Abstract: A gear reducer comprising a worm and a worm gear assembly, in turn comprising a worm gear, which is connected/disconnected to/from a drive shaft by means of a torque limiter mounted on this latter. The gear reducer is characterized in that the drive shaft and the torque limiter are comprised in a cartridge which can be extracted/inserted from/in a cavity obtained in the worm gear assembly according to an axial direction and in accordance with two opposite senses, without the need to disassemble the worm.

Abstract: In a shift device of the present invention, a shift range is switched to a drive range or a reverse range when a switch portion is operated additionally to moving of an operational member. Switching to a drive range is executed when the switch portion is operated further in a state in which the mount of move of the operational member tilted in a first direction from a home position exceeds a first threshold, and switching to a reverse range is executed when the switch portion is operated further in a state in which the mount of move of the operational member tilted in a second direction from the home position exceeds a second threshold which is greater than the first threshold. Accordingly, quick and easy selection of a traveling range can be conducted, ensuring the safety.

Abstract: An articular structure for a robot according includes: a first intermediate link (26a) supported on a first member (22) to be rotatable about a first axis; a first arm (25a) having one end connected to a second member (23) with a ball joint interposed therebetween and the other end connected to the first intermediate link (26a) with a ball joint interposed therebetween; a first actuator (28a) for rotating the first intermediate link (26a) about the first axis; a second intermediate link (26b) supported on the first member (22) to be rotatable about a second axis; a second arm (25b) having one end connected to the second member (23) with a ball joint interposed therebetween and the other end connected to the second intermediate link (26b) with a ball joint interposed therebetween; and a second actuator (28b) for rotating the second intermediate link (26b) about the second axis.

Abstract: A ball screw with support devices includes a nut base having two sides equipped with the support devices for preventing the screw from deflection. Two runner structures are provided near two ends of the screw. The runner structure includes a driving wheel and a driven wheel having different diameters and concentrically installed. The nut base is connected to the driving wheel via an active connecting element for driving the driving wheel to rotate. The driven wheel moves with the driving wheel and is connected to the support devices via passive connecting elements so that the support devices and the nut displace synchronously. By controlling a diameter ratio between the driving and driven wheels, the nut and the support devices displace with proportional speeds, thereby allowing the support devices to always stay at the two sides of the nut as designed and provide reliable support.

Abstract: A parallel robot includes a plurality of actuators, a wrist portion, and a plurality of arms that respectively connect the wrist portion to the plurality of actuators. The wrist portion includes a base portion that includes a plurality of connection portions respectively connected to the plurality of arms and a rotation member that rotates about a rotation axis located outside an area surrounded by the plurality of connection portions. The rotation member is provided with a through-hole that is formed along the rotation axis.

Abstract: A dual shift fork includes a sliding fork and a rotary fork rotatably connected to the sliding fork. A pair of pad members are disposed on an inner side of both ends of the sliding fork. A sleeve disposed at an inner side of the sliding fork and contacting the pad members. The pad members are simultaneously engaged with the sliding fork and the rotary fork at an inner side of both ends of the rotary fork. The rotary fork rotates at a predetermined angle with respect to the sliding fork as the sleeve moves independently from the sliding fork.

Abstract: A return to neutral (RTN) mechanism for a variable drive apparatus having a rotatable control shaft is provided. The RTN mechanism incorporates a neutral lockdown plate secured to the housing of the variable drive apparatus and disposed about the rotatable control shaft, a control arm fixed to the control shaft to impart rotation thereto, a single, rotatable return arm piloted upon a protective cover, and a pair of springs to bias the control shaft back to a neutral position from either a forward or reverse rotation. A single spring may optionally be used to form a unidirectional RTN mechanism, or two springs having different spring rates may optionally be used to alter the return rates of the control shaft back to a neutral position.

