Abstract: A cargo loading system for loading freight into or out of the cargo hold, the system comprising: a tilt control means which can be actuated by control signals in such a way that variances in tilt of a palletized load can be immediately righted; a control panel for actuation by personnel; a power source to the control panel; and a trailer base connected to the tilt control means for accepting freight.

Abstract: A method for determining an amount of correction of a bearing height includes the steps of: determining the heights of bearings in an engine by using a transfer matrix method based on an actually measured bearing load and an actually measured crank deflection; determining a computed bearing load acting on each of the bearings based on the determined bearing height; determining a reference bearing load acting on each bearing when the bearing height of each bearing is positioned on a reference plane; determining a load difference between the computed bearing load and the reference bearing load on each bearing; and comparing the determined load difference with a set range and, when the determined load difference exceeds the set range, determining a correction range of the bearing height such that the load difference falls within an allowable range.

Abstract: An objective method and system for dynamic analysis of prosthesis-bound subjects for determining optimal prosthesis alignment adjustments consists of a motion detection system, motion database, blending engine and algorithms, and a graphical user interface with suitable program controls whereby manual, semi-automatic, or fully automated analysis of a prosthesis-equipped subject's motion performance can be done in real time to determine objectively the optimal adjustments for the subject's prosthesis in a precise clinical protocol context.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing a machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system to measure an orientation of one or more vehicle supporting surfaces of a vehicle lift system, and to measure and compensate one or more vehicle measurements relative to the vehicle supporting surface of the vehicle lift system.

Abstract: A control routine for groups of remotely controlled, variable-position, position-aware, transceiver-equipped actuators manages data discrepancies by issuing a first set of generic actuation commands to start and stop the actuators, then polling the actuators to report their achieved positions. The routine then applies a rule to determine a preferred position value from among the reports and issues a second set of position-specific actuation commands to all of the actuators. The routine can further poll the actuators to confirm the extent to which the commands have been realized, and can retain and apply compensation factors for performance deviations in the individual actuators. The routine can further manage multiple groups of actuators, dissimilar activators within groups, assignment of an actuator to more than one group, and application of variable control factors as inputs modifying the rule applied by the routine for determining the commands to be issued.

Abstract: A belt driving control device that includes a belt, a driving roller transmitting drive force to the belt, a belt phase detecting section detecting a phase of the belt, a correction amount computing section computing a correction amount of a belt travelling velocity corresponding to the detected phase of the belt for cancelling out fluctuation in the belt travelling velocity corresponding to the detected phase of the belt, and a storage section storing the correction amount of the belt travelling velocity corresponding to the detected phase of the belt. The belt driving control device further includes a driving control section retrieving the correction amount of the belt travelling velocity corresponding to the phase of the belt and controlling drive of the driving roller to cancel out the fluctuation in the belt travelling velocity based on the retrieved correction amount of the belt travelling velocity corresponding to the detected phase of the belt.

Abstract: Methods and systems of balancing a rotatable member are provided. A method includes separately balancing a first portion and a second portion of the rotatable member wherein the second portion mateable to said first portion, coupling the first and second portions to each other, measuring a physical dimension of the coupled first and second portions, and determining a balance weight magnitude and position based on the measured physical dimension.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing imbalance in a wheel assembly are provided. The method includes determining an imbalance characteristic associated with a first plane, determining an imbalance characteristic associated with a second plane, and translating a component of the imbalance characteristic from the first plane to the second plane.

Abstract: An imaging device collects color image data to facilitate distinguishing crop image data from background data. A definer defines a series of scan line segments generally perpendicular to a transverse axis of the vehicle or of the imaging device. An intensity evaluator determines scan line intensity data for each of the scan line segments. An alignment detector identifies a preferential heading of the vehicle that is generally aligned with respect to a crop feature, associated with the crop image data, based on the determined scan line intensity meeting or exceeding a maximum value or minimum threshold value. A reliability estimator estimates a reliability of the vehicle heading based on compliance with an intensity level criteria associated with one or more crop rows.

