Abstract: A utility vehicle is configured for use in emergency situations. The utility vehicle includes a base, a set of tracks, and a set of outriggers. The set of tracks is secured to the base configured to move the base through rough terrain. The set of outrigger is configured to be disposed in a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration. The outrigger is disposed above the deck level in the stowed configuration. The outrigger also remains outside the set of tracks in both the stowed configuration and the deployed configuration. The outrigger comprises an upper leg, a lower leg, and an actuator.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A power transfer apparatus includes: a casing into which liquid is injected; two metal plates disposed so as to come into contact with the liquid within the casing; and a power source configured to emit a current into the liquid with each of the two metal plates as an electrode; with power being supplied from the power source to a functional module to be mounted within the casing through the liquid such that each of two electrodes comes into contact with the liquid; and with the functional module being mounted such that the liquid can flow from one of the two metal plates to the other.

Abstract: A three-stage liquid metal switch employing electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD), including a common EWOD switch 1310 having an input port 1302, a first shared-EWOD-switch output 1336, and a second shared-EWOD-switch output 1338; a first EWOD switch 1340 having a first-EWOD-switch input 1343, a first output port 1304, and a first-EWOD-switch output 1368; and a second EWOD switch 1370 having a second-EWOD-switch input 1373, a second output port 1306, and a second-EWOD-switch output 1398; wherein the first shared-EWOD-switch output 1336 is operably connected to the first-EWOD-switch input 1343, and the second shared-EWOD-switch output 1338 is operably connected to the second-EWOD-switch input 1373.

Abstract: A miniaturized relay with an integrated electromagnetic actuator allows scaling a reed relay to a small size to reduce the power needed to actuate it while retaining a high quality liquid metal contact. A dragged liquid metal contact is used. Coplanar waveguides may be used for the switched signal instead of microstrip transmission lines to reduce transmission line discontinuities that occur due to impedance changes.

Abstract: A method and structure for an optical switch. A channel is housed within a solid material. Contacts coupled to the channel are further coupled to the solid material, while a plurality of piezoelectric elements are coupled to chamber and further coupled to a slug. Optical waveguides are coupled to the channel. The contacts are coupled to a plurality of liquid metal globules, wherein one or more of the plurality of liquid metal globules are coupled to a slug. One or more piezoelectric elements are actuated, causing the slug to be moved within the channel. The motion of the slug is operable to block or unblock one or more of the plurality of optical waveguides.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a liquid metal switch in a state of readiness for switching. The liquid metal switch has a liquid metal volume contained in a cavity of a switch body. A signal path though the cavity is made or broken by energizing an actuator to move the liquid metal volume within the cavity in response to a switching signal. To maintain readiness, a signal generator supplies a vibratory signal to the actuator. The resulting vibrations in the liquid metal volume allow the liquid metal volume to be subsequently moved with reduced power.

Abstract: An electrical relay that uses a conducting liquid in the switching mechanism. In the relay, a pair of moveable switching contacts is attached to the free end of a switch bar and positioned between a pair of fixed electrical contact pads. The connections to the switching contacts and the fixed contact pads are shielded by ground traces. A surface of each contact supports a droplet of a conducting liquid, such as a liquid metal. A piezoelectric actuator is energized to push or pull the switch bar and move the pair of switching contacts, closing the gap between one of the fixed contact pads and one of the switching contacts, thereby causing conducting liquid droplets to coalesce and form an electrical circuit. At the same time, the gap between the other fixed contact pad and the other switching contact is increased, causing conducting liquid droplets to separate and break an electrical circuit. The piezoelectric actuator is then de-energized and the switching contacts return to their starting positions.

Abstract: An electrical relay that uses a conducting liquid in the switching mechanism. In the relay, a pair of moveable switching contacts is positioned between a pair of fixed electrical contact pads. A surface of each contact supports a droplet of a conducting liquid, such as a liquid metal. An actuator is energized to move the pair of switching contacts, closing the gap between one of the fixed contact pads and one of the switching contacts, thereby causing conducting liquid droplets to coalesce and form an electrical circuit. At the same time, the gap between the other fixed contact pad and the other switching contact is increased, thereby causing conducting liquid droplets to separate and break an electrical circuit. The actuator is then de-energized and the switching contacts return to their starting positions. The volume of liquid metal is chosen so that liquid metal droplets remain coalesced or separated because of surface tension in the liquid.

Abstract: A piezoelectric relay is disclosed in which a liquid metal droplet is moved within a switching channel formed in relay housing. A signal path passing through the switching channel is blocked or unblocked by motion of the liquid metal droplet that coalesces with one of two additional liquid metal droplets. Motion of the liquid metal droplets is controlled by piezoelectric pumps that control the flow of actuation fluid between a fluid reservoir and the switching channel. The liquid metal droplets are held in place by surface tension acting on wettable contact pads within the switching channel. The surface tension of the liquid provides a latching mechanism for the relay.

