Abstract: A positionable tool support device is mounted near a work surface for supporting a tool for a user. The tool support device includes a surface mount to secure the tool support device to a support surface. A gravity-balancing articulated arm assembly is coupled to and extends from the surface mount. The gravity-balancing articulated arm assembly is selectively adjustable about both vertical and horizontal axes. A rigid support extension is coupled to the gravity-balancing articulated arm assembly for selective rotation relative to the gravity-balancing articulated arm assembly. A flexible tensile member is coupled to and extends, in a relaxed state, vertically downward from the rigid support extension. The tensile member is coupled to the tool.

Abstract: When the mass of the first moving body is defined as M1, the mass of the second moving body is defined as M2, the distance between a first intersection point of a perpendicular line from a rotation center of the rotation axis to the first moving body and a first gravity center of the first moving body when the distance between the first intersection point and the first gravity center in the first moving body is the shortest is defined as L1, and the distance between a second intersection point of a perpendicular line from the rotation center of the rotation axis to the second moving body and a second gravity center of the second moving body when the distance between the second intersection point and the second gravity center in the second moving body is the shortest is defined as L2, M2=(L1/L2)×M1 is satisfied.

Abstract: A universal bird feeder hanger system is a low cost cable and pulley apparatus that allows a user to easily raise and lower a birdfeeder for maintenance. A metal plastic coated cable has a loop at each end that is routed through a pulley. The proximate end attaches to a ground screw anchor via a first carabiner and the distal end attaches to a birdfeeder via a second carabiner hook. In between, the pulley is attached to a support structure such as a gutter. The birdfeeder is raised and lowered by disconnecting the proximate end from the ground screw anchor and moving toward or away from the birdfeeder.

Abstract: The stand base is for a surgical microscope. The stand base is for setting up on a floor configured as a planar surface and includes at least a first weight module; a base body defining an underside and accommodating the first weight module; a support arrangement connected to the base body and supporting the stand base with at least three support points in contact engagement with the floor to permit setting up the stand base; the support points conjointly defining a support plane whereat the support points are in contact engagement with the floor; the underside of the base body facing toward the support plane; an ancillary body; the base body having a receiving arrangement in the underside for releasably accommodating the ancillary body; and, the underside of the base body and the support plane conjointly defining a smallest spacing therebetween which is greater than 10 cm.

Abstract: The present inventive concepts relate to an apparatus having a multi-jointed arm. The apparatus having a multi-jointed arm may include a body; a multi-jointed arm having a first link rotatably combined with the body at a first joint and a second link rotatably combined with the first link at a second joint; and a compensator generating a compensation moment cancelling out a moment being generated by a weight of the multi-jointed arm. The compensator includes a compensation load generating the compensation moment, and a compensation link connecting the compensation load and the multi-jointed arm so that the compensation load and the multi-jointed arm are on opposite sides of the first joint.

Abstract: A spring counterbalance mechanism balances a load with a spring. A cable has a protrusion fixed to the cable midway between two ends of the cable. The two free ends of the cable are fixedly coupled to one of the load or the spring, and a cable attachment is coupled to the remaining member. The cable passes through the cable attachment such that the protrusion is captive in the cable attachment and is movable between two stops in the cable attachment. The cable forms two segments each of which couples the spring to the load. The two segments of the cable pass over a pulley. A sensor coupled to the pulley senses rotation of the pulley allowing cable breakage to be detected by the anomalous rotation of the pulley.

Abstract: A mark unit includes a holding section that is disposed at the top of a display section so that a light-emitting section is positioned on a side of a display screen of the display section and a weight section is positioned on a side opposite to the display screen to hold the light-emitting section on the side of the display screen that intersects a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A counterbalance mechanism counterbalances an eccentric mass on a rotating shaft supported by a frame. A first pulley is coupled to and concentric with the shaft. An arm is coupled to the shaft to rotatably support a second at a first distance from the first pulley. A third pulley is fixedly coupled to the frame at a second distance from the first pulley. A fourth pulley is rotatably coupled to and concentric with the third pulley. A spring is fixed at a first end to the frame and has a second end that is coupled to the fourth pulley such that the spring provides a restoring force as the fourth pulley is rotated. A first cable has a first end that is coupled to the fourth pulley and a second end that is coupled to the frame through the third pulley after passing over the first and second pulleys.

