A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviate weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage.

The disclosed subject matter relates to a vibration drive train for making a screed body of a screed device of a paver vibrate, the vibration drive train comprising: a rotatable vibration shaft (extending along a rotational axis (A) between a first shaft end and a second shaft end, wherein the vibration shaft comprises an unbalance mass for generating a vibration arranged between the first and second shaft ends, a torsionally stiff tubular bearing housing, wherein the vibration shaft extends through the tubular bearing housing, and wherein the tubular bearing housing is adapted to be firmly attached to the screed body, a first ball bearing unit and second ball bearing unit arranged inside the tubular bearing housing spaced apart along the rotational axis (A), wherein the first and second bearing unit are adapted for rotatably bearing the vibration shaft towards the tubular bearing housing.

The disclosure relates to integrated modules for Synchronized Array of Vibration Actuators (FIG. 125A). The modules provide physical interface, power and communication interfaces. Each module may include vibration actuators (FIG. 123A) which can be precisely attached and aligned to the module housing, a microcontroller or other microprocessor, and one or more sensors for closed loop control of actuators (FIG. 126G). Interleaved pairs of ERMs having a center of mass in the same plane eliminate parasitic torque. A single module can produce a vibration force that rotates at a specific frequency and magnitude, which on its own could cancel out some types of periodic vibrations (FIG. 125B). Two modules paired together and counter-rotating with respect to each other can produce a directional vibration at a specific frequency and magnitude, which could prove even more useful for canceling out a vibration. Such modules are also employed to produce beating patterns (FIGS. 131-133). Both amplitude and frequency of the beating force are variable.

A vibration generating mechanism for a screen box includes a drive shaft arranged to be rotatably driven by a drive motor, at least one first eccentric out-of-balance weight fixed with respect to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and at least one second eccentric out-of-balance weight coupled to the drive shaft via gearing. The first and second out-of-balance weights rotate in opposite directions when driven by the drive shaft.

A gravity driven generator include a wheel hub surrounded by a circular wheel frame having a plurality of radial spokes extending from the hub to the frame and each carrying a movable weight that is impelled from a resting position proximate the hub to an extended position proximate the frame as the wheel rotates from the 12 o'clock position to the 6 o'clock position. This results in placing the overall structure out-of-balance and causes rotation. The movable weight are impelled inward from the 6 o'clock position to the 12 o'clock position. The rotating hub is connected to generators, such as geared generators, to produce electrical power. In a preferred embodiment, the movable weight are carried on tracks and impelled by electromechanical induction devices.

An apparatus and method for adjusting an amplitude of a drive signal applied to a device are presented. The method of driving a device includes providing a drive signal to drive the device, monitoring a gradient value of the response signal; and changing an amplitude level of the drive signal based on the gradient value. The monitoring of the gradient value includes sensing an electrical parameter of the response signal and calculating the gradient value based on the electrical parameter.

A vibrational rehabilitation device includes two drive assemblies, an eccentric assembly, and two half housings. Each drive assembly includes a driving wheel assembly and a driven wheel assembly. The driving wheel assembly has a driving wheel and a driving shaft. The driving shaft is mounted to a center of the driving wheel. A grip member is provided at one side of the driving shaft opposite the driving wheel. The driven wheel assembly includes a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel. The first driven wheel is connected with the driving wheel and driven by the driving wheel. The second driven wheel is coaxially disposed with the first driven wheel. The eccentric assembly includes two transmission wheels at two sides thereof and an eccentric block sandwiched between the two transmission wheels. The drive assemblies and the eccentric assembly are mounted in the housings.

An electric motor includes a rotor having a stack of laminations positioned axially relative to one another. The stack of laminations includes a first rotor lamination that is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first rotor lamination is configured to have an asymmetric mass distribution such that the first portion has a first mass and the second portion has a second mass, with the first mass being different from the second mass. The electric motor is configured to selectively generate an unbalanced force during operation (i.e., when the rotor is spinning). The electric motor may include a stator configured to have an asymmetric magnetic field distribution. The electric motor may be employed in a haptic assembly and eliminates the need for a separate eccentric mass to generate a haptic signal.

A vibration exciter for a soil compacting device includes a first unbalanced shaft on which at least one first unbalanced mass is arranged, a second unbalanced shaft which is arranged axially parallel to the first unbalanced shaft, which is contra-directionally rotatably coupled to the first unbalanced shaft in form-locked manner, and on which at least one second unbalanced mass is arranged, and a drive device for rotatably driving one of the unbalanced shafts and a rotation device. The drive device can be actuated by an actuation device in order to rotate the second unbalanced mass relative to the first unbalanced mass. The second unbalanced shaft has a cavity, and the actuation device is at least partially arranged inside the cavity.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to implement cooling fans with selectively activated vibration modes are disclosed. An example cooling fan assembly includes a motor and a fan coupled to a shaft of the motor. The motor is to rotate the shaft in a first direction to cause the fan to move air. The motor is to rotate the shaft in a second direction to cause vibration from an eccentric mass coupled to the shaft.