Abstract: An articulated robot has an arm, a drive motor for driving and positioning the arm, a gas spring for supporting a load acting on the arm to reduce a load of the drive motor and a control unit for controlling the drive motor. The control unit has a function of estimating a decrease state of a gas sealed inside the gas spring based on an actual current value of the drive motor obtained at a stop position at which the drive motor is operated and stopped in an energized state. The decrease state of the gas sealed inside the gas spring is estimated based on the current value of a servo motor without causing decline in operation rate of the robot.

Abstract: A robot includes an arm supporting part, a rotary arm rotatably supported by the arm supporting part, a drive motor configured to rotate the rotary arm, a gas spring configured to reduce a load of the drive motor by supporting a load acting on the rotary arm and a controller. The controller determines that the rotary arm rotates, and estimates a reduced state of gas in the gas spring based on a comparison between an actual current value and a theoretical current value of the drive motor when the rotary arm rotates.

Abstract: A liquid friction clutch (1) having a housing (2, 3), a clutch disc (4)—rotatable relative to the housing (2, 3) and which is rotatably arranged on an end (5) of a shaft (6) which is mounted centrally within the housing (2, 3), which shaft (6) bears on its other end (8) a driveable active element (7). A working chamber (9) is positioned between the housing (2, 3) and the clutch disk (4). A storage chamber (10) is provided for the clutch fluid. A supply duct (11) leads from the storage chamber (10) to the working chamber (9). A stationary clutch part (13) relative to which the housing (2, 3) is rotatable, wherein a rotatably mounted pump element (14) is provided which, with the housing (2, 3), defines a shear gap (12).

Abstract: Hydraulic fan drive system with sensor feed-back. A sensor positioned in the central shaft of the fan drive assembly provides speed feedback signals and eliminates the need for routing the sensor wires.

Abstract: A clutch unit (47) comprises a wet friction clutch for controllable transmission of a torque from an input element (41) to an output element (45), housing that contains the friction clutch and oil for cooling the friction clutch, and an actuator (51) for actuating the friction clutch. The actuator is attached to the housing in a thermally conductive way and has a temperature sensor (108) for sensing a temperature of the actuator. In order to computationally determine the oil temperature (TÖl) in the clutch unit (47), a thermal input power to the clutch unit is determined as a function of at least a speed of the input element and/or of the output element. The difference between the thermal input power and the thermal output power is determined, and the oil temperature is determined as a function of the difference that was determined.

Abstract: A pumped shower draining device for a shower installation, comprises a housing having a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet, a pump element provided within the housing, a pump driving device for driving the pump element, and a variable-engagement clutch for providing variable driving engagement between the pump driving device and the pump element. An amount of engagement imparted by the in use clutch is determined by an amount of waste water flowing from a shower unit of the shower installation. Preferably, the clutch is self-regulating, so that the amount of engagement is determined by an amount of water in or at the clutch.

Abstract: A viscous fan drive with a front-mounted fan and electrical actuation without a tethered harness. The mechanical package includes an inverted viscous clutch, a drive pulley, a split electromagnetic actuator with the electrical portion mounted to a stationary mounting member, and anti-drainback check valve.

Abstract: A viscous fan drive with a front-mounted fan and electrical actuation without a tethered harness. The mechanical package includes an inverted viscous clutch, a drive pulley and a split electromagnetic actuator with the electrical portion mounted to a stationary mounting member. An integrated slip speed sensor is provided in order to determine the output speed.

Abstract: Accordingly, a control system for controlling a viscous clutch of a fan is provided. The control system includes a delta speed module that determines one of an over speed condition, an under speed condition, and a steady state condition based on a desired fan speed and an actual fan speed. A mode module determines a mode of the clutch based on the one of the over-speed condition, the under-speed condition, and the steady state condition, wherein the mode is one of a pump in mode, a pump out mode, and a closed loop mode. A valve control module that controls an operational state of the clutch valve based on the mode.

Abstract: A fan apparatus is disclosed which includes a fan coupled to a drive mechanism via a viscous clutch. The viscous clutch includes a drive chamber containing a hydraulic fluid with an amount of hydraulic fluid in the drive chamber being related to a torque transmitted from said drive mechanism to the fan; a valve coupled to the drive chamber controlling flow of hydraulic fluid into the drive chamber; a bimetallic strip coupled to the valve; and a heating element coupled to the viscous clutch close to the bimetallic strip. The bimetallic strip is located in a position open to ambient air.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the slip power of a viscous fluid fan drive clutch, especially of a cooling fan drive for an automotive vehicle. Data is prepared correlating slip power generation with clutch input and output speeds for the clutch and fan design. A maximum slip power for the operation of the cooling fan is specified by considering, for one, fan drive durability requirements. During operation of a computer based, fan speed control module, a desired fan drive speed is continually determined for the cooling requirements of the vehicle and the desired fan speed is compared, and adjusted, if appropriate, to avoid excessive slip power.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for balancing the weight carried by a robot arm of a robot. Said device comprises a fluid spring, rotably a pneumatic spring, and a control device for controlling the movements of the robot. The device is characterized by a pressure sensor which measures the pressure of the fluid of the fluid spring. Said device and the method provided for by the invention permit the exact adjustment and balancing of the movements of the robot arm.