Abstract: An operating microscope includes a base set on a floor surface, a post held for rotation around a vertical rotation axis with respect to the base, a horizontal motion arm held for rotation around a first horizontal rotation axis with respect to the post, a vertical motion arm held for rotation around a second horizontal rotation axis with respect to the horizontal motion arm, a lens barrel portion supported by the vertical motion arm, an elastic member which is provided between the post and the horizontal motion arm and cancels an angular moment around the horizontal motion arm, a fulcrum which is provided on the horizontal motion arm and receives a force from the elastic member, and a fulcrum moving mechanism configured to shift the position of the fulcrum in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the horizontal motion arm.

Abstract: An operating microscope includes a base set on a floor surface, a post held for rotation around a vertical rotation axis with respect to the base, a horizontal motion arm held for rotation around a first horizontal rotation axis with respect to the post, a vertical motion arm held for rotation around a second horizontal rotation axis with respect to the horizontal motion arm, a lens barrel portion supported by the vertical motion arm, an elastic member which is provided between the post and the horizontal motion arm and cancels an angular moment around the horizontal motion arm, a fulcrum which is provided on the horizontal motion arm and receives a force from the elastic member, and a fulcrum moving mechanism configured to shift the position of the fulcrum in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the horizontal motion arm.

Abstract: A system if used to compensate for guide flatness errors and/or shifting of a support. The system comprises one or more of the supports, an actuating system, the guide, a fluid or magnetic bearing, and a compensation system. The one or more support devices have one or more openings. The support devices are coupled to the actuating system, which is configured to move the support devices. The guide passes through respective ones of the openings. The fluid or magnetic bearings are configured to guide the respective support devices along the guides. The compensation system is coupled to respective ones of the support devices adjacent each of the fluid or magnetic bearings. The compensation system is configured to compensate for any non-straight areas of the guides or shifting (e.g., thermal shifting) of the support devices, which is done through moving of the support devices with respect to the guides during movement of the support devices along the guides.

Abstract: A modular chemical handling apparatus has a first component coupled to a second component. The first component is retained proximate to the second component by a locking mechanism. Fluid conduit connection devices and/or electrical connection devices in the first component are coupled to corresponding conduit connection devices and/or electrical connection devices in the second component by couplers. At least one laterally sliding lock shaft is employed for coupling the first module to the second module and for decoupling the first module from the second module. In one embodiment, counterweights are used to maintain the sliding lock shaft and each of the connection devices in the fully coupled position.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mounting for a payload (e.g. a TV/Video camera) comprising a platform (18) providing a mounting face for the payload, means (15, 19) to mount the platform for rotation about a horizontal axis for tilting of the platform to either side of a neutral position in which the platform is horizontal and spring (25) means to provide resistance to the said tilting movement in either direction from said neutral position to counterbalance the payload/platform in any position of tilt. The spring means comprise a torsion spring means and coupling means (21, 22, 24, 24) are provided interconnecting the platform and said spring means with a mechanical advantage which increases automatically with movement of the platform away from said neutral position to compensate for the increasing spring resistance to tilting generated by the torsion spring to counterbalance the camera/platform combination through its range of tilting.

Abstract: A positionable support device includes a friction cylinder as a counterbalance in place of conventional gas springs. The support device includes a support arm pivotally secured between two endcaps to allow for vertical movement, the first endcap being mounted to a support structure such as a wall or desktop, the second endcap adapted to engage a mounting element for a device such as an electronic device. A friction cylinder is pivotally attached at one end to the first endcap, and at the other to an outward portion of the support arm. The friction cylinder includes a tubular member open at one end for receiving a friction bushing and a shaft. The friction bushing is secured to the tubular member and has a central passage which allows the shaft to slide through the friction bushing, extending and retracting in relation to the tubular member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stand having a pivotable support arm (2) and a balance weight (AG), in which the balance weight (AG) acts via a cable pull (24) for the weight compensation of the load (G), the balance weight (AG) being arranged in the area of the vertical upright column (21) of the stand.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a counterweight apparatus for the purpose of counterbalancing another apparatus to provide previously unavailable typically varying magnitude of force counterweight function when coupled to a scissors lift 2 or similar apparatus. The invention herein described effectively overcomes the problem of counterbalancing the typically varying magnitude of force from a scissors lift 2 or similar apparatus. The unique combination of counterweight 6 movement and changes in the relative location of the sliding support arm's 3 slidable engaged contact point 9 with the moment arm 5 provides the typically varying magnitude of counterweight 6 force to substantial counterbalance the typically varying magnitude of force from a scissors lift apparatus 2.

