Abstract: A panel driving device turns an openable panel inside out by rotating the openable panel by 180° about a rotation center shaft and moving the rotation center shaft upward or downward during a specific period while the openable panel is rotated. The panel driving device is provided with a rotating mechanism for supporting the openable panel on a rotatable end of a rotary arm and rotating the openable panel, and a torque converting mechanism for converting part of a driving force of the rotating mechanism into a rotating force for rotating the rotary arm only during the specific period to rotate the rotary arm upward or downward. The openable panel can be turned inside out by a simple construction.

Abstract: The pivot-less Watt linkage supports a first rigid element relative to a second rigid element and permits relative motion between the rigid elements. The pivot-less Watt linkage comprises an elongate, rigid, floating beam, an elongate first flexible beam, an elongate second flexible beam and a flexible member. The first flexible beam extends in a first direction from a first point on the floating beam to the first rigid element. The second flexible beam extends in a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction, from a second point on the floating beam to the first rigid element. The second point is spatially separated from the first point along the length of the floating beam. The flexible member extends in the first direction from a third point on the floating beam to the second rigid element. The third point is intermediate between the first point and the second point.

Abstract: This invention relates to the parallel structure of a spatial 3-axis machine tool with three degrees of freedom (3 DOF), which have two translational DOF and one rotational DOF. The machine tool includes a base, a mobile platform to which a tool may be attached, and three kinematic legs. Two of the three legs are in a same plane, and each have one 3-DOF spherical joint and two 1-DOF joints. The third leg has one 1-DOF joint and two universal joints. Compared with traditional machine tools, this invention possesses several advantages such as simple structure, high stiffness, low inertia, low cost, and high speed.

Abstract: A method of automatically setting an auxiliary hydraulic valve's flow rate and returning to that flow rate automatically is disclosed. The work vehicle such as a backhoe has two hand controls, one of which has a button, and the other has a thumb wheel. To set the hydraulic flow rate, one both presses the button one hand control and moves the thumb wheel on the other hand control until the proper flow rate is reached. At this point, both button and thumb wheel are released. This causes the flow rate to be saved in RAM or ROM memory. The flow rate can be varied at any time by rolling the thumb wheel up or down. One can return to the previously save flow rate by pressing the button. Both controls are preferably spring loaded.

Abstract: A method for engaging a plurality of control systems in a vehicle, enabling a main menu of a main control program; providing a means for scrolling through a plurality of selections of the main menu; providing an audible text messages for each of the plurality of selections, the audible text messages are activated as an individual scrolls through the plurality of selections; and providing a selector switch for selecting one of the plurality of selections. The means for scrolling through the plurality of selections is located on an upper surface of a spoke of a steering wheel and the selector switch is located on a lower surface of the spoke. The method also includes providing a visual representation of the main menu.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positioner for transmitting movement in up to six degrees-of-freedom to an object on the positioner, the positioner comprising a base plate, a first plate mounted on the base plate by a first mechanical linkage, a first actuator arrangement for moving the first plate, a second plate mounted on the first plate by a second mechanical linkage, a second actuator arrangement for moving the second plate, and a holder attached to the second plate for mounting the object. One of the first and second plates is movable in a plane in up to three degrees-of-freedom, and the other of the first and second plates is movable in up to three degrees-of-freedom that are out of the plane. It is also possible to add an additional plate, including an actuator arrangement for moving the additional plate, mounted by a mechanical linkage between the second plate and the holder.

Abstract: A parallel mechanism for manipulating an object in space is provided. The parallel mechanism includes an end platform for supporting an object to be manipulated and an intermediate platform arranged in spaced relation from the end platform and connected to the end platform by a connecting element. A plurality of first links are connected to the end platform and a plurality of second links are connected to the intermediate platform. A linear motor is associated with each first link and each second link for translating the ends of the first and second links to move the end and intermediate platforms.

Abstract: Disclosed is a parallel mechanism structure for controlling three-dimensional position and orientation. In the parallel mechanism structure according to the present invention, three links are connected to the main spindle of the mechanism and driven in vertical and horizontal direction, with a consecution that the main spindle connected to the three links achieves the six d.o.f motions. The structure includes three links comprised of a first link transferred along a circular vertical guide and second and third links transferred along corresponding rectilinear vertical guides and a circular horizontal guide on which the circular vertical guide and the two rectilinear vertical guides are horizontally transferred.

