F15B15/08

POSITION SENSING DEVICE FOR HYDRAULIC OR ELECTROHYDRAULIC DRIVES, AND DRIVE HAVING POSITION SENSING MEANS
20230220855 · 2023-07-13 ·

A device for sensing a rotary or linear position of moving parts of drives, in which a moving part performs a rotary movement or a linear positioning movement with respect to a stationary part, has a switch unit comprising switches arranged next to one another in a row and is arranged on the stationary part, and having an actuating element for actuating the switches based on the relative position of the moving part, the actuating element having switch triggers corresponding to the number of switches and each being assigned to the respective switches, such that there is a respectively defined unique combination of positions of the switches for each relative position between the moving part and the stationary part, and a control module having an analysis unit for storing coding for the different switch positions in relation to the relative position of the moving part of the drive.

Hydraulic braking system and method

A braking system including a brake actuator, a control valve, a control assembly, and at least one pressure sensor. The control valve is disposed to direct hydraulic fluid to the brake actuator at a rate corresponding to a magnitude of a control signal. The control assembly includes a mixed-mode control system. The at least one pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure of the hydraulic fluid to the brake actuator. The control assembly is configured to determine a position of the brake actuator. The mixed-mode control system is configured to determine a position command and a pressure command. The mixed-mode control system is configured to adjust the magnitude of the control signal based on at least one of the position command and the pressure command so as to reposition the brake actuator from a first position to a second position.

SOFT ACTUATOR WITH VARIABLE-STIFFNESS HINGE
20230088911 · 2023-03-23 ·

A soft actuator includes an inflation chamber. The inflation chamber has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The inflation chamber is inflatable during an inflation stage, in which the second end rotates toward the first end about a folding axis, and is operable to be loaded during an inflated stage, in which the inflation chamber is inflated. The soft actuator also includes a variable-stiffness hinge located between the first end and the second end along the folding axis. The variable-stiffness hinge has a decreased stiffness in the inflation stage and an increased stiffness in the inflated stage.

SOFT ACTUATOR WITH VARIABLE-STIFFNESS HINGE
20230088911 · 2023-03-23 ·

A soft actuator includes an inflation chamber. The inflation chamber has a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The inflation chamber is inflatable during an inflation stage, in which the second end rotates toward the first end about a folding axis, and is operable to be loaded during an inflated stage, in which the inflation chamber is inflated. The soft actuator also includes a variable-stiffness hinge located between the first end and the second end along the folding axis. The variable-stiffness hinge has a decreased stiffness in the inflation stage and an increased stiffness in the inflated stage.

Connection device

A connection device for connecting an electrical or electronic component, which is accommodated in a thick-walled housing part, through a stepped bore in the wall of the housing part, includes a connection part having a stepped cylindrical body having a first cylindrical portion with a first outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of an inner bore portion of the stepped bore and a second cylindrical portion with a second outer diameter corresponding to the larger diameter of an outer bore portion, and a separate, essentially cylindrical contact carrier part fixed in the base body, which has contact pins protruding from an inner end face located on the inside of the thick-walled housing part. A fastener detachably fastens the connection part inserted in the stepped bore in the bore of the housing part.

Connection device

A connection device for connecting an electrical or electronic component, which is accommodated in a thick-walled housing part, through a stepped bore in the wall of the housing part, includes a connection part having a stepped cylindrical body having a first cylindrical portion with a first outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of an inner bore portion of the stepped bore and a second cylindrical portion with a second outer diameter corresponding to the larger diameter of an outer bore portion, and a separate, essentially cylindrical contact carrier part fixed in the base body, which has contact pins protruding from an inner end face located on the inside of the thick-walled housing part. A fastener detachably fastens the connection part inserted in the stepped bore in the bore of the housing part.

Actuator device, humanoid robot and power assist device

[Object] To provide a compact, high-output actuator device allowing force control. [Solution] An actuator device 1000 includes an electromagnetic coil member 110 provided over a prescribed width on an outer circumference of a cylinder 100, and a movable element 200 slidable as a piston in the cylinder 100. The movable element 200 has a magnetic member 202, and is moved relatively by excitation of the electromagnetic coil member 110. Fluid is supplied to first and second chambers 106a and 106b such that when the movable element 200 is to be moved relatively, the movable element 200 is driven in the same direction.

Artificial muscles having vacuum coupled electrode insulators and methods of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly includes positioning a layer stack comprising an electrode positioned between an electrode insulator and a support polymer in a vacuum bag, removing air from the vacuum bag thereby vacuum coupling the electrode to the electrode insulator, and removing the layer stack from the vacuum bag, where upon removal of the layer stack from the vacuum bag, the electrode remains vacuum coupled to the electrode insulator and the electrode insulator is in direct contact with the electrode, thereby forming an electrode assembly.

Artificial muscles having vacuum coupled electrode insulators and methods of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing an electrode assembly includes positioning a layer stack comprising an electrode positioned between an electrode insulator and a support polymer in a vacuum bag, removing air from the vacuum bag thereby vacuum coupling the electrode to the electrode insulator, and removing the layer stack from the vacuum bag, where upon removal of the layer stack from the vacuum bag, the electrode remains vacuum coupled to the electrode insulator and the electrode insulator is in direct contact with the electrode, thereby forming an electrode assembly.

HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR FOR A LOCKING DEVICE OF A TELESCOPIC BOOM, LOCKING DEVICE, TELESCOPIC BOOM, MOBILE CRANE, AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A TELESCOPIC BOOM
20220332552 · 2022-10-20 ·

A hydraulic actuator for a mobile crane, in particular for a locking device of a telescoping device. The hydraulic actuator has a double chamber cylinder with a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber oriented in an opposite direction to the first cylinder chamber, a first piston rod for the first cylinder chamber, and a second piston rod for the second cylinder chamber. A first restoring spring restores the first piston rod to its main position and a second restoring spring restores the second piston rod to its main position. The main position of the first piston rod is its pushed-in position and the main position of the second piston rod is its extended position.