A windshield wiper system for an aircraft is provided and includes a motor, an output shaft, a wrap spring and crank rocker mechanism (WSCRM) to which the motor and the output shaft are coupled and a controller. By way of the WSCRM, first directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor via a two-stage gear reduction is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a first sweep angle and second directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a second sweep angle. The controller is configured to control the motor such that the first directional rotation is continuously or non-continuously input during first or second flight conditions, respectively, and the second directional rotation is continuously input during third flight conditions.

The invention is an apparatus to convert bidirectional rotary motion to unidirectional rotary motion having better mechanical advantage than a simple crank. It can make pedaling a bicycle easier or give an engine better mechanical advantage. It can also convert unidirectional rotary motion to bidirectional rotary motion, or continuous rotary motion to rotary motion with a momentary dwell. Each of these applications have input and output shafts on a common axis.

A rotary drive arrangement for a surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector. In one form, the rotary drive arrangement includes a drive shaft assembly that is selectively axially movable between a first position and a second position. A rotary transmission operably interfaces with the drive shaft assembly such that when the drive shaft assembly is in the first axial position, application of one of the rotary drive motions to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a first rotary control motion to the surgical end effector and when the drive shaft assembly is in the second axial position, application of the rotary drive motion to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a second rotary control motion to the surgical end effector.

A rotary drive arrangement for a surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector. In one form, the rotary drive arrangement includes a drive shaft assembly that is selectively axially movable between a first position and a second position. A rotary transmission operably interfaces with the drive shaft assembly such that when the drive shaft assembly is in the first axial position, application of one of the rotary drive motions to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a first rotary control motion to the surgical end effector and when the drive shaft assembly is in the second axial position, application of the rotary drive motion to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a second rotary control motion to the surgical end effector.

A rotary drive arrangement for a surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector. In one form, the rotary drive arrangement includes a drive shaft assembly that is selectively axially movable between a first position and a second position. A rotary transmission operably interfaces with the drive shaft assembly such that when the drive shaft assembly is in the first axial position, application of one of the rotary drive motions to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a first rotary control motion to the surgical end effector and when the drive shaft assembly is in the second axial position, application of the rotary drive motion to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a second rotary control motion to the surgical end effector.

A rotary drive arrangement for a surgical instrument that includes a surgical end effector. In one form, the rotary drive arrangement includes a drive shaft assembly that is selectively axially movable between a first position and a second position. A rotary transmission operably interfaces with the drive shaft assembly such that when the drive shaft assembly is in the first axial position, application of one of the rotary drive motions to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a first rotary control motion to the surgical end effector and when the drive shaft assembly is in the second axial position, application of the rotary drive motion to the drive shaft assembly causes the rotary transmission to apply a second rotary control motion to the surgical end effector.

A surgical instrument system that includes a housing and a rotatable drive shaft, a motor operably coupled to the drive shaft, and a plurality of replaceable end effectors that can be connected to the housing. Each replaceable end effector includes a drive screw that is turned a fixed number of revolutions by the motor-driven rotatable drive shaft when the end effector is connected to the housing. Each end effector further comprises a firing member operably coupled with the drive screw of the end effector. The drive screw is configured to displace the firing member over a firing length as a result of the fixed number of revolutions. In certain embodiments, each replaceable end effector can include a drive screw with a thread pitch set to the firing length divided by the fixed number of revolutions.

A motor powered by linear actuators comprises a base plane in which a plurality of linear actuators (2, 2, 2, 20) operate by reciprocating along respective lines of action (X, X, X), an elastic conversion member (3, 30) which is adapted to move in the plane and suitable to be connected to a drive shaft (S). The linear actuators (2, 2, 2, 20) are operatively connected with the conversion member (3, 30) for converting the reciprocating motion of the linear actuators (2, 2, 2, 20) into a substantially continuous motion of the conversion member (3, 30). The motor also comprises stationary constraint means (4, 40) which are adapted to selectively interact with the conversion member (3, 30) to locally deform it and/or promote sliding and movement thereof the plane about a predetermined axis or in a predetermined direction in response to the action of the linear actuators (2, 2, 2, 20).

A windshield wiper system for an aircraft is provided and includes a motor, an output shaft, a wrap spring and crank rocker mechanism (WSCRM) to which the motor and the output shaft are coupled and a controller. By way of the WSCRM, first directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor via a two-stage gear reduction is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a first sweep angle and second directional rotation input to the WSCRM from the motor is converted such that the output shaft drives wiper blade oscillation through a second sweep angle. The controller is configured to control the motor such that the first directional rotation is continuously or non-continuously input during first or second flight conditions, respectively, and the second directional rotation is continuously input during third flight conditions.

A drive device serves for adjusting an operating element for a valve, a throttle, a blow-out preventor or the like, in particular in the field of gas and oil production, the operating element being actively connected to at least one driving motor via a drive train, and at least one transmission changing unit being arranged in the drive train for converting a revolution of the driving motor into a revolution of the operating element and/or a revolution/linear motion converter being arranged for converting the revolution of the driving motor into a linear motion of the operating element. In order to also have a very compact design in case of a high possible performance and to simultaneously permit a good thermal distribution within the drive device, so that separate cooling devices for carrying off the generated lost heat are superfluous, the drive train comprises at least one essentially disk- or wheel-shaped revolution introducing device which is actively connected with at least two drive shafts driven by separate driving motors.