Abstract: A soft robot is described, including: a flexible and/or stretchable body; a common fluid pressurization unit; and a plurality of fluid chambers each embedded in the flexible and/or stretchable body and capable of fluidic connection with the common fluid pressurization unit through a pressurizing valve; wherein the pressurizing valve is capable of being activated to allow the pressurized fluid to flow from the common fluid pressurization unit into the fluid chamber to result in actuation. Methods of using the soft robot are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a rotor is coupled to the support such that the rotor can rotate about an axis of rotation relative to the support. The rotor has a first surface for supporting a piece of flexible material at a diameter D about the axis of rotation. The carriage is coupled to the support such that the carriage is constrained to slide parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor. A second plurality of pulleys comprises a third pulley, a fourth pulley, and a fifth pulley. The piece of flexible material is coupled to the rotor, then helically wound around the first surface of the rotor with a lead l, then wrapped around the third pulley, then wrapped around the first pulley, then wrapped around the fourth pulley, then wrapped around the second pulley, then wrapped around the fifth pulley, then coupled to the support.

Abstract: A spur gear transmission has at least two toothed spur gears with toothings that are in meshing engagement with one another and which are each rotatable about an axis of rotation. An enveloping wall at least partially encloses the two spur gears in a circumferential direction and in the direction of the axis of rotation. The enveloping wall has an inner contour adapted to the outer diameters of the spur gears such that, between the enveloping wall and the spur gears, there are formed two ring-shaped gaps which transition into one another, wherein in each case one ring-shaped gap is arranged concentrically with in each case one axis of rotation. A lubricating device conducts a lubricant flow into the toothings of the spur gears. A cooling device is additionally provided, which conducts a coolant flow through one or more cooling ducts within and/or along the outside of the enveloping wall.

Abstract: A pump jack includes a number of standard components that have been sized and configured according to unique relative dimensions to produce a pump jack that reduces structural stress, increases bearing life and permits a lower cost of manufacture. These geometric ratios can be used to express the relative size and spacing of the crankshaft, crank arms, center bearing, equalizer bearing, walking beam and pitman arms. Pump jacks incorporating one or more of these geometric ratios can be sized and scaled for a variety of pumping applications.

Abstract: A spindle drive includes a housing, a spindle, e.g., a threaded spindle, a trapezoidal threaded spindle, a ball circulation spindle or planetary roller spindle, and a spindle nut that is operatively connected to the spindle. The spindle nut is guided on the housing in a manner that allows it to be moved back and forth in response to rotational movement of the spindle in the axial direction thereof. On at least one axial side, the spindle nut includes an annular groove or is connected, e.g., screw-connected, to a part that has an annular groove. An annular collar is formed on the housing. The collar enters or extends into the annular groove in response to the spindle nut reaching an associated or a corresponding axial position.

Abstract: An anti-backlash device for preventing backlash derived from a moving load on a screw used in converting rotary motion into linear motion, the anti-backlash device comprising: a cylindrical pressure actuator integrally formed with a helical thread and axially mounted on the screw; a cradle integrally formed with a helical thread and internal cradle threads, the cradle being mounted exterior to and in mechanical contact with both the cylindrical pressure actuator and the screw, and a preloading means comprising a wave spring and a retainer mounted in the cradle.

Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using and/or controlling the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.

Abstract: When a lock bar is moved in a state in which a cam is rotated and an abutting face is abutted on a cam face of the cam, the abutting face is abutted on a circumferential face of the cam at a location excluding a lock bar moving direction position with respect to a center of rotation. Accordingly, a movement stroke of the lock bar with respect to a rotation angle of the cam can be increased.

Abstract: A decoupler assembly for disengaging a shaft transmitting torque between a rotatory engine and an electric generator. The decoupler assembly includes an output shaft, input shaft wherein the output shaft is selectively coupled to the input shaft. Retractable balls are incorporated into the assembly in order to couple and decouple the input shaft from the output shaft.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an arm for a multi joint robot, and a multi joint robot. The arm is formed by a first half portion and a second half portion engaged with each other, an upper portion of each of the first and second half portions being provided with a protrusion, the protrusions being substantially parallel to each other, a lower portion of the first half portion being provided with a supporting member, the two half portions being engaged with each other via an engagement surface which is between the two protrusions, the shape of a lower portion of the second half portion matching the shape of an outer circumference of the supporting member.

