Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080217941 | Active material enabled self-presenting devices - A self-presenting device includes, a member in physical communication with a vehicle surface, wherein the member is configured to have a first form and a second form, wherein the first form is configured to store the member and the second form is configured to present the member, and an active material in operable communication with the member, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to transition the member from the first form to the second form. | 09-11-2008 |
20080302789 | Reconfigurable container and methods of fabrication and use thereof - Reconfigurable containers which may adopt two stable configurations are described. In the first configuration, the container is suitable for the storing and transport of goods. When in a second, collapsed configuration, the container occupies a lesser volume than the first configuration and thus requires less shipping space. This is accomplished through the use of at least one deformable active material member that is preferably a shape memory polymer and, optionally, releasable fasteners. | 12-11-2008 |
20090061187 | FRICTION STIR NUT AND METHOD OF JOINING THEREWITH - A friction stir nut is disclosed. The friction stir nut includes a body, a cap, and an anti-rotation feature. The body has an elongated cylindrical shank extending between a first end and a second end, the cap being disposed at the second end, and the anti-rotation feature being disposed at the cap and/or an outer surface of the body. The body and cap have a blind axial hole extending from the first end to the second end, the first end being blind and the second end being open. The outer surface of the first end has a flat surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shank, and the body has a cylindrical wall thickness suitable for receiving internal threads. In response to a mandrel tool friction stir welding the friction stir nut to a workpiece and then being extracted, uniform internal threads result at the body. The anti-rotation feature bonds to the workpiece by metallurgical bonding and/or mechanical bonding. | 03-05-2009 |
20090065994 | Reconfigurable Clamp and Method of Use Thereof - A reconfigurable clamp is provided, where the clamp includes: a clamp body including a plurality of through holes formed within the clamp body; a plurality of movable pins which slidably fit within the through holes in the clamp body; wherein the movable pins incorporate a tapered section to facilitate locking of the movable pins; and wherein the clamp is reconfigurable by movement of the pins to conform to a surface geometry of an object of arbitrary shape through contact with that object. The clamped surface is represented as a series of discrete points corresponding to the ends of the plurality of pins. | 03-12-2009 |
20090211998 | INTELLIGENT CONTROLLED PASSIVE BRAKING OF A RAIL MOUNTED CABLE SUPPORTED OBJECT - A lift system for lifting and moving heavy parts in an assembly environment. The system includes an overhead cart that travels along a rail. A cable connected to the cart is coupled to the part to lift and move the part. The cart includes a braking device and a controller that controls braking of the cart on the rail. When the cart is moving along the rail, and the worker wishes to stop the part at the assembly location, the worker can initiate the braking operation of the cart by pressing a button. The braking device and the controller control the braking of the cart by applying and releasing the brake in a manner determined by the mass of the cart and the mass of the part so that as the cart is being stopped, the part is prevented from swinging. | 08-27-2009 |
20090235846 | Reconfigurable pallet - A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has several linkage assemblies to position a support element in a desired location for each version of a component. The linkage assemblies each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in the desired location. Securing a locking mechanism on the linkage assemblies prevents movement of the support element when in the desired position. To configure the pallet for another version of the component the locking mechanisms are released, the support elements are moved to another base and the locking mechanisms are secured again for each of the support assemblies. | 09-24-2009 |
20090241810 | Locking Mechanism For Reconfigurable Pallets - A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has a linkage assembly to support and enable movement of a support element. The support assemblies also each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in a desired location for each version of a component. A locking mechanism on each support element allows for selectively preventing vertical movement of the support element relative to the pallet. | 10-01-2009 |
20090260549 | Reconfigurable Pallet With Error Proofing - A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has a linkage assembly to support and enable movement of a support element. The support assemblies also each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in a desired location for each version of a component. An alignment mechanism on each base allows for rotational alignment of the support element relative to the pallet. An error proofing mechanism compares the selected location of the support element for each of the plurality of support assemblies and provides confirmation and correction information as required. | 10-22-2009 |
20090277359 | Reconfigurable Pallet Using Pins and Hollow Supports - A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has a linkage assembly to support and enable movement of a support element. The support assemblies also each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in a desired location for each version of a component. An alignment mechanism on each base allows for rotational alignment of the support element relative to the pallet. | 11-12-2009 |
20090277360 | Reconfigurable Pallet Using Locator Bases and Clamps - A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has a linkage assembly to support and enable movement of a support element. The support assemblies also each include multiple bases secured to the platform, to position the support element in a desired location for each version of a component. A locking mechanism on each base prevents movement of the support element when in the desired position. To configure the pallet for another version of the component the locking mechanism is released, the support element is moved to another base and the locking mechanism for that base is secured. | 11-12-2009 |
20090314404 | METHODS OF REDUCING TIRE ROLLING RESISTANCE UTILIZING ACTIVE MATERIAL ACTUATION - An adaptive tire employable by a vehicle traveling upon a surface, so as to define a rolling resistance, and including at least one active material element operable to selectively modify the resistance when activated. | 12-24-2009 |
