Abstract: A wrist device is provided for use with a prosthetic limb. The wrist device includes a base plate that is configured for attachment to a prosthetic limb and a sliding lock plate that is slidably engaged with the base plate. Both the base plate and the sliding lock plate have openings. Also included in the invention is a semi-cylindrical rotator that is configured for attachment to a prosthetic hand. The semi-cylindrical rotator has slots configured to receive the sliding lock plate and is coupled to the base plate in a manner that allows the sliding lock plate to lock into the slots.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low clearance, compact guideway, train positioning system that can be installed in close quarters alongside an existing railroad track. The system is chain driven and features an improved over/under or vertical sprocket carriage drive system in which parts normally exposed to the elements are protected while, at the same time, horizontal space requirements alongside the track are reduced. The system employs a vertically oriented chain drive which employs enclosed vertically mounted drive and idler sprocket units and a chain tube enclosing the lower chain strand which further minimizes exposure of the mechanism chain to the elements by totally enclosing the lower chain path in the over/under arrangement.

Abstract: An air bearing slide assembly including a carriage having a plurality of planar slide faces containing integrally mounted porous carbon air bearings, the carriage being movable over a slide ram. The slide faces of the carriage being mated to opposing planar slide surfaces on the slide ram, wherein compressed air expelled from the air bearings creates a hydrostatic fluid film between the slide ram and the air bearings, thereby separating and supporting the carriage for longitudinal movement over the slide ram.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for indicating the instantaneous position of a movable member along a range of motion with respect to a reference position. The apparatus includes a magnetic body that is fixedly attached to the movable member. The body has a contoured surface to control the shape of a magnetic field relative to position, and further includes at least two magnetic field sensors. Each of the sensors is disposed adjacent to the contoured surface of the magnetic body and fixed with respect to the reference position, and is positioned apart from the other sensors, so as to form a non-uniform gap between the contoured surface and each of the magnetic field sensors. Each of the sensors produces a position dependent signal corresponding to a value of the magnetic field. The apparatus further includes a decoding circuit electrically coupled to each of the magnetic field sensors so as to receive each of the position dependent signals.

Abstract: An air bearing slide assembly including a carriage having a plurality of planar slide faces containing integrally mounted porous carbon air bearings, the carriage being movable over a slide ram. The slide faces of the carriage being mated to opposing planar slide surfaces on the slide ram, wherein compressed air expelled from the air bearings creates a hydrostatic fluid film between the slide ram and the air bearings, thereby separating and supporting the carriage for longitudinal movement over the slide ram.

Abstract: An air bearing slide assembly including a carriage having a plurality of planar slide faces containing integrally mounted porous carbon air bearings, the carriage being movable over a slide ram. The slide faces of the carriage being mated to opposing planar slide surfaces on the slide ram, wherein compressed air expelled from the air bearings creates a hydrostatic fluid film between the slide ram and the air bearings, thereby separating and supporting the carriage for longitudinal movement over the slide ram.

Abstract: A movable prosthetic limb includes a drive linkage which is configured to move the prosthetic limb. An ultrasonic drive motor is coupled to the drive linkage and powers the drive linkage. The ultrasonic motor is non-backdrivable and has high torque at low speeds. Specifically, a prosthetic limb uses an ultrasonic motor to drive an elbow joint or prosthetic fingers. A movable prosthetic wrist includes a base configured to be coupled to an amputee. An ultrasonic drive motor is attached to the base, and a hand piece is attached to the ultrasonic drive motor to form a wrist joint. In this configuration, the ultrasonic drive motor directly moves the wrist joint. A harmonic drive can also be used for gear reduction in the wrist joint.

Abstract: A grip device for an artificial or prosthetic arm, including at least two opposable digits and a drive linkage powered by a drive motor. When the drive motor is powered it enables the two opposable digits to grip. The drive linkage includes a drive and transmission attached to the drive motor. A backlock is connected to the drive and transmission. Surrounding the backlock is a backlock housing which contains the drive, selected transmission elements, and a backlock. A stop element is also included for holding the backlock housing fixed with respect to ground. The stop element can be released to allow the backlock housing to move freely and to avoid power transmission without disrupting the operating structure of the transmission.

Abstract: A stator winding for mounting onto the stator core of an electric motor is provided with a base and a coil winding around the base and a connection portion for slidingly interengaging a corresponding slot in the stator. The base extends longitudinally between front and rear ends including a leg extending radially outwardly from a radially inner cross member to the connection portion and having circumferentially opposite sides with respect to the motor axis. A stator winding is assembled on the stator of an electric motor by providing a winding base with a connection portion adapted to engage a slot in the stator; providing a slot in the stator; winding an electrical conductor winding around the base; and slidingly interengaging the connection portion with the stator slot.

Abstract: A stator winding for mounting onto the stator core of an electric motor is provided with a base and a coil winding around the base and a connection portion for slidingly interengaging a corresponding slot in the stator. The base extends longitudinally between front and rear ends including a leg extending radially outwardly from a radially inner cross member to the connection portion and having circumferentially opposite sides with respect to the motor axis. A stator winding is assembled on the stator of an electric motor by providing a winding base with a connection portion adapted to engage a slot in the stator; providing a slot in the stator; winding an electrical conductor winding around the base; and slidingly interengaging the connection portion with the stator slot.

