially constant pressing member located between the bottom surface of the internal space of the housing and the relay member and facing the contact surface. A spring that constantly applies pressure to the contact member via the relay member, and a cross section of the relay member having a substantially columnar central axis, or a cross section substantially parallel to the central axis, along the central axis. Divided into multiple parts, and further with the contact surface and the central axis It is to provide an inclined surface inclined in order.

[0010] However, the relative motion may be a linear motion or a rotary motion, and its form is arbitrary. Further, the shape of the above-mentioned contact plate does not necessarily have to be plate-like, and any shape may be used as long as the contact plate is made of a conductor having the above-mentioned contact surface. Further, the concave portion of the relay member may be extended to a surface on the back side (a surface in contact with the contact member). That is, the vicinity of the central axis of the substantially columnar relay member may be a cavity (through hole) having a certain size of diameter. Further, the bottom part and the spring of the housing need not be made of a conductor.
Further, the above-mentioned spring may be made of an appropriate elastic body, and for example, may be formed integrally with the bottom of the above-mentioned housing. That is, the first aspect of the present invention described above.
Means include embodiments using any combination of these variable configurations.

Further, the second means is the first means, further comprising a convex portion fitted into the concave portion of the relay member, and interposed between the spring and the relay member to apply a pressing force to the relay member. To provide a pressing member.

However, the pressing member need not be formed of a conductor, and may be formed integrally with the bottom of the housing or the spring.

[0013] The third means may be the first or the second means.
In the above-mentioned means, the contact member is made of a conductor having a lower hardness than the contact plate, and has an extra length for abrasion in the direction of the center axis of the substantially columnar shape.

Further, the fourth means includes the first to third means.
In any one of the means, the contact plate is formed in a substantially ring shape or a substantially disc shape, and substantially concentric with the substantially ring shape or the substantially disc shape, along a circumference on a contact surface of the contact plate, Sliding the contact member.

A fifth means is that, in the fourth means, a plurality of contact members are arranged at substantially equal intervals on the circumference.

Further, the sixth means may include the fourth or fifth means.
In the above means, three or more contact members are arranged on the circumference. With the above means, the above-mentioned problem can be solved.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the housing and the contact member are not conducted through the band contact C, but are conducted through the relay member. According to this configuration, by appropriately adjusting the inclination angle α of the inclined surface of the concave portion on the upper surface (the bottom surface opposite to the surface in contact with the contact member) of the substantially columnar relay member and the spring constant k of the spring. In addition, it is easy to simultaneously optimize or optimize the pressing force f1 exerted on the contact plate by the contact member and the pressing force f2 exerted on the inner side surface of the housing by the relay member.

That is, according to the present invention, the pressing force f1,
Since f2 can be set to an appropriate value without excess or deficiency, the frictional force between the contact member and the contact plate, and the frictional force between the relay member and the housing can be used to ensure the conduction state of the cooperative contact. It can be minimized within the range that can be stabilized.

With the above-described action based on the means (the above-described configuration) of the present invention, the friction between the contact member and the contact plate is small, the current is stably supplied to the load, and the pair of movable bodies can be reliably connected. It is possible to realize a cooperating contact that can be made conductive.

Further, the contact member is made of a conductor having a lower hardness than the contact plate, and is provided with an extra length for abrasion in the direction of the center axis of the substantially columnar shape. Is pushed out to the contact surface side, and the contact state with the contact plate is maintained. By this action, the current can be more stably supplied to the load, and the two movable bodies can be more reliably made conductive.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on specific embodiments. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a cooperating contact 100 of the first embodiment.
FIG. The cooperating contacts 100 share the contact surface S, and electrically connect the first movable body 1 and the second movable body 2 that are relatively movable along the contact surface S to each other.
The first movable body 1 constitutes a portion located above the contact surface S of the cooperating contact 100 (the positive direction of the z-axis in the figure), and has a cylindrical shape which is a part of the first movable body 1. Contact member 4
Is in contact with the contact plate 3 which forms a part of the second movable body 2 at the contact surface S.

A housing 8 having a cylindrical internal space, which is formed by a contact holder 8a and a spring cap 8b made of an insulator, forms a part of the first movable body 1, and connects the contact member 4 to the contact holder. It is slidably guided on the inner side surface of 8a. In the center of the top surface of the cylindrical relay member 5 (the bottom surface opposite to the bottom surface in contact with the contact member 4),
A conical recess is formed, and the columnar relay member 5 is divided into three equal parts along the central axis by a cross section having the central axis.

