Abstract: A robot hand includes three or more holding portions arranged at intervals from each other along a circumferential direction about a predetermined axis, and configured to hold a work piece, and a driving portion configured to move the three or more holding portions toward a closing direction for approaching the axis and toward an opening direction for moving away from the axis, wherein at least one of the holding portions is swingable, about the axis, at a position at which the at least one holding portion is in contact with the work piece.

Abstract: A pile driving adapter includes an upper attachment portion for selectively attaching the adapter to a drill head and a lower housing portion including at least a first outer wall. The pile driving adapter further includes at least one actuator including a first portion slidably mounted to the lower housing portion and a second portion configured to expand from the first portion in a direction perpendicular to the first outer wall. The first portion may be slidably mounted to the lower housing portion via a sliding mount, and the lower housing portion may include at least one elongate slot for receiving at least a portion of the sliding mount. The pile driving adapter advantageously couples the drill head and the member to be driven so as to reliably transfer sonic energy.

Abstract: Method for automatically replacing the spout nozzle of a slide closure with a robot for manipulating the slide closure with an appropriate apparatus, the spout nozzle being able to be clamped against the slide plate of the slide closure by a carrying ring that can be released by turning. During the changing procedure, the carrying ring is turned with a defined torque, by means of which the new spout nozzle is clamped with a likewise defined tension force against the slide plate. In this way, operational reliability of the slide closure is guaranteed, independently of any tolerance and other deviations. The apparatus for implementing the method includes a gripping lance with clamping jaws for manipulating the spout nozzle and a gripping ring with catches for manipulating the carrying ring. The gripping ring can be actuated by a hydraulic rotation cylinder. A pneumatic cylinder is used to actuate the gripping lance.

Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body in a wellbore. Each communications node is associated with a sensor that senses data indicative of a formation condition or a wellbore parameter along a subsurface formation. The data is stored in memory until a logging tool is run into the wellbore. The data is transmitted from the respective communications nodes to a receiver in the logging tool. The data is then transferred to the surface. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a logging tool to harvest data in a wellbore from a plurality of sensor communications nodes.

Abstract: An optical strain gauge, a transfer device for an optical strain gauge, and a test system are described. One instance of the disclosed transfer device includes a first and second gauge coupler that facilitate attachment to an optical strain gauge. The disclosed transfer device enables an optical strain gauge to be easily moved from one location to another; for example from a location of manufacture, testing, or calibration, to an object to be tested with the strain gauge or from one object to another object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tool designed to remove a swimming pool skimmer basket for cleaning without having to touch the debris trapped therein. The tool provided for herein takes the general appearance of a pair of tongs having a uniquely constructed grasping portion. The grasping portion of the tongs provides several ways to remove the skimmer basket from the skimmer for cleaning and facilitates removal of debris directly from the skimmer basket.

Abstract: A system for handling an object comprises a guide plate, a center hub rotatable relative to the guide plate, a plurality of slots disposed in the guide plate, and a plurality of arms each having first and second ends. The first end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to the center hub, and the second end of each of the plurality of arms is coupled to an associated slot of the plurality of slots. Rotation of the center hub in a first direction causes the second end of each of the plurality of arms to move radially outward within the associated slot in an extended state. An outer surface of a first arm of the plurality of arms may be nested against an inner surface of a second arm of the plurality of arms in a retracted state.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism includes a mounting member, three sealing assemblies, three clamping assemblies, and six adjusting valves. The mounting member defines a receiving hole axially and three mounting holes radially, the three mounting holes communicate with the receiving hole. Each sealing assembly includes a top seal and a bottom seal sealing opposite ends of corresponding mounting hole. Each clamping assembly includes a holding member and a piston, a first end of the holding member extends through the axial hole and is received in the receiving hole, the piston is fixed to the holding member and divides the mounting hole into a first chamber and a second chamber. The six adjusting valves respectively communicate with the first chambers and the second chambers of the three mounting holes.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism includes a supporting seat, a clamping assembly, and a pushing assembly. The clamping assembly includes a fixing member, four clamping members, and a limiting member. The fixing member is fixedly received in the supporting seat and defines a receiving hole therein. The four clamping members are partially received in the receiving hole and protrude out of the fixing member. The limiting member is sleeved around the four clamping members. The pushing assembly includes an adjusting seat, an elastic member, and a pushing member. The elastic member is received in the adjusting seat. The pushing member is partially received in the adjusting seat, and an end of the pushing member away from the adjusting seat is surrounded by the four clamping members and resists the four clamping members outwardly.