20100018027 | METHOD OF JOINING WITH SELF-PIERCING RIVET AND ASSEMBLY - A method of joining a multiple member work-piece includes stacking the members of the work-piece on a die such that a first of the members rests on the die. Next, a rivet is driven into the second member until the rivet penetrates the members and deforms. The rivet is then welded to the first member to strengthen the riveted joint. Different mechanisms may be used to accomplish the welding. For example, a laser beam may be directed through a passage in the first die to target the area of the riveted joint to be welded. Alternatively, the die set, rivet, and first member may be arranged to form an electrical circuit that welds the joint via resistance heating. An assembly of a multiple member work-piece and a rivet made according to the method is also provided. | 01-28-2010 |
20100088880 | SELF-PIERCING RIVET AND METHOD OF JOINING WITH BONDED RIVETED JOINTS - A rivet configured to provide a strengthened rivet joint capable of acting as a load-bearing joint, such as in a vehicle, is provided. A method of joining a multiple member work-piece utilizing the rivet is also provided. The rivet includes a head portion and an annular body portion extending from the head portion. The body portion has an open end opposite the head portion. The head portion and the annular body portion define an interior cavity that opens at the open end. The annular body portion has an inner surface at the interior cavity and an outer surface opposite the interior cavity. The body portion has passages extending through the body portion from the inner surface to the outer surface, and grooves running along the outer surface intersecting with the passages. | 04-15-2010 |
20100130052 | ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR - An electrical connection system includes a first electrical connector having a first plurality of electrically conductive elements. A second electrical connector has a second plurality of electrically conductive elements and is matable with the first electrical connector such that the first plurality of electrically conductive elements are in contact with the second plurality of electrically conductive elements. A probe is mounted with respect to the first electrical connector, and a receptacle is mounted with respect to the second electrical connector. The probe has a tip, an untapered section, a tapered section between the tip and the untapered section, and a cross-sectional shape that has no more than one plane of mirror symmetry. The receptacle defines a cavity having substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the probe. | 05-27-2010 |
20100164160 | Method for Error-Proofing a Reconfigurable Clamp - A method for error-proofing clamping operation performed with a reconfigurable clamp having a body, a locking member, a plurality of moveable pins for contacting an object, and a plunger is provided. The method includes applying a force to the plunger and sensing whether the plunger achieves a fully-depressed position, and releasing the force to the plunger and sensing whether the plunger achieves a fully-extended position. The method may additionally include applying the force to the plunger, contacting the object with the plurality of pins and sensing whether the clamp body achieves a predetermined position relative to a clamping device. | 07-01-2010 |
20100172716 | Fastener For Attachment By Friction Stir Processing - A fastener is provided for attachment to a workpiece by a friction stir process. The fastener includes a base having an underside adapted to seat upon the workpiece and a fastener portion attached to the top side of the base. An anchor portion projects from the underside of the base and is adapted to be rotated and advanced at high speed and inserted into the workpiece by friction stirring of the workpiece. The anchor portion is embedded in the workpiece upon cooling of the workpiece. The anchor portion has an indent in the surface thereof enabling the softened stirred material to flow into the indent and thereby mechanically capture the anchor portion within the solidified workpiece. | 07-08-2010 |
20110126660 | FORCE LIMITING DEVICE AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for limiting the contact force between a moving device and another object, using a parallel mechanism and torque limiters where the threshold force to activate the force limiting mechanism is not related to the configuration of the moving device or the location of the contact force relative to the activation point of the force limiting mechanism, and where the mechanism may be configured for one, two or three degrees of freedom. A counterbalance mechanism is also provided to counteract gravity load when the force limiting mechanism is configured for three degrees of freedom and responsive to contact forces including a vertical element. In particular, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for limiting the contact force between a moving robotic device and a contactable object. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130876 | HUMAN-ROBOT INTERACTIVE SYSTEM HAVING A HUMAN STIFFNESS ESTIMATION CONTROL ALGORITHM - A robotic system includes a robot adapted for moving a payload in proportional response to an input force from an operator, sensors adapted for measuring a predetermined set of operator input values, including the input force, and a controller. The controller determines a changing stiffness value of the operator using set of operator input values, and automatically adjusts a level of control sensitivity over the robot using the stiffness value. The input values include the input force, a muscle activation level of the operator, and a position of the operator. A method of controlling the robot includes measuring the operator input values using the plurality of sensors, processing the input values using the controller to thereby calculate the stiffness value, and automatically adjusting the level of control sensitivity over the robot using the stiffness value. A specific operator may be identified, with control sensitivity being adjusted based on the identity. | 06-02-2011 |
20120198835 | ACTIVE MATERIAL WIRE ACTUATORS HAVING REINFORCED STRUCTURAL CONNECTORS - An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator. | 08-09-2012 |
20130042718 | CONFORMABLE SHAPE MEMORY ARTICLE - A conformable shape memory article comprises a deformable enclosure covering and discrete particles disposed within the enclosure covering, wherein the discrete particles comprise a shape memory polymer, or the discrete particles have a hollow shell structure comprising a shape memory alloy. In a more specific embodiment, the enclosure is elastically deformable. | 02-21-2013 |