Abstract: A manipulator for translating a load along an axis of translation is provided. The manipulator comprises an outer column and a telescoping column positioned adjacent the outer column. The telescoping column is attached to the load and configured to translate the load along the axis of translation. At least one guiding member is mounted between the outer column and the telescoping column, wherein the guiding member is configured to guide the telescoping column as the telescoping column translates along the axis of translation.

Abstract: Based upon rigidity classifications of wheels and radial runout classifications of the wheels, the lower the rigidity classification or the lower the radial runout classification, the more likely a methodology (heavy point-light point alignment) is selected in which a light point of static imbalance of the tire and a heavy point of static imbalance of the wheel are aligned with each other, than another methodology (radial force variation alignment) in which a peak position of a primary component of radial force variation of the tire and a bottom position of a primary component of radial runout of the wheel are aligned with each other, so as to assemble a tire and a wheel together.

Abstract: A system for balancing an aircraft propeller system receives a vibration signal from the aircraft propeller system and determines whether the vibration signal indicates a transient vibration condition. If it is determined that the vibration signal does not indicate a transient condition, the system enables a balance correction controller. The controller generates a balance correction signal based on the vibration signal, and balances the aircraft propeller system in response to the balance correction signal if the balance correction controller is enabled.

Abstract: A balance assembly for a rotating assembly comprising: a first movable rotor and a second movable rotor which are selectively movable about the rotating assembly; and a controller with a microprocessor operating with stored control programs for controlling movement of the first movable rotor and second movable rotor and adapted to calculate a value and to periodically modify the value and to cause the first movable rotor and the second movable rotor to move in accordance with the calculated value and the modified value, wherein the values are adjusted during a plurality of control iterations to reduce vibrational signals from an at least one vibration sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing platform attitude adjustment range for platforms supported by jacks in which the apparatus includes jacks for supporting a platform at spaced-apart locations, jack drive mechanisms, and a controller connected to each of the jacks through their respective jack drive mechanisms and programmed to adjust platform attitude by coordinating jack movement. The controller coordinates jack movement by selecting and commanding at least one of the jacks to retract and selecting and commanding at least one other of the jacks to extend.

Abstract: A substrate processing system includes an optical measurement assembly coupled to an exterior of a processing chamber that has a portion that is transparent. The processing chamber includes a reference object and a pedestal for supporting a work piece. The optical measurement assembly measures a lateral location, a height and a tilt of the pedestal by transmitting light into the processing chamber through the transparent portion of the processing chamber and detecting a reflected light from both the reference object and the portion of the pedestal after the reflected light leaves the chamber through the transparent portion of the processing chamber. A method of adjusting a pedestal includes analyzing the reflected light and leveling the pedestal, translating the pedestal, calibrating the pedestal height to a preheat ring level, and checking the level and location of the pedestal in response to the analyzed reflected light.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a machine comprising: a magnetic thrust bearing comprising: a rotor portion; a stator portion; and a housing substantially surrounding said stator portion and said rotor portion; said rotor portion comprising a thrust disk adapted to be circumferentially attached to a rotor and to rotate with the rotor, said thrust disk defining a thrust disk first side and a thrust disk second side, said first side opposing said second side.

Abstract: Methods and systems provide for the controlled application of forces to a structure during leveling and securing procedures. According to embodiments described herein, a force distribution system includes a number of force application devices that are communicatively linked to a computing system. The computing system controls the force application devices to apply calculated forces to the structure, monitor the forces, and adjust the forces when deviations occur. According to one embodiment, the force application devices include jack assemblies and the system is operative to level a structure and maintain the level position when the structure shifts. According to another embodiment, the force application devices include clamp assemblies and the system is operative to apply and maintain a constant and uniform pressure on a structure to secure the structure during machining. Other embodiments include using force application devices to secure a structure during transport.