Further, the inclination angle α of the inclined surface 5a of the conical concave portion of the relay member 5 is determined by the pressing force f1 exerted on the contact plate 3 by the contact member 4 and by the relay member 5 Is set so that the ratio with the applied pressing force f2 is optimized. The relay member 5 is slidably guided on the inner side surface of the housing 8 and simultaneously contacts both the inner side surface and the contact member 4.

The pressing member 6 has a conical convex portion fitted into the conical concave portion of the relay member 5, and applies a pressing force to the relay member 5 by the action of the spring 7. The spring 7 is located between the bottom surface of the internal space of the housing 8 and the pressing member 6, and applies a substantially constant pressing force toward the contact surface S via the pressing member 6 and the relay member 5. Always given to the member 4.
The spring constant k of the spring 7 is within a range where the conduction state of the cooperating contact 100 can be reliably and stably maintained.
Is set so that the pressing force f1 exerted on the contact plate 3 is minimized.

By configuring the cooperating contact 100 as described above, the frictional force between the side surface of the internal space of the housing 8 and the relay member 5 and the frictional force between the contact member 4 and the contact plate 3 are reduced. Can be smaller. Thereby, the power supplied to the load is stabilized, and the first movable body 1 and the second movable body 2 can be reliably conducted.

The contact member 4 is made of a conductor having a hardness lower than that of the contact plate 3, and is provided with an extra length for abrasion loss with the contact plate 3 in the center axis direction of the cylindrical shape of the contact member 4. When the contact member 4 is worn, the contact member 4 is pushed out toward the contact surface S by the spring 7, and the contact state with the contact plate 3 is maintained.

For example, according to a configuration in which the contact member 4 is formed of silver (Ag) and the contact plate 3 is formed of copper (Cu), the above-described contact state is maintained even when the contact member 4 is worn. It is maintained, and the power can be more stably supplied to the load, and the first movable body 1 and the second movable body 2 can be more reliably made conductive.

According to such a configuration, when the contact plate 3 is relatively difficult to replace due to the arrangement and the like of the contact plate 3 in a device in which the present cooperative contact 100 such as a bearing is incorporated, The life of the contact member 4, which is relatively easy to replace in terms of structure, is shorter than the life of the contact plate 3, which is relatively difficult to replace in terms of structure.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a welding robot 500 according to the second embodiment. An arc welding robot 502 is disposed above a vertical surface 501a of a column base 501 erected on the floor, and a base 513 is disposed below the same vertical surface 501a. The work holding robot 50 is placed on the surface 513a.
3 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “positioner 503”)
However, it is rotatably supported and fixed with a rotation axis 519a perpendicular to the inclined surface 513a as a first axis.

The welding robot 500 has a column base 5
01, the arc welding robot 502 and the work holding robot 503 are operated in coordination by the control device 528 arranged in parallel with the work torch T.
The welding of the work gripped by 03 is performed.

The positioner 503 (work gripping robot 5)
03) includes a positioner first arm 525, a positioner second arm 526, a work mount 524 (work gripping member) mounted on the flange F, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a bowl (positioner 503) of the workpiece holding robot of the welding robot 500. The first positioner rotatably supported and fixed about a rotation axis 519a perpendicular to the inclined surface 513a as a first axis.
The other joint (elbow) of the arm 525 has a rotating shaft 5
22a is provided as a second shaft. Positioner 2
The arm 526 is supported and fixed so as to be rotatable around the second shaft 522a as a rotation axis. Similarly, a rotation shaft 521a is provided as a third shaft at the other joint (wrist) of the second arm 526 of the positioner.

The rotation or rotation of each joint of the positioner 503 around each of the rotation shafts 519a, 522a, 521a is maintained at 200-200 with respect to the torch T while the rotation or rotation is maintained smoothly.
In order to supply a large current of about 300 A, a cooperative contact structure 101 based on the configuration (means) of the present invention is applied to each joint.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the joint (elbow) of the positioner 503 of this embodiment. However, in FIG. 4, a part of the elbow (the structure 101 and the like) is illustrated in a cross-sectional view. Structure 101 with cooperating contacts of the present invention
Like the cooperating contact 100 of the first embodiment, the contact member 4 is mainly configured.

