A system for assisting a user in moving a device relative to a structure comprises a magnetorheological (MR) fluid actuator unit including at least one torque source and at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus having an input coupled to the at least one torque source to receive torque from the at least one torque source, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of assistance force via an output thereof. An interface is configured for coupling the output of the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus to the device or surrounding structure. At least one sensor provides information about a movement of the device. A processor unit for controlling the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting the variable amount of assistance force as a function of said information, wherein the system is configured for one of the MR fluid actuator unit and the interface to be coupled to the structure, and for the other of the MR fluid actuator unit and the interface to be coupled to the device for the assistance force from the MR fluid actuator unit to assist in moving the device.

A camera hinge arrangement (1) has a head hinge (2) and a base hinge (4). The head hinge (2) includes a movable head hinge element (3) while the base hinge (4) includes a movable base hinge element (5). The head hinge (2) and the base hinge (4) are connected to each other via the movable base hinge element (5). The camera hinge arrangement (1) in each case has a control cable (9, 10) and at least one restoring element (11, 12) for both the movable head hinge element (3) and the movable base hinge element (5). The movable head hinge element (3) and the movable base hinge element (5) are both connected here to one of the two control cables (9, 10) and to at least one of the restoring elements (11, 12) in such a manner that the movable head hinge element (3) and the movable base hinge element (5) are movable out of a starting position counter to a restoring force of the restoring elements (11, 12) by a pull action on the control cables (9, 10).

The present invention discloses a gravity balancing device for a rehabilitation robot arm, and belongs to the field of rehabilitation robots. The gravity balancing device includes a shoulder joint connecting member, an upper arm connecting member and a gravity balancing assembly; the shoulder joint connecting member and the upper arm connecting member are pivotally connected according to the human body bionic structure to simulate the rotational movement of the upper arm of the human body around the shoulder joint; the gravity balancing assembly includes a plurality of springs, wire ropes and guide pulleys, the wire ropes connect the springs to the shoulder joint connecting member and the upper arm connecting member, the spring tension is used to balance the gravity of the arm, and the guide pulleys are used to change the force directions of the wire ropes, thereby saving space and making the device structure more compact. Further, by locking different guide pulleys, the arm gravity can be still balanced by the spring tension after switching of the rehabilitation robot between the left and right hand training modes, thereby ensuring that the robot can still work normally after the training mode is switched.

Rotational couplers for use with surgical devices that are actuated by semi-flexible actuators such as wires and the like. The couplers enable the actuators to apply various actuation motions to actuation features on the surgical device as well as other actuators to apply axial and rotational motions to the surgical device to manipulate the device into various orientations relative to an elongate shaft to which the device is movably attached.

A power transmission device is provided including: a base, provided with a pair of left and right drive pulleys; an intermediate member, rotatably supported by the base about a first axis; and a driven member, rotatably supported by the intermediate member about a second axis. A pair of left wires wound in opposite directions are fixed to the left drive pulley and the driven member. A pair of right wires wound in opposite directions to each other are fixed to the right drive pulley and the driven member. By the drive pulleys, when the driven member is rotated in the same direction about the second axis, torque in opposite directions about the first axis is applied to the driven member, and when the driven member is rotated in opposite directions about the second axis, torque in the same direction about the first axis is applied to the driven member.

A zero-turn mower with selective steering control. The zero-turn mower includes a pair of front wheels having sprockets operably connected thereto, a drive gear rotatably disposed within a housing affixed to the mower frame, and a drive chain that couples the sprockets to the drive gear. A plate gear is slidably disposed on the frame. A pair of actuator arms bias the plate gear rearward to a first position. A pair of pedals can be depressed simultaneously to move the plate gear forward to a second position. When the plate gear is in the first position the drive gear is disengaged, and the front wheels may turn freely to any direction. When the plate gear is in the second position the drive gear engages, and the pedals allow the user to control the direction of the front wheels, allowing the mower to be safely utilized on sloped terrain.

A surgical tool includes: a treatment section that treats an object to be treated; a power source that generates a power to operate the treatment section; a traction section connected to the treatment section and the power source; a switching section that switches a transmission state of the power from the power source to the traction section between a state in which the power can be transmitted and a state in which the power cannot be transmitted; and a tension-applying section that has a pulley and applies a predetermined initial tension to the traction section by applying a power to the pulley in the state in which the power cannot be transmitted, wherein the traction section is hung on the pulley via the power source from the treatment section and is connected to the treatment section via the power source.

An orthosis includes a first portion and a second portion configured to attach on opposite sides of a joint. An actuator is configured to apply a force between the first and second portions. The actuator includes a first spool and a second spool rotatably mounted to the first portion. An output pulley is mounted to the second portion. A belt has a first end wrapped around the first spool, a second end wrapped around the second spool, and a mid-portion wrapped around the output pulley. The actuator is configured to rotate the first and second spools. The rotation of the first spool pulls the belt a given length, and the rotation of the second spool feeds the belt less than the given length, so as to pull the output pulley towards the first portion to pull the second portion towards the first portion.

A system for assisting a user in moving a device relative to a structure comprises a magnetorheological (MR) fluid actuator unit including at least one torque source and at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus having an input coupled to the at least one torque source to receive torque from the at least one torque source, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of assistance force via an output thereof. An interface is configured for coupling the output of the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus to the device or surrounding structure. At least one sensor provides information about a movement of the device. A processor unit for controlling the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting the variable amount of assistance force as a function of said information, wherein the system is configured for one of the MR fluid actuator unit and the interface to be coupled to the structure, and for the other of the MR fluid actuator unit and the interface to be coupled to the device for the assistance force from the MR fluid actuator unit to assist in moving the device.

A linear-member-driven manipulator is provided that includes a bendable member that is bendable along a bending plane and includes a plurality of bendable portions; a linear member used to bend at least one of the bendable portions; a plurality of guiding members that guide the linear member that is driven; and a plurality of support members, each support member extending from one of the guiding members to the bendable member, wherein each guiding member is swingable with respect to the bendable member; and wherein, for each support member, a projection distance between the linear member and the support member on the bending plane is greater than or equal to a projection distance between the linear member and a bending neutral line of the bendable member on the bending plane.