Abstract: A power-off emergency braking system, or parking brake system is presented in which, at each power-up, energy is stored in the structure of the brake so as to ensure the power-off application of the brake and the holding of same in the event of an interruption to the power supply of the device.

Abstract: A power-off emergency braking system, or parking brake system is presented in which, at each power-up, energy is stored in the structure of the brake so as to ensure the power-off application of the brake and the holding of same in the event of an interruption to the power supply of the device.

Abstract: A device for uncoupling a drill string, the device including, in a longitudinal direction: a first structure that is intended to be attached to a drill string tube; a second structure that is intended to hold a cutting tool for drilling and is translatable relative to the first structure; and a thruster assembly between the first structure and the second structure. The thruster assembly is configured to exert a thrusting force on the second structure to separate the second structure from the first structure, the thrusting force being constant for every position of the second structure relative to the first structure.

Abstract: A device for uncoupling a drill string, the device including, in a longitudinal direction: a first structure that is intended to be attached to a drill string tube; a second structure that is intended to hold a cutting tool for drilling and is translatable relative to the first structure; and a thruster assembly between the first structure and the second structure. The thruster assembly is configured to exert a thrusting force on the second structure to separate the second structure from the first structure, the thrusting force being constant for every position of the second structure relative to the first structure.

Abstract: Clamping means which may be used with soldering pliers, having a first element (18) and a second element (20) relatively displaceable by the action of a screw (10) that can be rotated about an axis (XX) by the action of a motor (M); a nut (12) cooperating with the screw (10) and which can be driven in the direction of the screw axis (XX), the screw being coupled to the first element (18); first guiding means (34L) defining linear guidance parallel to the axis (XX) of the screw to prevent rotation of the nut (12) in a first phase of displacement of the nut; and second helicoidal guiding means (34H) extending with the axis (XX) of the screw (12) and which has an thread inverted in relation to the screw thread to allow the nut (12) to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the screw (10) in a second nut displacement phase; in addition to a compensation system (46) arranged between the first element (18) and a mobile support (14) coupled to the nut (12) in order to reinitialize the position of the first elem

Abstract: The clamping or gripping tool comprises a first member (18) and a second member which are capable of relative movement under the action of a drive system of the screw-nut type, the said nut being incapable of translational movement relative to the first member (18), and a compensation system (46) inserted between the first member (18) and a movable support (14) secured to the nut (12) to reset the position of this first member (18) with respect to the second member. The compensation system comprises a compensating disc (68) that rotates as one with a hub (50) screwed around the movable support (14), a measurement disc (80) mounted on the movable support (14) via a freewheel mechanism (76) and at least one energy-storing spring (74) inserted between the compensating disc (68) and the measurement disc (80) so that the memorizing of the degree of wear of the component parts is materialized in the relative angular position of the measurement disc (80) with respect to the movable support (14).

Abstract: The clamping or gripping tool comprises a first member (18) and a second member which are capable of relative movement under the action of a drive system of the screw-nut type, the said nut being incapable of translational movement relative to the first member (18), and a compensation system (46) inserted between the first member (18) and a movable support (14) secured to the nut (12) to reset the position of this first member (18) with respect to the second member. The compensation system comprises a compensating disc (68) that rotates as one with a hub (50) screwed around the movable support (14), a measurement disc (80) mounted on the movable support (14) via a freewheel mechanism (76) and at least one energy-storing spring (74) inserted between the compensating disc (68) and the measurement disc (80) so that the memorizing of the degree of wear of the component parts is materialized in the relative angular position of the measurement disc (80) with respect to the movable support (14).

Abstract: A device for balancing a force. The device includes an articulated mechanism (10). The articulated mechanism (10) includes a proximal arm (12) borne by a support wedged on a first hinge pin (20) and a distal arm (14) borne by the proximal arm and wedged on a second hinge pin (24) extending parallel to the first pin. The distal arm has a free end (26) supporting a load (F). The device further includes first balancing means (18,20) with high bandwidth acting on the proximal arm (12), second balancing means (18,22) with high bandwidth acting on the distal arm (4), and coordinating means interposed between the first balancing means and the second balancing means to coordinate rotational movements of the proximal arm and the distal arm.

Abstract: The clamping tool comprises a first element (18) and a second element (20) capable of relative displacement as a result of the action of a drive device comprising a screw (10) having a given screw thread such that it can be rotationally driven about an axis (XX) in one direction or in a direction opposite thereto as a result of the action of a motor (M); a nut (12) cooperating with the screw (10) and which can be rotationaly driven in the direction of the axis (XX) of the screw, said screw being translationally coupled to the first element (18); first guiding means (34L) defining linear guidance parallel to the axis (XX) of the screw in order to rotationally block the nut (12) in a first phase of displacement of the nut; and second guiding means (34H) defining helicoidal guidance extending according to the axis (XX) of the screw (12) and which has an inverted thread in relation to the thread of the screw in order to enable the nut (12) to rotate in the same direction of rotation as the screw (10) in a second

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising a screw (10) with pitch (P1) driven by a motor (M), a nut (12) co-operating with the screw (10) and designed to be driven in translation in the direction of the screw axis, said nut being integral in translation with a member (14), guide means (22L, 24L) defining a linear guiding to lock the rotation of the nut in a first phase of displacement, second guide means (22H, 24H) defining a helical guiding having a reverse pitch (P2) relative to the pitch of the screw to enable the transverse pitch and hence the translational speed of the nut to be decreased in said second phase of displacement. The inventive device can be used to produce a relative displacement between the members (16 and 28) of a clamping tool.