Abstract: A control unit section made integral with an electric drive unit is improved in vibration resistance performance. In an electric drive unit, with which a control unit section of the drive unit provided with an electric motor is mounted on and made integral, the control unit section comprises power units and a control unit. The power units are immovably fixed to the drive unit, and the control unit is movably supported on the drive unit through a vibration proof support device. Thus, a control board in the form of a thin plate that is liable to generate membrane vibrations is provided whereby the control unit susceptible to vibrations is enhanced in vibration resistance performance to enable making the control unit section vibration proof in structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a carrier system (10) for a medical apparatus (11). The carrier system includes rotation joints (17, 18, 20). A supply line harness runs in the carrier system (10) and is run so that it is covered. The rotation joint (18) includes a tube-shaped holding member on which fingers are formed which hold a rotation joint. A joint element, which is rotatably journalled in a joint receptacle, is provided in the rotation joint (20). The joint element has a wave-shaped section which is connected via a connecting section to an annularly-shaped section functioning to accommodate a connecting arm.

Abstract: A vibration suppressing system includes a structural member with respect to which vibration suppression is to be executed, an actuator, having a pair of a fixed member and a movable member, for moving the movable member relative to the fixed member, and a first vibration sensor for measuring vibration of the structural member. A displacement sensor measures a movement distance of the movable member, a second vibration sensor measures vibration of the movable member, and a controller controls the actuator on the basis of outputs from the first vibration sensor, the displacement sensor and the second vibration sensor.

Abstract: The disclosure related to a rotary counterbalancing mechanism comprising a rotatable input (19, 22), a pair of aligned linearly movable outputs (24, 25), means (23) to convert rotation of said input into sinusoidal oscillation of said outputs between minimum and maximum displacement positions and 90° out of phase with each other and spring means (29) for resisting said oscillating movement of the outputs away from said minimum positions. The means to convert rotary motion of the input into linear movement of said two outputs comprise a rotatable cam (23) mounted to rotate about a fixed axis and the outputs comprise two cam followers (30) engaging the cam on opposite sides thereof and mounted for linear movement along a common line of action with each other which passes through the axis or rotation of the cam, said spring means (29) acting on the respective followers biasing the followers towards the cam to resist rotation of the cam.

Abstract: A SCARA type robot with counterbalanced arms and tilting base. This apparatus enables accurate planar movement of a probe. Weak or flexible foundations or footings do not affect positioning accuracy of the probe. Positioning accuracy, relative to the movement plane, of a probe is unaffected by positions of the arms. At any angle of the probe movement plane the counterbalanced arms allow the same size drive motors, torque transmission devices, and drive electronics. These features make the invention very useful for on-site or portable near-field testing of antennas. A manipulator may be used in place of the probe. Most of the benefits will be retained if load variations on the manipulator are kept small.

Abstract: A stand is provided for mounting various loads and is balanced at least partially automatically. The stand includes a plurality of interconnected elements defining one or more axes about which the stand is movable. An open-loop or closed-loop control circuit is provided for at least one of the axes and detects the unbalanced state about the one axis. The control circuit allows a torque compensating device to operate on the one axis until a state of equilibrium is obtained.

Abstract: A load balancing arm is shown and described as having improved control including a programmable control element and electronic air regulation to provide precise and controllable lifting force on a load. The disclosed load balancing arm responds to slight operator applied force to aid in movement of the load in overcoming system hysteresis, friction and load inertia without requiring the operator to apply a sufficiently large magnitude force to overcome such counteracting forces in the system. The disclosed load balancing arm further includes automatic load weight detection sensors for accommodating variation in load weights while applying a lifting force to the load which substantially equals the weight of the load. This allows the operator to move the load freely throughout a work space.

Abstract: A counterbalancing unit for a tripod head is assembled along a horizontal shaft. A pair of holders are slidably supported on the horizontal axis and disposed in an inside of a longitudinal member which is perpendicular to a base of a tripod head. One or more compressed elastic bodies are supported between the holders. One or more guide pines are connected with at least one of the holders to move horizontally inward in the longitudinal member together with at least one of the holders when the tripod head is tilted. A rotary member having a cam face at an edge thereof and connected with a strut is rotatably supported on the longitudinal shaft. The rotary member rotates with said strut causing the guide pin(s) to move into the longitudinal member by means of the cam face when the tripod head is tiled. The elastic bodies are compressed between the holders.

Abstract: A method and system for supporting a test article or structure in a gravity environment for the purpose of testing the article in a simulated weightless condition includes at least one support assembly attached to the article for suspending the article from an overhead support. The support assembly includes three cables each having an end attached to the article. The cables are capable of being actuated to cooperatively maintain a constant resultant vertical force on the test article which is equal to the weight of the article. The system includes a controller which is capable of adjusting the force in each cable to continuously maintain the constant resultant force on the article as it moves from position to position. The controller can calculate the new position of the test article as it moves from position to position.

