Integrated central manifold for orthopedic simulator
Inventors
Schulz, Bradley D. • Leska, Sr., Paul J. • Willis, Dennis J. • Fahrendorff, Harold F.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-7824184-B2
Publication Date
2010-11-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
An orthopedic simulator is provided with an integral central manifold that provides internal routing of pressurized hydraulic fluid, compressed air, or electrical power to the actuators of the orthopedic simulator. The integral manifold is structurally coupled to support elements and resist and transfer bending and shear forces to the support elements.
Core Innovation
An orthopedic simulator includes a frame having at least one support with a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion. The simulator includes at least one holder assembly having an upper adapter and a lower adapter configured to hold a test specimen, and a plurality of actuators coupled to the at least one support to supply a load or force to the test specimen through at least one of the upper or lower adapters. An integral manifold includes at least one passage and is coupled to the actuators to supply the test load or force, with the upper adapter coupled to the first portion and the lower adapter coupled to the second portion through the integral manifold to form a load element that resists and transfers loads or forces.
The integral manifold is structurally coupled to the frame and is formed with passages arranged in a manifold housing. The passages include a plurality of fluid tubes, including a switched pressure tube distributing pressure via servo valves to Mx/My/Mz actuators, operating pressure tubes feeding actuator extension and retraction ports, and a return collector tube provided to a sump system, along with on/off and dump valves and accumulators. In at least one arrangement, the manifold is formed as a substantially solid block of material with at least one passage formed in the solid manifold block.
The orthopedic simulator further integrates the integral manifold with actuator control and multi-test-station operation. The upper adapter may be coupled to the at least one support through a gimbal assembly, and at least one actuator applies a test load or force through the gimbal assembly and upper adapter to the test specimen. In multi-test-station configurations, actuators supply test load or force through upper adapters and through lower adapters, with both actuator sets coupled to passages of the integral manifold connected to a fluid source for fluid flow.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims, each covering an orthopedic simulator architecture centered on an integral manifold for coupling actuators to specimen adapters through passages. Across the independent claims, three inventive features are directed to load-element coupling of spaced support portions via the integral manifold, manifold supply passage coupling in parallel to movable-piston actuators, and valve assembly-controlled fluid flow from a fluid source to manifold fluid passage(s) feeding actuators in parallel.
Load element coupling via integral manifold between spaced support portions
An orthopedic simulator having a frame with at least one support including a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion, at least one holder assembly with an upper adapter and a lower adapter configured to hold a test specimen, a plurality of actuators coupled to the at least one support to supply a load or force through the upper or lower adapters, and an integral manifold including at least one passage coupled to the actuators to supply the test load or force, wherein the upper adapter is coupled to the first portion and the lower adapter is coupled to the second portion through the integral manifold to form a load element that resists and transfers loads or forces.
Parallel supply passage coupling to movable piston actuators via structurally coupled integral manifold
An orthopedic simulator comprising a frame, one or more specimen holder assemblies coupled to the frame, a plurality of actuators including a movable piston operable to supply a test load or force to one or more test specimens coupled to the specimen holder assemblies, and an integral manifold structurally coupled to the frame, the integral manifold comprising a supply passage within a housing, wherein the plurality of actuators are coupled to the supply passage in parallel to provide fluid flow to move the movable pistons to supply the test load or force to the one or more test specimens.
Valve assembly-controlled fluid flow to manifold fluid passage feeding actuators in parallel
An orthopedic simulator including a frame, a plurality of test stations including a specimen holder assembly, an integral manifold comprising a housing coupled to the frame and the housing comprising a fluid passage, a plurality of actuators coupled to the frame operably coupled to the fluid passage in parallel, and a valve assembly disposed between a fluid source and the fluid passage and configured to control fluid flow from the fluid source to the fluid passage to supply fluid flow to the plurality of actuators.
Collectively, the independent claims focus on integrating an integral manifold with actuator coupling to deliver test loads or forces to upper and lower adapters or specimen holder assemblies while structurally coupling the manifold to the frame supports, including embodiments where a supply passage provides parallel fluid flow to movable-piston actuators and where a valve assembly controls fluid flow from a fluid source to manifold fluid passage(s) feeding actuators in parallel.
Stated Advantages
reducing external plumbing
improving overall size and cost
improving hydraulic pressure balancing
lowering vibrations
Documented Applications
multi-test-station operation with individual station shutoff for actuator control
Interested in licensing this patent?