US1253823A - Artificial arm and hand and actuating means therefor. - Google Patents

Description

E. w. HOBBS. V ARTIFICIAL ARM AND HAND AND AOTUATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION HLED WAR. [9, I911.

11,253,823. Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

L. View E. W. HOBBS.

ARTIFICIAL ARM AND HAND AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED nAn.|9.1911.

1,253,823. 7 Patented Jan.15,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.,

Ila/m3 n E. W. HOBBS.

ARTIFICIAL ARM AND HAND AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED. MAR. 19. 19M.

51,253,823. Patented Jan.15,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED s'rAT s rarer-vii? OFFICE. if

EDWARD warren Horns, orstinnnr, ENGLAND.

ARTIFICIAL ARM AND HAND AND ACTUATING MEANS THEREFOR.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented J an. 15, 1918.

Application filed March 19, 1917. Serial No. 155,878;

1 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E WARD ,Warxren House, a subject of the King of England, residing in Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Arms and Handsand Actuating Means Therefor, of which the following is a s )ecification.

his invention is for improvements in or relating to artificial arms andhands, and

actuating means therefor and has for its object to provide improved mechanism whereby the artificial. limb may, under the volition of the wearer, efi'ect movements performed by the natural limb for which it is adapted to act .as a substitute.

, The invention isapplied. to artificial arms of the type in which a harness is fitted about the chest and shoulders of the'wearer, and

cords. or the like operatively connect the artificial limb with the harness sothat the limb may be actuated-by muscular action of theharnessed part of the wearers body.

. In the accompanying drawin sv Figure 1 is a general view of an artificial arm and hand adapted to be, used when the arm. has been amputated above the elbow Figs. 2 and 3 are a side elevation and plan respectively of the mechanism for eflecting the movement of the fingers;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the wrist-construction; p

F ig..5 is aside elevation, partly in sec tion, of a modified COIlStI'IlC'DlOIl of fingeroperating mechanism v i Fig. 6 is a plan of the same;.,. 1

. Fig. 7 is .a detail of hetfinger-operating mechanism and i Fig. 8 shows an alternative link-mechanismfor the fingers. Like referencecharacters denote like parts throughout the drawings. i I

1, The'artificial hand new about to be; described is; attached to the forearm by a suit- :able wrist j oint whichis adapted to give two movementszto the handyoneua rotation about the longitudinal axis of the forearm, and the other a bending movementaboutgan .axistransverse to: the forearm,. Fight-shows the arrangement of the wrist .-joint-=itor the bendingmovement, this view being a, section at right-angles to that-illustrated in]? ig,,1 and on alarger scale. T heendof theorearm A is closed by a plate Af in-which.-there i entrally m m ed. t el, 01:. o her; s itably strong tube A This tube, as will be i i center, this turning constituting the bend.-

ing ofv thehand relatively to the forearm. The control of this movement is effected by providinga notched Plate A constituted by .an. extension of the bracket AT (or secured on thebr ackefliand,av detent B pivoted at {Eton the body of the hand, and provided with a tongue'B? to engage. the notches in the plate A. Aspring is used to hold the lever B in its engaging osition, and the end of the lever j projects mtothe palm of the hand near the wrist so that it may be actuated by the other hand of thewearer. Thus, when the user wants to flex the hand at the wrist, the lever B is moved to dis engage the lug B? and thehand moved to the desired position when the lugB is allowed. to engage with another notch. As shown inFig. 1, three notches are provided corresponding. to. three positions of the hand, as this is found to be suflicient in practice to satisfy-all ordinary requirements.

I ,Theamechanism for obtaming the other wrist rnovement, that is to saya rotation of thehand about 1 the J longitudinal; axis of the foreanmidoes not form any. part of th s, invention and it, need only be. pointed out that suchvmechanism is desirable to render 'the artific ial hand as useful aslppssible.

. The mechanism for operatingthe fingers andthumb ofga mechanical hand is illus tratedin Figsr2 and 3, andis also shownin Figs. 1, 5 andtin positionona hand. Referring.- to Figs. 2, and 3 the mechanism consistsof a.- base-plate E provided with two undercut recesses or grooves E E one of, these: grooves there is, mounted a slider Eiand-it isprovidedat one end with ,gnoperatingcord E! which extendsup the earn and-is connected to the. usual bod wheeler; ithewee r op r te:

which is operative to return it to nal position after it. myfld lll'rlt guide E by the cord E 5 The second sgmov-e.E vinthe base plaiteris.