Abstract: A robotic claw includes a sleeve, a rod, a plurality of balls and a plunger. The sleeve comprises a mounting portion and a clamping portion. A mounting hole defined at an end of the mounting portion. A plurality of receiving through holes defined in the clamping portion, and an assembling hole communicating with the receiving through hole, and is defined at an end of the clamping portion. The balls are movably received in the receiving through holes correspondingly. The rod comprises an urging portion movably received in the sleeve to push the balls toward the receiving through holes. The plunger seals the assembling hole to prevent the balls from dropping out of the receiving through holes, and the balls can be mounted in the receiving through holes through the assembling hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic gripper which comprises a gripper body (21,121), at least two pneumatic control pistons (23) operating within at least one chamber (22,122) defined by the gripper body and movable in opposite directions with respect to each other by a driving fluid supplied to the chamber, at least two guide columns (34) associated with each piston and emerging from the ends of at least the chamber, and at least two jaws (37) movable with the pistons between an active position for gripping a work-piece and an inactive position for releasing the work-piece. The guide columns (34) are attached directly in front of and inside the profile of a respective piston (23), and each gripping jaw (37) may be attached directly to the ends of the columns of a relevant control piston.

Abstract: An engagement assembly, adapted to securely engage an orifice of an article. The engagement assembly includes a plurality of elongate fingers which are transversely movable relative to each other, each finger having an end flange thereon. The engagement assembly has an insertion position, wherein said fingers are contracted together, such that said flanges are adapted to be inserted through said orifice of said article; and, an engaged position, wherein said fingers are flared outwards relative to said insertion position, such that said flanges are adapted to thereby prevent withdrawal of said assembly from said orifice.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for engaging an article. The apparatus has a longitudinal centerline, a disengaged configuration and an activated configuration. The apparatus also includes a base having a first end and a second end and a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the base. The sleeve has one or more bands extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the sleeve being joined to the base at a fixed location and the distal end of the sleeve being moveable with respect to the proximal end along the base. At least one of the band bends away from the longitudinal centerline when the distal end of the sleeve is moved toward the proximal end of the sleeve along the base from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for engaging an article. The apparatus has a base portion, an end portion disposed adjacent the base portion. The end portion is moveable in relation to the base portion generally along the longitudinal centerline. One or more bands are joined to and extend between the base portion and the end portion. At least one of the bands bends away from the longitudinal centerline when the end portion is moved toward the base portion from the disengaged configuration to the activated configuration.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for manipulating a substrate having an inside diameter (ID). The device includes a handle, a trigger that slides within the handle, an alignment shaft and a plurality of substrate supports having distal ends. A plurality of substrate support actuators are connected to the trigger. The trigger can move the plurality of substrate supports between a substrate engaging position and a substrate releasing position through selective engagement of the plurality of substrate supports by the plurality of substrate support actuators. In the substrate engaging position the distal ends of the substrate supports move radially outward to engage the ID of the substrate, enabling the device to hold the substrate without touching the substrate faces. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A gripper for selectively gripping continuous elongated members can include a tubular supporting structure extending along a given axis and designed to surround a continuous elongated member. The gripper can also include at least two inflatable bags within the tubular structure and in the shape of complementary cylindrical sectors.

Abstract: A gripping element for gripping plastic containers with mouths, and in particular performs, includes a carrier on which there is arranged a gripping head which can be introduced at least partially into a mouth of the plastic container. Arranged on the gripping head is at least one holding element which is at least partially movable in a radial direction in relation to the gripping head to secure the container relative to the gripping head.

Abstract: The invention concerns a gripper device for gripping solid or hollow items, objects or bodies, which includes a supporting body (11, 11a) holding a plurality of gripper modules (12, 12a) positioned around the geometric axis of the body, parallel and spaced at an angle. Each module includes a flexible prehensible arch-shaped element (21, 21a) having an extrados in line with a radial slot (18, 18a) along one side of the housing and engaged by an actuator piston. All the prehensile elements are movable between a decontracted rest condition, in which their extradossis are retracted in the respective slots (18, 18a), and a compressed/contracted work condition, in which their extradossis protrude from the radial slots (18, 18a) to engage from time to time the item, object or casing to be gripped.

Abstract: A pneumatically controlled grasping device to grasp and handle items or bodies provided with a graspable member. A supporting sleeve (16, 36) internally delimits an intermediate space (23, 43) contiguous to a distal opening and a guide chamber (23?, 43?) connected to a source of fluid under pressure. In the intermediate space a gripper device (21,41) is mounted, facing the distal opening and designed to engage with the graspable member. In the guide chamber a control piston (22, 42) is housed movable into a first position which corresponds to an activation or deactivation of the gripper device by the fluid under pressure, and to a second position which corresponds to the deactivation or activation of the gripper device, by at least a flexible reaction element (27, 47). The gripper device can be equipped to grasp the graspable member from the outside or from inside when it has a cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic gripper which comprises a gripper body (21, 121), at least two pneumatic control pistons (23) operating within at least one chamber (22, 122) defined by the gripper body and movable in opposite directions with respect to each other by means of a driving fluid supplied to said chamber, at least two guide columns (34) associated with each piston and emerging from the ends of at least said chamber, and at least two jaws (37) movable with said pistons between an active position for gripping a work-piece and an inactive position for releasing the work-piece. The guide columns (34) are attached directly in front of and inside the profile of a respective piston (23), and each gripping jaw (37) may be attached directly to the ends of the columns of a relevant control piston.