Reciprocating To Reciprocating Patents (Class 74/110)
  • Patent number: 11898581
    Abstract: A pneumatic stepper motor includes a housing, said housing accommodating at least part of: a rack or geared axle comprising a plurality of gear elements; and two pistons, each comprising at least two teeth, said pistons being arranged to cooperate with said rack or geared axle. The racks may either be straight or curved. The pistons are preferably double-acting pistons. A device includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of, such pneumatic stepper motor(s). The device may in particular be an MRI-compatible robotic system, more in particular for example an MRI-guided breast biopsy device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Machnet Medical Robotics B.V.
    Inventors: Vincent Groenhuis, Francoise Jeanette Siepel, Stefano Stramigioli
  • Patent number: 11844581
    Abstract: Provided is a system comprising a tool (50) and a stator unit (500). The tool (50) comprises an instrument (100, 102) having a proximal end (20) and a distal (40) end, an end effector (300) at the distal end (40) actuated by torque, and a rotor unit (400) body (410) having at least two cammed surfaces to provide the torque. The stator unit (500) comprises a plurality of stator pushers (530-Ua, 530-Va, 530-Wa, 530-Ub, 530-Vb, 530-Wb, 530-Uc, 530-Vc, 530-Wc) configured for movement in a direction radial to a centre of rotation (405) of the body (410) of the rotor unit (400) and for the application of the radial force, whereby movement of the stator pushers induces rotation of the body (410) around the axis of rotation (210).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Steerable Instruments NV
    Inventors: Bart Blanckaert, Cyriel Mabilde, Frank Dewaele
  • Patent number: 11846277
    Abstract: A system for supplementing the electric power needed by a pump jack electric motor, thereby reducing the electric power purchased from the local utility or power supplier. The system comprises a solar photovoltaic system, or other forms of renewable energy, and regenerated power from the electric motor or drive. The system can be both “on-grid” and “off-grid.” Battery banks and capacitor banks may be used to store energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Kavan Graybill
  • Patent number: 11711597
    Abstract: An optical mechanism is provided. The optical mechanism includes an immovable part, a movable part, a drive assembly, and a guidance assembly. The movable part is connected to an optical element. The movable part is movable relative to the immovable part. The drive assembly drives the movable part to move relative to the immovable part. The guidance assembly guides the movable part to move along a first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Hsin Huang, Yi-Ho Chen, Ya-Hsiu Wu, Shou-Jen Liu
  • Patent number: 11147643
    Abstract: Provided is a manipulator including: a movable part; a drive unit generating power; an elongated flexible long guide member to which the part is attached at one end thereof and the drive unit is attached at the other end thereof; an elongated tension transmission member passing through a lumen in the long guide member and transmitting the power of the drive unit to the part by means of a tension; a tension adjusting mechanism adjusting the tension of the tension transmission member; and a holding unit to which the drive unit is detachably attached. The mechanism includes: a tensioner, provided in a movable manner in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the tension transmission member, that pulls the tension transmission member; and a pressing member, provided in the holding unit, that moves the tensioner in a state in which the drive unit has been attached to the holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshihiro Yoshii, Mitsuaki Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11035493
    Abstract: Provided is a small-sized controller capable of precisely controlling a flow rate of a high-pressure fluid. Between a working shaft of a drive device and a valve stem, a power transmission device is disposed to amplify a force acting on the working shaft and transmit the resultant force to the valve stem. A diaphragm as a valve element is made of metal and is deformable to: a state where a fluid passage is fully closed; a state where the fluid passage is fully open; or a state where the fluid passage is partially open. When the fluid passage is partially open, on the basis of the flow rate of a fluid flowing through fluid passages, the drive device finely adjusts the position of the working shaft such that the flow rate is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishibashi, Michio Yamaji, Tadayuki Yakushijin, Shunji Obara, Keigo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10817009
    Abstract: An operator mechanism comprises a mechanical user interface and a contact assembly. The mechanical user interface is configured to be physically moved by a user. The contact assembly is coupled to the mechanical user interface such that movement of the mechanical user interface imparts movement to the contact assembly. The contact assembly includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis extending distally outward relative to the mechanical user interface to a distal end of the shaft. The contact assembly also includes a contact member coupled to and extending radially outward from the shaft. The contact member engages an actuator of a control device in the control enclosure when the contact assembly is moved. The contact member is selectively positionable longitudinally along the shaft and defines a shaft opening the shaft extends through such that the distal end of the shaft is distal of the shaft opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Graig Edmund DeCarr, Adam Ledgerwood