Abstract: A digital processor (2, 102) for use in a digital controller (10) is disclosed. The digital processor (2, 102) includes a coefficient product memory (22) that stores previously calculated products of filter coefficients and each of a set of available input values. The memory (22) is addressed according to a received input value, and outputs a plurality of coefficient products associated with that input value. These coefficient products are combined across time samples (with one or more coefficient products delayed for use in later cycles), to produce an output value. The digital processor (2) can be used in combination with an analog-to-digital converter (4) and a pulse-width modulated circuit (6) to control a power supply. According to another embodiment of the invention, comparators (62H, 62L) and a counter (66) can be used instead of the analog-to-digital converter, for additional efficiency.

Abstract: The invention is based on a hand-held jigsaw, in particular a scrolling jigsaw. It is proposed that control means (10, 100) are provided, by means of which the guiding of a saw blade (12) and/or the hand-held jigsaw along scribe lines (14) can be automated.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an end effector. A moveable cutting instrument for cutting an object positioned in the end effector is disposed within the end effector. A pneumatically-actuated drive member is coupled to the end effector. An electrically controlled variable flow rate pneumatic valve is coupled to the pneumatically-actuated drive member. An electronic control module is coupled to an electrically controlled variable flow rate pneumatic valve to control the flow rate therethrough.

Abstract: A balanced rotating assembly with a spindle automatically provides balancer limits, which achieves a balancing state while substantially minimizing short term vibration increases and which provides for multi-plane balancer dithering.

Abstract: An electronic alignment system is disclosed. The system has at least two accelerometers, mounted in the device in such a manner that the accelerometers are mutually perpendicular to one another. An electrical connection electrically connects the accelerometers, a computing and processing device, a memory device, a feedback device, and a power source. A three axis reference frame is used as a basis for determining the angle of rotation of the device about an axis. Two accelerometers are required to determine a first angle of rotation. Adding a third accelerometer allows for the calculation of a second angle of rotation. Distance sensors can determine distance to a work piece, how far the device has traveled relative to a work piece, areas and volumes, and a third angle of rotation. Gyroscopes can also determine a third angle of rotation. The device may also include light projectors.

Abstract: A system for correcting angular velocity measurements from a gyroscope and using the corrected angular velocity measurements to position an antenna used with a vehicle. The system determines an approximate null point voltage of a gyroscope of the type that produces a voltage related to an angular velocity to be measured by the gyroscope. The approximate null point is determined by sampling the output voltage to obtain a plurality of sampled voltages and choosing an approximate mode of the plurality of sampled voltages as the approximate null point voltage.

Abstract: In a method for increasing the control dynamics of a load driven by a direct drive via a driveshaft, a first transducer provides a first output signal indicating a first rotation speed, and a second transducer provides a second output signal indicating a second rotation speed. The direct drive is located between the first transducer and second transducer, with the second transducer being located in close proximity of the load. A mixed rotation speed is computed from a linear combination of the two rotation speed values, which is used as an actual control value of a controller of the direct drive. This method provides a very simple approach for increasing the control dynamics of a load driven by direct drive via a driveshaft.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing engine unbalance conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving vibrational data from a plurality of locations distributed over an engine and a surrounding engine support structure, and inputting the vibrational data into a neural network inverse model. The neural network inverse model establishes a relationship between the vibrational data and an unbalance condition of the engine, and outputs diagnostic information indicating the unbalance condition of the engine. In a further embodiment, a method further includes subjecting the vibrational data to a Fast Fourier Transformation to extract a desired once per revolution vibrational data prior to input to the neural network inverse model.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing engine unbalance conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving vibrational data from a plurality of locations distributed over an engine and a surrounding engine support structure, and inputting the vibrational data into a neural network inverse model. The neural network inverse model establishes a relationship between the vibrational data and an unbalance condition of the engine, and outputs diagnostic information indicating the unbalance condition of the engine. In a further embodiment, a method further includes subjecting the vibrational data to a Fast Fourier Transformation to extract a desired once per revolution vibrational data prior to input to the neural network inverse model.