Abstract: A movement member which reciprocates includes a thick portion and a thin portion, a bearing portion formed in the thick portion is slidingly supported by the guide shaft, and a sliding portion formed in the thin portion is slidingly guided by the sliding guide portion. Power of the motor is transmitted to a pinion gear via a speed reduction gear and a speed reduction mechanism inside a gear box, and a movement reaction force is applied from the pinion gear to the rack portion. Since the rack portion is positioned on an axis Os, a force is effectively applied to the movement member by the power from the motor.

Abstract: The electromechanical actuator cylinder provides a casing, an actuation rod mounted to be movable longitudinally relative to the casing, an electric motor provided with a stator and with a rotating rotor shaft, and a mechanism for converting a rotational movement of the rotor shaft into a linear movement in translation of the actuation rod. The actuator cylinder includes at least one roller bearing for guiding the rotor shaft in rotation relative to the casing and providing at least one row of rolling elements. An inner raceway for the row of rolling elements of the bearing is formed directly on the rotor shaft.

Abstract: An automatic transmission where the first engagement element is positioned between the continuously variable speed change mechanism and a portion of the second power transmission path on the wheel side, at which the second power transmission path is coupled to the first power transmission path, and is allowed to be switched to the disengaged state for inertial traveling.

Abstract: A lever mechanism for converting a motion from linear to rotary includes a guiding bar, a slider which slides along the guiding bar, and a lever. The lever includes a cylindrical element and a pair of slot links which are fixed frontally on the cylindrical element and between which the slider is arranged. The slider includes at least two bushes for supporting a pivot which is adapted to act on the slot links. The bushes are mutually separated by a space to accommodate a reserve of lubricant.

Abstract: A cable guide device for guiding at least one supply cable along a robot arm includes a supply cable and a spring system configured to automatically return the supply cable from an extracted state into a retracted state. The device, has a front end section in the direction of extraction of the supply cable, and a rear end section in the direction of extraction of the supply cable. The device further includes a spring system seat permanently connected to the supply cable and on which the rear end section of the spring system is mounted, an abutment seat on which the front end section of the spring system is mounted, a fastening device configured to fasten the cable guide device to a link of the robot arm, and an adjustment device carrying the abutment seat and configured to mount the abutment seat for movement with respect to the fastening device.

Abstract: An assembly for a robot includes a servo comprising an output gear, a servo housing connected to the servo, a rotary support connected to the servo and the servo housing, the rotary support being configured to rotate as driven by the servo; and a stopper assembly arranged at the servo housing and the rotary support. The stopper assembly is used to limit the rotary support to be rotatable in a predetermined range.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprising a housing with a proximal end and a distal end, the housing defining a central cavity extending axially through the housing; a piston tube, where a first portion of the piston tube is slidably positioned axially in the housing, and a second portion of the piston tube extends outwardly from the distal end of the housing; an elongated rotatable screw positioned axially within the central cavity of the housing; a nut positioned within the housing and mounted about the screw, the nut configured to move axially within the housing as the screw rotates; and a spring positioned around the screw, the spring positioned within the housing between the nut and the piston tube; wherein the spring is configured to bias the piston tube away from the nut.

Abstract: A DNA-structured linear actuator comprised of a ladder-like structure that twists to generate linear motion. In its base state, the DNA structured linear actuator best resembles a rope ladder. When this ladder is twisted, it takes on the appearance of a DNA double-helix structure. By application of a torsional force on one end, the ladder-like structure extends or contracts to allow linear translation of one end of the structure.

Abstract: A robot includes a robot arm, a balancer, and a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The balancer is pressurized in advance by a predetermined amount of pressure and contracted to a dimension smaller than a predetermined mounting dimension of the robot arm. The first mounting portion and the second mounting portion are disposed on the robot arm to respectively accept a first end and a second end of the balancer so that the first end and the second end of the balancer are mounted on the robot arm. At least one mounting portion among the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion accepts the corresponding end, among the first end and the second end, of the balancer in a direction approximately parallel to a direction in which the balancer is expanded and contracted.

Abstract: A hybrid composite reinforced ring gear minimizing radial deformation during high RPM conditions includes a composite backing secured to a metal rim. In use, at operating temperature the composite backing contracts while the metal rim expands thus creating a compressive stress on the metal rim and significantly reduces radial deformation due to centrifugal forces as compared to an all steel ring gear.