  • Patent number: 10694772
    Abstract: A fruit pitting and cutting method provides a fruit feeding along more fruit lanes, a pre-cutting stage to create an incision in the upper portion and the lower portion of each fruit, a pitting stage, in which the pit is separated from the flesh but remains inside the fruit, and a subsequent cutting stage in which a vertical cut is made in side parts of each fruit to be divided into two halves. A multi-lane machine is also described that has a longitudinal frame, a fruit flight conveyor, movable upper and lower transverse heads, a station including a pre-cutting section, a pitting section, and a cutting section separated in succession.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Inventor: Biagio Crescenzo
  • Patent number: 10344710
    Abstract: A turbofan engine having a thrust reverser having at least one movable control surface, movable to and from a reversing position where at least a portion of the bypass air flow is at least partially reversed, a thrust reverser actuation system having multiple actuators and a lockout mechanism movable between an inhibit condition, wherein movement of the multiple actuators is prevented, and a permit condition, wherein movement of the multiple actuators is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Willett, Brent Michael Ozanich, George Arnold Conway, Jonathan L. Spiry, Daniel Peter Beck, Jeffrey Michael Larkin
  • Patent number: 9616510
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric saw 1 including: a body 100; a base 200 fixing a frame 410 of an elevating motion converting part 400 thereto; a forward and reverse rotation driving part 300 adapted to drive forward and reverse rotation of a DC motor 320; the elevating motion converting unit 400 adapted to move up and down an elevator 440 insertedly coupled movable up and down to left and right guides 412 and 412? of the frame 410; and a saw part 500 having a ‘C’-shaped saw frame 510 having a fixing frame 510-1 adapted to fix one end of an upper frame 510-2 to the upper end thereof and to fix one end of a lower frame 510-3 to the lower end thereof and a plurality of elevator coupling holes 510-11 formed on the intermediate area thereof, the upper frame 510-2 adapted to fix the upper end of a saw blade 520 to the other end thereof, and the lower frame 510-3 adapted to fix the lower end of the saw blade 520 to the other end thereof, and the saw blade 520 fixed on both ends thereof to the other end
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Inventor: Seung Seop Go
  • Patent number: 9528579
    Abstract: An assembly for converting motion comprises a first rotatable arm; a second rotatable arm; a third arm pivotably connected to the second arm; a fourth arm pivotably connected to the second arm; a fifth arm; a first connecting arm extending between the first arm and the third arm, pivotably connected to first arm and the third arm; a second connecting arm extending between the first and second arms, pivotably connected to the first arm and to the second arm; a third connecting arm extending between the first and fourth arms and the fourth and fifth arms, pivotably connected to the first arm, pivotably connected to the fourth arm, and pivotably connected to the fifth arm; and a fourth connecting arm pivotably connected to each of the fourth and fifth arms; the fifth arm pivotably connected to the third connecting arm and mounted to an object to be moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Ten Fold Engineering Limited
    Inventor: David Martyn
  • Patent number: 9512927
    Abstract: A rapid-closure gate valve (10) comprising pressurized gas reservoirs (37, 39) that are integrated with the valve body (12). Pressurized gas stored in the reservoirs (37, 39) is utilized to shift a gate member (20) from a valve open position to a valve closed position upon actuation of the valve. Actuation of the valve is achieved by an actuator assembly (14) coupled with the valve body. The actuator assembly is configured to initiate a flow of pressurized gas from the reservoirs into a chamber (48) which effects shifting of the gate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: FIKE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tom Eijkelenberg, Guy Jakus
  • Patent number: 9500289
    Abstract: Embodiments of a safety device that provides a failsafe mechanism on valve actuator assemblies. This failsafe mechanism operates in the event of power loss, or other problems and/or failures, that prevent operation of the drive components. In one embodiment, the safety device is configured to couple the drive components with the valve stem. During normal operation, this configuration changes the position of the valve stem in response to motive action of the drive components. In the event of power loss, the safety device is configured to operate independent of the drive components to change the position of the valve stem and, thus, move the valve to a closed or “safe” position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: John Gregory Canning
  • Patent number: 9500169
