Abstract: An electromagnetic inertial actuator includes a support base and a parallel arrangement of a first flexure part, a voice coil motor part, and a second flexure part. The parallel arrangement is cantilevered from the support base.

Abstract: Improved force generator (FG) devices and methods are provided herein. A FG device (10) includes a housing (16, 18), a shaft (S) centrally disposed within the housing, and multiple imbalance rotors (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) disposed within the housing and provided along the shaft. At least two pairs (PA, PB) of imbalance rotors are provided in a nested configuration with respect to each other along the shaft. The at least two pairs (PA, PB) of imbalance rotors are supported in the nested configuration by large and small bearings (BA, BB). Any two imbalance rotors are paired to rotate together in a same direction according to a desired vibration canceling force. A method of controlling vibration within a structure is provided. The method includes detecting vibration, receiving a force command at a FG device, and pairing any two imbalance masses together and rotating a pair of imbalance masses via the rotors together in a same direction to cancel the detected vibration.

Abstract: Improved vibration damping devices (10), systems, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, damping devices and related methods can be used in single rotor or tandem rotor aircraft. In some aspects, a vibration damping device (10) for use in a vibration damping system of an aircraft can include a housing (10), at least two imbalance masses (42b, 44b) provided in a side-by-side configuration within the housing, and at least two more imbalance masses (40b, 46b) provided in a nested configuration within the housing. In some aspects, devices, systems, and methods include rotating any two imbalance masses provided within the housing in a same direction. Such rotation can result in a linear force for counteracting vibration occurring within the aircraft. In some aspects, devices described herein can include one or more processors for executing commands from a controller within a damping system.

Abstract: Improvements to slip rings (200) and methods for the operation thereof include an improved slip ring assembly (200) that has a stationary element (202), a rotating element (210) rotatable with respect to the stationary (202) element, a bearing assembly coupled between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210), and one or more contact brushes (213) on one of the stationary element (202) or the rotating element (210). In some embodiments, the bearing assembly includes a primary bearing, a secondary bearing, a shear pin coupling the secondary bearing to the primary bearing, and an electrical monitoring circuit (206) in communication with the shear pin. In some embodiments, the one or more contact brushes (213) includes one or more metal fiber brushes constructed of a plurality of metal fibers that are configured to transmit one or more of electrical power or data between the stationary element (202) and the rotating element (210).

Abstract: An electromagnetic inertial actuator includes a support base and a parallel arrangement of a first flexure part, a voice coil motor part, and a second flexure part. The parallel arrangement is cantilevered from the support base.

Abstract: A medicament respiratory delivery device including a housing having a chamber, an inlet and an outlet generally coaxially aligned with the chamber, wherein the chamber includes a medicament cartridge having a body including a generally cylindrical passage extending through the opposed ends of the cartridge generally coaxially aligned with the inlet and outlet of the housing having thin burstable polyolefin membranes having a burst pressure of between 1.2 and 10 atmospheres stretched taut over the ends of the cartridge, such that fluid delivered to the inlet ruptures the membranes, entraining medicament contained within the cartridge passage which is delivered to the patient's respiratory system through the outlet.

Abstract: A medicament respiratory delivery device including a housing having a chamber, an inlet and an outlet generally coaxially aligned with the chamber, wherein the chamber includes a medicament cartridge having a body including a generally cylindrical passage extending through the opposed ends of the cartridge generally coaxially aligned with the inlet and outlet of the housing having thin burstable polyolefin membranes having a burst pressure of between 1.2 and 10 atmospheres stretched taut over the ends of the cartridge, such that fluid delivered to the inlet ruptures the membranes, entraining medicament contained within the cartridge passage which is delivered to the patient's respiratory system through the outlet.

Abstract: A medicament respiratory delivery device including a housing having a chamber, an inlet and an outlet generally coaxially aligned with the chamber, wherein the chamber includes a medicament cartridge having a body including a generally cylindrical passage extending through the opposed ends of the cartridge generally coaxially aligned with the inlet and outlet of the housing having thin burstable polyolefin membranes having a burst pressure of between 1.2 and 10 atmospheres stretched taut over the ends of the cartridge, such that fluid delivered to the inlet ruptures the membranes, entraining medicament contained within the cartridge passage which is delivered to the patient's respiratory system through the outlet.

Abstract: The apparatus effects transfer and connection of tools between a tool holder and at least one bracket of a robot hand. A pin upon the tool holder and a pin upon the bracket are received during tool transfer within a bore extending through the tool shank, one of the pins entering the bore from one end thereof and the other pin entering from the other end of the bore. The free ends of the pins abut during transfer of the tool between the tool holder and the bracket. Two tools may be simultaneously transferred in the preferred embodiment of the apparatus. The connection between the bracket and the tool permits limited movement of the former relative to the latter, and a sensor may be provided to detect such movement.

Abstract: A sensitive, durable, high resolution tactile sensor particularly suited for use as a robot end effector in an automated manufacturing process. The tactile sensor has an array of pressure sensing sites provided by a series of current emitter electrodes surrounded by a series of companion current collector electrodes both of which engage a rough conductive layer carried on the underside of a resilient platen. The emitters are electrically connected together in parallel rows, and the collectors are electrically connected together in parallel columns above and across the rows. The emitters and collectors are electrically insulated from one another as are the rows and columns. When the platen engages an object to apply pressure at one of the sites, and a positive voltage is applied to an emitter electrode, current flows from the emitter electrode and through the conductive layer to the companion collector electrode from which it is collected and measured.