Abstract: A vehicle service system having a vehicle service computer which is configured for communication with at least one on-board vehicle computer of a vehicle undergoing a vehicle service procedure via a vehicle fault tolerant communication bus, to retrieve or access information stored in a memory associated with the vehicle computer, to modify or store information in the vehicle computer associated memory, or to enable vehicle service system control of at least one vehicle component.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing imbalance in a wheel assembly are provided. The method includes determining an imbalance characteristic associated with a first plane, determining an imbalance characteristic associated with a second plane, and translating a component of the imbalance characteristic from the first plane to the second plane.

Abstract: A variable toe angle control system for a vehicle that can be incorporated with a fail-safe mechanism When a fault of the system is detected, at least one of toe-angle actuators is actuated to make toe angles of two wheels agree with each other. When one of the wheels has become fixed in position without regard to a control signal supplied to the corresponding actuator, the actuator for the other wheel is actuated so as to make the toe angles of the two wheels equal to each other. When at least one toe-angle sensor is found faulty, the actuators are both actuated until the actuators reach positions corresponding to stoppers. When information for determining target values of the toe angles of the right and left wheels is found faulty, the actuators are both actuated until the actuators reach positions corresponding to prescribed reference toe positions.

Abstract: A method for measuring and compensating steered-angle sensitive wheel alignment angle and distance measurements for the effects of steering a wheel from a straight ahead position, thereby enabling an operator to carry out a vehicle wheel alignment angle adjustment without having to maintain a wheel in a straight-ahead steered condition during an alignment angle or distance adjustment, or to require the operator to continually return the wheel to the straight-ahead steered condition to acquire updated measurements of an alignment angle or distance currently being adjusted.

Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing engine unbalance conditions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving vibrational data from a plurality of locations distributed over an engine and a surrounding engine support structure, and inputting the vibrational data into a neural network inverse model. The neural network inverse model establishes a relationship between the vibrational data and an unbalance condition of the engine, and outputs diagnostic information indicating the unbalance condition of the engine. In a further embodiment, a method further includes subjecting the vibrational data to a Fast Fourier Transformation to extract a desired once per revolution vibrational data prior to input to the neural network inverse model.

Abstract: An offset rotary printing machine which includes a first printing cylinder and a second printing cylinder in which printing is performed on a web at a nip between the pair of printing cylinders, the second printing cylinder contacting the first printing cylinder and being shifted downstream from the first printing cylinder. The printing machine includes an angle adjustment mechanism for adjusting an angle of a plane connecting center axes of the pair of printing cylinders which is inclined to a plane perpendicular to the moving direction of the web, and a controller for controlling the angle adjustment mechanism, based on parameters interrelating to a delamination occurrence probability that is caused as printing is performed by the downstream second printing cylinder.

Abstract: There is provided a method and a device for measuring wheel alignment of an automobile that can quickly and precisely measure wheel alignment of the automobile without applying the same load to a wheel installation portion as that applied thereto in a finished vehicle state to improve productivity and can quickly reflect the result of wheel alignment measurement in a process of assembly of a suspension unit to the automobile. An automobile body 2 is supported in such a manner that a wheel installation portion 5 can be lifted and lowered, and the wheel installation portion 5 is lifted to a predetermined vertical position. During lift, a position of the wheel installation portion 5 and the toe angle and camber angle thereof at the position are measured. The toe angle and the camber angle are corrected based on a thrust angle and an attitude angle.

Abstract: A balancing device including a positionable member associated with a rotating member having an axis, wherein the positionable member has a substantially constant mass, and wherein the positionable member is disposed at a first position about the axis of the rotating member. The balancing device also including an actuation device disposed at a distance from the positionable member, wherein the actuation device is operable for selectively generating a force, and wherein the force is operable for moving the positionable member from the first position to a second position about the axis of the rotating member, thereby balancing the rotating member.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed for hidden spokes placement of balancing weights on a wheel, having a hub, a rim and the hub and the rim being connected by several spokes, comprising determination of spoke configuration data. Now, it is possible to analyze spoke configuration and width of the spokes in details, enabling the weight splitting behind spokes even if spokes are forked, oblique, not equidistant, or they have different dimension.

