Abstract: A ball screw spline actuator includes a shaft, a ball nut, and a ball spline. The shaft includes a helical groove and a spline groove intersecting the helical groove forming intersections having a least one ridge including a first surface finish formed by a first manufacturing operation. The ridge is subsequently reformed through a second manufacturing operation to include a second surface finish to reduce stress concentrations in the ridge from cyclical loading from at least one of the ball nut or the ball spline. In one example, the second manufacturing operation reforms the ridge to include a surface finished edge.

Abstract: Prosthetic devices and, more particularly, modular myoelectric prosthesis components and related methods, are described. In one embodiment, a hand for a prosthetic limb may comprise a rotor-motor; a transmission, comprising a differential roller screw; a linkage coupled to the transmission; and at least one finger coupled to the linkage. In one embodiment, a component part of a wrist of a prosthetic limb may comprise an exterior-rotor motor, a planetary gear transmission, a clutch, and a cycloid transmission. In one embodiment, an elbow for a prosthetic limb may comprise an exterior-rotor motor, and a transmission comprising a planetary gear transmission, a non-backdrivable clutch, and a screw.

Abstract: An angle regulation device includes a casing, a regulating gear, a driving mechanism, a transmitting mechanism and a powering unit. The regulating gear is pivoted to the casing and is mounted with a radar detector. The driving mechanism includes co-rotatable rotating shaft, and first and second driving members. The transmitting mechanism includes first and second transmitting units each including a transmitting gear that meshes with the regulating gear and that has a gear radius smaller than that of the regulating gear, and a transmitting engaging structure that meshes with a respective one of the first and second driving members. The powering unit is coupled to the rotating shaft for rotating the radar detector relative to the casing.

Abstract: A gear system wherein a harmonic drive or strain wave gearing set is efficiently and effectively coupled to a worm drive, where the harmonic drive or strain wave gearing serves as the input and the worm drive serves as the output. By using the harmonic drive or strain wave gearing set as the primary, a very large reduction ratio is achieved in a right angle package with high torsional stiffness. Further, at high worm ratios, the system can be non-back driving. At low ratios, worm gearing can be highly efficient. This, combined with the harmonic drive or strain wave gearing set being used as the primary, provides a high ratio, highly efficient gear system.

Abstract: A locking differential for a vehicle includes a rotatable housing and a differential mechanism supported in the housing. The differential mechanism includes a pair of clutch members wherein each of the clutch members presents an inwardly directed face. Each face includes a groove disposed in spacing relationship with respect to the other. A cross pin is received in each groove and is operatively connected for rotation with the housing. At least one biasing member is disposed between the clutch members and at least one wear pad is disposed at an end of the at least one biasing member to preload the at least one biasing member and to allow the at least one biasing member to be acted upon by only a single one of the clutch members.

Abstract: A linear motion actuator includes an outer ring member mounted in a housing, a rotary shaft rotated by a motor, planetary rollers mounted between the outer ring member and the shaft and supported by a carrier rotatable about the shaft. A helical rib is formed on the inner surface of the outer ring member which is engaged in helical grooves formed in outer surfaces of the planetary rollers. When the shaft rotates, the planetary rollers rotate and revolve, thereby axially moving the outer ring member. Uneven axial loads applied to the planetary rollers from the outer ring member are supported by thrust bearings disposed between the planetary rollers and an inner disk of the carrier. Aligning seats are provided between each opposed pair of the planetary rollers and the thrust bearings such that the contact surfaces of the aligning seats shift relative to each other under the uneven axial loads.

Abstract: A shift control device for a vehicle transmission is provided in which drive means for making a shift drum pivot is connected to the shift drum, wherein the drive means (112) includes a power source (113) disposed on at one end, in the axial direction, of the shift drum (104), and a transmission shaft (117) to which power from the power source (113) is transmitted at the one end, in the axial direction, of the shift drum (104), power from the transmission shaft (117) being transmitted to the other end, in the axial direction, of the shift drum (104). This enables an internal combustion engine to be made compact while avoiding a concentrated disposition of the drive means on one side, in the axial direction, of the shift drum.

Abstract: The cartridge (22) comprises a body (24), a rotary control plate (28) driving a push plate (30) in a translational movement, elastic means (38) of compressing the push plate (30) towards the control plate (28), and a cage (40) for holding the elastic means (38). The body (24) comprises a projection (42) for attaching the cage (40), collaborating with an attachment orifice (46) formed in an axial tab (44) of the cage (40). The cage (40) is capable of a rotational movement between an attachment position in which the attachment orifice (46) collaborates with the projection (42), and a release position in which the cage (40) is not attached to the body (24). The body (24) comprises a first limit stop (50) that limits the rotation of the cage (40) with which the tab (44) collaborates in the release position. The body (24) comprises a ramp (60), adjacent to the first limit stop (50). In the release position (40), the tab (44) rests radially against the projection (42) and the ramp (60).