Abstract: A motorized stand for positioning medical therapeutic or diagnostic instruments is mechanically coarsely balanced by weights. A defined positioning of the medical instrument is determined by means of several drive units with integrated angle transducers. Operating safety is additionally ensured, in the event of failure of a drive unit, by the use of two angle transducers per drive unit. One angle transducer is coupled to the drive motor of each drive unit. The other angle transducer is independent of the drive motor.

Abstract: A multi-jointed support arm accepting various Ophthalmic instruments and platforms is suspended by cables distributing the weight of said arm and instruments up and over two sets of pulleys and back down to a counterweight. A switch actuated electro-mechanical lock prevents accidental descent of the instrument platform support arm. Upward movement of the support arm is unrestricted. An outer shroud conceals mechanical components of this device prior to the support arm.

Abstract: A device for cleaning the doors of battery-arranged coke furnaces is provided. The device is suspended at four points from steel cables which pass along a pulley and are joined at its other end to a counter-weight. The cable is joined to the counter-weight in a resilient manner by compression actuated springs. The door to be cleaned is correctly positioned by the presence of sliders incorporated into the device and due to the floating arrangement of the device.

Abstract: A tilt apparatus allows an operator to readily change the tilt angle of a display monitor and retain the angle after it is changed. The tilt apparatus mounts vertically to the display monitor housing at the rear of the monitor's pivot point and center of gravity. The apparatus includes a piston and spring assembly which counterbalances shifting in the monitor's center of gravity during the manual tilting of the monitor to provide continuously variable adjustment throughout a predefined tilt range. The apparatus also includes frictional drag means to compensate for nonlinear changes in the center of gravity of the monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the height of a basketball goal comprising a telescoping support pivotally mounted to form a diagonal within a deformable parallelogrammatic structure. The telescoping support has an outer cylinder slidably connected over a concentric inner cylinder. The inner cylinder has a slot with a plurality of notches on its underside and the outer cylinder has a post disposed inside the outer cylinder and in sliding engagement with the slot. The inner cylinder is pivotally mounted such that it may be rotated about its longitudinal axis enough to align the post with either a notch or the slot. The notches are configured such that when a notch engages the post, the telescoping support is held and restricted from extending. A release mechanism is provided to rotate the inner cylinder causing the notch to disengage the post and to align with the slot for sliding engagement with the post.

Abstract: Apparatus for suspending an article for movement in a gravitational field incorporates a fixed hanger with one or more axle members stacked below the hanger and connected thereto. For each axle there is a rotor mounted on the axle, with a housing connected to the rotor and defining a horizontal passageway offset with respect to the rotational axis of the rotor. In each passageway there is a slide arm, and a guiding mechanism for guiding the slide arm. In a preferred form, the slide arm defines a horizontal axis about which a swing arm is pivoted, the swing arm supporting an article at the other end. A constant force is generated within the apparatus, and the force is applied to the swing arm in such a way as to consistently counterbalance the weight of the article.

Abstract: A tilt apparatus allows an operator to readily change the tilt angle of a display monitor and retain the angle after it is changed. The tilt apparatus mounts vertically to the display monitor housing at the rear of the monitor's pivot point and center of gravity. The apparatus includes a piston and spring assembly which counterbalances shifting in the monitor's center of gravity during the manual tilting of the monitor to provide continuously variable adjustment throughout a predefined tilt range. The apparatus also includes frictional drag means to compensate for nonlinear changes in the center of gravity of the monitor.

Abstract: A support arrangement for supporting a handpiece comprises a main body, a support post having one end secured to the main body, a movable arm movably mounted on the other end of the support post for supporting the handpiece, a counter-weight mounted on the other end of the movable arm adjacent the support post with an axis intersecting a horizontal axis of the movable arm and parallel to an axis of the support post for maintaining the movable arm substantially horizontal when the movable arm is not in operation. The support post extends obliquely upwards from the main body so as to shorten the length of the movable arm for better maneuverability.

Abstract: Camera mounting equipment comprising a wheeled base with a rotatable table mounted thereon. The rotatable table having a balanced pantographic arm pivoted thereon and means for controlling vertical and horizontal movement of a camera mounting platform attached to the other end of the arm. The equipment may be locked or unlocked in any combination of the three axes so that the camera mounting platform may have complete freedom of movement within its operational limits or may be limited to certain straight line or planar movement. The equipment is also counterbalanced and the arm may be remotely controlled using low power motors.

