a-1b are a side views of one preferred apparatus embodiment of the invention with the jaws closed and opened, respectively.
A first preferred apparatus embodiment of the invention is directed to a manipulator jaw and actuator system. It comprises a piston housing 10 comprising a piston chamber 12, a fluid inlet 14, and a fluid outlet 16, as shown in
This apparatus embodiment further comprises a piston 18 having a lower region 20 slideably mounted in the piston chamber and an upper region 22 extending beyond the piston housing, as shown in
This apparatus embodiment further comprises a toothed rack 24 mounted on the upper region of said piston such that the rack moves with the piston, as shown in
This apparatus embodiment further comprises a first lever 30 comprising a first upper jaw 32 region and a first lower region 34 pivotally connected to the piston housing, as shown in
This apparatus embodiment further comprises a second lever 40 comprising a second upper jaw 42 region and a second lower region 44 pivotally connected to the piston housing, as shown in
In the preferred embodiment shown in
In another preferred embodiment, the first and second sides of the rack comprise two toothed fingers and the lower regions of the first and second levers each comprise two toothed fingers.
In another preferred apparatus embodiment, the rack is split down the middle into two components. The first component contains the first side of the rack described above and the second component contains the second side of the rack described above.
In another preferred embodiment, each jaw region comprises multiple toothed fingers, as shown in
In another preferred embodiment, the invention further comprises a manipulator arm attached to the piston housing. In a preferred embodiment, the manipulator arm is articulated. In another preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a remotely operated vehicle attached to the manipulator arm. In a preferred embodiment, the remotely operated vehicle comprises a hydraulic fluid reservoir and pumping system to control the position of the manipulator arm and piston.
It will be understood that various changes in size, shape, detail, parameters, and arrangements of the embodiments which have been described and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/847,625, filed on Sep. 27, 2006.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60847625 | Sep 2006 | US |