Abstract: Correcting unbalance with regard to rotors (11, 101) and shafts is important in order to improve performance of those rotors (11, 101) or shafts within a practical machine or engine. Previously, result orientated iterative balancing of the rotor or shaft has been achieved in which mass has been added or possibly intrusive and distorted adjustments in drag and stiffness presented through bearings or alteration of the rotor (11, 101) itself have been utilised to improve rotor balance performance. In the present invention, a dynamic bearing 13 is utilised in order to provide force components with some components in phase with rotor deflection in order to simulate negative stiffness and/or some force components in phase with rotor velocity in order to simulate negative drag upon the rotor (11, 101). In such circumstances, a more accurate determination of rotor unbalance is achieved to enable known techniques of perturbed boundary condition analysis for balance correction to be implemented more accurately.

Abstract: A method for balancing vibrations in a rotating machine is provided. The rotating machine has a first and a second plane of imbalance. The method includes determining a first set of solution mass vectors that includes a first solution mass vector for the first plane and a first solution mass vector for the second plane. Each first solution mass vector includes a mass and a phase angle. A first phase difference between a phase angle of the first solution mass vector for the first plane and a phase angle for the first solution mass vector for the second plane is calculated. The first phase difference is compared to a pre-selected value. If the first phase difference is less than the pre-selected value, the first set of solution mass vectors is retained. The first set of solution mass vectors is then incremented to create a second set of solution mass vectors that includes a second solution mass vector for the first plane and a second solution mass vector for the second plane.

Abstract: In a method for compensation of an out-of-balance condition of an imaging data acquisition device, rotatable around a patient opening of a stationary unit of a tomography apparatus, such as an x-ray computed tomography apparatus or an ultrasound tomography apparatus, the data acquisition device being rotatably mounted such that it can rotate around an axis in a bearing of the stationary unit, vibrations transferred to the stationary unit by the out-of-balance condition of the data acquisition device, at least one of the out-of-balance vectors causing the out-of-balance condition is determined from the vibration measurement, and the axis of the data acquisition device is adjusted with regard to an axis of the bearing to compensate the out-of-balance condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for developing an engine model. The system broadly comprises a module for generating a state variable model of an engine, which module receives a plurality of inputs to an engine representative of a particular flight condition and generates a set of estimated engine parameters representative of the model. The system further comprises a comparator for comparing the set of estimated engine parameters to a set of measured engine parameters for generating a set of residuals and an artificial neural network module to be trained and to be used in an implementation configuration after training has been completed. The artificial neural network receives the set of residuals and the engine inputs during a training phase and generates a set of estimated residuals representative of the engine condition.

Abstract: A method of making a gas treatment device, the method includes projecting a laser line onto a side of substrate from a laser line generator angled away from a viewing source; projecting a laser dot onto the substrate from a laser dot generator located above the viewing source; verifying an alignment of the substrate with at least one of: another substrate and a housing by comparing the laser line projection on the substrate to the laser dot projection on the substrate, wherein the alignment is verified when the laser line projection and the laser dot projection are co-linear; and stuffing the substrate into the housing.

Abstract: In a holding arrangement (101) for a medical-optical instrument (103), an electric motor is provided in a rotational joint (111, 119) to compensate a load torque occurring in this rotational joint. This electric motor is supplied with current in correspondence to a detected position of the rotational joint (111, 119). A current control curve required for this purpose is stored in a memory. This current control curve can be determined in that the rotational joints are deflected with the electric motor into predetermined positions and the current demand needed therefor is detected. The holding arrangement (101) has a unit for actively damping vibration including a vibration damping control loop. This vibration damping control loop outputs a superposition motor current to the electric motor as an actuating quantity in order to move the rotational joint (111, 119) with the electric motor so that a detected vibration of the holding arrangement (101) is countered.