Abstract: The invention concerns a handling device comprising, in combination, a mechanical equilibrium mechanism (10) with low reaction time, having an arm (20) whereof the proximal end (22) is locked on a pivot pin (18) and whereof the distal (26) is adapted to support a load (10), a force sensor (30) positioned in a selected site for detecting apparent weight variation the load (10) resulting from a force being exerted on said load in response to an operator's movement, servo feed-back means (32) actuated by the force sensor (30), and an actuator (34) controlled by the servo feed-back means (32) and connected to the arm to assist the operator's movement. The invention is applicable in particular to robot arms or the like.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for displacing a load (14) comprising a mobile support (12) adapted to support a load and exert on the load a force in a given direction, and device for mechanical balancing (10) interposed between the mobile support (12) and the load (14) so as to compensate the weight of the load and allow movements of slight amplitude of the load in a direction parallel to the load. The device is particularly useful for manoeuvring stakes, such as sheet piles and the like. The balancing device (10) can alternatively be integrated between the mobile support (12) and a vibration generator (46) to isolate the support from the vibrations generated by the vibration generator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising a screw (10) with pitch (P1) driven by a motor (M), a nut (12) co-operating with the screw (10) and designed to be driven in translation in the direction of the screw axis, said nut being integral in translation with a member (14), guide means (22L, 24L) defining a linear guiding to lock the rotation of the nut in a first phase of displacement, second guide means (22H, 24H) defining a helical guiding having a reverse pitch (P2) relative to the pitch of the screw to enable the transverse pitch and hence the translational speed of the nut to be decreased in said second phase of displacement. The inventive device can be used to produce a relative displacement between the members (16 and 28) of a clamping tool.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for balancing a force comprising an articulated mechanism (10) consisting of a proximal arm (12) borne by a support wedged on a first hinge pin (20) and a distal arm (14) borne by the proximal arm and wedged on a second hinge pin (24) extending parallel to the first pin, the distal arm having a free end (26) supporting a load (F). The device further comprises first balancing means (18, 20) with high bandwidth acting on the proximal arm (12), second balancing means (18, 22) with high bandwidth acting on the distal arm (4), and co-ordinating means interposed between the first balancing means and the second balancing means to co-ordinate the respective rotational movements of the proximal arm and of the distal arm. The invention is applicable to mechanical manipulators, to transfer devices and to railway pantographs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for displacing a load (14) comprising a mobile support (12) adapted to support a load and exert on said load a force in a given direction, and means for mechanical balancing (10) interposed between the mobile support (12) and the load (14) so as to compensate the weight of the load and allow movements of slight amplitude of the load in a direction parallel to the load. The device is particularly useful for manoeuvring stakes, such as sheet piles and the like. The balancing means (10) can alternatively be integrated between the mobile support (12) and a vibration generator (46) to isolate said support from the vibrations generated by the vibration generator.

Abstract: The invention concerns a handling device comprising, in combination, a mechanical equilibrium mechanism (10) with low reaction time, having an arm (20) whereof the proximal end (22) is locked on a pivot pin (18) and whereof the distal end (26) is adapted to support a load (10), a force sensor (30) positioned in a selected site for detecting apparent weight variation of the load (10) resulting from a force being exerted on said load in response to an operator's movement, servo feed-back means (32) actuated by the force sensor (30), and an actuator (34) controlled by the servo feed-back means (32) and connected to the arm (20) to assist the operator's movement. The invention is applicable in particular to robot arms or the like.

Abstract: A device for balancing forces acting on an arm pulled by a load includes a body on which is pivotally mounted an arm pulled by a load. The body is suspended from a point of support by an adjustable, triangular support connected at two fixing points on the body, which allows adjustment of the center of gravity of the device, in order that it is in substantial vertical alignment with the point of support when the arm is in an intermediate, substantially horizontal position. The arm may support a tool, such as a welding tool.

Abstract: A method of recognizing templates and detecting their positions on sheet or plate material, e.g. hide, which hide is placed on a supporting table, the method using optical reader means and template marker means which are readable by said optical reader means, the method including the improvement whereby the marker means on a template are constituted by at least one geometrical figure having a finite area and optionally including at least one characteristic line.

Abstract: A method of cutting a sheet 1 with a tool controlled by a computer system and in accordance with a cutting program that may depend on certain particularities of the sheet. The computer system examines the sheet by scanning it with a video camera. Prior to scanning an operator marks certain of the particularities directly on the sheet using a fluorescent marker, the marking being in the form of distinctive symbols 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 which are detectable by the camera and which are interpretable as being constraints on cutting to be taken into account by the cutting program. The sheet is illuminated by ultraviolet light while it is being scanned by the camera, and the scanning speed of the camera is adjusted as a function of the required sensitivity. The scanning speed lies in the range 10 to 40 images per second, and is preferably about 25 images per second.

Abstract: A method of cutting out pieces which are to be assembled from a length of check fabric 1 in order to obtain continuity or alignment in the design on the fabric at at least some of the assembly points includes the steps of placing a length of fabric on a cutting-out table 2, storing the shapes, positions, and orientations of the pieces to be cut out in a computer memory, with a margin having a width equal to one half of a design element being reserved around some of the pieces in one or two directions, and also storing the positions of points A, B which are to coincide when the pieces are assembled. A pair of images of the fabric, each centered on a corresponding one of the points, are displayed on a screen 8 side by side, and linear and/or angular offsets between the designs are observed, whereafter any offsets are corrected such that the designs correspond in at least one direction.