Importance

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Abstract

There is provided a rotator bearing shock and vibration dampener for the rotator bearing of a robotic manipulator, with such shock dampener including a stationary robot base and a rotary turntable, and a large rotary turntable bearing having its inner race bolted to the stationary base and its outer race bolted to the rotary turntable. An oil damp well space having a relatively thin, predetermined depth squared relative its surface area is formed in the base below the outer race and in the turntable above the inner race. A predetermined volume of damping oil is located adjacent the turntable bearing in the base and fills the oil damp well space, whereby the damping oil normally resides in the well space to provide an oil film therewithin. The well space is formed with relatively limited inlets and outlets for the damping oil such that the oil film tends to resist compression and displacement, thereby damping vibrations, mechanical shocks and jolts encountered by the robotic manipulator in use, and increasing the effective dynamic stiffness of the turntable relative to the base.

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First Claim