Abstract: The present invention provides improved non-contacting rotary joints for the transmission of electrical signals across an interface defined between two relatively-movable members. The improved non-contacting rotary joints broadly include: a signal source (A) operatively arranged to provide a high-speed digital data output signal; a controlled-impedance differential transmission line (C) having a source gap (D) and a termination gap (E); a power divider (B) operatively arranged to receive the high-speed digital data output signal from the signal source, and to supply it to the source gap of the controlled-impedance differential line; a near-field probe (G) arranged in spaced relation to the transmission line for receiving a signal transmitted across the interface; and receiving electronics (H) operatively arranged to receive the signal received by the probe; and wherein the rotary joint exhibits an ultra-wide bandwidth frequency response capability up to 40 GHz.

Abstract: The improved servovalve broadly (20) includes: a body (21) having an axis of elongation (y-y), a portion of the body defining a cylinder (43) having an axis (x-x) substantially perpendicular to the body axis; a valve member (44) movably mounted in the cylinder, and adapted to be moved off-null in either direction along the cylinder axis to selectively meter the flows of fluid between a plurality of ports defined between the spool and cylinder; a rotor (58) mounted on the body for rotation about the body axis; a motor (69) acting between the body and rotor, and selectively operable to cause the rotor to rotate in a desired angular direction relative to the body; and a quill-like transfer member (64) acting between the rotor and valve spool.

Abstract: A hybrid power module efficiently delivers both hydraulic power and electric power. The hybrid power module may regenerate and store energy for later use. The module includes and engine and an electric motor for driving a hydraulic pump. The electric motor is operable as a starter motor for the engine and as an assist motor cooperating with the engine to power the hydraulic pump to improve dynamic response of the hydraulic pump. The module also includes an electric power source which may have an energy storage unit, and the electric motor may be operated as an electric generator providing electric energy to the energy storage unit.

Abstract: A combined d.c. brushless motor and drive control assembly for a rotary mower includes a hollow motor housing, a cover removably attached to an open rear end of the housing, and an end shield mounted to an internal shelf of the housing adjacent its rear end. The end shield and a front wall of the housing define rotary bearing seats for a motor drive shaft. An electronic circuit board including motor drive electronics and feedback sensors is mounted to the housing or to the cover, and is positioned at an axial location between the internal shelf of the housing and the rear wall of the cover. The housing is configured for mounting on a shroud of the rotary mower such that at least the removable cover is above the shroud and easily accessible, whereby repair or replacement of the electronic circuit board is facilitated.

Abstract: A low-cost method of manufacturing an all-composite composite torque tube includes winding fiber tow around a cylindrical mandrel and a plurality of eyelet forms held by an end fixture on the mandrel, whereby a flanged end coupling is formed. The method may include the use of a pre-woven composite fiber end sleeve configured to define the flanged end coupling. The wound fiber, and the end sleeve, are cured together in a single step. Metal eyelets may be installed in the bolt holes.

Abstract: An annular stator assembly includes a plurality of stator segments. Each stator segment includes a plurality of laminates having magnetic permeable properties; a plurality of thermally conductive laminates positioned between the permeable laminates; and a cooling pipe extending through the laminates for transferring heat from the laminates to coolant flowing through the cooling pipe. The stator segments are constructed independently. Coils are wound on each segment. The stator segments with the wound coils are subsequently arranged to form the annular stator assembly.

Abstract: A fixture enables a stylus extension to be angularly aligned relative to an adapter plate that mounts onto a CMM probe head. Alignment may be carried out on a flat surface remotely from the CMM. The adapter plate is mounted to the fixture, which includes an access hole providing access to adjustment screws at the rear of the adapter plate. One or more lateral extensions are connected to the stylus extension to define a calibration axis perpendicular to a probe axis of the stylus extension and perpendicular to a central axis of the adapter plate about which angular alignment is desired. Angular adjustments of the stylus extension are made while the adapter plate is mounted to the fixture, and a degree to which the calibration axis is parallel to a plane of the flat surface is detected, for example using a dial indicator engaging points on the lateral extension(s).

Abstract: A magnetic drive assembly includes a housing having a cylindrical end bell portion and a cylindrical hub portion adjacent the end bell portion, wherein the radius of the hub portion is greater than the radius of the end bell portion. One or more mounting tabs extend radially outward from the hub portion. The housing has heat transfer fins associated with the mounting tabs for dissipating heat and structurally supporting the mounting tabs in the manner of a gusset. The heat transfer fins may be arranged on opposite sides of each mounting tab to provide support for the mounting tab in opposite axial directions of the housing. To relieve internal pressure, the housing may have at least one pressure equalization vent allowing passage of gas but not passage of liquid into and out of the housing.

Abstract: A rotary lock apparatus comprises a structural ground and a shaft rotatable about a shaft axis relative to the structural ground, wherein the shaft includes a detent portion. First and second locking components are displaceable along the shaft axis in opposite directions to cause the detent portion to be engaged and coupled to the structural ground in a manner preventing rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis. The locking components are actuated through a combined displacement distance and are configured such that at least one of the first and second locking components positively causes the shaft to be engaged and coupled to the structural ground to thereby lock the shaft against rotation.

Abstract: For improved water resistance, the stator assembly of a d.c. brushless motor is encapsulated in an overmolding formed from a mixture of a thixotropic, flexible epoxy resin and glass fibers. The overmolding may be applied to the stator assembly by a vacuum pressure impregnation process. The overmolding may also encapsulate a Hall effect circuit board and sensors of the motor.

