Abstract. Precise cable drive is an elegant transmission mode and has many
advantages of high efficiency, flexible layout, besides being lightweight.
Since the common layout, Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) spur gear
configuration, suffers from low torque-to-weight ratio and loose structure,
this paper proposes a novel transmission configuration with large
torque-to-weight and compact size. It combines the advantages of
Multiple-Input Single-Output (MISO) configuration and bevel gear
configuration. The design methods and transmission kinematics of the novel
configuration are studied. An analytical model is developed for
characterizing the transmission backlash of the proposed configuration, which
is derived by simultaneous satisfying system's constitutive relation,
equilibrium, and geometric constraints. Parametric sensitivities are carried
out to investigate the influence of the major design parameter on the
transmission characteristics. At last, a prototype of MISO with bevel gear
configuration cable drive mechanism (MBCDM) is built, with which a series of
experiments are carried out. This mechanism could achieve maximum output
torque of 3.3 Nm with considerable toque-to-weight ratio of
9.649 Nm kg−1. The experimental results show that the transmission
backlash and ripple torque are dominant nonlinear effects in the MBCDM
system. It shows that the ripple torque is connected with the rotational
displacement, with the highest peak at 694.3 cycle rad−1 and the
amplitude of 24.67 µrad. The transmission backlash experimental
results are in good agreement with simulation ones, with the error level of
4.14 %.