Abstract: A flexible joint includes a plurality of links, a plurality of flexures, and at least one cable which can be tensioned or relaxed to cause a bending about a plurality of axes. The links may include a base link; a last link; and a plurality of intermediate links, coupled together by the flexures such that the plurality of intermediate links, the first link, and the last link form a chain of links having the base link at a first end of the chain and the last link at a second end of the chain and each of the plurality of intermediate links is coupled to two other ones of the plurality of links by two flexures. The cable(s) extend through cable pass-through-holes in the links. The links may comprise disks with sloped faces, and may be rotational offset from another around a longitudinal axis. The flexures may comprise living hinges.

Abstract: A gear assembly includes a first gear wheel including a first gear wherein a plurality of teeth of the first gear are oriented in a first direction and a second gear wherein a plurality of teeth of the second gear are oriented not-parallel to the primary axis. A second gear wheel is configured to match the second gear of the first gear wheel including an outer gear and an inner gear wherein a plurality of teeth of the inner gear are oriented parallel to the plurality of teeth of second gear. A retention member can be used to secure the second gear wheel on the first gear wheel.

Abstract: Aspects hereof relate to control devices for controlling features or functions of apparatuses and devices. At a high level, the control devices described herein provide an input locus that is positioned within a handle of the control devices. The input locus may have a fixed position such that the control device may resist movement in response to forces applied to the handle in force vectors passing through the input locus. Further, the handle may pivot or rotate about the input locus in response to forces applied to the handle in force vectors that are offset from the input locus to generate inputs and/or controls.

Abstract: A transmission device for a vehicle includes a vehicle state detector for detecting a vehicle state, a transmission operation unit for enabling a transmission operation of selecting one of a plurality of transmission stages, and a position adjusting unit for adjusting a position of the transmission operation unit based on the detected vehicle state to allow the transmission operation unit to slidingly move between a first position where a transmission operation is disabled and a second position where a transmission operation is enabled.

Abstract: A joint assembly for a robot, comprising a housing connected with an output part. The housing comprising a housing wall and a strain wave gearing system. The strain wave gearing system comprising a wave generator, a flexspline, and a circular spline connected to the output part. The wave generator is rotated by a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is driven by an electric motor comprising a rotor magnet and a stator. The rotor magnet being affixed to the rotor shaft. The joint assembly further comprises one or more sensors comprising one or more magnetic field sensors and one or more pole rings arranged to measure a position of the output part in relation to the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gear wheel comprising an outer part (12) having a gear rim (14), an insert (16) which has an insert outer diameter (dEa) and a receptacle section (32) having an insert part inner diameter (dEi) for forming a shaft-hub connection, and a connecting part (18) which is arranged between the insert part (16) and the outer part (12) and which connects the insert part (16) and the outer part (12) in a formfitting and/or materially-bonded and/or friction-locked manner, wherein the connecting part (18) has a number of ribs (27) or the connecting part (18) is formed by a number of ribs (27), wherein the ribs (27) each extend along a tangent (T) which abuts a tangent circle (CT), wherein the tangent circle (CT) has a tangent circle diameter (dCT) which is larger than or equal to the insert inner diameter (dEi) and smaller than or equal to the insert outer diameter (dEa).

Abstract: A roll joint is provided. The roll joint may comprise: a first body; a second body disposed opposite to and spaced apart from the first body; a connection body which is disposed between the first body and the second body and is not in contact with the first body and the second body; and a connection wire member which connects the first body, the second body, and the connection body to one another so as to make a tensegrity structure.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an actuator capable of reducing a shock in acceleration at the time of a turn caused by a load in a lateral direction orthogonal to an axis of the actuator even when the load is excessive while reducing manufacturing cost and manufacturing man-hours, and a tripod structure including the actuator. An actuator according to the present invention includes: a pipe; a ball screw used as a feed screw; a conversion nut used as a feed nut and screwed with the ball screw; a piston fixed integrally to the conversion nut and driven to expand and contract from a free end which is one end of the pipe; and a rolling bearing unit being provided on a tip of the free end of the pipe and including a plurality of roller followers holding the piston movably.

Abstract: A robotic arm comprising a first arm portion, a second arm portion, the second arm portion moveable between a first axial position, in which the first arm portion and the second arm portion are mutually spaced from each other along said axis, and a second axial position, in which a first end of first arm portion and a second end of the second arm portion are in contact to define a housing, a head rotatable with respect to the first arm portion and around said axis; and a robotic joint. The joint is configured for adopting an operative condition, to make the second arm portion integral with the head. The robotic arm is configured so that said operative condition corresponds to said second axial position and said second angular position and the robotic arm is configured so that, in said operative condition, the joint is located within said housing.

Abstract: A link structure (1) includes: a first link (2); a target member to be moved (housing) (3) that is provided in the interior of the first link (2), and that is movable in the interior of the first link (2); a movement mechanism (4) that is fixed to the first link (2), and that is configured to cause the target member to be moved (3) to move in movement directions (M1, M2) along the first link (2) in response to power of a power part; and an action part (6) that is provided to the target member to be moved (3), and that is configured to act on a movement of a second link (8) mounted onto the first link (2).

Abstract: A sphere-type shift control apparatus for an electronic transmission system includes a shift operation unit configured to be operated by a driver of a vehicle for gear shifting on a first hemisphere of a spherical mechanism and a design unit for indirect illumination and image transmission on a second hemisphere of the spherical mechanism. By rotating the spherical mechanism, only the shift operation unit is exposed to a vehicle interior through an opening of a housing when a shift operation is required, while only the design unit is exposed to the vehicle interior through the opening of the housing when the shift operation is not required.