Abstract: An X-ray apparatus having a hydraulically controlled counterweight. A flexible roll diaphragm seals each piston to each cylinder in the system.

Abstract: A means for counterbalancing a mass (9) in mechanisms such as a robot arm (1), wherein the robot arm (1) has a fixed support point (2) and is attached to one end of a spring (3) for counterbalancing arm loading. The other, remote point of attachment (6) for the spring (3) is movable in relation to the fixed support point (2) for the arm (1), so that the distance between said remote point of attachment (6) for the spring (3) and the fixed support point (2) for the robot arm (1) can be varied for altering the geometry of the system, according to the weight of the mass, the tool (9), attached to the end of the robot arm (1), whereby the robot arm (1) can be counterbalanced in all positions and can be adjusted to different masses without reducing the dynamic properties of the robot arm (1).

Abstract: A tool reaction balancing mechanism consisting of a fluid-pressure reaction and balancing system and an articulated arm wherein the arm is suspended from dual overhead rails by a travelling bridge. The novel articulated arm has two pivotally connected arm sections. One of the arm sections is pivotally mounted at an end of the arm, to a portion of the bridge and the other arm section has means for holding a tool at an opposing end of the arm such that the articulated arm permits a tool fastened in the means for holding a tool to be displaced along a linear path. Biasing means urge the articulated arm toward a rest position wherein the arm sections of the articulated arm are folded in on each other.

Abstract: A robot includes a generally cylindrical stationary table adapted to be fixed on a floor, and has an outer peripheral surface formed with a circumferential gear. A rotary table is supported rotatably about the outer peripheral surface of the stationary table. A motor for rotating the rotary table is provided on the rotary table, and is connected to a motor gear meshing with the circumferential gear on the stationary table. An upper arm is supported tiltably on the rotary table, and has an upper end on which a front arm is supported. The front arm carries at its free end a working member, such as a welding torch. Another motor is provided on the upper arm for tilting it. A tension spring is disposed in the stationary table and has one end connected to the lower end of the upper arm, and another end connected to the stationary table at a point thereof about which the rotary table is rotatable. The tension spring serves to reduce the load on the motor which tilts the upper arm.

Abstract: A balancing device of a unit formed by a first machine carriage (1) supporting a second mobile carriage (4) on the first, in any direction other than the vertical, by means of a counterweight (6) connected to the first carriage (1) via chains (7, 8). This transmission comprises at least two chains (7 and 8) connected to said first carriage (1) via return-pulleys (13, 14) entrained by said chains (7 and 8) and acting on a torsion shaft (15), the relative length of the chain sections (7a, 8a) connecting the pulleys (13, 14) to said first carriage (1) being variable as a function of the displacement of the second carriage (4).

Abstract: An auxiliary apparatus at a stand for an optical observation device, such as a surgical microscope is disclosed, which contains a stand at which there is mounted the surgical microscope. The stand comprises a number of rotary and brake bearings, a support arm and a pivotal arm as well as a hinge parallelogram. The surgical microscope or other instrument can be freely adjustable, but fixed in position, throughout a predetermined spatial region as concerns its position and orientation. Arranged at the parallelogram is a web or strap for mounting a support element, at which there is laterally arranged a holder for the attachment of the housing of a brake bearing and a head element. In the head element there is movably mounted by means of a ball hinge element a coupling element structured for receiving and attaching the surgical microscope.

Abstract: An upright fabric washing machine includes a cabinet structure having a bottom frame that is formed to include a bearing for pivotally supporting an assembly of working parts of the machine. A mount includes a hollow mounting post having its lower end formed for pivotal support on the bearing and extending generally upwardly within the cabinet. A plurality of generally horizontally extending mounting arms are attached to the upper portion of the mounting post and project radially outward therefrom. A non-rotatable tub has a peripheral side wall and a bottom wall. The tub is mounted on the mount with the tub bottom wall supported by the mounting arms and with an access opening in the tub in register with the hollow mounting post. A transmission is mounted with its housing within the hollow mounting post and its output member extending upwardly within the tub. Springs connect the distal end of each of the mounting arms with the base for biasing the mount to an upright configuration.

Abstract: A camera mount for supporting a camera in balance so that it may be panned, tilted and rolled by an operator to face a target includes a pedestal operable for selective positioning behind the operator along an arcuate path having an axis of revolution lying on an imaginary line extending through the operator's head. A first arm is pivotally connected to the pedestal adjacent an upper end thereof for pivotal movement about a roll axis, and a second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm for pivotal movement about a tilt axis, the second arm supporting the camera and a counterbalance.