Abstract: A web tension transducer for mounting between a stationary fixture and a pillow block rotationally supporting a web roller shaft is provided. The transducer includes a body mounted to said fixture for pivotal movement about a single horizontal axis at one longitudinal end, and having a strain gage mounted in a transverse horizontal slot at the opposite end of said body, thus providing maximum deflection of the strain gage in response to downward force applied to the shaft for measurement of the web tension.

Abstract: A stator lamination (20) for forming a stator assembly (82) of a permanent magnet motor (80) includes a yoke region (23) and a plurality of stator poles (22) spaced along and extending inwardly from the yoke region. The stator poles (22) are configured and arranged to define a slot (28) having a predetermined span (30) between the lateral end surfaces of adjacent stator poles. A plurality of teeth (24) are formed on the distal ends of each of the stator poles (22), and are separated from each other by a notch (26). The teeth (24) are equi-spaced and the number of notches (26) is an even number.

Abstract: An arrangement for conveying material to be conveyed along a conveying plane, in particular for freight-loading systems in freight compartments, preferably of aircraft is disclosed. The arrangement provides that driving material to be conveyed along a conveying plane, with which safe, reliable transport of the material to be conveyed is ensured with low wear of the conveying roller under widely varying operating conditions. This is achieved in that, in a drive unit, the conveying roller is connected to a first drive and an associated first activating unit for producing a requisite traction force for moving the material to be conveyed along the conveying plane.

Abstract: A vent valve for a gas strut includes a first passage (9,12) in a body (2) extending from one side of a valve seat (8) to a surface of the body (2) which, in use, is exposed to the interior of a gas strut, and a second passage (15) in the body (2) extending from the other side of the valve seat (8) to a body surface which, in use, is exposed to the exterior of the gas strut. A ball (18) is provided between a screw (17), threadedly engaged with the second passage (15), and the valve seat (8), whereby tightening of the screw (17) forces the ball (18) into engagement with the valve seat (8). A controlled release of gas through the vent valve is thereby possible.

Abstract: A train positioning system for moving railroad cars by engaging bogey frames from one side includes a dog carriage guideway spaced from and parallel to a railroad track, a dog carriage mounted to operate along the guideway, a first dog pivotally attached to the dog carriage to pivot in a generally horizontal plane between a retracted position and an extended position. The first dog is positioned to engage a bogey frame in a first direction and be deflected by the bogey frame in a second direction in the extended position. A second dog may be mounted in opposed spaced relation to the first dog also to pivot in a generally horizontal plane between a retracted and an extended position. The second dog is configured to engage a bogey frame in the second direction and be deflected by the bogey frame in the first direction. A system is provided for reversibly operating the dog carriage along the guideway.

Abstract: A vertically oriented tube bending apparatus includes a vertically oriented support frame, which takes up less floor space than the previously known tubing benders. A tube bending apparatus in accordance with the invention, generally, includes a support frame having a length, a width, and a height, wherein the greatest of these is the height. The apparatus further includes a tubing advance mechanism, attached to the support frame, for advancing a tubing workpiece along a substantially vertical path. A bend die is also provided which is rotatably attached to the support frame and pivotally movable about a pivot axis. The bend die has an outer side edge with an arcuate peripheral groove formed therein to receive a portion of a tubing workpiece. The apparatus also includes a pressure die movably attached to said support frame.

Abstract: A moving web tension monitoring apparatus of easily fabricated, relatively inexpensive and easily assembled construction comprises a cantilever mounted strain beam element coupled at the flexurable end thereof through a rigid coupling to one end of the support shaft for the web supporting guide roll. A twin beam type transducer having strain gauges at the flex points of the beams is coupled to the shaft supporting the moving web. The strain gauges are located and electrically connected to measure the radial forces applied to the shaft. A shaft coupler connects the shaft to a bearing in the transducer to reduce slippage of the shaft. The transducer is designed to be easily adjusted so that the forces applied to the shaft are accurately detected. The components of the transducer are also adjustable to alter the rigidity and/or resonance frequency of the transducer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a distraction device for moving apart two bone sections, in particular for extending bones or bridging a gap in a bone, the device comprising an intramedullary nail (1) which can be introduced into the medullary space of a bone and comprises two parts (2, 3) which can be moved axially and can each be secured to one of the two bone sections. The distraction device further comprises a drive unit (4) that drives a drive shaft (16), and a device for converting the rotational movement of the drive shaft (16) into a relative axial movement of the two parts (2, 3) of the intramedullary nail (1).

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus and method for a high performance hoist for raising and lowering a load, and control apparatus and method for controlling the hoist such that its operation is responsive and intuitive for a human operator. The mechanical apparatus provides a reel for winding a cable, a ball-screw for translating the reel, and an encoder on the reel with which the height of the payload may be monitored. Also disclosed is an operator's handle comprising a movable sleeve with a damper as well as a spring to return it to its null position. The control apparatus and method provides for a handle-nulling mode in which the payload height is servo-controlled to follow the displacement of the operator's hand grasping the handle. The control apparatus further provides a float-mode in which the payload height is responsive to the operator's forces applied directly to the payload.

Abstract: A device for registering the displacement travel and/or the displaced position of a sliding component, which is moved free of torsion, of a linear drive is intended to be implemented on a small scale and with display precision. For this purpose, the device is equipped with at least two magneto-resistive sensors which act within a separate magnetic field, respectively assigned to the displacement component in different regions located one behind the other.