Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

The invention relates to a brake joint for a prosthesis, in particular, to a brake-action knee joint for a leg prosthesis. There is an upper joint part, a lower joint part, and a joint shaft for pivotally connecting the upper and lower joint parts. The joint shaft is connected to the lower joint part in a rotatably fixed manner and is designed as a brake shaft. The joint shaft is surrounded by a brake arrangement, which bears upon the joint shaft it and is arranged in a cylindrical recess, which, together with the joint shaft, forms an annular chamber in a clamping part forming a central joint part. The upper joint part is mounted to the clamping part in an articulated manner via a pivot pin in such a way that the upper joint part, when loaded, impacts on the clamping part and thus the brake arrangement and thereby exerts a braking action on the joint shaft. To improve the brake arrangement, the invention proposes that the brake arrangement be formed by needle rollers, which are arranged with their axes parallel to the joint shaft. The needle rollers surround the joint shaft about its entire circumference and comprise an inner needle-roller ring, which bears on the joint shaft, and an outer needle-roller ring, which bears on the outer circumferential surface of the annular chamber and whose needle rollers engage like teeth between the inner needle rollers, and by an indexing wedge which sits on the upper joint part. When the upper joint part is loaded, in an approximately radial direction of action relative to the joint shaft, the indexing wedge presses apart two adjacent inner needle rollers in the circumferential direction of the joint shaft.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim