A pneumatic stepper motor includes a housing, said housing accommodating at least part of: a rack or geared axle comprising a plurality of gear elements; and two pistons, each comprising at least two teeth, said pistons being arranged to cooperate with said rack or geared axle. The racks may either be straight or curved. The pistons are preferably double-acting pistons. A device includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of, such pneumatic stepper motor(s). The device may in particular be an MRI-compatible robotic system, more in particular for example an MRI-guided breast biopsy device.

Disclosed are devices, systems, apparatuses, methods, products, and other implementations of vapor pressure solids. In some embodiments, a vapor pressure solid may include a one- or multi-component matrix material. In some embodiments, the multi-components matrix material is a two-part PDMS comprising a first and second matrix material. The first matrix material is capable of being mixed with one or more vaporizable fluids that causes the first matrix material to swell. The second matrix material is capable of being mixed with the swelled first matrix material to produce an actuating material. When the actuating material is heated, the one or more vaporizable fluids expand, resulting in vapors. The increased pressure applied by the vapors causes the actuating material to expand.

Disclosed are devices, systems, apparatuses, methods, products, and other implementations of vapor pressure solids. In some embodiments, a vapor pressure solid may include a one- or multi-component matrix material. In some embodiments, the multi-components matrix material is a two-part PDMS comprising a first and second matrix material. The first matrix material is capable of being mixed with one or more vaporizable fluids that causes the first matrix material to swell. The second matrix material is capable of being mixed with the swelled first matrix material to produce an actuating material. When the actuating material is heated, the one or more vaporizable fluids expand, resulting in vapors. The increased pressure applied by the vapors causes the actuating material to expand.

An articulation assembly includes a proximal joint, a distal joint, a joint housing, and a plunger. The proximal joint is configured to couple to a central section of a drive shaft and to rotate in response to rotation of the drive shaft. The distal joint is rotatably coupled to the proximal joint such that rotation of the proximal joint effects rotation of the distal joint. The distal joint is configured to couple to a distal section of a drive shaft to rotate the distal section in response to rotation of the distal joint. The joint housing is disposed over the proximal and distal joints. The distal joint is rotatable relative to the joint housing. The plunger is engaged with the joint housing to prevent the joint housing from rotating from a centered position until the distal joint reaches a maximum articulation angle.

An electric steering column apparatus includes a pressing mechanism for reducing the play between an outer jacket and an inner jacket. A pressing mechanism has a first pressing portion disposed on the outer jacket and pressing a lower surface of the inner jacket upward and a second pressing portion disposed on an axially front end side of the outer jacket and pressing an upper surface of the inner jacket downward. A tubular member housing a telescopic nut is disposed between the first pressing portion and the second pressing portion in an axial direction so as to face the second pressing portion in an up-down direction and fixed to the lower surface of the inner jacket.

A turning device includes: a driving source; a main drive gear rotationally driven by the driving source; a driven gear that engages with the main drive gear and is rotated integrally with a rotated body, wherein the turning device rotationally drives the driving source to rotate the rotated body; a movement mechanism that causes the main drive gear to reciprocate in an axial direction between a separated position at which engagement of the main drive gear and the driven gear is released and an engaged position at which the main drive gear engages with the driven gear; a forward rotation mechanism that intermittently rotates the main drive gear; and a reverse rotation mechanism that intermittently rotates the main drive gear in a direction opposite to a direction by the forward rotation mechanism.

A turning device includes: a driving source; a main drive gear rotationally driven by the driving source; a driven gear that engages with the main drive gear and is rotated integrally with a rotated body, wherein the turning device rotationally drives the driving source to rotate the rotated body; a movement mechanism that causes the main drive gear to reciprocate in an axial direction between a separated position at which engagement of the main drive gear and the driven gear is released and an engaged position at which the main drive gear engages with the driven gear; a forward rotation mechanism that intermittently rotates the main drive gear; and a reverse rotation mechanism that intermittently rotates the main drive gear in a direction opposite to a direction by the forward rotation mechanism.

In a parking lock for an automatic transmission, an electrical parking lock actuator has an electric motor, a spur gear stage driveable by the electric motor, and a worm gear stage driveable by the spur gear stage. A worm shaft of the worm gear stage is connected rotationally conjointly to an output gear of the spur gear stage, and a worm gear of the worm gear stage is connected rotationally conjointly to a transmission-side parking lock shaft. The worm shaft is fixed in an axially displaceable manner in the output gear. A stop limits the pivoting movement of the worm gear when a parking lock position of the parking lock shaft is reached. A spring braces the worm shaft in an axial direction of the worm shaft against a holding mechanism which is situated in a stop position, in which the holding mechanism is fixed by an electrically energized electromagnet.

A device for manually and/or electromotively adjusting or securing a first vehicle part and a second vehicle part relative to each other is provided. The device comprising an adjustment part which has a joint for pivotable arrangement on the first vehicle part, wherein the adjustment part is to be arranged on the first vehicle part in such a manner that, when the vehicle parts are adjusted relative to each other, the adjustment part moves relative to the second vehicle part, an output element which is to be arranged on the second vehicle part, is operatively connected to the adjustment part and is drivable in order to move the adjustment part relative to the second vehicle part, a shaft connected to the output element, and a flexible force transmission element which is fastened at a first end and at a second end to the adjustment part.

An actuator with switchable releasing speed includes an actuation rod, a screw, and a motor. The motor drives the screw rotating so that the actuation rod axially moves relative to the screw. The motor includes a stator, a rotor, a plurality of commutators, and at least three brushes. The at least three brushes have a positive brush, a negative brush, and at least one auxiliary brush. The positive brush is connected to a positive DC voltage. One of the negative brush and the least one auxiliary brush is adjusted to connect to a negative DC voltage so as to change a rotational speed of the rotor, thereby controlling a movement speed of the actuation rod. Accordingly, the releasing speed of the actuator is switchable.