    Abstract: A lever device for a fuel injection valve includes a housing with a housing recess, at least one lever element arranged in the housing recess, a drive element arranged in the housing recess and coupled to the lever element(s) in order to act upon said at least one lever element in a direction of a force-action axis, and an output element arranged in the housing recess and coupled to the lever element(s) such that this output element is moveable in the force-action axis direction by the at least one lever element. Each lever element includes a coupling section designed or arranged such that the lever element is coupled to the housing, or to the output element, in a rotationally-fixed manner with respect to the force-action axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Lehmann, Hellmut Freudenberg, Stefan Kohn, Robert Kuchler, Manuel Hannich, Roland Feigl, Wolfgang Wechler, Matthias Wicke
  • Patent number: 9494219
    Abstract: Tables having nuts are easily assembled and/or replaced on a lead screw from an open side thereof. The lead screw has a large screw near a motor and a small screw remote from the motor. A right-handed screw mating with one of the nuts and a left-handed screw mating with the other of the nuts lie adjacent to each other in the lengthwise direction. A stepped portion of flange coming into an inner ring of a bearing is placed on an end shaft in adjacency to the large screw. The pair of the tables after energization of the motor is controlled to come to a preselected phase in which the tables get closer or nearer each other or come to another preselected phase in which the tables go away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Sakai
  • Patent number: 9371196
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transportation method and a transportation device of a liquid crystal panel. The method includes (1) providing a transportation device, wherein the transportation device comprises a device body, linear rails mounted to the device body, a plurality of forks mounted in sequence to the linear rails, and servo motors mounted to the device body, the servo motors being coupled to the plurality of forks to drive the plurality of forks to slide along the linear rails; (2) adjusting spacing distance between the plurality of forks according to the size of a liquid crystal panel to be transported; (3) operating the transportation device to move the forks to a location under the liquid crystal panel to be transported in order to have the liquid crystal panel positioned on the plurality of forks; and (4) operating the transportation device to transport the liquid crystal panel to a designated site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Erqing Zhu, Chunhao Wu, Kunhsien Lin, Xiande Li, Weibing Yang, Zhenhua Guo
  • Patent number: 9233708
    Abstract: A vehicle such as a riding lawn care vehicle may include a frame and a steering assembly. Wheels of the vehicle may be attachable to the frame. The steering assembly may include a steering apparatus operably coupled to at least one of the wheels of the vehicle to provide steering inputs to the at least one of the wheels based on a position of the steering apparatus. The steering assembly may further include a steering column, a pinion assembly and a rack assembly. The steering column may extend from the steering apparatus to rotate responsive to movement of the steering apparatus. The pinion assembly may be disposed along the steering column and include at least two pinions of different sizes. The rack assembly may be operably coupled to the frame and the at least one wheel of the vehicle to translate steering inputs from the steering apparatus to the at least one wheel via the pinion assembly. The rack assembly may include at least two rack portions of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Sean Dwyer
  • Patent number: 9199350
    Abstract: A guide rail precision rotation apparatus is provided with a housing of torque motor and a bearing housing fixedly arranged on an upper surface of a base, and a bearing sleeved on an inner edge step at the upper end of bearing housing. The inner ring of bearing is sleevingly connected to an intermediate rotating body, the lower end of the body is connected to a bearing inner ring cap; a round grating is provided at an outer edge of lower end of the cap, a connecting piece is arranged on the motor, the lower end of connecting piece is fixedly connected to a rotary shaft of the motor, the connecting piece and the body are both connected to the lower end of a fine movement mechanism, and the upper end face of fine movement mechanism is fixedly connected to a rotary worktable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: XI'AN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yumei Huang, Manzhi Yang, Xingang Yang, Wenfeng Hou, Weigang Lv, Tongqing Liu, Guangpeng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150128735
    Abstract: A drive of a sliding connecting member of a locking system of a telescopic system, having a telescopic cylinder (1) with an outer telescopic section (2, 3) and an inner telescopic section (6, 7), which are each provided with a locking hole (5) into which a locking bolt (11) can be entered and withdrawn in a releasable manner via the sliding connecting member (14), provided with a sliding path (12), and a grasper (10), wherein the locking bolt (11) is designed to be moveable by means of an engagement member (9) running in the sliding path (12) in such a way that the locking bolt (11) effects a linear movement and the jib sections (3, 6) can be connected to one another by insertion of the locking bolt (11) into the bolting hole (5) and the sliding connecting member (14) can be driven by an electric linear drive (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ascan Klein, Thilo Jene, Frank Conrad
