Abstract: A flight vehicle includes a main body, a thrust generating unit, and one or more joints. The thrust generating unit includes one or more thrust generating subunits. Each joint is respectively associated with a corresponding thrust generating subunit. Each joint couples a corresponding thrust generating subunit to the main body and permits the associated thrust generating subunit to freely pivot relative to the main body. Each thrust generating subunit includes a plurality of thrust generators. Within each thrust generating subunit, one or more of the thrust generators is arranged to generate thrust that induces a first torque in one direction along a circumference of a circle centered on a first pivot axis, and other one or more of the thrust generators is arranged to generate thrust that induces a second torque in an opposite direction along the circumference of the circle centered on the first pivot axis.

Abstract: A fuselage, a support part supporting the fuselage, a thrust generation unit including fore, aft, left, and right thrust generators, and a flight controller controlling the unit are included. The fore, aft, left, and right thrust generators are respectively positioned on first, second, third, and fourth axes respectively extending in support part fore and aft, fore and aft, left and right, and left and right directions. The generators are respectively at the support part front, back, left, and right. The generators respectively generate thrust in directions intersecting the first, second, third, and fourth axes and can change thrust magnitude and direction around them. All generators are connected to the support part.

Abstract: A flight vehicle includes a main body, a thrust generating unit, and one or more joints. The thrust generating unit includes one or more thrust generating subunits. Each joint is respectively associated with a corresponding thrust generating subunit. Each joint couples a corresponding thrust generating subunit to the main body and permits the associated thrust generating subunit to freely pivot relative to the main body. Each thrust generating subunit includes a plurality of thrust generators. Within each thrust generating subunit, one or more of the thrust generators is arranged to generate thrust that induces a first torque in one direction along a circumference of a circle centered on a first pivot axis, and other one or more of the thrust generators is arranged to generate thrust that induces a second torque in an opposite direction along the circumference of the circle centered on the first pivot axis.

Abstract: A fuselage, a support part supporting the fuselage, a thrust generation unit including fore, aft, left, and right thrust generators, and a flight controller controlling the unit are included. The fore, aft, left, and right thrust generators are respectively positioned on first, second, third, and fourth axes respectively extending in support part fore and aft, fore and aft, left and right, and left and right directions. The generators are respectively at the support part front, back, left, and right. The generators respectively generate thrust in directions intersecting the first, second, third, and fourth axes and can change thrust magnitude and direction around them. All generators are connected to the support part.

Abstract: Electrical contact between a probe and a holder and/or a workpiece is detected by a detection circuit in a machine tool having a spindle located above a movable table. The probe is mounted on a chuck which is, in turn, mounted on the spindle. An arm is also mounted on the spindle. The probe, chuck and arm all form an electrically conductive assembly. A magnetic electrode or a clip electrode is mounted on the assembly, each electrode being electrically connected to the detection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adapter table apparatus having sensor function for fixing a work-piece that is used for positioning or centering of compact machine tool, which is attached to an X-Y table, comprises an adapter table including a main body for fixing a work-piece and a member worn to and electrically insulated from the main body directly mountable to the X-Y table, a magnet electrode which electrically contacts a collet chuck at a distal end portion of vertical main spindle of machine tool or an electrode holding member which is fixed to a distal end sleeve of the vertical main spindle and an operating panel that accommodates a circuit for detecting electric contact of first and second contact s, first of which is a conductive surface of the work-piece or a surface of the main body of the adapter table and second of which is a distal end portion of tool or probe for contact detection that is held by the collet chuck by providing a pair of input lines that is in an electrically connected state

Abstract: Displacements of output portions 35, 36 of a pair of piezoelectric actuators 25, 26 arranged spanwise in a flap drive apparatus are magnified by a displacement magnification mechanism 27 so that a swing arm 28 is driven in swinging fashion with large amplitude. A flap 22 attached to the trailing edge of a blade 21 by way of a connecting rod 30 connected to a tip of the swing arm 28 is driven in vertical angular displacement fashion. The displacement magnification mechanism 27 possesses an eccentric shaft 40 has a first shaft 41 and second shaft 42 with offset axes. An output portion 35 is coupled to the first shaft 41, and an output portion 36 is coupled to the second shaft 42. The swing arm 28 is fixed to the eccentric shaft 40. Displacement of the output portions 35, 36 of the actuators 25, 26 in opposite phase results in a stable swing of the swing arm 28.

Abstract: A flap hinge mechanism has a blade-secured portion secured to blade, a flap-secured portion secured to flap, and a coupling portion which couples the blade-secured portion and the flap-secured portion so as to permit angular displacement. The blade-secured portion, coupling portion, and flap-secured portion are formed of fibers which serve as composite material. The fibers of the blade-secured portion and flap-secured portion are impregnated with matrices, and the fibers of the coupling portion are not impregnated with a matrix. Such constitution permits attainment of smooth flap motion in spite of large centrifugal forces, making the achievement of thin, light designs possible.

Abstract: A flap support mechanism for attachment of a flap to a rotor blade so as to permit angular displacement with respect thereto has a tension-torsion member disposed coaxial with a hinge axis of the flap. One end at the blade root side of the tension-torsion member is secured to the rotor blade. The other end at the blade tip side of the tension-torsion member is secured to the flap. The tension-torsion member is placed such that it passes through a narrow cavity formed at the interior of the rotor blade. Such construction permits smooth flap motion in spite of a large centrifugal force.