In this paper, we propose an impulse force generator for catapulting an object. The proposed impulse force generator utilizes snap-through buckling of an elastic body. The distinguished feature of the device is to adopt a serial chain of torsion springs with both high elasticity and flexibility as its elastic body. The use of the serial chain of torsion springs enables us to increase the energy density of the elastic body. Experimental results show that the proposed compact and lightweight impulse force generator has high capability of catapulting an object. The generated maximum momentum is of 16 [Ns] in spite that the maximum driving torque necessary for snap-through buckling is only of 21 [Nm].
In this paper, we propose a rubber-reinforced serial chain of torsion springs for an impulse force generator based on snap-through buckling of closed elastica. The distinguished feature of the proposed device is to utilize an elastic energy of rubbers for generating impulse force. Utilizing an elastic energy of rubbers, its weight reduction of conventional ratio 11[%] is realized with maintaining its high elasticity and flexibility.The proposed device can generate the maximum momentum 14 [Ns] with only the required maximum driving torque 15 [Nm]. The values shows that the maximum momentum per unit of the maximum driving torque of the device is about 1.2 times as large as the impulse force generator using conventional one.
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