  • Publication number: 20150107386
    Abstract: A flexure element having a support frame, a first flexure linkage, a second flexure linkage, a first array of spring elements and a second array of spring elements, wherein , the first flexure linkage is connected to the support frame through the first array of spring elements, the second flexure linkage is connected to the first flexure linkage through the second array of spring elements, wherein the flexure element is in sheet form and the first array of spring elements and the second array of spring elements are substantially orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventor: Andrew Victor MATHER
  • Publication number: 20150101429
    Abstract: A control force transmission arrangement for an aircraft is provided. A transmission device has a first and a second force transmission point, and a coupling unit disposed between them. The coupling unit has a first and a second side element and a connecting element. The first and the second side elements are each connected to the first force transmission point and to the connecting element. At least the first side element has an element for altering the length of the side element. The second force transmission point is provided on the connecting element and is adjustable at least between a first and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventor: Jost SEIFERT
  • Publication number: 20140307372
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with an ejectable component assembly having a connector that can receive and retain a removable module within a housing of the electronic device. The ejectable component assembly may also be provided with an ejector mechanism for at least partially ejecting the removable module from the connector. The ejector mechanism may receive a user input force at an ejector user interface, translate that user input force into an ejection force, and apply that ejection force onto the removable module for ejecting the module. The ejector user interface may be provided at any suitable position of the housing that may not interfere with other functions of the device. The path along which the ejector mechanism translates the user input force into the ejection force between the ejector user interface and the removable module may be provided in any suitable way throughout the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Ashutosh Y. Shukla, Benjamin J. Pope, Kenneth A. Jenks, Scott A. Myers
  • Publication number: 20140283636
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an actuator element for a motor vehicle cover. The actuator element includes a plunger, which is axially guided on a guide. A slotted link guide with a sliding element and a control surface for guiding the sliding element, positively couple the plunger and the guide. A spring element, elastically couple the plunger and the guide in axial and rotational direction. The control surface includes a first loading section for rotating the plunger as a consequence of an axial movement in closing direction subject to axial and rotational loading of the spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Markus Frommann, Heiko Betzen
  • Publication number: 20140216188
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a telescopable sliding beam device with a sliding beam box and at least one first sliding beam and at least one second sliding beam, which are telescopable into each other, wherein the second sliding beam is mounted in the sliding beam box so as to be steplessly telescopable, and wherein in a first supporting region the first sliding beam is retracted and a stepless adjustment of the sliding beam device can be carried out by shifting the second sliding beam. According to the invention, the first sliding beam furthermore is extended in a second supporting region and a stepless adjustment of the sliding beam device can be carried out by shifting the second sliding beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Patte
  • Publication number: 20140139729
    Abstract: An actuator includes a base, a stationary frame mounted on the base, a moveable frame supported on the base, and a driving unit. The stationary frame includes a receiving cavity, a first sidewall, a neighboring second sidewall, an upper end, and an opposing lower end. The stationary frame defines a first cutout in the first sidewall, a second cutout in the second sidewall, and a third cutout passing through the lower end. The first cutout and the second cutout communicate with the receiving cavity, and the third cutout is located between the first cutout and the second cutout and directly communicates with the first cutout and the second cutout. The moveable frame includes a main body received in the receiving cavity and a protruding portion received in the third cutout. The driving unit includes a guide pole, a first metal clip, a second metal clip, and a SMA wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: YU-HAN CHEN
  • Publication number: 20140090496
