A centrifuge calibration apparatus (10) configured to be spun in a centrifuge and to provide an indication (25) of performance of the centrifuge. Spinning of the apparatus in the centrifuge causes a piston (14) to exert centrifugal force to compress a spring (22), thereby generating relative movement between a pointer (24) and a scale (26). The scale may be calibrated in units of G-force or RPM. A ratchet mechanism (40) holds the pointer at its most displaced position upon completion of the spinning and removal of the apparatus from the centrifuge.

A force sensing element is used in a pressure transducer. The force sensing element includes a flat, disc-type spring having a unitary body that circumscribes a central axis, and a plurality of spirals that are continuous with each other and extend radially outwardly from the central axis. The plurality of spirals includes nested symmetrical flights having walls with a non-uniform thickness, and the disc spring is uniformly deflectable along the central axis in response to force acting on the disc-type spring. The spring is configured to have a high accuracy and a high fatigue life such that the spring is suitable for use in high-pressure applications that may require repeatability while operating with over 10 million cycles of unidirectional or bi-directional axial loading.

The present invention describes an electronic device (2) and corresponding method for monitoring hydrogeological phenomena, in particular the integrity of a rockfall protection barrier by detecting mechanical load exceeding a threshold, such as due to impact or debris flow. The device is provided with elongated flexible legs protruding from the housing in a radial manner and connected to a surface to be monitored (i.e. rockfall net) for detecting mechanical stress.

A brake cylinder of a motor vehicle, in particular a pneumatically actuatable brake cylinder of a commercial vehicle, includes a first housing part and a second housing part. An actuation tappet actuates a brake lever of a brake application device, which actuation tappet protrudes from a spring chamber of the first housing part. A membrane, which divides an interior bounded by the first housing part and the second housing part into a pressure chamber and the spring chamber, is provided, as well as a return spring for returning the actuation tappet from a braking position to a non-braking position. The return spring is arranged in a loaded manner between a housing bottom of the first housing part and a plate, which is arranged on the spring chamber side of the membrane and is connected to the actuation tappet. The return spring is provided with at least one elongation-measuring element.

Robots and sensor systems having a compliant member for maintaining the position of a sensor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rigid surface, one or more compliant members attached to the rigid surface, and a sensor device. The sensor device includes an inflatable diaphragm operable to be disposed around the one or more compliant members, the inflatable diaphragm having a port, and a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the port and operable to detect a pressure within the inflatable diaphragm. The one or more compliant members prevent lateral movement and rotational movement of the sensor device.

Robots for lifting objects are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rail system, a body structure coupled to the rail system, a first arm coupled to a first side of the body structure, one or more first arm actuators providing the first arm with multiple degrees of freedom, a second arm coupled to a second side of the body structure, one or more second arm actuators providing the second arm with multiple degrees of freedom, and a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system. The one or more first arm actuators and the one or more second arm actuators are operable to wrap the first arm and the second arm around an object and hold the object against the body structure. The lift actuator is operable to move the body structure such that the object is lifted on the rail system.

Robots including a lifting actuator for lifting object are disclosed. In one embodiment, a robot includes a rail system extending in a system direction, a body structure coupled to the rail system, the body structure comprising an array of flexible tactile sensors, wherein each flexible tactile sensor of the array of flexible tactile sensors is operable to produce a signal determinative of a magnitude and a direction of a force applied to the flexible tactile sensor, and a lift actuator operable to move the body structure along the rail system.