Abstract: A device for enhancing efficiency of an air mask (204) wearable by a user to cover the mouth and nose of the user includes an elongated chamber (202) fluidly couplable at a proximal end thereof to an air opening (205, 205?) of the mask (204). A filter element (206) formed of flexible material is wrapped around a sidewall of the chamber either internally or externally and has a surface area that is at least twice as large as that of the mask for filtering air flowing through the chamber in either direction, and a one-way valve (227, 228) is mounted in association with the opening for allowing filtered air inhaled by the user to pass from the chamber to the mask or for allowing an air exhaled by the user to pass from the mask to the chamber.

Abstract: A mobile disinfection device (200) includes a disinfection chamber (203) coupled to a propulsion system (228) configured for moving along a surface (236) to be disinfected. The disinfection chamber defines a closed distal end (205), an open proximal end (206) and a surrounding wall (207) impervious to the radiation and having opposing front and rear portions and opposing side portions, respective proximal front, rear and side edges of which are propelled by the propulsion system close to the surface to be disinfected. A radiation source (260) is mounted inside the disinfection chamber for irradiating the surface through the open proximal end. The propulsion system includes a peripheral seal (304) surrounding a proximal edge of the wall and configured to obstruct radiation that might otherwise escape from inside the disinfection chamber.

Abstract: A device for accurate wind measurement includes a bench carrying a camera having camera optics and a moving object connected to the camera by a string. The camera is generally directed downward and takes images of the object's movement while influenced by gravity and aerodynamic forces and is configured to stream the images to a digital signal processor or computer, which is adapted to decode the images and compute the object location and spatial angles.

Abstract: A device for accurate wind measurement includes a bench carrying a camera having camera optics and a moving object connected to the camera by a string. The camera is generally directed downward and takes images of the object's movement while influenced by gravity and aerodynamic forces and is configured to stream the images to a digital signal processor or computer, which is adapted to decode the images and compute the object location and spatial angles.

Abstract: A hub planetary belt transmission (2) has a platform body (50) supporting a motor drive (8) having a motor drive shaft (6) coupled to a distributing and a collecting pulley (4, 18) attached to a first output shaft (22) coupled to a first propulsion element (40, 44). A housing (30) coupled to peripheral shafts (24) attached to tension arms (26) is concentrically rotatable about a common axis of the distributing and collecting pulleys and is coupled to a second propulsion element (42, 45). Transmitting pulleys (12, 14) are driven by distributing belts (10) and collecting belts (20) for rotating together with the peripheral shafts and tension arms about a common axis of the distributing and collecting pulleys so as to create a centripetal force which stretches the distributing belts and the collecting belts, thus regulating the coupling force between the belts and pulleys based on the rotation velocity.

Abstract: A hub planetary belt transmission (2) has a platform body (50) supporting a motor drive (8) having a motor drive shaft (6) coupled to a distributing and a collecting pulley (4, 18) attached to a first output shaft (22) coupled to a first propulsion element (40, 44). A housing (30) coupled to peripheral shafts (24) attached to tension arms (26) is concentrically rotatable about a common axis of the distributing and collecting pulleys and is coupled to a second propulsion element (42, 45). Transmitting pulleys (12, 14) are driven by distributing belts (10) and collecting belts (20) for rotating together with the peripheral shafts and tension arms about a common axis of the distributing and collecting pulleys so as to create a centripetal force which stretches the distributing belts and the collecting belts, thus regulating the coupling force between the belts and pulleys based on the rotation velocity.

Abstract: An asymmetric multirotor helicopter has a structure supporting at least one main and two secondary propulsion systems. A flight control unit controls the helicopter by varying the relative speed of each of the main and secondary propulsion systems. Each main propulsion system includes at least one main motor drive and a main drive shaft that carries and propels a main differential contra-rotating transmission configured to share the power provided by the main drive shaft with two contra-rotating output shafts. Each secondary propulsion system includes at least one secondary motor drive and a secondary drive shaft that carries and propels respective secondary propulsion blades. The two contra-rotating output shafts support and propel for mutually contra-rotation motion two sets of main propulsion blades. The main drive shaft rotates in the same direction as one of the secondary drive shafts and at least one secondary drive shaft rotates in an opposite direction.

