A thrust chain device that induces an open thrust chain with a thrust portion and a housing portion, a thrust chain guide on a thrust portion of the thrust chain, a driving sprocket provided with teeth interlocking with the thrust chain, and a storage space of the housing portion, is provided. The storage space is parallel to the thrust portion and located opposite the thrust portion, the driving sprocket interlocks bilaterally with the thrust chain in a symmetric manner on the side of the thrust portion and on the side of the housing portion, the chain includes a connection portion between the thrust portion and the housing portion, arranged at a distance from the sprocket, the driving sprocket is in contact with the thrust chain by surfaces in the shape of an involute of a circle, the surfaces belonging to the teeth, where one tooth meshes with the chain while defining a line of action having an angle with the thrust portion between −10° and 10°, and the guide includes contact surfaces in synthetic material.

An aircraft actuation system is disclosed that includes a pair of cylinders, a piston movably disposed in each cylinder, and a roller train that extends between the pistons in the two cylinders. A portion of the roller train is disposed beyond the cylinders to engage a pinion. Movement of the pistons in the two cylinders in opposite directions produces a corresponding movement of the roller train to in turn rotate the pinion. The roller train may be maintained in compression between its two ends by fluid pressure exerted on a common face of each of the pistons in the two cylinders. The cylinders may be disposed in non-colinear relation, including in parallel relation to one another. A guide may be used to maintain rollers of the roller train in a proper orientation for entry into a space between an outer race and the pinion.

A charging device autonomously charges an electric vehicle. The charging device includes: a main body and an arm coupled to the main body. The main body is controllably moveable, and the arm is controllably extendable and retractable in a longitudinal direction. A charging plug is included at a distal end of the arm. The charging plug is controllably moveable and insertable into a charging portal of the electric vehicle. The arm comprises: a rigid chain, the rigid chain being compliant in a first direction from a neutral axis and resistant in an opposite second direction past the neutral axis, or at least one scissor arm.

The invention relates to a support device for a rigid chain (401) composed of links (402) that are connected in pairs by rollers (403). The movement of the rigid chain is guided by an internal housing (406) of a support casing (405). One or more support pins (404) project from one side of the chain, parallel to the axis of the link rollers. Furthermore, a face (411) of the casing extending substantially perpendicularly to the axes of the rollers has a through-groove (412) communicating with the internal housing (406). This groove (412) extends along the entire length of the housing and has dimensions, in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the rollers (403), that are sufficient to allow through only the support pin(s) (404), which pass through the groove (412) and protrude from the support casing (405) by a predetermined length allowing the fastening of one or more functional elements.

The invention relates to a support device for a rigid chain (401) composed of links (402) that are connected in pairs by rollers (403). The movement of the rigid chain is guided by an internal housing (406) of a support casing (405). One or more support pins (404) project from one side of the chain, parallel to the axis of the link rollers. Furthermore, a face (411) of the casing extending substantially perpendicularly to the axes of the rollers has a through-groove (412) communicating with the internal housing (406). This groove (412) extends along the entire length of the housing and has dimensions, in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the rollers (403), that are sufficient to allow through only the support pin(s) (404), which pass through the groove (412) and protrude from the support casing (405) by a predetermined length allowing the fastening of one or more functional elements.

An actuator includes first and second structural units arranged independently of one another. An engagement means is arranged in the first structural unit. A drive motor is in driving relationship to the engagement means and arranged in the first structural unit. An anti-backbend chain is in engagement with the engagement means, and a chain depot is arranged in the second structural unit.

A charging device autonomously charges an electric vehicle. The charging device includes: a main body and an arm coupled to the main body. The main body is controllably moveable, and the arm is controllably extendable and retractable in a longitudinal direction. A charging plug is included at a distal end of the arm. The charging plug is controllably moveable and insertable into a charging portal of the electric vehicle. The arm comprises: a rigid chain, the rigid chain being compliant in a first direction from a neutral axis and resistant in an opposite second direction past the neutral axis, or at least one scissor arm.

Described is a chain including a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other such that the chain is configured to bend in one direction without back-bending. Each of the plurality of links including a link body include: an inner side facing a bending direction of the chain; an outer side facing opposite the bending direction of the chain; a back-bending prevention portion; a post feature extending laterally across the link body, and a connection feature configured to engage with the post feature of the first other of the pivotally connected plurality of links to create one direction pivotal attachment without back-bending between the links. Further disclosed is a chain system and methods of moving devices with a chain or chain system.

Thrust chain device, includes a thrust chain with a straight portion along an axis and a curved portion, and links hinged on shafts, a chain guide, a driving sprocket with chain interlocking teeth, the sprocket being in contact with the chain via contact surfaces in the shape of an involute of a circle, the contact surfaces belonging to the teeth, a tooth engaging with the chain while defining a line of action having an angle with the shaft of the straight portion of between −10° and 10°, the sprocket in contact with the straight portion and not the curved and is mounted such that it can rotate on a shaft on the side of the chain opposite the curved portion's center of curvature, the contact surfaces including a convex front surface directed towards the straight portion and a rear surface directed towards the curved portion when the tooth is interlocking.

Thrust chain device, includes a thrust chain with a straight portion along an axis and a curved portion, and links hinged on shafts, a chain guide, a driving sprocket with chain interlocking teeth, the sprocket being in contact with the chain via contact surfaces in the shape of an involute of a circle, the contact surfaces belonging to the teeth, a tooth engaging with the chain while defining a line of action having an angle with the shaft of the straight portion of between −10° and 10°, the sprocket in contact with the straight portion and not the curved and is mounted such that it can rotate on a shaft on the side of the chain opposite the curved portion's center of curvature, the contact surfaces including a convex front surface directed towards the straight portion and a rear surface directed towards the curved portion when the tooth is interlocking.