Abstract: An electrical relay array using conducting liquid in the switching mechanism. The relay array is amenable to manufacture by micro-machining techniques. Each element of the relay array uses an actuator, such as a piezoelectric element, to cause a switch actuator to insert into a cavity in a static switch contact structure. The cavity has sides and a pad on its end that are wettable by the conducting liquid. The cavity is filled with the conducting liquid, which may be liquid metal. Insertion of the switch actuator into the cavity causes the conducting liquid to be displaced outward and come in contact with the contact pad on the switch actuator. The volume of conducting liquid is chosen so that when the actuator returns to its rest position, the electrical contact is maintained by surface tension and by wetting of the contact pads on both the static switch contact structure and the actuator.

Abstract: A piezoelectric optical relay is disclosed in which a solid slug moves within a switching channel formed in relay housing. An optical path passing through the switching channel is blocked or unblocked by motion of the solid slug. Motion of the solid slug is controlled by at least two piezoelectric actuators within the switching channel. Motion of the solid slug is resisted by a liquid, such as a liquid metal, that wets between the solid slug and at least one fixed contact pad in the switching channel. The surface tension of the liquid provides a latching mechanism for the relay.

Abstract: An electrical relay that uses a conducting liquid in the switching mechanism. In the relay, a pair of switching contacts is attached to the free end of a switch bar and positioned between a pair of fixed electrical contact pads. A surface of each contact supports a droplet of a conducting liquid, such as a liquid metal. A piezoelectric actuator is energized to push or pull the switch bar and move the pair of switching contacts, closing the gap between one of the fixed contact pads and one of the switching contacts, thereby causing conducting liquid droplets to coalesce and form an electrical circuit. At the same time, the gap between the other fixed contact pad and the other switching contact is increased, causing conducting liquid droplets to separate and break an electrical circuit. The piezoelectric actuator is then de-energized and the switching contacts return to their starting positions.

Abstract: A method for depositing material on a channel plate such that the material is registered to one or more channels formed in the channel plate includes filling at least one of the channels with a resist that is not wetted by the material; depositing the material on at least a region of the channel plate that includes at least part of the resist; and then removing the resist. The method may be used, in one embodiment, to apply an adhesive or gasket material that is used in assembling a switch.

Abstract: The multi-pole, conductive liquid-based switch device includes an elongate passage, a first cavity, a second cavity, at least four electrodes disposed along the length of the passage, channels that extend from the passage, non-conductive fluid located the cavities and conductive liquid located in the passage. The channels are one fewer in number than the electrodes and are interleaved with the electrodes along the length of the passage. The channels are numbered in order from one end of the passage. Odd-numbered ones of the channels extend to the first cavity while even-numbered ones of the channels extend to the second cavity.

Abstract: Each of pressure-detecting switches to be connected to one another has a first connector provided at one side section and a first connector provided at the other side section. Electric wiring is mutually effected for the pressure-detecting switches by attaching/detaching the first connectors. The pressure-detecting switches are mutually fixed by using a fixing mechanism arranged for the side sections to effect the function for mutually attaching/detaching the pressure-detecting switches.

Abstract: An attitude detection device has a case having inner surfaces, electrodes each disposed on a respective inner surface of the case and being insulated from one another in at least one preselected orientation of the case, and a conductive fluid disposed in the case. In a first orientation of the case, the conductive fluid electrically connects all but one of the electrodes to generate a first electrical pattern for outputting a first output signal. In a second orientation of the case, the conductive fluid electrically connects all but three of the electrodes to generate a second electrical pattern for outputting a second output signal. In a third orientation of the case different from the first and second orientations, a third electrical pattern is generated for outputting a third output signal.

Abstract: A switch responsive to movements such as those occurring in a boat with respect to a horizontal plane is provided with electrical contacts arranged in a circular pattern in proximity to a fluid electrical conductor in a shallow annular chamber. The electrical contacts are arranged in two groups, the contacts of one group being positioned between the contacts of the other group so that an electrical circuit may be established by the fluid conductor between any of a number of pairs of the electrical contacts depending upon the tilting of the switch and the resultant positioning of the fluid conductor. Electrical circuits so established are useful in actuating devices, such as solenoids, and the movement of the cores thereof may be used to control stabilizing fins on a boat to overcome sideward tilting of the boat with respect to horizontal.

Abstract: An automatic level device for sensing the height and pitch of an aircraft and for adjusting a loader platform to align with the aircraft. An umbilical cord connected between the platform and the aircraft includes a tube partially filled with mercury and having a plurality of electrodes spaced along one end of the tube. As the height of the aircraft changes the mercury contacts a different number of electrodes and the electrodes provide signals for adjusting the level of the platform and aligning the platform with the aircraft.

Abstract: One or more mercury displacement switches are positioned against a plate-shaped mounting bracket and interlocked to the plate by means of a strap extending around each switch and through the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A device is disclosed which, in response to forces acting upon it, such as gravity, inertia, magnetic fields and the like, opens or closes electric circuits or otherwise generates signals which may be used to control predetermined functions.