Abstract: An omni-directional recoil energy absorption mechanism has a slipping disk supported by a support plate carrying a weapon; and a cover plate covering the slipping disk and capturing it to create a sandwich structure of cover plate, slipping disk and support plate. Bolts act in conjunction with pressure springs to press the cover plate to the slipping disk toward the support plate and create friction forces in a plane of the slipping disk. Tension springs connect the slipping disk to the support plate under recoil force configured to return the slipping disk and the weapon to an initial position, in a center of the support and cover plates. The springs are preloaded to a pre-defined level to oppose, flexibly, the recoil forces in any vertical and radial directions, while absorbing the recoil energy by allowing the slipping of the slipping disk in between the cover and support plates.

Abstract: An omni-directional recoil energy absorption mechanism has a slipping disk supported by a support plate carrying a weapon; and a cover plate covering the slipping disk and capturing it to create a sandwich structure of cover plate, slipping disk and support plate. Bolts act in conjunction with pressure springs to press the cover plate to the slipping disk toward the support plate and create friction forces in a plane of the slipping disk. Tension springs connect the slipping disk to the support plate under recoil force configured to return the slipping disk and the weapon to an initial position, in a center of the support and cover plates. The springs are preloaded to a pre-defined level to oppose, flexibly, the recoil forces in any vertical and radial directions, while absorbing the recoil energy by allowing the slipping of the slipping disk in between the cover and support plates.

Abstract: An asymmetric multirotor helicopter has a structure supporting at least one main and two secondary propulsion systems. A flight control unit controls the helicopter by varying the relative speed of each of the main and secondary propulsion systems. Each main propulsion system includes at least one main motor drive and a main drive shaft that carries and propels a main differential contra-rotating transmission configured to share the power provided by the main drive shaft with two contra-rotating output shafts. Each secondary propulsion system includes at least one secondary motor drive and a secondary drive shaft that carries and propels respective secondary propulsion blades. The two contra-rotating output shafts support and propel for mutually contra-rotation motion two sets of main propulsion blades. The main drive shaft rotates in the same direction as one of the secondary drive shafts and at least one secondary drive shaft rotates in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A planetary belt transmission has a motor drive having a motor drive shaft, a distributing pulley attached to the motor drive shaft and a collecting pulley attached to an output shaft. Two or more distributing belts are coupled to the distributing pulley and two or more collecting belts are coupled to the collecting pulley from mutually opposite radial directions. Four or more transmitting pulleys are arranged in two or more concentric pairs around the distributing pulley and the collecting pulley and are coupled to the distributing pulley and the collecting pulley via the distributing belts and the collecting belts, respectively. Two or more peripheral shafts support the transmitting pulleys, while allowing movement in a radial direction only relative to the output shaft and being preloaded so as to apply a net zero radial force on the distributing pulleys and the collecting pulleys in a plane perpendicular to respective axes thereof.

Abstract: An object detection and location system includes a sensor array for coupling to a support structure and a processing unit. At least one motor rotates first and a second reflectors about an axis parallel to an optical axis of the sensor array, and a light source projects a light beam toward the first reflector, which intercepts and reflects the light beam toward the object when the first reflector is directed toward the object, whereby at a given instant of time the light beam strikes the object and is reflected thereby as a second reflected light beam. The second reflector directs a field of view of the sensor array toward the object at the same instant of time to intercept the second reflected light beam and reflect it toward the sensor array.