    Abstract: The slide operation-type dovetail groove sliding stage may include a sliding lock screw for locking sliding of a sliding component, by causing the screw to abut on an inverted triangle-shaped protrusion, provided on a sidewall of a sliding component approximately parallel to a sliding direction and coupled to the sliding component, to bring the protrusion into contact with a dovetail of the fixed component and by tightening the screw. The sliding lock screw may be used as a sliding adjustment screw for performing fine adjustment of a degree of sliding of the sliding component with respect to the fixed component by adjusting an amount of rotation of the screw which abuts on the protrusion to bring it into contact with the dovetail of the sliding component, and a driving means which an operator grasps to perform an operation of sliding the sliding component to a desired position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: MIRUC OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20140053670
    Abstract: A biaxial linear-motion micro drive apparatus includes: a mounting base A on an upper surface of a Z-direction sliding base; a Z-direction micro actuator fixed within the mounting base A and connected with a Z-direction micro-motion platform connected with an X-direction sliding base; Z-direction guide rail strips arranged on the Z-direction sliding; two Z-direction guide rail blocks provided on one Z-direction guide rail strip fixedly mounted on a lower surface of the X-direction sliding base; a mounting base B provided on an upper surface of the X-direction sliding base; an X-direction micro actuator in the mounting base B and connected with an X-direction micro-motion platform connected with an XZ biaxial motion platform; two X-direction guide rail strips arranged on the upper surface of the X-direction sliding base; two X-direction guide rail blocks provided on each X-direction guide rail strip mounted on a lower surface of the XZ biaxial motion platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: XI'AN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yumei Huang, Hongyan Liu, Xingang Yang, Yong Yang
  • Publication number: 20140007567
    Abstract: A reaction mass and a spring are configured to form an “oscillator”. The reaction mass is coupled to, and can wrap around, a first pulley via a first belt/cable. The spring is coupled to, and can wrap around, a second pulley via a second belt/cable. The first and second pulleys are mechanically linked together and are mounted so they rotate in tandem. The diameter of the second pulley is different than the diameter of the first pulley to cause the reaction mass to travel a different distance than the spring in response to the up down motion of the reaction mass. The first and second pulleys may be circular with the second pulley being made smaller than first. Alternatively, the first pulley may be circular and the second pulley a cam of varying radius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: David B. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20130328967
    Abstract: A moving mechanism includes a support, a moving body arranged movably in a predetermined direction relative to the support, a first groove provided in the support parallel to the moving direction, a second groove provided in the moving body parallel to the moving direction, and facing the first groove, and a vibrating body arranged in the support or moving body and biased to press the other of the moving body or the support. A direction which the first groove and the second groove face each other intersects a direction which the support and the moving body face each other, and a biasing direction which the vibrating body is biased intersects the direction which the first groove and the second groove face each other and the direction which the support and the moving body face each other. Accordingly, backlash of the moving body with respect to the support is suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Osamu Miyazawa
  • Publication number: 20130276564
    Abstract: An actuator unit (1) of a cam shifting system, which actuator unit is mountable on an internal combustion engine or a component thereof and has at least one actuator pin (5) for moving shifting cam units of the cam shifting system into different axial positions by means of at least one shift groove formed on the periphery of the shifting cam units and cooperating with the actuator pin (5). The actuator pins (5) are spring-loaded in a direction toward the shifting cam unit, operable by a solenoid unit, and slidably supported in a housing (2) of the actuator unit (1). The housing (2) of the actuator unit (1) is provided with at least one enlargement in each inner surface facing an actuator pin (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Oliver Popp, Martin Steigerwald
  • Patent number: 8534146
    Abstract: A continuously variable speed transmission includes a first guideway, a second guideway, wherein the first guideway and the second guideway remain stationary during operation at a particular speed ratio. The transmission includes a first member moveably connected to the first guideway and the second guideway, the first member includes gear teeth and a second member having gear teeth positioned at an adjustable angle relative to the first member. The speed ratio of the transmission is determined based on angle of the second member relative to the first member. In another variation, the first member may be either an input member or a control member, and the second member may be either an input member or a control member. An additional member connected to the center of the gear between the first and second members would then serve as the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Flugrad, Abir Z. Qamhiyah