Abstract: A balancer assembly 10 which automatically provides balancer limits, which achieves a balancing state while substantially minimizing short term vibration increases and which provides for multi-plane balancer dithering.

Abstract: In a holding arrangement (101) for a medical-optical instrument (103), an electric motor is provided in a rotational joint (111, 119) to compensate a load torque occurring in this rotational joint. This electric motor is supplied with current in correspondence to a detected position of the rotational joint (111, 119). A current control curve required for this purpose is stored in a memory. This current control curve can be determined in that the rotational joints are deflected with the electric motor into predetermined positions and the current demand needed therefor is detected.

Abstract: An improved vehicle wheel alignment system having a voice interface configured with an induction-pickup microphone associated with an earpiece and adapted to receive voice signals from a vibration transmitting anatomical structure associated with an operator. A central processing unit in the vehicle wheel alignment system is configured with one or more software objects to process received data signals representative of acoustic signals acquired through the induction-pickup microphone to identify one or more spoken commands, and to execute operating instructions associated with the identified spoken commands.

Abstract: A processing machine, in particular a processing center, with a spindle, a tool clamping device, a converter unit with a spindle motor, at least one oscillation sensor and a balancing apparatus is disclosed. The oscillation sensor(s) and the balancing device are connected for signal transmission with a control device of a converter unit. The control device includes a balancing program. The processing machine with this type of automatic balancing system requires less wiring and less space than conventional systems.

Abstract: A vehicle service system having a vehicle service computer which is configured for communication with one or more on-board vehicle computers of a vehicle undergoing a vehicle service procedure, to retrieve or access information stored in a memory associated with the vehicle computer and/or to modify or store information in the vehicle computer associated memory.

Abstract: A determining method of movement sequence and a positioning apparatus of the invention are arranged in such a manner that, in order to measure positions of plural marks as being measurement targets provided on a wafer within a shorter time, a group including executable movement sequences is generated out of a group of movement sequence candidates, each indicating a measurement order of these marks, and a movement sequence that accomplishes a movement operation between the marks within the shortest time is obtained from the group thus generated. For efficiently searching an optical system as a globally optimal solution within a shorter computation time, independently of an initial solution given, a designing method of optical system of the invention obtains the optimal solution of the optical system to be designed, using an evolutionary computation method (genetic algorithm) having a genetic operator for handling continues values explicitly.

Abstract: A balancer assembly 10 which automatically provides balancer limits, which achieves a balancing state while substantially minimizing short term vibration increases and which provides for multi-plane balancer dithering.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for balancing an elongate structure (1) rotating about an axis, like a spindle (3) carrying two grinding wheels (5, 6), wherein two vibration-detecting sensors (7, 8) and associated balancing devices (9, 10) with movable masses (11-14) are arranged at two checking sections (S1, S2) spaced out along the axis of rotation. Processing and control means (20) control the balancing devices on the basis of one or more signals (VC; VC1, VC2) achieved as combination(s) of the vibrations, in module, detected by both the sensors.

Abstract: A wheel balancer includes a shaft adapted for receiving a wheel/tire assembly. The balancer has a longitudinal axis and is rotatable about the axis so as to rotate the wheel/tire assembly removably mounted thereon. A sensor assembly is provided for measuring rotation of the shaft about the longitudinal axis. A vibration sensor assembly measures vibration of the wheel/tire assembly as the wheel/tire assembly is rotated. A motor operatively connected to the shaft rotates the shaft about the longitudinal axis, thereby to rotate the wheel/tire assembly. A load roller applies a generally radial force, which can exceed one hundred fifty pounds, to the wheel/tire assembly during rotation of said wheel/tire assembly. A sensor detects lateral force, wheel/tire assembly radius, and/or wheel/tire assembly diameter, which can have a tendency to cause a vehicle on which the wheel/tire assembly is mounted during use to deviate from a straight line path.