Weiilgf frfiember 513 the move itfwhenjthe "s'l ider is jrhovefl pulling on the cord E.

sprih"" E or other resilient control. 'il ar to t at oh the "slider, isprovided forth? .fanfeifis arranged to move the? Wedge a'dHection' whieh its 'thiekei end is in item; Thatisto say,-When the Wedge E is" moved by pulling" on the cord E the wagin face-is in front, but when it is moved Ihaektvar'd' by the spring E the wefd ging face is behind.

A jlra'ke or; clet'ent is provided to hold the 'W edgein any position to Whih it has been movea; Kbrake-"shoe F is mounted on'a fsleef 'vejli weenie free to turn on a vertical spindle fixed ofn the ease E, the disposif-tlri arrangement or the ewe being Such that it acts trjitinaliy like the pawl bf ratchet, and does-ndt restri'eflappre'eifably any'movement '=oiE the wedge to"ward *the frightin Figs? and- 3; itfloes howeyer, preylltlffi ovil'riefititOwhlfel ifih'e' 18 51;. The sleeve F also carries an arm 'F whieh extends aefoss the baseboard andcarries a pawl F :at" free end; "1h rs" paw 1 is "controlled by "a; F topr'oject in ra the'j'p'a-th of *a pin F Un t-he slider E' ajnd a stop F on the armFF =1iniits the movement of the pawl F in one direaien. The arrangemefltis such jflhag when the-slider E is mevedro theright 3 the ski- 1 *ngages' thepavvl F -vxflii' -eoiitarfjwith the stop"fhe I6 "pin" *1? "removed "f enema e -i Ht; The-"whitened was skewer; ind e?" slidentakes --plaee-before the slider engages the Wedge te n io e jg A sprigg -lf holds the arm F "norm ly in the position in which the brake ismpplied towthe, Arspindle G is mounted near the base-hoard With. its axis tramsvense to the line of movement of .--the Wedge and it carries a three-arfned lever hr equiValeiitdevi-ee which, as shown con sists of a triangular plate G; At one end this plate carriesa roller (fir which lies on 'th {inEIined surface F of the Wedge E, hatm vemem of Wedge in its groove ca tn-apnea GE-to leerocked about the pindle e nter'. Anet11e1 c0111er of theplate is connected by a'iihk G tfo't he 'fin ger op'eratihg 'nieeh an'1'srh,- aid the third corner of the plate is oonnecte'dhy aiink G "to the thurnb' foroperating the same In the preferred 'c onstrtitftion, the plate G is stifi'ened and reiiiioreed by an additional linl G"Whieh receives the pivotal connee tion for the thuI'nb I ink-G Referringnon to Fig. l, the connection of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. '2 and 3 to the fingersfls "illustrated.

B Thefiii'ger corlsists'aaf two Phal'anges H H T he firstf] :'1' l'1"alan'x II- is pivoted at H on to of the and the =s'eeon'd 11mm is; pivoted "git H on "to thefirs't phaltinki "The-link G referred to above, is connected to "the "phalanx by a pivotal]. conneeti on and he link itself has an extension Whiich ies at aan' obtuse angle with "the'part G thereby forming a. beller'ank' lever, and has pivotal connection, at itsend Gfihvith' -a link H. The other end ofithisdink i's p'ivoted'at H on the second phalanx; The pivot H is so positioned relatively" to the pivot H "that a pull on 'tlie'Tod-G -causes the first phalanx-to swing upward in the position for closing the fin- 12ers. f Thef-pivot-poi nt G is arranged to lie en the opposite side of the line j oinia'ag the points H H f re the pivotqmir rt+1511. Then the phallatnx re -swungup part iG oit he lirfii hsvs t thrfiifig dnovementmbout the pivot H relatively to th=phahin x- H, or, in other words, t'd 'tlie lifie dff-"eeriters 1E "H This relative turning nmwmmgives a'pull ori 'the link *H "that theaoi'ilter 'halanx H is caused to turn on pivot *r liitivel'y to the ii-mar 'pha lanx H'. "This relafive unaiing meveagent i s superposed on the movement ofthe fir'st ply-sham, so that the *segondphflam folded dawn until of the fingemppmeh s the palm df fihilifl igw 'i't I lt vj' these e11 tlih the-link G eon stitfites afi-ceaialiflg rdd" tween two -virt1-1 a 1 crank maginedt-1: These ermks a prfiel'ablv neq eal 1ength;=-