  • Publication number: 20130194028
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring (1), in particular for a push button, for fixing to a carrier (2) and for registering a vertical force (F). The spring (3) is designed in such a way that when actuated it converts a vertical movement into a horizontal movement that can be detected by sensor means (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: ams AG
    Inventors: Manfred Brandl, Jean Marc Lucchini
  • Publication number: 20130157488
    Abstract: An electrical charger for charging an electronic device includes a base, a connector, and a pop-up mechanism. The connector is exposed out of the base for connecting the electronic device. The pop-up mechanism is received in the base and includes a number of pushing pillars and a button set on the base. The pushing pillars are slidably set beside the connector. A top end of each pushing pillar extends out of the base. The button drives the pushing pillars to slide upwards, pushing the electronic device away from the connector when the charging operation is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130152713
    Abstract: A force transfer mechanism includes cylindrical guide housing; a movable body which is slidably arranged in the guide housing so as to move in a linear direction by means of an externally applied force, and which includes a cutout groove having one or more inclined surfaces, and through-holes formed in a direction perpendicular to the linear motion direction in portions corresponding to the inclined surfaces; and a slave unit, one end of which is coupled to the movable body such that said end passes through the through-holes of the movable body and moves along the inclined surfaces of the cutout groove vertically relative to the movement direction of the movable body, and the other end of which is elastically supported.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventor: Young Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 8408082
    Abstract: A transport device includes a first segment fixedly coupled to a wall. The transport device also includes at least one second segment coupled to the first segment. The at least one second segment includes at least one of a fluid-driven device, a rack and pinion drive device, and a carriage. The transport device further includes an automated position control system. The control system includes at least one axial positioning device coupled to the at least one second segment. The control system also includes at least one axial position feedback device coupled to at least one of the first segment and the at least one second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven E. Dahler, Peter Alan Gregg, Christopher R. Banares
  • Publication number: 20130074623
    Abstract: A method for stepping a first member relative to a second member associated with a projectile. The method including: providing one of the first and second members with one of a plurality of pockets and more than three movable pins offset from each other with a first spacing; providing the other of the first and second members with the other of the plurality of pockets and more than three movable pins offset from each other with a second spacing, where the first spacing is different from the second spacing; and engaging at least one of the movable pins into a corresponding pocket to step one of the first and second members a predetermined linear and/or rotary displacement. Where the engaging includes selectively varying a step size between the first and second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Jahangir S Rastegar, Jacques Fischer
  • Publication number: 20130074284
    Abstract: A hinge assembly including a vehicle body hinge member configured to be connected with a vehicle body and a hood hinge member configured to be connected with a vehicle hood. The vehicle body hinge member and the hood hinge member are pivotally connected so the hood can be opened for servicing and closed for driving. In one embodiment, a pedestrian protection device includes a bracket movable between an extended position in which a rear portion of the vehicle hood is in an elevated position and a retracted position in which the rear portion of the vehicle hood is in a drivable position. A shear pin extends through the bracket for maintaining the bracket in the retracted position until a threshold force is applied to the bracket. The device includes an actuator configured to apply at least the threshold force to shear the shear pin, thereby moving the bracket to the extended position. A reset latch relocks the bracket in the retracted position after the shear pin has been sheared.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Midway Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Midway Products Group, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130042708
    Abstract: A slim line mechanism is provided and includes a first body having a stationary track coupled thereto, a first mechanism, which is supportable between the stationary track and the first body and configured to be driven in a first direction, a second mechanism, which is configured to be driven by the first mechanism in a second direction transverse with respect to the first direction, a system by which the first and second mechanisms are coupled to one another and connectors by which the first body is supportively connectable with the first and second mechanisms such that movements thereof in the first and second directions, respectively, are permitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert K. Mullady, Mitchell L. Zapotoski