Abstract: A position sensor assembly comprising (15) a housing (16) having a least one inner cavity, a stator (22) disposed within the housing, a moving element (23) disposed within the housing and configured and arranged to move relative to the stator (22), the stator comprising primary windings (24) and secondary windings (25, 26), the secondary windings configured and arranged to provide an output signal (27) as a function of movement of the moving element (23) relative to the stator (22), electronics (28) disposed in the housing and communicating with the primary windings (24) and the secondary windings (25, 26), the electronics comprising an integrated circuit (29) configured and arranged to provide excitation of the primary windings (24) and to demodulate the output signal (27) of the secondary windings (25, 26), and an input element (35) extending through the housing (16) and connected to the moving element (23).

Abstract: A stop mechanism for a drive system includes a one-way clutch, a brake, a stop feature, and a linkage. The one-way clutch couples with a drive shaft of the system when the drive shaft is rotating in a first direction but not in an opposite direction. The brake is connected to the drive shaft through the first one-way clutch and is operable to stop drive shaft rotation in the first direction. The stop feature is carried by an output element driven by the drive shaft and actuates the linkage to operate the first brake when the output element reaches a predetermined limit position when moving in a direction corresponding to the first drive direction of the drive shaft. A bidirectional stop mechanism is provided by adding a second one-way clutch, a second brake, and a second stop feature arranged to act in the opposite rotational direction of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A stator made from a ribbon of metal having multiple layers of slit metal, and motors made therefrom are described. A ribbon having multiple layers of metal is formed into a stator such as by flattening or pleating the ribbon to form each pole of a stator having a plurality of stator teeth, or poles. The stator formed from the metal ribbon may be configured into any suitable type of motor, such as an axial transverse flux motor. A magnetic flux return may also be made out of metal ribbon.

Abstract: A stop module halts rotation of a shaft of a rotational drive system when an axial stroke limit is reached without the use of frictional brake plates. The module has a fixed nut and a pawl carrier coaxially mounted on the shaft for axial travel along the shaft and rotation with the shaft. The pawl carrier includes a screw portion mated with the nut such that rotation of the pawl carrier with the shaft causes the pawl carrier to travel axially along the shaft. A pawl member is pivotally coupled to the pawl carrier, and a stop element is fixed at an axial limit location. The pawl carrier is axially displaceable from a non-limit position wherein the pawl member is clear of the stop element during rotation to a limit position wherein the pawl member is interfered with by the stop element during rotation to stop rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: An actuator system having a controlled element configured for rotary movement about a first axis relative to a reference structure; a linkage system between the element and reference structure; a first actuator and a second actuator configured to power a first degree of freedom and an independent second degree of freedom of the linkage system, respectively; the linkage system having a first link configured for rotary movement about a second axis not coincident to the first axis and second link configured for rotary movement about a third axis; the linkage system configured such that a first angle of rotation may be driven independently of a second angle of rotation between said first link and said reference structure; wherein one of the first or second actuators is configured and arranged to drive rotation of the element about the first axis when the other is operatively locked.

Abstract: A subsea drilling, production or processing actuation system comprising a variable speed electric motor (10) adapted to be supplied with a current, a reversible hydraulic pump (8, 28) driven by the motor, a hydraulic piston assembly (92, 101, 111, 121, 131) connected to the pump and comprising a first chamber (2), a second chamber (3) and a piston (4) separating the first and second chambers and configured to actuate a valve (91) in a subsea system, a fluid reservoir (14) connected to the pump and the hydraulic piston assembly, the pump, hydraulic piston assembly and reservoir connected in a substantially closed hydraulic system, and a pressure compensator (13, 65) configured to normalize pressure differences between outside the hydraulic system and inside the hydraulic system.

Abstract: An electric motor system having a power supply, an electric motor connected to the power supply, an object driven by the motor having a range of motion and a substantially neutral position within the range of motion, a power sensor configured to sense power from the power supply, a position sensor configured to sense position of the object in at least a portion of the range of motion, an energy storage, a controller connected to the power supply and the energy storage, wherein the controller is configured to brake the motor as a function of the position sensor, the neutral position and the power sensor.

Abstract: An actuator synchronization system comprising a control valve in fluid communication with a plurality of actuators; each of the actuators comprising an input member moveable by the control valve, a main valve moveable from a null to an off-null position, an output member moveable from a first to a second output position, and a feedback linkage and a drive link configured such that selective movement of the input member causes movement of the valve from the null to the off-null position and movement of the output member to the second output position causes movement of the valve member from the off-null to the null position; and a mechanical connector between each of the input members or drive links of the actuators configured such that rotational motion of each of the respective drive links is synchronized.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted weapon station is configurable to adjust the height of a rotational elevation axis thereof. The weapon station is provided with at least one fixed hanging ammunition container that is reloadable under the armored protection of the vehicle and the weapon station shell. The weapon station may have both electrically-powered and manually-powered drive systems for rotating a pedestal about an azimuth axis relative to the vehicle, and for rotating weaponry and operational units about the elevation axis, wherein the electrical and manual drive systems transmit power through the same output gear.

Abstract: A torque limiter limits transmission of torque between an input shaft an output shaft. The torque limiter may be incorporated in a geared rotary actuator for actuating an aircraft control surface. The torque limiter is responsive to output torque associated with the output shaft instead of input torque associated with the input shaft. The torque limiter includes a structural ground and a gear assembly for transmitting rotational motion of the input shaft to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes a reference gear coupled to the structural ground such that movement of the reference gear relative to the structural ground is dependent upon an output torque at the output shaft. The reference gear is stationary relative to the structural ground when the output torque is below an output torque limit, and the reference gear moves relative the structural ground when the output torque exceeds the output torque limit.