A positioner second arm 526 is arranged on the first movable body side of the structure 101, and a positioner first arm 525 is arranged on the second movable body side of the structure 101, respectively. The contact member 4 constituting a part of the structure 101 is provided on the contact surface S of the current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 on the second shaft 522a.
Are arranged at equal intervals (every 45 degrees) on the circumference around. In this way, by arranging the plurality of contact members 4 uniformly on the circumference, substantially equal pressing force is distributed to each of the contact members 4 (eight in total). In addition, one of the structures 101 provided at these eight locations
Terminals t1 and t2 for connecting to the current paths L1 and L2 are attached to the locations.

FIG. 5 shows a structure 101 according to the second embodiment.
FIG. The configuration of the contact member 4, the relay member 5, the pressing member 6, the spring 7, and the housing 8 in the present structure 101 is substantially the same as the configuration of the cooperating contact 100 in the first embodiment. However, the concave portion 5x of the relay member 5 is extended to the contact surface with the contact member 4, whereby a hollow cylindrical through hole 5b is formed near the central axis of the relay member 5.

The first movable body 1 further includes a unit case 10 that directly contacts a Teflon (registered trademark) ring R having the same operation as a bearing, and a holding ring 9. Also, the retaining ring 9 and the unit case 1
0 and the Teflon ring R constitute a bearing portion for supporting the second movable body 2, and the second movable body 2 smoothly moves around the second shaft 522 a along the Teflon ring R and the rotation guide 11. Rotate or rotate.

The second movable body 2 includes a current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 which is in direct contact with the contact member 4 at the contact surface S, a rotation guide 11, an insulating plate 12, an insulating bush 13, and a robot arm connecting portion 14. And so on. The robot arm connecting portion 14 is for connecting the second movable body 2 to the first arm 525 of the positioner. The insulating plate 12 and the insulating bush 13 are used to insulate and connect the robot arm connecting portion 14 and the current collecting ring (contact plate) 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bowl (positioner 503) of the welding robot having the structure 101 and the current paths (L1, L2) connected to the respective joints. The holding rings 9 (total of eight) arranged on the first movable body 1 side and the current collecting rings 3 arranged on the second movable body 2 side are respectively
The terminals are connected to the terminals t1 and t2 also shown in FIG. 4, and the terminals t1 and t2 are connected to the current paths L1 and L2 formed by cables, respectively.

As described above, the structure 10 of the second shaft 522a (elbow)
1, the same structure as described above is adopted for the structure 101 of the first shaft 519a (shoulder) and the third shaft 521a (wrist) shown in FIG.

If a large current is supplied to the torch T of the welding robot 500 using the structure 101 as described above, the positioner 503 (work holding robot) can change the posture of the work variously. The movement of the cable due to the robot operation is performed by the positioner first arm 52.
5 and the second arm 526 of the positioner are integrated with each part of the robot, so that the power supply path does not exert any physical adverse effect such as winding around the bowl or the like by the operation of the robot. Handling of the power supply path is facilitated.

Other effects obtained by employing the structure 101 in each joint of the positioner 503 of the welding robot 500 are shown in the following (Effect 1) to (Effect 7). (Effect 1) Ensuring Contact Followability Since the frictional force between the housing (contact holder 8a) and the sliding components (contact member 4, relay member 5) is reduced, current collection of the contact member 4 on the contact surface S is performed. The contact followability to the ring (contact plate) 3 can be sufficiently ensured.

(Effect 2) Reduction and Stabilization of Electrical Contact Resistance By ensuring that the contact followability of the contact members 4 is sufficiently ensured, or by arranging a plurality of contact members 4 at substantially equal intervals,
By substantially equally distributing the supporting pressure to each contact member 4, the electrical contact resistance between the contact member 4 and the current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 at the contact surface S is reduced and stabilized. . (Effect 3) Improvement of welding quality by stabilization of supplied power Contact member 4 and current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 at contact surface S
Is reduced and stabilized, so that the electric power supplied to the load (welding torch T) is stabilized. Therefore, there is no unevenness in the welding state, and the welding quality is improved.