the p b not pifrlfllefi the-arrangefiiie'tit bufg thet a sh'iall eirglilar"mere- 'fihflflfiEh'Qflfiik a caiifss e hre inguhr 1 fiibirfnent o'f the (frank tha -1mg the initial y' arr {of the movement.- Instealdi of nsmg the'crank a jthe parts may be so arran'ged ""(fb'r 'ex'iiinplg corl'neted to a cord from the harness) that 'aldii 'ect'piill is applied to the linlfGfif hut the-operation of the linkage ii the same; Fnricher," it will be seen that the phalanx I H constitutes one member ofa lmlt-niechzmism"H G and file virtual crank between the pivots H H, snehlinkw e efi ecting the mwement f the outer p'alanXH. 1

1 Similar mechanism may be provided for eaeh'efthe other. fijng'ers, in which, ease "eachtvonlwbe pr0t 1*&ed"With a link' corre- "spending to the link G and this link Won lid benibved by'u radial arm mount'e'clen t shiift G extending transversely of the palm of the hand;

fThe thumb is provided with. one movable phalanx H" andthi-s is directly ebnnctefd with thelink G which, in the arrangement *shown ismlesigned to exert a thrust onth teilo'n-the phalanx 'so 'tts to cause it to be bentageinst'the action 'of a spring H. in. thesame manner as a natnralthninh. ,7

The link-mechanism for-Q ereting" the fingers constitutes s kind (if oggle-inecha- *nism so that eo'rrsidemblecthree-jean be exer'tetl bythe fingers wgrip anyartic' le that is desired. The opening of the fingers Under 3 this pressure is prevented= by -so-'-arranging the wedge that the fnebhanism is notr'e- 'ver'sibler The proportins oi'f'the parts of the plate G are so arranged that the pres-- sure of theroller G on the Wedge-surface F is alwziys app'roximtitely normal to the "lisse pltite 'E tihl the afiglefof'the Wedge is 'sufli-ciently small to'insure that the hori- "zontal commenter this thrnst, tending to "move the Wedge along the base-plate,' is in- "sn-iiici'ent to overcome the friction. The bi'sik'e'shoe' F, j dSCI'i'bGd above, acts as a i thither safeguard. 1 to prevent an 7 sueh mdveiileiit. H

f The operation of this mechanism tfqflowg'gf i ruinl 1, -Y Assuming thatthe fingers ere tr11ghti in theposition-indicated in Fig; 1-, ancl that it isdesired'tb' elo'se them, apuil-is exerteden the eordmEt by meanspi? the'harness; This pull I'n'oves the-Slider E which releases the brake]? antithen moves th-WedgeE: The plum G? is" rocked about its ivot G by the engagement "of the roller G -with the wedge fec'ei Fig find fa pull is im arted to "the link am'wljthirirstto*the*lin G. r 'IheIink G p'in F"r'ides past the 'iwlF which yields, under the centrol'of the spring 'Fifand eturns to its original position.

If, now, it is 'desi'red to open the fingers,

a slight pull on thee'ord E inoi esthe' slider inal position bye spring H" engaging the end phalanx of the thumb. Ihespring is errehgedthetiit is'compressed when the thumb (and fingers) are flexed, 'andfit therefore Operates to. return theni "when released.

