Abstract: A personal care device having a handle having an engagement portion and a persona care attachment are described. The personal care attachment has a housing attached to the engagement portion and a contact element carrier. The contact element carrier is movably coupled to the housing. A plurality of contact elements is arranged on the contact element carrier, and wherein the personal care attachment is driven at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz and has a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to runner unit of a tidal power plant, and more particular to a blade of the runner unit. The blade according to the invention provides a maximised efficiency of energy production of the tidal power plant during functioning of both direct and reverse modes.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is connected to the piston and the distal end is connected to the rocking beam by an end pivot. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. A crankshaft coupled to the rocking beam by way of a connecting rod is also included. The rotary motion of the rocking beam is transferred to the crankshaft.

Abstract: A personal care device having a handle having an engagement portion and a persona care attachment are described. The personal care attachment has a housing attached to the engagement portion and a contact element carrier. The contact element carrier is movably coupled to the housing. A plurality of contact elements is arranged on the contact element carrier, and wherein the personal care attachment is driven at a frequency of between about 150 Hz to about 175 Hz and has a sound intensity level of less than about 75 dB(A).

Abstract: A crankshaft may include first and second journals having circular cross-sections, and a crankpin, the crankpin extending between first and second crankpin journals. The crankpin may include first, second, and third cams including respective first, second, and third cam profiles, wherein the first, second, and third cam profiles differ from one another. At least one of the first, second, and third cam profiles may be configured to affect the stroke of a connecting rod coupled to the crankpin. A connecting rod may include first, second, and third followers including respective first, second, and third follower surfaces, wherein the first and second follower surfaces differ from one another. An internal combustion engine may include a crankshaft and a connecting rod configured to provide relative linear movement between a crankpin axis and a proximal end of the connecting rod.

Abstract: A device may include a lower panel, an upper panel, bi-stable shaft, and guide link. The lower panel may include four sides, a first surface, and a second surface. The upper panel may include four sides, a third surface, and a fourth surface, where the fourth surface overlays the first surface of the lower panel when the device is in a first configuration. A first end of the bi-stable shaft may be rotatably attached proximate to a first of the sides of the lower panel. A second end of the bi-stable shaft may be rotatably attached proximate to a first of the sides of the upper panel. The guide link may include two ends, a first end rotatably attached proximate to the first side of the upper panel and a second end slidably inserted in a track parallel to the first side of the lower panel.

Abstract: A rotational movement generating apparatus having a platform supported by a support assembly. The support assembly connects to a central point of the platform in a manner that allows the platform to rotate at the central point. A central axis is defined with the circular rotation of the platform. The platform defines a first radius line extending from the central point to an outer edge of the platform. An arm connects to the platform at a connection point that is spaced apart from the first radius line of the platform. A first portion of the arm ends at an elbow where it connects to a second portion of the arm. The second portion of the arm is positioned to extend in an upward direction over the first radius line at a predetermined angle towards the central axis. A thrust bearing is positioned above the platform in alignment with the central point. The thrust bearing has an outer disk rotatably encircling a thrust cylinder. The second portion of the arm connects to the outer disk.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that allows an output shaft to perform axial motion and automatic locking, in particular, a manual switch-off device for a permanent magnet switch operating mechanism. A large shoe plate and a small shoe plate are fixed onto a base plate. A transmission shaft is rotatably installed onto the large shoe plate and the small shoe plate that are in parallel with each other. An eccentric wheel is fixed onto the transmission shaft between the large shoe plate and the small shoe plate. An output shaft in parallel with the large shoe plate and the small shoe plate is installed onto the base plate. One end of the output shaft is fixed with an end cap. The large shoe plate has an open slot. The eccentric wheel has a spring column fixed thereon, and the spring column connects to one end of a manual switch-off spring through the open slot. The other end of the manual switch-off spring hooks to a spring mount point on the large shoe plate.

Abstract: An energy efficient high pressure pump system includes a drive motor driving an eccentric transmission, which drives a reciprocation pump having a number of cylinders. The eccentric transmission transmits a torque demand from the reciprocating pump, which varies with time, to the drive motor such that the torque demand on the drive motor is substantially constant. The pump system includes an eccentric sprocket mounted on the output shaft of a drive motor and driving an eccentric sprocket on an idler which includes a concentric sprocket driving a concentric sprocket on the reciprocating pump with the eccentricity of the eccentric sprockets being proportional to the maximum and minimum torque demand characteristics of the reciprocating pump.

