A locking device includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion has a bore formed at least partially in axially therethrough and a channel formed laterally therethrough. The inner portion is positioned at least partially within the bore. A first link is positioned at least partially outside of the outer portion and coupled to the inner portion through the channel. A second link is coupled to the outer portion. A pin is coupled to the first link and the second link. The locking device is in an unlocked state when the inner portion is fully positioned within the bore, and the locking device is in a locked state when an end of the inner portion extends axially out of the bore.

A locking device includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion has a bore formed at least partially in axially therethrough and a channel formed laterally therethrough. The inner portion is positioned at least partially within the bore. A first link is positioned at least partially outside of the outer portion and coupled to the inner portion through the channel. A second link is coupled to the outer portion. A pin is coupled to the first link and the second link. The locking device is in an unlocked state when the inner portion is fully positioned within the bore, and the locking device is in a locked state when an end of the inner portion extends axially out of the bore.

A robot has brake and accelerator actuating levers (9, 10) and a rotary actuator (12) between them. A drive ring (16) is fast with an actuator drive member (14) and between them they captivate a journal bearing (17) for the brake actuating lever (9) on which a return spring (19) acts. Advance of the lever is via a cam member (31) adjacent it. Wherever the output drive member (14) from the rotary actuator is turned, the cam member is rotated correspondingly. For brake application, the drive member (14) is driven, clockwise in FIG. 2. For brake release, and accelerator application, the drive member is driven back and the cam member is disengaged from the lever (9) with unidirectional freedom. The drive ring (16) is carried on a central clutch member (35). The central member (35) is journalled in a fixed clutch member (36), which carries a clutch operating winding (38) for clutching together the central member (35) and an accelerator drive member (39) journalled on the central member. A central drive shaft (41) is fast with the accelerator drive member (39) and passes through the length of the rotary actuator. When the winding is energised, rotation of the output drive member (14) is transferred to this central drive shaft (41) for the accelerator actuating lever (10) as well.

A modular structure may comprise multiple mechanical linkages. The structure may undergo two-dimensional or three-dimensional shape transformations, such as bending, twisting, shearing, uniform scaling, and anisotropic scaling. These shape transformations may be actuated by applying force to one or more specific locations in the structure. Each of the linkages in the modular structure may comprise a four-bar linkage. The exact shape transformation that the structure undergoes may be determined by the type and location of the linkages in the structure.

An assembly for converting motion comprises a first arm rotatable about a first fixed pivot; a second arm rotatable about a second fixed pivot; a third arm pivotably connected to a second position on the second arm; a first connecting arm extending between the first and third arms; a second connecting arm extending between the first and second arms; a support arm extending from the connection between the second and third arms, the support arm linked to the connection between the first arm and the first connecting arm, wherein one of the connection between the second and third arms and the connection between the first arm and the first connecting arm is moveable relative to the support arm and the other of the connection between the second and third arms and the connection between the first arm and the first connecting arm is fixed relative to the support arm.

An assembly for converting motion comprises a first arm rotatable about a first fixed pivot; a second arm rotatable about a second fixed pivot; a third arm pivotably connected to a second position on the second arm; a first connecting arm extending between the first and third arms; a second connecting arm extending between the first and second arms; a support arm extending from the connection between the second and third arms, the support arm linked to the connection between the first arm and the first connecting arm, wherein one of the connection between the second and third arms and the connection between the first arm and the first connecting arm is moveable relative to the support arm and the other of the connection between the second and third arms and the connection between the first arm and the first connecting arm is fixed relative to the support arm.

An assembly for converting motion comprises a first arm rotatable at a first position about a first fixed pivot; a second arm rotatable at a first position about a second fixed pivot; a third arm linked at a first position to the second arm at a second position on the second arm, the third arm being linked at a second position to the first arm at a second position on the first arm; wherein one of the first and second positions on the third arm is movable and the other of the first and second positions is fixed relative to the third arm; and a connecting arm extending between the first arm and the second arm, the connecting arm pivotably connected at a first position to a third position on the first arm and pivotably connected at a second position to the second position on the second arm.

Dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus includes a primary link and a secondary link spaced apart from the primary link. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a first extension link extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The first extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to a first input link. The first input link is coupled to a first actuator. The primary link is coupled to a second input link. The second input link is coupled to a second actuator. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a second extension link spaced apart from the first extension link and extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The second extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to an output link.

Dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus and methods are disclosed. An example dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus includes a primary link and a secondary link spaced apart from the primary link. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a first extension link extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The first extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to a first input link. The first input link is coupled to a first actuator. The primary link is coupled to a second input link. The second input link is coupled to a second actuator. The dual-input mechanical bypass linkage apparatus further includes a second extension link spaced apart from the first extension link and extending between the primary link and the secondary link. The second extension link is coupled to the primary link, to the secondary link and to an output link.

A locking device includes an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion has a bore formed at least partially axially therethrough and a channel formed laterally therethrough. The inner portion is positioned at least partially within the bore. A first link is positioned at least partially outside of the outer portion and coupled to the inner portion through the channel. A second link is coupled to the outer portion. A pin is coupled to the first link and the second link. The locking device is in an unlocked state when the inner portion is fully positioned within the bore, and the locking device is in a locked state when an end of the inner portion extends axially out of the bore.