An electromagnetic friction disk clutch with a shaft, an electromagnet arrangement, a rotor for driving the shaft, and an armature disk which is connected to the shaft and moveable in a sprung manner in a direction which is axial to a shaft axis. In a shifting state of the friction disk clutch, the armature disk can be connected to the rotor in a frictionally locking manner, the rotor being mounted rotationally by a rotor bearing unit with respect to the housing section and with respect to the shaft, a magnetic effect is generated for connecting the armature disk to the rotor. The rotor bearing unit is offset with respect to the electromagnet arrangement in an axial direction with respect to the shaft, and overlaps the electromagnet arrangement in the axial direction with respect to the shaft.

A control device is to be applied to a four-wheel drive vehicle including a first coupling device interposed between a rear-wheel final gear device and a rear left wheel axle and a second coupling device interposed between the rear-wheel final gear device and a rear right wheel axle. The control device includes a controller changes a coupling torque of the first coupling device and a coupling torque of the second coupling device independently of each other. The controller estimates, when the vehicle is accelerating, a vehicle body speed of the vehicle under a state in which the coupling torque of any one of the first coupling device and the second coupling device is set to a value larger than zero and the coupling torque of another one thereof is set to zero. Thereby, the control device can accurately estimate the vehicle body speed when the vehicle is traveling while accelerating.

An electromagnetic system for controlling the operating mode of a non-friction coupling assembly and a coupling and magnetic control assembly are provided. Magnetic circuit components include a ferromagnetic or magnetic element received within a pocket of a coupling member. The element controls the operating mode of the coupling assembly. A stationary electromagnetic source includes at least one excitation coil which generates a magnetic field between poles of the source when the at least one coil is supplied with current. Ferromagnetic or magnetic first and second inserts are received and retained within first and second spaced passages, respectively, of the coupling member. The electromagnetic source, the element, the inserts and air gaps between the various magnetic circuit components make up a closed loop path containing magnetic flux so that the element moves between first and second positions of the element when the at least one coil is supplied with current.

A clutch system for a motor vehicle includes a friction clutch and a magnetic clutch. The friction clutch is for transmitting a torque between a torque-introducing element and a torque-discharging element. The magnetic clutch is for actuating the friction clutch. The magnetic clutch includes an open position and a closed position, an axially displaceable permanent magnet, and an electromagnet for axially displacing the permanent magnet between the open position and the closed position of the magnetic clutch. The electromagnet has an activated state and a deactivated state. The permanent magnet is held magnetically fixed in the open position or in the closed position of the magnetic clutch when the electromagnet is in the deactivated state.

The present invention relates to a two-speed transmission for an electric driving vehicle and the two-speed transmission for an electric vehicle has only one actuator. The transmission comprises a planetary gear mechanism (12), an elastic body (44), an armature (26) to integrally rotate with an input axis, an electromagnetic coil (46) and a multi-plate friction clutch (30). A ring gear (20) is fixed to a housing. The armature (26) comprises clutch projection portions (26-1). A dog clutch is constituted by the clutch projection portions (26-1) and recess portions (18-2) of a sun gear (18). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is not electrically energized, the dog clutch is engaged. The rotation of the input axis is reduced and is transmitted to an output axis via the sun gear (18) and a carrier (16). When the electromagnetic coil (46) is electrically energized, the armature (26) is displaced against elastic force, the dog clutch becomes a non-engaging state, a multi-plate friction clutch (30) becomes an engaging state by pressing flange portions (26-4) of the armature (26) and the rotation of the input axis is transmitted to the output axis with a one-to-one relationship. The transmission can comprise a one-way clutch to prevent torque interruption when switching the gear ratio.

A surgical instrument comprising an end effector is disclosed. The end effector comprises a surgical dissector.

A modular surgical instrument is disclosed. The modular surgical instrument comprises a control interface, a shaft extending from the control interface, an end effector extending from said shaft, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to sense the electrical potential applied to the modular surgical instrument, determine if the sensed electrical potential is above a predetermined threshold, and adjust the operation of the modular surgical instrument when the sensed electrical potential exceeds the predetermined threshold.

A speed converter converting infinitely variable reciprocating input to uni-directional output, for example, comprising a driver, the driver comprising a variable pitch cam and a rack gear and one-way clutch bearings or Sprags and output shaft, the driver having an oblong shape may be converted to provide direction control in either of two directions and free-wheeling. The one-way clutch bearings or Sprags of a first Goldfinch speed converter are modified to comprise, concentric with the output shaft, a permanent magnet imbedded in a driven gear and direction controlling stator coils. A plurality of four (or more) electrical pulses (sine curves) may be applied to the stator coils to provide three possible outputs of desired speed: a forward output direction, a neutral or free-wheeling output and a reverse output direction. In this manner, an electro-magnetic ratchet control system may modify the speed converter to incorporate speed control, engine braking, and clockwise and counterclockwise output shaft direction control as well.

A friction clutch having an electromagnet assembly including a coil and a magnet connected to the coil. When the coil is energised, a magnetic field is generated and passes through the magnet and a magnetisable conductive body adjacent to the magnet, such that a displaceable magnetisable armature portion can be brought from one position into another position. The coil has a plurality of outer portions each having an associated outer dimension of the outer portion. The magnet completely covers an outer portion of the coil by a magnet side. Two further outer portions of the coil are not covered by the magnet or are not covered by more than 20% of an outer dimension of the further outer portion, or wherein, in the case a single further outer portion covered by the magnet, the outer portion is not covered by more than 70%.

A surgical clip applier comprising a rotatable clip cartridge is disclosed. The surgical clip applier comprises a lockout that at least locks out the crimping drive of the surgical clip applier when the rotatable clip cartridge is empty.