An aircraft assembly includes a first body connected to a second body via a flexible coupling that limits separation of the bearing faces while permitting relative rotational movement between the bodies. The flexible coupling includes one or more first flexible straps attached to the first side of the first body and attached to the second side of the second body, and one or more second flexible straps attached to the second side of the first body and attached to the first side of the second body. The bearing faces include planar central portions to react compressive loads while the parts are aligned, and convex outer rolling surfaces to react loads during rotational movement between the bodies, such that a point of contact between the first body and the second body moves along curves of the respective curved end regions during the rotational movement between the bodies.

A robot joint 1 has two adjacent outer cylinders 3 and 5 and an inner cylinder 7 which extends inside the two outer cylinders and is provided with openings 9 in the cylinder wall. The inner cylinder 7 is connected via leaf springs 11, 13 to the two outer cylinders. The robot joint is provided with measuring means comprising markings 15 which are formed by holes 15 in the cylinder wall of one of the outer cylinders 3, as well as detection means 17, 19 for counting the number of markings that passes the detection means during rotation of the two outermost cylinders 3, 5 relative to each other, which detection means are connected to the other outer cylinder 5. By measuring the rotation of the outer cylinders relative to each other and linking it back to the robot arm drive, the consequences of the inaccuracies in the joint can be compensated.

A pivot mechanism for guiding in rotation comprises a mobile element connected to a fixed element through flexible connections; with the flexible elements being configured to guide the mobile element according to a rotational movement in a plane, around a pivoting axis perpendicular to the plane; with each of the flexible connections comprising an intermediary junction provided with an expansion slot, the expansion slot being configured to expand during the rotation of the mobile element, so that the mobile element can pivot according to a second angular amplitude that is greater than a first angular amplitude achieved without said expansion slot; with the intermediary junctions being connected to one another by a coupling member; each of the coupling members being configured so as to prevent a movement out of the plane and a lateral movement in the plane of the mobile element. The pivot mechanism has a very high rotational amplitude.

A pivot mechanism for guiding in rotation comprises a mobile element connected to a fixed element through flexible connections; with the flexible elements being configured to guide the mobile element according to a rotational movement in a plane, around a pivoting axis perpendicular to the plane; with each of the flexible connections comprising an intermediary junction provided with an expansion slot, the expansion slot being configured to expand during the rotation of the mobile element, so that the mobile element can pivot according to a second angular amplitude that is greater than a first angular amplitude achieved without said expansion slot; with the intermediary junctions being connected to one another by a coupling member; each of the coupling members being configured so as to prevent a movement out of the plane and a lateral movement in the plane of the mobile element. The pivot mechanism has a very high rotational amplitude.

A pivot cradle bearing system includes a curved cage segment in which rolling elements are guided, which are arranged between two bearing parts which can be pivoted relative to each other. A synchronization device, which is designed for the synchronization of the relative movement of the bearing parts with the displacement of the cage segment, comprises a pivot arm, which is mounted in the cage segment. A ball-and-socket joint, by means of which a snap-action connection is formed, is provided to support the pivot arm in the cage segment.

A connection device includes a first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft, a fixed member, a movable member, an elastic part, and a movable member. The first rotation shaft has a first operation part, and the first operation part includes a first protrusion part and a first snap-fit slot adjacently arranged along a circumferential direction of the first rotation shaft. The second rotation shaft has a second operation part, and the second operation part includes a second protrusion part and a second snap-fit slot adjacently arranged along a circumferential direction of the second rotation shaft. The fixed member is configured to keep a distance between the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft. The movable member is arranged between the first operation part and the second operation part. The elastic part configured to provide the movable member with a deformation force for moving toward the second operation part.

A connection device includes a first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft, a fixed member, a movable member, an elastic part, and a movable member. The first rotation shaft has a first operation part, and the first operation part includes a first protrusion part and a first snap-fit slot adjacently arranged along a circumferential direction of the first rotation shaft. The second rotation shaft has a second operation part, and the second operation part includes a second protrusion part and a second snap-fit slot adjacently arranged along a circumferential direction of the second rotation shaft. The fixed member is configured to keep a distance between the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft. The movable member is arranged between the first operation part and the second operation part. The elastic part configured to provide the movable member with a deformation force for moving toward the second operation part.

A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.

A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.

A hinge has a hinge body forming an articulating section extending between a first end and a second end of the hinge. The articulating section is adapted to bend from a neutral axis when the first and second ends are parallel to an angular range in which the first end is arranged among a plurality of angles within the angular range relative to the second end. The hinge body may define a receptacle along the articulating section, and an insert may be provided for insertion into the receptacle. The insert can modify the stiffness of the hinge in the angular range and is arranged parallel to the neutral axis.