Abstract: A device for amplifying mechanical and geometrical advantage having a base structure, a first link member having a first end and a second end, and a first compliant flexural joint pivotally interconnects the first end of the first link member to the base structure. A second link member is also provided having a first end and a second end. A second compliant flexural joint pivotally interconnects the first end of the second link member to the base structure. Furthermore, a third link member is provided having a first end and a second end. A third compliant flexural joint pivotally interconnects the first end of the third link member to the second end of the first link member and a fourth compliant flexural joint pivotally interconnects the second end of the third link member to the second end of the second link member.

Abstract: A small footprint vertical lift and rotary positioning stage comprises a bottom wedge and a top wedge, a linear bearing between the bottom wedge and the top wedge, cam grooves and cam surfaces for constraining the motion of the top wedge in a vertical direction, a brushless linear motor for moving the bottom wedge back and forth along a horizontal path raising and lowering the top wedge, a circular table rotatably mounted on the top wedge and having a first cylindrical flange extending downward from a segment of the circumference of the circular table, a bracket mounted on the side of the top wedge, the bracket supporting an upwardly extending second cylindrical flange coaxial with the circular table and the first cylindrical flange, and a brushless curvilinear motor between the first and second cylindrical flanges.

Abstract: A controlled relative motion system comprising a base support, a manipulable support, a group of link end constrainers each having a first portion movably connected to a second portion thereof so that ends of the first and second portions can be selectively separated from one another in a selected direction so as to have a selected distance therebetween, and two groups of pivoting links. With at least four link end constrainers in the group thereof, the first group of pivoting links has corresponding links each rotatably coupled to force imparting means or to the base support so as to be rotatable about a corresponding base link axis where each of said base link axes extend into regions between adjacent ones of said first group of pivoting links into which regions said base link axes of said adjacent ones also extend, and each coupled to a first portion end of a corresponding one of the group of link end constrainers.

Abstract: A six-degrees-of-freedom parallel mechanism for micro-positioning work is disclosed. This mechanism freely performs a desired motion of translation and rotation of a moving platform using internal and external links actuated by linear actuators capable of precisely controlling the link positions, thus being effectively used as a 6dof parallel mechanism required to carry out a variety of micro-positioning works within a limited workspace. In the mechanism of this invention, a moving platform 10 is placed at an upper position, with a multiaxial spherical joint 40 mounted to the central portion of the moving platform 10. A base platform 20 is placed at a lower position of the mechanism. Three external links 30 couple the moving platform 10 to the base platform 20, while three internal links 50 couple the multiaxial spherical joint 40 to the base platform 20. In this mechanism, the internal links 50 are commonly coupled to the multiaxial spherical joint 40 so as to form a tetrahedral structure.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for detecting a window open condition comprises a first photoelectric cell (60) mountable to the window (20) for providing a reference output signal (61) independent of the window open condition. The apparatus (10) also comprises a second photoelectric cell (62) mountable to the window and providing a signal (63) having a first characteristic if the window (20) is open and a second characteristic if the window is not open. The apparatus (10) further comprises comparison means (82) for comparing the reference output signal (61) with the signal from the second photoelectric cell (63). The comparison is indicative of the open condition of the window. The apparatus (10) comprises means (88) responsive to the comparison means (82) for indicating if the vehicle window (20) is in the open condition.

Abstract: In a vehicle air conditioner, inside air and outside air are switched by first and second inside/outside air switching doors. The first inside/outside air switching door is operated by a first door lever operatively linked with an inside/outside air operation member of an operation panel. On the other hand, the second inside/outside air switching door is operated by a second door lever which is operated by a mode operation lever operatively linked with a mode operation member of the operation panel, a temperature-adjustment operation lever operatively linked with a temperature-adjustment operation member of the operation panel, and an elastic force of a spring. When an air outlet mode except for a defroster mode is manually set by the mode operation member, and when maximum heating is manually set by the temperature-adjustment operation member, the second inside/outside air switching door is operated to an inside air introduction state by the second door lever.

Abstract: A system and related method to enable six-axis movement of a structure. The system is related to hexapods, Stewart platforms and other mechanical movement systems. It includes a plurality of moveable supportive legs coupled to a platform. For the Stewart platform version of the system, there are six supportive legs, each of which connects to a triangular platform that acts as a base.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein include hexapod systems, Stewart platform systems and other mechanical movement systems, in which a set of independently moveable trucks support legs that couple to a working surface capable of holding a machine tool or other end-effector, and preferably wherein the trucks travel across a reference surface, such as around the circumference of a circle or along some other pre-defined geometrical pattern or track. For example, as described herein, the systems include Stewart platform machines that have six supportive legs each of which connects to a truck that can travel independently along a track. By coordinating the movement of these six trucks, the working surface can be moved in three dimensional space and can be oriented about three axes, providing control of roll, pitch and yaw.