.The piv0t-pins by which the links are secared to the fingers or other parts of the hand; are illustrated in Fig. 7. Generally speaking, thephalzul'ges of the fingers 'are mad-eof wood or similar light material and the "linkszi-re of metal; It is desirable to keep the piV'0t'pins smell, in Order that the fric" tion .of the l nks 'on them is redupd 'td""a ininirntim, but sinall pivot-pins 'yery rapidly heiiome loose'in the n oodenpart 'ofthe fiiigi' iii' tiliieli they are mounted. A'subsidiiir' feature of this invention 'eonsists in the Construction of pivot-pinshown in Fig-r7. The pivot-pin is formed with a rediicethpart J upon which the link J bears, and "a "heiigl- 5 of larger diameter than the part J, is provided. A-Coned sii'rfaee connects the two parts." A nut J similar in dimensions to the head Jfi i's' screwed on to the other end of the pin J and it'inay bepinned thereto if desired. The twoen largements,.J J constitute a? support for the pivot pin ,iii the Woodenpzii't 6f the hand or finger end the are of suitable large dimensions. The mi stit'ntes' a suitably-smell bearing for the link '1 The .co'n'ed fsui'feees on the two enlar'g eprovide means for takin up sleek or fwear 1n the "beer-mg y ereiving fthefniltdl somewhat farther on were pin 1 alt'rn'atii e ednstruction'j oft mechanism for operating the fingers-"19 illustrated in Fig. 8. The first" phalanx H iso and partly by the radius of action of the roller G on it, since all that is required is to impart a certain movement to the links G G This movement, in turn, governs the situation of the pivotal connections to the phalanges. Similarly, the linkage for the different fingers may be varied so that when they are operated simultaneously they open or close in varying degrees so as to simulate more exactly the natural action of the hand.

The proportioning of the finger linkage G H and the positioning of the pivotal connections can be varied according to the force which it is required to exert by the fingers in closing.

Finally, it may be pointed out that in order to obtain a good frictional hold on objects touched, the tips of the fingers may be made of rubber and spring-steel fingernails may be provided. In this way, actions such as turning over the pages of a book, or opening pocket-knives, may be readily effected. The steel nails, of course, also assist in stifl'ening the rubber-tips if such stiffening be necessary.

WhatI claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an artificial hand, the combination with a movable part thereof, of a reciprocatable wedge, a rocking member engaging an inclined face of said wedge to be rocked by the reciprocation thereof, and an operative connection between said rocking member and said'movable part.

2. In an artificial hand the combination with a movable member or members of the limb, of a reciprocatable wedge to work them, a reciprocatable slider movable alongside the wedge and actuated by the atient, returning-springs for the wedge an slider, a brake or detent acting on the wedge, a brakeor detent-releasing lever, a brake applying spring and projections from the slider that in its forward stroke temporarily release the brake or detent and actuate the wedge, the construction of the brakereleasing lever and rojections being such that the former is on y operated in the forward stroke of the latter.

3. In an artificial hand, the combination with a movable finger thereof, of a rocking shaft, an arm on said shaft, a link connecting said arm to said finger, a reciprocatable wedge, a second arm on said shaft engaging the wedging face of said wedge, and inde' pendently operated means engaging said Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for second arm to disengage it from said wedg ing face when required.

4;. In an artificial hand, the combination of a reciprocatable wedge mounted in the palm of the hand, a rocking lever whereof one arm engages an inclined face of said wedge, a movable finger comprising two phalanges whereof the first is pivotally connected near one end to the palm of the hand and the second is pivotally mounted near the free end of the first, a link connected to a second arm of said rocking lever and to said first phalanx at a point eccentric from its pivotal axis, a cranked extension on said link shaped to cross the line connecting the two pivotal axes of the two phalanges when these phalanges are in line with one another, a second link connecting the end of said cranked portion to a. point on the second phalanx, which point is eccentric from the pivotal axis of said second phalanx.

5. In an artificial hand the combination with a plurality of movable fingers of a reciprocatable wedge, a rocking member engaging an inclined face of said wedge and rocked by the reciprocation thereof, and an operative connection of different VclOClt ratio between said rocking member and eac of said fingers.

6. In an artificial hand the combination of two grou s of movable fingers, a reciprooatable wec ge, two rocking members engaging said wedge, an operative connection between each group of fingers and one of the rocking members, and means for selectively disengaging said rocking members from said wedge.

7. In an artificial hand, the combination with a phalanx pivoted on the palm and a second phalanx pivoted on the first, of an operating link pivoted at one end to the palm of the hand at a point (Q lying on a line approximately at right-angles to the line joining the pivot points of the phalanges, and at the other end to the second phalanx at a point (Q eccentric from the pivot point of that phalanx.

S. In an artificial hand, means for moving one member relatively to another comprising a crank engaging a push-rod. which 1n turn engages a series of balls in an inextensible conduit and a second push-rod operatively connected to the member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD WALTER HOBBS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O.

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