Abstract: A planetary belt transmission has a motor drive having a motor drive shaft, a distributing pulley attached to the motor drive shaft and a collecting pulley attached to an output shaft. Two or more distributing belts are coupled to the distributing pulley and two or more collecting belts are coupled to the collecting pulley from mutually opposite radial directions. Four or more transmitting pulleys are arranged in two or more concentric pairs around the distributing pulley and the collecting pulley and are coupled to the distributing pulley and the collecting pulley via the distributing belts and the collecting belts, respectively. Two or more peripheral shafts support the transmitting pulleys, while allowing movement in a radial direction only relative to the output shaft and being preloaded so as to apply a net zero radial force on the distributing pulleys and the collecting pulleys in a plane perpendicular to respective axes thereof.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly (2) for an optical device (16) includes a shaft (14) configured for supporting the optical device within an enclosure (4) that is adapted for rotation about the shaft. At least one first sealing element (18) is disposed between the shaft and a mating surface of the enclosure for preventing fluid leakage therethrough. At least one optically transparent window (8) is mounted in association with the enclosure (4), and at least one cleaning element (9, 11) is coupled to the shaft for cleaning a surface of the window (8). The cleaning assembly may include a moisture barrier in the form of a pressure-influenced member (58) such as a bellows (40) having a body of expandable and retractable-volume for containing air that diffuses therein, while equalizing pressure on opposite sides of the barrier.

Abstract: An object detection and location system includes a sensor array for coupling to a support structure and a processing unit. At least one motor rotates first and a second reflectors about an axis parallel to an optical axis of the sensor array, and a light source projects a light beam toward the first reflector, which intercepts and reflects the light beam toward the object when the first reflector is directed toward the object, whereby at a given instant of time the light beam strikes the object and is reflected thereby as a second reflected light beam. The second reflector directs a field of view of the sensor array toward the object at the same instant of time to intercept the second reflected light beam and reflect it toward the sensor array.

Abstract: There is provided a differential propulsion mechanism including two or more concentric and mutually counter-rotating first wheels (4, 6, 8, 10), mutually reacting and balancing the torque of a motor drive (20) interacting with the wheels. The motor drive has a stator attached to one of the first wheels to power a first wheel over a first track (12, 14, 16, 18), a rotor coupled to a mechanical link, at least indirectly connecting the rotor with a second of the two or more first wheels to power the second wheel over a second track, and a concentric connecting device affixed for coupling a payload thereto or for coupling the mechanism itself to another device.

Abstract: There is provided a pressure-equalizing housing device, including a rigid housing having a coupling end and configured to contain at least one instrument. The coupling end of the housing is adapted to be sealable to a radiation transmittable surface. An opening made in a wall of the housing enables fluid to pass therethrough, and the housing and surface delimit an interior space communicating with the exterior of the housing via the opening. There is also provided a pressure-influenced member forming an expandable and retractable volume body, a portion of which member is located adjacent to, or the interior of which member communicates with, the opening, for equalizing the pressure inside and outside the housing.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly (2) for an optical device (16) includes a shaft (14) configured for supporting the optical device within an enclosure (4) that is adapted for rotation about the shaft. At least one first sealing element (18) is disposed between the shaft and a mating surface of the enclosure for preventing fluid leakage therethrough. At least one optically transparent window (8) is mounted in association with the enclosure (4), and at least one cleaning element (9, 11) is coupled to the shaft for cleaning a surface of the window (8). The cleaning assembly may include a moisture barrier in the form of a pressure-influenced member (58) such as a bellows (40) having a body of expandable and retractable-volume for containing air that diffuses therein, while equalizing pressure on opposite sides of the barrier.

Abstract: There is provided a self torque-balancing differential mechanism (2), including two concentric counter-rotating wheels, rotatable about a central shaft (24), mutually reacting and balancing a torque of a motor drive (20) interacting with the wheels, the motor drive being concentrically or eccentrically attached to one of the wheels to power the wheel and an element coupled thereto. The motor drive has a rotor (12) connected with a second of the two wheels, to power the second wheel and the element coupled thereto. The motor drive is electrically fed via two slip-ring contactors (26, 28), and the central shaft has a carrier (22) for coupling another device thereto.

Abstract: There is provided a differential propulsion mechanism including two or more concentric and mutually counter-rotating first wheels (4, 6, 8, 10), mutually reacting and balancing the torque of a motor drive (20) interacting with the wheels. The motor drive has a stator attached to one of the first wheels to power a first wheel over a first track (12, 14, 16, 18), a rotor coupled to a mechanical link, at least indirectly connecting the rotor with a second of the two or more first wheels to power the second wheel over a second track, and a concentric connecting device affixed for coupling a payload thereto or for coupling the mechanism itself to another device.