A mechanical converter of irregular bi-directional motion into continuous and consistent single direction motion through a system of gears, drive shafts, freewheels, and flywheel. The system works by transforming circular movement, both clockwise and counterclockwise from the input shaft into continuous rotation of an output shaft through the use of a pair of free wheels solidly connected to the input shaft which transfers the alternating motion, depending on the rotation of the input shaft, to two parallel secondary shafts.

An actuator for a transfer case includes an actuator member, a face cam mechanism, and a motor. The actuator member includes a circumferential flange and an annular body extending from an inner periphery of the circumferential flange. The annular body includes a circumferential slot opposite the flange defined between two end walls formed by the annular body. One of the end walls includes a bearing member coupled thereto. The face cam mechanism includes a follower coupled to a cam member. The cam member is configured to displace axially when rotated. The follower is disposed within the slot. In a first range of motion, the annular member is rotated independent of the face cam mechanism. In a second range of motion, the bearing member engages the follower to rotate the second cam member relative to the first cam member, and the follower moves axially along the bearing member.

A shift control method for a DCT vehicle, which adjusts a time required to shift gears through clutch control in a DCT. The shift control method includes controlling a release-side dutch such that the release-side dutch is partially disengaged by a controller when gear shifting is initiated in a state in which an accelerator pedal is not pressed, performing synchronization control by partially applying an apply-side dutch torque in an initial stage of synchronization such that an engine rotational speed follows and synchronizes an apply-side input shaft speed, and partially applying a release-side dutch torque in a last stage of synchronization by the controller, and performing torque hand-over control such that an apply-side clutch is engaged while the release-side clutch is disengaged by the controller, after performing the synchronization control.

A gear that can be utilized in an electric actuator has teeth formed on its outer circumference and a central hole formed at its center. An intermediate region is positioned between a peripheral portion near the teeth and a boss near the central hole. The intermediate region has a thickness thinner than the peripheral portion and the boss. A plurality of weight-lightening apertures is circumferentially and equidistantly formed in the intermediate region. A vibration absorbing member of synthetic rubber is formed on both side surfaces of the intermediate region. The vibration absorbing member is integrally connected on each side through the weight-lightening apertures. The vibration absorbing member is attached to the radially outer side rather than an outer diameter of a bearing arranged adjacent to the vibration absorbing member.

A gear that can be utilized in an electric actuator has teeth formed on its outer circumference and a central hole formed at its center. An intermediate region is positioned between a peripheral portion near the teeth and a boss near the central hole. The intermediate region has a thickness thinner than the peripheral portion and the boss. A plurality of weight-lightening apertures is circumferentially and equidistantly formed in the intermediate region. A vibration absorbing member of synthetic rubber is formed on both side surfaces of the intermediate region. The vibration absorbing member is integrally connected on each side through the weight-lightening apertures. The vibration absorbing member is attached to the radially outer side rather than an outer diameter of a bearing arranged adjacent to the vibration absorbing member.

Disclosed is multimaterial 3D printing (MM3P) to fabricate centimeter-scale robots by utilizing soft materials to create soft joints to replace revolute joints and also soft links to replace rigid links. A three-spring rotational-prismatic rotational (RPR) model is developed to approximate the motion of soft joints or links, which is further utilized to numerically predict the motion of the leg mechanism with multiple soft joints and links. The accuracy of the proposed numerical method is validated with experimental results. A functional walking robot actuated by a single DC motor is demonstrated.

Disclosed is multimaterial 3D printing (MM3P) to fabricate centimeter-scale robots by utilizing soft materials to create soft joints to replace revolute joints and also soft links to replace rigid links. A three-spring rotational-prismatic rotational (RPR) model is developed to approximate the motion of soft joints or links, which is further utilized to numerically predict the motion of the leg mechanism with multiple soft joints and links. The accuracy of the proposed numerical method is validated with experimental results. A functional walking robot actuated by a single DC motor is demonstrated.

An air suspension apparatus for vehicle seats includes an air shutter connected to a supply port of a control valve configured to supply air so as to adjust the opening degree of an inner air channel through which air supplied to the control valve passes.

One object is to provide a speed reducer that can absorb or relieve an impact acting thereon. A speed reducer of the present invention includes: a speed reducing unit a housing that houses the speed reducing unit and a shock absorbing means that allows the speed reducing unit to move with respect to the housing in a direction of a rotary shaft of the speed reducing unit.

A method for engaging a first gear element with a second gear element is provided. The second gear element is mounted to be mobile between a meshing position and a position of disengagement using an actuator. The method includes driving one or more of the first and second gear elements in rotation to form a non-zero rotation speed difference between the first and second gear elements and controlling the actuator to successively displace the second gear element to the meshing position, and when an intermediate position of the second gear element is detected, stop the displacement of the second gear element, and when an angular position of engagement of the first and second gear elements is detected, displace the second gear element to the meshing position.