Abstract: Connection between a drive shaft and a driven shaft, and this connection is realised by means of a drive gearwheel on the drive shaft and a driven gearwheel on the driven shaft, whereby the drive gearwheel and the driven gearwheel are affixed in a housing, and this housing is on the one hand connected to a housing of the motor, and on the other hand is connected to a housing of the driven apparatus, and whereby the drive gearwheel or the driven gearwheel is a ring gear with internal toothing and the remaining gearwheel of the connection is a pinion with external toothing.

Abstract: An arm assembly for use in a robot to provide gravity counterbalancing of the robot arms. The arm assembly includes an arm and a drive assembly. The arm assembly includes a differential interconnecting the drive assembly with the arm link. The differential is attached to a torso-side or upper end of the arm link, and the differential is adapted to provide gravity counterbalancing for the predefined mass of the arm link. A pair of half counterweights are provided and arranged to each move in one degree of freedom and to provide two equal counterweights to the differential's two inputs such as input gears, pulleys, or the like. The drive assembly includes two motors that are grounded. In some embodiments, both the motors and the counterweights are spaced apart from the robot's shoulder, i.e., spaced apart from the differential near the robot's pelvis or low in the torso.

Abstract: An electromotive linear drive, in particular for adjusting movably mounted parts of lounging and seating furniture, has a drive motor, a threaded spindle, a speed-reducing gear unit arranged between the drive motor and the threaded spindle, and a spindle nut (9) located on the threaded spindle. The spindle nut is optionally lockable in the direction of rotation and movable in the axial direction of the threaded spindle, depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded spindle. A lifting element can be driven by the axial movement of the spindle nut to adjust the movable furniture parts. Such a linear drive has a simple design, is easy to assemble and operate, and guarantee a robust mounting arrangement for the drive parts.

Abstract: A transmission interlock assembly is described. A shift rail may include an interlock passage containing at least one interlock member. First and second gear engagement devices mounted to the shift rail may include, respectively, first and second interlock indents. The interlock member may extend into the first or the second interlock indent when, respectively, the first or the second gear engagement device is in neutral. With both gear engagement devices in neutral, as the first (or second) gear engagement device is moved to engage a gear, the interlock member may be urged out of the first (or second) indent and into the second (or first) indent, the interlock member thereby preventing the second (or first) gear engagement device from moving out of neutral.

Abstract: A vibration exciter for construction machines, particularly for vibration pile drivers, includes at least one axle having at least two imbalance masses. At least one rotary piston pivot motor is provided, by way of which the rotational position of at least one imbalance mass, relative to the at least one other imbalance mass, can be changed. The rotary piston pivot motor has a pivot motor housing that is mounted on a pivot motor shaft so as to rotate relative to it. At least one rotary vane is disposed on the pivot motor shaft, the angle of rotation of which vane is limited by at least one stop disposed on the pivot motor housing. The maximal angle of rotation of the at least one rotary vane amounts to less than 160 degrees, preferably 150 degrees or less.

Abstract: An actuator consists of a pair of compact cam plates with compound straight and semicircular toothed racks that engage a single circular gear turned by a single motor. As the gear turns in one direction, the cam plates are pulled toward one another in a guided straight line until they engage and lock around the gear. Continued turning of the gear rotates the locked cam plates with the gear. The motion is reversed as the gear reverses.

Abstract: A motion control system is provided where a rotatable driven gear is held by bearings. The bearings are held inside a rotatable cam, where the cam has eccentricity between the outside and inside diameter. The outside diameter is held in a case that contains a driving gear. The backlash of the system is controlled by rotating the cam, which adjusts the center to center distance between the driving and driven gear.

Abstract: In a roller screw (1) having a screw shaft (2), a plurality of rollers (4) that roll on a flank face (21a) of the screw shaft; and a cage (3) that rotatably houses the plurality of rollers, a plurality of roller groups (40) each having a plurality of rollers arranged at equal intervals while contacting with the same flank face along a spiral groove of the screw shaft for one lead are provided, and the plurality of roller groups are arranged at intervals in the axial direction of the screw shaft. With this configuration, the size of the nut portion in the axial direction of the screw shaft can be prevented from being bloated, and the load distribution in a circumferential direction of the screw shaft can be uniformized.