  • Publication number: 20130035647
    Abstract: A first input member (6) and a second input member (7) are arranged along a first axis (4) and coupled in such a manner that a movement of the first input member along the first axis is converted into a rotational movement of the second input member with respect to the body (1). A first output member (8) and a second output member (9) are arranged along a second axis (5) and coupled in such a manner that a rotational movement of the first output member is converted into a movement of the second output member along the second axis with respect to the body. The second input member and the first output member are releasably rotationally coupled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Robert Veasey, Simon Lewis Bilton, Christopher Jones, Garen Kouyoumjian, Catherine Anne MacDonald
  • Patent number: 8364347
    Abstract: A small-size, highly-reliable left-right independent steering device is provided without having to make significant modifications to existing vehicles or to develop dedicated vehicles. The device includes tie rods linked to left and right front wheels and axially expandable and contractible by means of small-size telescopic mechanism portions defined by ball-screw-type linear actuators. Each telescopic mechanism portion mainly includes a main body to which a tie-rod end of the corresponding tie rod is fixed, and an electric motor serving as an actuator attached substantially perpendicularly to the main body. The other end of the tie rod is coupled to a steering rod and functions as a piston rod that can advance or recede in the axial direction by means of the telescopic mechanism portion. Thus, the telescopic mechanism portions are mountable within tire wheels at positions free of, for example, suspension arms and stabilizers located near the tie rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tsukasaki, Masaru Kogure
  • Patent number: 8353553
    Abstract: A drive for actuating a flap pivotably supported in or on an automobile includes a push-push kinematics. The kinematics includes a pushbar axially displaceably supported in a housing and having an external actuation end cooperating with the flap. A rotatable ring encloses the pushbar. A groove runs parallel to the pushbar axis and engages with a protrusion at the inner circumference of the ring. A first deflection face runs obliquely to the pushbar axis and cooperates with the protrusion of the ring to rotate this ring when the pushbar is pushed into the housing. A locking recess situated at the pushbar for receiving the protrusion when the pushbar is released, to lock the pushbar in the housing. A second deflection face runs obliquely to the pushbar axis and cooperates with the protrusion when the pushbar is moved out of the locked position by being pushed farther into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Beck
  • Patent number: 8312804
    Abstract: The actuator unit includes a hollow body defining a sliding chamber within; a piston mounted sliding inside said sliding chamber such to provide an actuation force and operated by a fluid fed from the outside; a body having one transmission end for the transmission of said actuation force prolonged outside said sliding chamber and one hooking end hooked to said piston, amplification means being interposed between said body and said piston to amplify said actuation force so as to obtain an amplified actuation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: Gino Ferrari, Franco Maioli
  • Publication number: 20120147344
    Abstract: An actuator includes a housing, a movable part, and an advancing unit that is at least temporarily connected to the movable part. The advancing unit includes a deformation unit and a deformer configured to deform the deformation unit with a vector component perpendicular to an effective direction of the actuator so that a total length of the deformation unit changes in the effective direction of the actuator as a result of the deformation. The movable part is configured to move in the effective direction of the actuator upon a removal of the vector component on the deformation unit and the deformation unit is disposed along the effective direction of the actuator upon the removal of the vector component on the deformation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: CARL ZEISS SMT GMBH
    Inventors: Ulrich Weber, Stefan Hembacher, Armin Schoeppach
  • Publication number: 20120138740
    Abstract: A control force transmission arrangement for an aircraft is provided. A transmission device has a first and a second force transmission point, and a coupling unit disposed between them. The coupling unit has a first and a second side element and a connecting element. The first and the second side elements are each connected to the first force transmission point and to the connecting element. At least the first side element has an element for altering the length of the side element. The second force transmission point is provided on the connecting element and is adjustable at least between a first and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Jost SEIFERT