Abstract: A washing machine transmission performs a washing by rotating a pulsator in forward and reverse directions during a washing cycle even though a driving source rotates in any one direction only, so that an overload in the driving source can be prevented. A first link is attached to an upper end of a driving shaft, and has a first guide pin. A second link is hinged to an inner peripheral surface of a brake drum at a first end and has a second guide pin, and has a first oblong slot formed between the first end and the second end. A third link is attached to a driven shaft, and has a second oblong slot. When the driving shaft rotates, the first guide pin rotates.

Abstract: A device for reducing torque variations for use in a drive apparatus which has a drive shaft for causing a lift unit to perform one cycle of up-and-down movement for each of at least two lift units to perform one cycle of up-and-down movement at a specified interval by one turn of rotation of the drive shaft. The device comprises elastic means and transmission means for transmitting an elastic force of the elastic means to the drive shaft as a rotational torque.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism is disclosed for retracting and engaging the pumping mechanism assembly of an infusion pump with an infusate flow path. The retraction mechanism provides a linkage which converts rotary motion of a handle about an axis to linear motion along a line parallel to the axis. The linkage is connected to the pumping mechanism assembly to cause the pumping mechanism assembly to retract from or engage with the flow path via a disposable cassette. The retraction mechanism is biassed toward the engaged position to prevent free flow of infusates on the flow path. The retraction mechanism is operable in two steps: first, the handle is pulled out against the biassing force; second, the handle is rotated until it locks into the retracted position. The mechanism includes a toggle linkage which aids in locking the mechanism in the retracted position and in biassing the mechanism to the engaged position when the handle is moved out of the locked retraction position.

Abstract: A motor driven caging system for free gyros which cages both the inner and outer gimbals thereof and locks in both the caging and uncaging positions by an over center mechanism is disclosed. The motor drives a crank which in turn drives a somewhat compliant linkage which actuates a cam to first cage the outer gimbal and a fork to then cage the inner gimbal. The crank moves through an angle somewhat over 180 degrees between the caged and uncaged positions, with the caging mechanism having a maximum motion slightly less than that encouraged by the crank extreme, whereby the compliant linkage is elastically deflected as the crank moves past the maximum excursion point to a positive stop soon thereafter. Control of the motor is provided by a switch actuated by the caging mechanism drive as it approaches either the caging position stop or the uncaging position stop.

Abstract: When a machine element having a large mass is given a reciprocating movement, the recurring changes in speed as well as direction of movement require that very great driving forces must be applied, which cause varying stresses on the driving unit. In case the movement path of the machine element is more or less vertical the force of gravity causes extra stresses on the machine element. These difficulties are overcome in accordance with the invention by providing a spring system which on the one hand equalizes the effect of the force of gravity on the machine element and, on the other hand compensates the arising mass forces by absorbing, storing and emitting energy following the movement of the machine element. Hereby the amount of applied driving force is reduced, so that shocks and vibrations occurring during the driving are effectively reduced.

Abstract: An improved gate-opening and closing assembly which is designed to shiftably move a gate from an opened position to a closed position, and from the closed position to the opened position in a relative planar path. This assembly comprises a lever arm connected to the gate and a drive arm pivotally connected at one end to the lever arm. At the other end, the lever arm is connected to a motor through a clutch mechanism for opening and closing the gate. The drive arm is operatively connected to the motor, such that it moves in a somewhat arcuate path and which causes the lever arm to move in an arcuate path. According to this construction, the assembly permits opening and closing of a relatively large gate with simple harmonic motion. The pair of relatively small arms and the entire assembly can be located within a relatively confined space in order to permit movement of a gate of substantial size.

Abstract: The dynamic power booster is an apparatus which utilizes rotational input power for driving a crank lever in circular rotation. The crank lever drives a pivotally mounted lever assembly, having a first and a second lever slidably connected with one another, in a reciprocating and oscillating movement.An oscillating arm is movably mounted by its first end portion on the second lever adjacent to the assembly pivot mounting arrangement, and the second end portion of the oscillating arm is attached to one way clutches which are attached to an output shaft.Upon rotation of the crank lever, the combination lever assembly moves into an oscillating and reciprocating motion and simultaneously oscillates the oscillating arm, which in turn via the one way clutches rotates the output shaft.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle such as a bicycle having a crank arm operatively connected to a drive member for rotating the drive member, and a power arm rotatively mounted for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm. A control mechanism interconnects the power arm and the crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle. More particularly, the control mechanism includes a cam surface provided on either the crank arm or power arm, and a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted on the other of the arms and having a spaced cam follower engaging the cam surface.