(Effect 4) Reduction of power loss Contact member 4 and current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 on contact surface S
The power loss can be reduced because the electrical contact resistance between them is reduced. (Effect 5) Miniaturization of the device By reducing the electric contact resistance and the power loss, the amount of heat generated in the device is suppressed, so that the device can be made small.

(Effect 6) Prolonging the life of the contact members To ensure sufficient contact followability of the contact members 4, or by arranging a plurality of contact members 4 at substantially equal intervals, By substantially equally distributing the supporting pressure, the spring constant of the spring 7 can be suppressed to a small value. Thereby, the frictional force between each contact member 4 and the current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 on the contact surface S is suppressed / equalized, and the wear rate of the contact surface S of each contact member 4 is reduced / equalized. Thus, the life of the contact member 4 is prolonged. (Effect 7) Reduction of drive torque of rotating shaft Contact member 4 and current collecting ring (contact plate) 3 on contact surface S
Is suppressed / equalized, the driving torque of the rotating shaft is reduced.

Incidentally, these operations and effects are achieved by the welding robot 5.
Needless to say, it is not unique to 00. That is,
These actions and effects can be generally obtained in the cooperative contact of the present invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a cooperating contact 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and a relay member 5 as one component thereof.
(B) of FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a welding robot 50 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
0 is a perspective view.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a bowl (positioner 503) of a welding robot 500 according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a joint (elbow) of a positioner 503 according to a second embodiment.
(However, a part (such as the structure 101) is a cross-sectional view).

FIG. 5 shows a structure 1 of a cooperating contact according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a bowl portion (positioner 503) of a welding robot having the structure 101 and current paths (L1, L2) connected to respective joints thereof.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a cooperating contact according to the prior art.

8A and 8B are a side view and a front view of a band contact (contact) used for a cooperative contact according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st movable body 2 ... 2nd movable body 3 ... Contact plate (current collection ring) 4 ... Contact member 5 ... Relay member 6 ... Pressing member 7 ... Spring 8 ... Housing 8a ... Contact holder (housing) 8b ... Spring cap (Housing) 9 ... Holding ring 10 ... Unit case 11 ... Rotation guide S ... Contact surface R ... Teflon ring 100 ... Cooperating contact of the present invention (first embodiment) 101 ... Cooperating contact of the present invention (second embodiment) )

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Chikusa 1-1-1, Asahi-machi, Kariya-shi, Aichi Toyota Machine Works Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Yamaguchi 1-1-1, Asahi-cho, Kariya-shi, Aichi Toyoda Machine Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3F060 AA05 EB11 EC12 FA03 HA02 HA09

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cooperative contact for sharing a single contact surface and electrically connecting a first movable body and a second movable body relatively movable along the contact surface to each other, A contact plate having a contact surface and constituting a part of the second movable body; a contact member having the contact surface and constituting a part of the first movable body; A housing having a substantially columnar internal space, which constitutes a portion and guides the contact member slidably on the inner side surface; and the inner side surface slidably guided on the inner side surface of the housing. A substantially columnar relay member having a concave portion substantially at the center of a surface opposite to the surface in contact with the contact member, and a bottom surface of the internal space of the housing and the relay member; And a substantially constant pressing force directed toward the contact surface. And a spring which gives constantly the contact member via the joint member, the relay member, cross-section having a central axis of the substantially columnar shape,
Or, by a cross section substantially parallel to the central axis, is divided into a plurality along the central axis, the concave portion of the relay member, the contact surface and the inclined surface obliquely inclined with respect to the central axis A cooperating contact, comprising: 2. A connecting member having a convex portion fitted into the concave portion of the relay member, and a pressing member interposed between the spring and the relay member to apply a pressing force to the relay member. The cooperating contact according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The contact member according to claim 1, wherein the contact member is made of a conductor having a hardness lower than that of the contact plate, and has an extra length for abrasion in the central axis direction. Cooperating contacts. 4. The contact plate is formed in a substantially ring shape or a substantially disk shape, and along a circumference on the contact surface of the contact plate substantially concentric with the substantially ring shape or the substantially disk shape. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said contact member is slid.
The cooperative contact according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 5. The cooperative contact according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said contact members are arranged at substantially equal intervals on said circumference. 6. The cooperative contact according to claim 4, wherein three or more contact members are arranged on the circumference.