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 system for efficiently capturing the kinetic and/or potential energy of a moving vehicle includes an arc roller configured to move along an arcuate path upon impact by the moving vehicle, and a torsional spring configured to wind in response to the movement of the speed bump and, thereby, to store energy associated with the impact. The torsional spring may be configured to wind continually in response to the movement of another speed bump and, thereby, to store additional energy associated with the impact of the vehicle with the other speed bump. The system may include alternators or generators producing electricity from energy released from unwinding of the torsional spring. Electricity is further stored and utilized for onboard computing, traffic analytics, safety feature operating functions and communications.

A spring return device comprising a rotatable drive coupling configured for releasably engaging a rotatable drive part on a first side of the device and configured for releasably engaging a rotatable drive part on an opposite second side of the device; a spring engaged with the drive coupling; and a retainer that retains the spring; wherein: rotation of the drive coupling in a first direction relative to the retainer causes mechanical energy to be stored in the spring; and the spring return device comprises an integral locking mechanism that is actuatable between a first state in which rotation of the drive coupling relative to the retainer is allowed and a second state in which rotation of the drive coupling relative to the retainer is prevented.

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.

Actuation systems and methods are disclosed. Such systems may comprise a motor having a drive shaft, one or more modules coupled to the drive shaft, each module comprising one or more energy storage elements and one or more actuating members connecting the one or more energy storage elements to one or more degrees of freedom, which are configured to actuate in response to a discharge of energy from the one or more energy storage element, and a plurality of clutches associated with each module to couple the energy storage element of the module to the drive shaft of the motor and to control an energy state of the energy storage element independent of energy storage elements of other modules.

A system and method for mechanically coupling an energy harvester to strength training type exercise equipment is disclosed. An energy harvester with unwanted vibration forces is mechanically isolated from exercise equipment by a system comprising a plurality of mechanically compliant vibration isolators and a ballast mass; a flexible cord, pre-loaded with a near constant force spring is used to transmit motion from the weight stack to the energy harvester; the flexible cord has a force limiting feature to pre-excessive force from being transmitted from the energy harvester to the weight stack during an exercise motion.

A constant torsion force generator and a real-time constant-force tension device. The constant torsion force generator comprises: a rotatable power output member; and constant-force coil springs (14), one end of each of the constant-force coil springs being fixed, and the other end thereof being fixed to the power output member. The real-time constant-force tension device comprises: a rotatable rotating shaft (20); a reel (40), around which a draw cord is wound, and which can drive the rotating shaft (20) to rotate; and an independent constant torsion force generator, comprising a rotatable power output member and at least one constant-force coil spring (14), wherein a power connection is formed between the power output member and the rotating shaft (20); the at least one constant-force coil spring (14) is arranged beside the power output member; and one end of each constant-force coil spring (14) is fixed, and the other end thereof is fixed to the power output member. The present invention can replace a weight to generate a torsion force and a tensile force, and has the advantages of being portable, space-efficient, easily stored, low in cost, and adjustable, providing a real-time constant force, etc.

A spring return device comprising a rotatable drive coupling configured for releasably engaging a rotatable drive part on a first side of the device and configured for releasably engaging a rotatable drive part on an opposite second side of the device; a spring engaged with the drive coupling; and a retainer that retains the spring; wherein: rotation of the drive coupling in a first direction relative to the retainer causes mechanical energy to be stored in the spring; and the spring return device comprises an integral locking mechanism that is actuatable between a first state in which rotation of the drive coupling relative to the retainer is allowed and a second state in which rotation of the drive coupling relative to the retainer is prevented.

A winding drum for a line and/or for a line guide device which is adapted to receive and guide at least one line, wherein the drum is rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof, wherein a first end region of the line and/or line guide device is or can be fixed to the drum and the line and/or line guide device can be wound on to and unwound from the drum by rotation of the winding drum in a winding-on and an unwinding direction about the drum longitudinal axis, wherein there is provided a drive device engaging the winding drum in order upon rotation of the drum in the unwinding direction thereof to exert a return force on the drum for rotation thereof in the winding-on direction. The drive device is in the form of a torsion spring which upon rotation of the drum in the unwinding direction is subjected to torsional stress and by virtue of the torsional stress exerts a torque on the drum for rotation thereof in the winding-on direction and the torsional stress exerts the return force on the drum.