Abstract: A girth gear is provided, formed by a plurality of gear segments which are adapted to be secured together in an end to end arrangement to form the girth gear. Each gear segment includes a rim and a web extending from an underside of the rim. Each gear segment also includes at least one flange at each end of the gear segment for joining each gear segment together when the gear segments are in an end to end arrangement. The at least one flange has a side secured to one of the web or the rim.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic linear ball screw actuator preferably includes an electric motor, a hydraulic tube, an actuator ball screw, a ball nut device, an actuator rod and at least one external hydraulic flow passage. The actuator ball screw is rotated by the electric motor. The ball nut device includes a ball nut base, a piston portion and a rod thread. The ball nut device is retained in the hydraulic tube. The ball nut base includes a plurality of ball bearings, which engage ball threads on the actuator ball screw. The actuator rod is retained on the piston portion. Rotation of the electric motor causes the actuator rod to extend or retract. A first hydraulic chamber is located behind the piston portion and a second hydraulic chamber is located in front of the piston portion. The at least one external hydraulic flow passage transfers hydraulic fluid between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A rack is made from a plurality of laminated layers. Each layer defines an alignment feature that allows all of the layers to be affixed to a base plate of an aircraft seat assembly and align the teeth of the rack to within five ten-thousandths of an inch. The rack includes a straight portion and a curved portion such that a pinion gear on the aircraft seat assembly can move the aircraft seat assembly along tracks with straight and curved portions.

Abstract: A linear drive has at least one rack which is arranged along a longitudinal axis and has a plurality of teeth, a drive shaft arranged in a transverse axis transversely to the longitudinal axis, and at least two propulsion elements, each having at least one propulsion tooth. The at least two propulsion elements are linearly movable in a stroke axis which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis and transversely to the drive shaft. The at least two propulsion elements are drivingly coupled to the drive shaft in such a manner that the at least two propulsion elements perform at least one cyclical stroke movement in the course of one rotation of the drive shaft and enter and exit the at least one rack to generate a propulsion in the longitudinal axis. The at least two propulsion elements enter and exit the at least one rack with a phase shift.

Abstract: A gear rim carrier part for a two- or multi-component gearwheel includes an annular section which revolves around an axis of rotation in the circumferential direction, a gear rim arranged radially on the outside of the annular section, and a projection which extends radially inwards from the annular section and has a radially inner free end, or the gear rim carrier part includes an annular section which revolves around an axis of rotation in the circumferential direction, a gear rim arranged radially on the inside of the annular section, and a projection which extends radially outwards from the annular section and has a radially outer free end. The projection has a first width at the radially inner free end thereof or at the radially outer free end thereof and has a second width at the opposite end thereof at the transition to the annular section.

Abstract: An electromechanical-hydraulic piston actuator providing pressurized pressure medium for a brake system of a vehicle, including an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, a rotation-translation mechanism driven by the electric motor and which has a rotatable threaded nut and a threaded spindle prevented from rotating and displaceable in its axial direction, a piston coupled with the threaded spindle in the axial direction thereof, a hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic chamber filled with pressure medium into which the piston is displaceable from a rear piston position towards a forward piston position to pressurize the pressure medium and/or expel it from the chamber. A hydraulic connection is connected to the chamber via which pressure medium can be expelled from the chamber. An isolation device is provided for the piston-travel-controlled isolation of the rotational coupling between the rotor of the electric motor and the threaded nut.

Abstract: In a linear drive device, a movable member is driven using a guide shaft and a lead screw supported by a bracket. Since a nut mechanism, which with the lead screw configures a feed screw mechanism, is provided with a first spring between two nuts, it is possible to limit rattling of the nuts with respect to the lead screw. Of the two nuts, the first nut provided on the side opposite a motor and a first plate is not able to move relative to the movable member in the axis direction. As a result, when a member to be driven is loaded on the movable member and the movable member is driven in the direction approaching the first plate, the first plate and members disposed therearound are not susceptible to interference by the member being driven.

Abstract: A linkage system is disclosed that is suitable for connecting an input shaft and an output shaft. The linkage system has a wide variety of applications, with non-limiting examples disclosed including a hinge for a door or gate, and a hub for a bicycle or similar. The linkage system comprises a first member having an input location fixedly connected to the input shaft, a second member having an input location pivotally connected to an output location of the first member, a third member having an input location pivotally connected to an output location of the second member, and a fourth member having an input location pivotally connected to an output location of the third member and having an output location fixedly connected to the output shaft. The linkage system has an engaged mode of operation whereby rotation of the input shaft causes corresponding rotation of the output shaft, and a disengaged mode of operation whereby the input shaft can be rotated independently of the output shaft.

Abstract: A linear actuator system having an actuator housing, a motor assembly, a screw shaft, a thrust tube, and a nut assembly. The nut assembly is engaged with the screw shaft and directly coupled with the thrust tube. The nut assembly can define a mechanical fitting for direct physical engagement between the thrust tube and the nut assembly, absent additional load bearing components intervening therebetween. The nut assembly is configured to convert rotational motion of the rotor about the longitudinal axis to linear motion of the thrust tube along the longitudinal axis. A cooling loop can be at least partially embedded, potted or seated within the actuator housing, with a thermally conductive material disposed at least partially about the cooling loop to conduct heat from the actuator housing.