Abstract: An electromechanical solution for 2 axis solar tracking is disclosed that is suitable for application with a single solar heat, hot water or photovoltaic panel. 3 points of contact are arranged in a triangle on the back of the panel with 2 points of contact connected by linear actuators and flexible couplings. The third point of contact is a spherical bearing at the base of the panel. The actuators are independently adjustable in length by using electric motors according to a microprocessor program. In this way, 2 rotary axes of motion with limited angles are achieved which can orient the panel to the sun with minimal hardware. Since only one solar panel is being controlled the mechanical force required is minimized.

Abstract: A linear actuator has a clutch mechanism settled between a worm gear and a screw of the linear actuator. The clutch mechanism including a disc spring normally stays in a clutched position where a driving power is transmitted from the worm gear to the screw. When the linear actuator is overloaded, the clutch mechanism changes to a declutched position by compressing the disc spring so that the driving power is not transmitted to the screw. Thereby, the clutch mechanism protects internal components of the linear actuator from being damaged, thereby improving durability of the linear actuator.

Abstract: A power actuator assembly includes a torque transmission device, a motor mounted to the torque transmission device extending along a motor axis, and a screw coupled to the torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis. An adjustment mechanism interconnects the screw and the torque transmission device and permits selective rotational adjustment between the adjustment mechanism and the torque transmission device to rotate the motor relative to the torque transmission device. A connecting device releasably interconnects the adjustment mechanism to the torque transmission device to permit repeated re-positioning of the motor relative to the torque transmission device.

Abstract: An actuator for an automotive seat that includes two main assemblies: (1) a motor assembly; and (2) a gearbox assembly. The gearbox assembly includes multiple stages of gear reduction and a dividing plate. In some embodiments, the gearbox assembly has a single-lead worm, a worm gear with a right-hand helix tooth direction, and a worm gear with a left-hand helix tooth direction. The worm gears are driven by the single-lead worm. The single-lead worm has two ends, one end has a right-hand tooth helix direction, and the other end has a left hand helix direction.

Abstract: A relatively small, lightweight electromechanical actuator includes a motor assembly, a harmonic drive, and an interposed gear assembly that functions as an output mechanism. The motor assembly, harmonic drive, and gear assembly are coupled together in an in-line configuration, which reduces the overall size envelope relative to know actuators, and the relative weight and complexity of the gear assembly.

Abstract: Actuator mechanism for a two-bucket grab device and having two grab arms arranged to move as pincers with respect to one another, has two hydraulic pivot motors with journals of the respective pivot shafts projecting from the motor housing and supporting the grab arms. Each of the pivot motors has a cylindrical tubular piece provided with an internal thread designed to engage an external thread on the respective pivot shaft. The tubular piece is a ring piston axially-displaceably, but non-rotatably held in a cylinder space formed in one of the respective bucket housings. Pitch of the threads is sufficiently large for the ring piston to transmit required torque to the respective pivot shaft by axial displacement of the ring piston. The displacement path of the ring piston between two annular cylinder chambers corresponding to high and low pressure chambers which can be loaded with hydraulic oil, corresponds to the desired pivot angle of the two arms of the grab bucket.

Abstract: A transmission for driving the screws of a twin-screw extruder comprises two parallel output shafts (1, 2) of different lengths and rotating in opposite directions, the shorter one of which carries a drive gear (4) meshing with one gearwheel (6) each of two distributor shafts (7), which from the side of the longer output shaft (1) can be driven by an intermediate shaft (10) via gearwheels (11). To create advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that on the longer output shaft (1) a gearwheel (5) meshing with the drive gear (4) of the shorter output shaft (2) is affixted.

Abstract: A gear arrangement, especially for a double screw extruder, has a drive shaft and at least one driven element, wherein the driven element is in active connection, at least indirectly, with two intermediate gears driven by the drive shaft and can be driven by them. The intermediate gears (6, 7) are arranged on axles parallel to each other and act on the same driven element (8), wherein the intermediate gears are in mesh with a common distributor gear (5) coupled at least indirectly to the drive shaft (9) and can be driven by this distributor gear. The distributor gear is mounted in bearings so that it can move at least indirectly in the radial direction.