A manually-wound or charged, powered toothbrush includes a winding mechanism, an energy storage element, and an output gear train to cause a rotating, oscillating or sweeping brush head to move, thus improving the efficacy of the user's oral-care regimen. The toothbrush may include a removable, replaceable brush head that includes a clip that also serves as a removal tool for a spent brush head.

A spring operated actuator for an electric switching apparatus including an actuator spring and a rotary air damper. The damper has components that are rotatable relative to each other and is arranged to decelerate the actuating movement during an end portion. The damper has a toroidal working chamber with internal wall surfaces formed by two circumferential housing parts. They are rotatable relative to each other and are meeting each other such that a first and a second gap are formed. There is a seal between the two housing parts, which bridges the respective gap. The seal has a first circumferential seal at the first gap and a second circumferential seal at the second gap. At least one of the first and second seals includes a sealing body fitted in a groove formed in the internal walls of at least one housing part.

A spring operated actuator for an electric switching apparatus including an actuator spring and a rotary air damper. The damper has components that are rotatable relative to each other and is arranged to decelerate the actuating movement during an end portion. The damper has a toroidal working chamber with internal wall surfaces formed by two circumferential housing parts. They are rotatable relative to each other and are meeting each other such that a first and a second gap are formed. There is a seal between the two housing parts, which bridges the respective gap. The seal has a first circumferential seal at the first gap and a second circumferential seal at the second gap. At least one of the first and second seals includes a sealing body fitted in a groove formed in the internal walls of at least one housing part.

A water meter reading device having a piston (503) or a membrane (527) that moves with the pressure changes of the water pipe (301, 501, 601) network is disclosed. The movement charges a capacitor (704) with electric energy released for reading the water meter. This makes it possible to realize the system without a battery, as the electricity needed for reading the water meter, and communicating the water meter reading to the water company, is used at the same moment that the electricity is generated. This also has the consequence that the water meter readings occur at the same time as the pressure changes in the water pipe (301, 501, 601) network.

A mechanism (100) for storing and releasing mechanical energy, which stores a low-power energy continuously inputted by a power transmission mechanism into an energy storage mechanism, and then controllably drives output in a high-power manner. The mechanism comprises a bracket (10), a supporting main shaft (11) arranged on the bracket (10), a driving gear (101) which sleeves over and rotates about the supporting main shaft (11), wherein arranged on one side of the driving gear (101) is at least one set of energy storage and release device (102). The mechanism (100) for storing and releasing mechanical energy is structurally simple and reliable. A light-weight high-efficiency drive mechanism may be fabricated by using a light-weight structural material or a composite material, which may store a large amount of low-power energy which is inputted continuously. The stored energy may then be released in a high-power manner by means of manual operations or smart electronic control, in order to drive equipment which require higher power to drive, or to be fed back to an original driving device by means of a designated transmission mechanism to be used as auxiliary kinetic energy. The mechanism features high operation efficiency and low energy consumption, and is thus high efficient in storing and releasing energy.

The disclosure relates to a linear drive for an adjustment element of a vehicle, with a drive train for generating a driving force along a geometrical drive axis between two coupling points, one of the coupling points comprising a joint part for discharging the driving force, which joint part, in the mounted state, forms a ball and socket joint with a mating joint part, the joint part having a bearing portion, a joining part arranged thereon and a connecting portion arranged thereon. The connecting portion serves for the connection of at least one drive train component of the linear drive to the joint part and has at least one connecting formation which is in engagement with the relevant drive train component, and wherein at least one part of the bearing portion is configured integrally together with the joining part and the connecting portion from at least one plastics material.

A manually-wound or charged, powered toothbrush includes a winding mechanism, an energy storage element, and an output gear train to cause a rotating, oscillating or sweeping brush head to move, thus improving the efficacy of the user's oral-care regimen.

A water meter reading device having a piston (503) or a membrane (527) that moves with the pressure changes of the water pipe (301, 501, 601) network. The movement charges a capacitor (704) with electric energy released for reading the water meter. This makes it possible to realize the system without a battery, as the electricity needed for reading the water meter, and communicating the water meter reading to the water company, is used at the same moment that the electricity is generated. This also has the consequence that the water meter readings occur at the same time as the pressure changes in the water pipe (301, 501, 601) network.

An actuator (1) having an energy accumulator (6), with which an emergency drive (5) can be supplied, is configured to be tensioned by an electric motor (2). The motor (2) displaces at least one engaging element (41, 42) of the energy accumulator (6), on which a restoring force of the energy accumulator (6) acts, along an actuating travel in normal operating mode.

The present invention utilizes operation of a valve actuator to generate electrical power. A portion of the mechanical energy generated by operation of a valve actuator is converted to electrical energy. The mechanical energy may be converted to electrical energy at the same time as the valve actuator is operating or the mechanical energy may be stored for later conversion. A valve actuator may be operated manually, electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. Generated electrical energy may also be stored.