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 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 low profile tilt stage comprises a planar base, a cradle defining a cylindrical surface having a cylindrical axis parallel to the base, a table mounted on the cradle by curvilinear bearings, a curvilinear direct drive brushless motor between the cradle and table, and an encoder reader fixed relative to the base and an encoder scale fixed to the table.

Abstract: A linear motor driven positioning stage comprises a wedge positioned between a carrier and a base and a linear motor positioned between the wedge and the base for moving the wedge relative to the base along a second axis whereby the carrier moves relative to the base along a first axis.

Abstract: A rotary connector for coupling at least one stationary pipe to a rotating pipe includes a casing which is connected to a stationary inlet pipe and a stationary outlet pipe and which houses a rotary stem. The rotary stem includes an inner stem disposed within an outer stem for providing a first and second fluid flow path through the rotary stem. A spool is positioned between the rotary stem and the rotating pipe, which leads to a rotating piece of equipment, such as a combustor. The spool has an inner sleeve disposed within an outer sleeve for providing first and second fluid flow paths through the spool. The rotary connector also includes a seal for sealing an inboard end of the casing and a blind flange for sealing an outboard end of the casing. The fluid flows from the inlet pipe, through apertures in the outer stem, through an annulus between the inner and outer stems, through an annulus between the inner and outer sleeves of the spool, and into the coaxial pipe.

Abstract: A laser welding beam transport system is provided in which the laser beam 14 emanating from the laser generator 10 is expanded in diameter in an expander 16 at a location close to the generator, and then is transported in its expanded diameter to a remote location where the beam is reduced in diameter in a beam reducer 26 at a location close to the welding station 28 for the purpose of maintaining a relatively constant power density of the beam at the station over a significant range of working travel of the working station.