A vehicle pedal device including a transmission member that transmits an operation force applied to a pedal, a reaction force lever that is disposed on the transmission member so that the reaction force lever pivots about a predetermined axis, and that outputs the operation force transmitted to the transmission member to a brake device against a biasing force of a load spring, and a depressing force detector that is fixedly attached to a pedal arm of the pedal or to a sub lever coupled to the pedal arm and that receives a reaction force of the reaction force lever to detect the operation force applied to the pedal, the depressing force detector being configured to have a positioning pin projecting from the depressing force detector, the pedal arm of the pedal or the sub lever coupled to the pedal arm being configured to have a positioning pin insertion hole in which the positioning pin of the depressing force detector is inserted, the depressing force detector being configured to be fixed to the pedal arm or the sub lever with the positioning pin being pressed against an inner peripheral edge of the positioning pin insertion hole by a reaction force of the load spring, and the load spring being fixedly positioned between the reaction force lever and the depressing force detector.

A gas strut active monitoring system for a gas strut includes a gas strut wear monitor connected to a base end of the gas strut and a strut end. The gas strut wear monitor is removable from the gas strut such that the gas strut is replaceable without replacing the gas strut wear monitor. The gas strut wear monitor is configured to monitor an output force of the gas strut, and output a signal indicative of a maintenance recommendation for the gas strut based on the output force.

An automated tensioning system is provided for a conveyor with an endless traction element that travels around an adjustably mounted pulley or sprocket. The tensioning system includes a spring housing with a lead screw/drive shaft assembly located therein that has a pushing face that extends out of one housing end. A spring compression plate is threadingly engaged with the lead screw. A plate indicator is located on the spring compression plate. A tensioner spring is located between the tensioner spring support provided by a first housing end and the spring compression plate. A sensor is located on the spring housing that is configured to detect a position of the plate indicator. A driven wheel, rotationally engaged with the drive shaft and axially slideable thereon, is driven by a motor that is controlled by a controller configured to receive position data from the position sensor/drive shaft assembly and to actuate the motor to drive the driven wheel and rotate the lead screw and advance or retract the face so that a desired tension is maintained.

An automated tensioning system is provided for a conveyor. The tensioning system includes a spring housing with a lead screw/drive shaft assembly located therein that has a pushing face that extends out of one housing end. A spring compression plate is threadingly engaged with the lead screw. A plate indicator is located on the spring compression plate. A tensioner spring is located between the tensioner spring support provided by a first housing end and the spring compression plate. A sensor is located on the spring housing that is configured to detect a position of the plate indicator. A driven wheel, rotationally engaged with the drive shaft and axially slideable thereon, is driven by a motor to drive the driven wheel and rotate the lead screw and advance or retract the face so that a desired tension is maintained.

The invention is directed at an optical sensor device, comprising a sensing element for receiving an input action, an optical fiber comprising an intrinsic fiber optic sensor, and a transmission structure arranged for exerting a sensing action on the optical fiber in response to the input action received by the sensing element, wherein the optical fiber in a first connecting part thereof is connected to a reference body and wherein the optical fiber in a second connecting part thereof is to the transmission structure for receiving the sensing action, the first connecting part and the second connecting part of the optical fiber being located on either side of the intrinsic fiber optic sensor, wherein the transmission structure comprises a bi-stable spring having a first and a second stable deflection position and a negative stiffness range around an unstable equilibrium position between the first and second stable deflection position, and wherein the optical fiber between the transmission structure and the reference body is pre-stressed such as to be tensed, said optical fiber thereby acting as a spring having a first spring constant of positive value, wherein the optical fiber thereby counteracts a spring action of the bi-stable spring such as to operate the bi-stable spring in a deflection position range within the negative stiffness range, the deflection position range not including the unstable equilibrium position of the bi-stable spring.

A method and system for measuring pressure in critical fit areas in the seal gap between a closure member and an opening defined by a vehicle. Critical contact pressure areas are identified and pressure profile data is measured across an area of surface contact in the seal gap with a thin strip-shaped electronic sensor. The electronic sensor includes a plurality of discreet pressure sensors arrayed across a sensor strip. The electronic sensor is inserted between the door and door opening while the door is softly closed against the seal. Pressure data may be analyzed and uploaded to a manufacturing database and control system.

A contact force testing apparatus includes a measuring sensor that can be contacted with an electrical contact element and measures a contact force (F) of a contact with the electrical contact element of an electrical connector having a male component and a female component. The measuring sensor receives the contact force in a contact region with a piezoelectric pick-up. The measuring sensor includes a plurality of piezoelectric pick-ups that are spaced apart from one another by pick-up gaps. The measuring sensor has a protective sleeve that covers the piezoelectric pick-ups and the pick-up gaps in the contact region.

A contact force testing apparatus includes a measuring sensor that can be contacted with an electrical contact element and measures a contact force (F) of a contact with the electrical contact element. The measuring sensor includes piezoelectric material that receives the contact force (F) in a contact region and produces polarization charges. The measuring sensor includes an acceptor electrode that is completely surrounded by piezoelectric material in the contact region in the direction of a thickness extension of the measuring sensor and receives the polarization charges. A method is provided for the use of such a contact force testing apparatus, and a method is provided for producing such a contact force testing apparatus.

The present disclosure provides a navigation method and system which does not require a remotely located tracking system, or additional targets or other devices to be installed on the patient or object being tracked. The system uses one flexible component in physical contact with the patient/object and measures relative position as a function of forces that are generated by the flexing component as it is bent. The system translates forces into navigational commands for a robot, other manipulator, or for human manual navigation. A method for transforming a pre-planned motion pathway into a sequence of forces for this mode of navigation is also described. This system is also applicable in the field of manufacturing robotics, where the locations of objects or assemblies may not be precisely known or constant. The method and system disclosed herein can be used to maintain known position of an object/assembly or to navigate movement of a robot relative to an object/assembly as in the case of machining.

A haymaking machine for tedding or raking agricultural stalk or leaf material includes a tedding or raking rotor arranged on a machine beam. The tedding or raking rotor is rotated about a vertical axis when working/operating. The tedding or raking rotor includes two tine arms aligned approximately radially which are uniformly distributed in a circumferential direction about the vertical axis, a first spring tine having a first length arranged on the two tine arms, a second spring tine having a second length arranged on the at least two tine arms, a first measuring device which interacts with the first spring tine, and a second measuring device which interacts with the second spring tine. The second length is smaller than the first length. The first measuring device measures a force acting on the first spring tine. The second measuring device measures a force acting on the second spring tine.