  • Publication number: 20120120308
    Abstract: A method for making an actuator includes forming a substantially planar actuator device of an electrically conductive material, the device incorporating an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame, a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame, a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame, an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moveable frame, moving the moveable frame to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced a selected distance apart from the fixed frame, and fixing the moveable frame at the deployed position for substantially rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: Tessera MEMS Technologies
    Inventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet, Xiaolei Liu
  • Publication number: 20120081598
    Abstract: A method for making an actuator device includes forming a substantially planar structure having a stage resiliently supported for movement within a plane of the structure, an actuator coupled to an outer periphery of the stage and operable to apply a force acting in the plane and tangentially to the stage when actuated, the actuator comprising a fixed frame and a moving frame resiliently supported for reciprocal movement relative to the fixed frame by a motion control flexure, and an outer frame surrounding and supporting the stage and the actuator. The moving frame is moved to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance, and the moving frame is then fixed at the deployed position for substantially rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
    Inventors: Robert J. Calvet, Xiaolei Liu, Ankur Jain, Lakshminarayan Hariharan, Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20120042742
    Abstract: A handle section of a small electric device is described that has a handle housing in which a drive unit is disposed, a first connector element extending from the housing being adapted for connection with an attachment section, the first connector element being coupled to the drive unit; a second connector element extending from the housing being adapted for connection with the attachment section, the second connector element being coupled to the drive unit, wherein the first connector element linearly reciprocates relative to the housing during operation and the second connector element linearly reciprocates relative to the housing with a 180 degrees phase shift with respect to the first connector element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Joern Utsch, Uwe Schober, Frank Ziegler, Norbert Schaefer
  • Publication number: 20110253832
    Abstract: A support assembly for deployment and retraction of an aero surface from an aircraft is disclosed. The assembly comprises a guide track, a primary support arm having one end coupled to a carriage mounted on the track such that the primary support arm is rotatable relative to the carriage about multiple axes, and a control arm having one end coupled to the primary support arm and a second end pivotably attachable to a fixed support forming part of the structure of the aircraft. The assembly being configured such that, when the carriage is driven along the guide track, the control arm causes the primary support arm to pivot about said multiple axes to deploy and/or retract an aero surface pivotally attached to an opposite end of the primary support member along an arcuate path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Wildman, Simon John Parker, Anthony Bryant, Christian Folkard
  • Publication number: 20110174102
    Abstract: A drive actuating a flap pivotably supported in or on an automobile, in particular actuating a fuel tank flap, comprising a push-push kinematics cooperating with one side of the flap, said push-push kinematics exhibiting the following features: a housing suitable for integration into an automobile, a pushbar supported in axially displaceable manner in the housing and which in all its axial positions partly projects through a housing aperture (34) out of the housing and which comprises an external actuating end cooperating the flap, a spring in the housing prestressing the pushbar to project from the housing, a rotatable ring which encloses the pushbar and which is supported in the housing in axially fixed manner at the outside of the pushbar, at least one groove running parallel to its axis and at least one protrusion at the inner circumference of said ring to engage said groove over a wide adjustment range of the pushbar, as a result of which the ring retains its rotational position in said range of the g
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventor: Christian Beck
  • Patent number: RE43040
    Abstract: An advancing/retracting mechanism having a pair of cams is disclosed. The advancing/retracting mechanism includes a first cam, a second cam, and a barrel. The first cam includes an angled surface and a shoe, and the second cam includes an angled surface and a slider. The shoe engages with a helical surface in the barrel, and the slider engages with a straight surface in the barrel. The first cam travels a first distance along the longitudinal axis of the barrel from a first to a second state, and the second cam travels a second distance that is greater then the first distance along the longitudinal axis of the barrel from the first to the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Sanford, L.P.
    Inventors: Neville E. Andrews, Andrew Bielecki