Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080232946 | CONFORMAL GRIPPING DEVICE - The present invention relates to a conformal gripping device. In an embodiment of the present invention a conformal gripper device may be disclosed comprising a frame that includes an array of movable pins. The device may also include a roller locking and unlocking system within the frame. The system may comprise a pair of locking rollers for each row of gripper pins to facilitate locking and unlocking the array of gripper pins on a column-by-column basis. The system may also include a striker element that may force the locking rollers to roll along an angled roll surface to facilitate unlocking of the array of pins on a column-by-column basis. The system may further include an electromagnetic actuator or solenoid and permanent magnets to facilitate movement of the striker element and the locking rollers. | 09-25-2008 |
20110032060 | Linear tape motor - A Linear Tape Motors sequentially bends flexures to precisely position a payload within a large, linear range. Movement is backlash free. Flexure bending is also used to drive large forces, using efficient mechanical advantage, anchor the Tape Motor against back-slipping and prevent sticking and jamming malfunctions. Existing permanent magnet motor drive technology can be easily adapted to energize and control the flexure bending motions. Combining flexures with rare earth permanent magnets, provides ultra compact Linear Tape Motors with very high power and force densities that hold position with power off. Their operating range can be is as long as required. Thus, Linear Tape Motors are attractive for space science instruments, where precision positioning in ultra cold operating conditions is required and where low mass and low power are premium. But, they will be attractive to many other applications as well, especially where long range, safe, precise movements of large force payloads are required, where simplicity and reliability are important, where speeds are moderate to low and where operating temperatures are not so extreme as to demagnetize the permanent magnets. The Linear Tape Motor concept is novel but, it is simple and is easily adapted to modern permanent magnet motor technology, both the hardware materials and construction methods and the electronics and computer technology that controls the hardware. Development should be short and inexpensive, with high prospects of success. | 02-10-2011 |
20120024633 | Gyromotor - Gyromotor is a type of action and reaction motor which generates thrust without plume ejection. Whereas rockets react equal and opposite to ejected mass momentum, Gyromotor cycles gyroscopes, each mounted on the end of a moment arm, in a back and forth rowing motion to drive a spacecraft, without external mass ejection analogous to rowing a boat. Gyroscope inertial properties are configured to provide maximum resistance torque during the drive stroke and reconfigured to provide minimum torque resistance during the return stroke. The gyroscopes are turned by a moment arm so the torque resistance provides a useful linear pseudo force component to drive the spacecraft, with said linear force greater during the drive stroke than the return stroke, analogous to an oar in water during the drive stroke and in air during the return stroke. The space craft moves in reaction to the net linear pseudo forces and momentum is conserved. The pseudo forces are caused by the change of direction of each gyroscope spin axis during its moment arm rotation, similar to centripetal and coriolis effect, pseudo forces. | 02-02-2012 |
20120126756 | Charge-driven electrostatic inductance - Charge-Driven Electrostatic Induction is a method for using modest voltage to induce large density electric charge across a large insulation gap. Large density equal and opposite charges are first created in a high performance capacitor adjacent said insulation gap. One charge is trapped on its electrode and the other charge is relocated further from the gap so the electric field from the trapped charge, with minimum interference, induces equal and opposite charge across the gap and stores large density electric energy in the insulation. With electrode area to gap ratio kept sufficiently large to limit field fringing, Charge-Driven Electrostatic Induction will rival electromagnetic motor performance. In practice it will be superior. Using layered, thin film components will eliminate permanent magnets, coils, ferromagnetic materials and large power current sources. The multi-step process will permit high operating speeds. | 05-24-2012 |
20120228991 | Tape muscle - A Tape Muscle is described where multiple tape loops are independently driven by synchronized grasp and pull actions from a tandem of Clamp, Clamp & Drive modules. Each tape loop is elastically bent, with its open ends threaded through individual passageways in both modules. Tape loops are nested inside each other with all tape open ends on the same side. Each loop moves its open ends in equal, opposite directions, while the loop position remains fixed. Tape movements do not interfere with each other. The open ends of each loop attach to a shared appendage, which is pulled back and forth using tensile forces. Drive and hold forces use small angle flexure bending mechanical advantage and high force density electrostatic induction methods. Tape speed results from high frequency clock speed and novel hand-off methods. Governing equations, design details and performance estimates are provided. | 09-13-2012 |
20130337957 | Segmented ground gear transmission (SGGT) - A Segmented Ground Gear Transmission (SGGT) is a two-stage epicyclical planetary transmission that converts input angular velocity and toque to a continuously variable output varying the effective diameter of ground stage ring gear. The ground stage ring gear is expanded and contracted in segments, half occupied by planets and half free. The segments occupied by planets transfer torque to ground, but do not move except in small angle twist for section curvature correction, while the free segments move in rotation to close the gaps between segments, but do not carry load. The ground stages of the two-stage planets displace to maintain correct mesh with and to correct curvature errors in the sections. The load-bearing segments and free segments exchange roles so the planets can rotate and orbit continuously for extended periods. Anti-friction rolling contacts are used throughout. | 12-19-2013 |
20140135954 | Balance-assist shoe - A Balance-Assist Shoe system is described in which the shoes measure proximity and alignment to any surface prior to and after contact and force distribution during contact. The proximity and force sensing are first discussed in general terms as several sensing technologies apply. This is followed by a more detailed discussion where proximity and force sensing are performed by capacitance. An exercise system and a playback & analysis system, useful in using the Balance-Assist Shoes, are also described with attention to a situation awareness headset. The situation awareness headset, in turn, facilitates a PC media application which is useful, but unrelated to its original purpose. | 05-15-2014 |