A device for clamping a rotatably mounted shaft element including: a housing element having an annular housing portion wherein the shaft extends in the axial direction; an elastically deformable annular clamping ring element arranged in the annular housing portion, wherein the clamping ring has a cross-sectional profile with a first profile portion, extending radially inward and protrudes radially through an annular circumferential opening; and a pressure chamber formed in the annular housing has at least one pressure chamber portion arranged radially on the inner side adjacently to at least one second profile portion of the clamping ring; wherein the rotatably mounted shaft in a rest state clamped by frictional engagement with the first profile of the clamping ring protruding toward the shaft, and wherein the frictional engagement between the shaft and the first profile is releasable, the clamping ring is elastically deformable radially outward by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure chamber.

A closing device for a mold group with two half-molds extends along a main axis and has a device body mountable to one of the two half-molds, and a closing group having a closing element rotatable about a rotation axis between a closing position, in which the two half-molds are lockable and an opening position, in which the two half-molds are releasable. A movement group housed in the device body and engaged with the closing group to rotationally move the closing element has a stem movable along the main axis and transmission members for transforming linear motion of the stem into rotatory motion of the closing element. A command group has a command plate engaged with one command end of the stem and a metal sealing bellows engaged with the command plate. A position of the metal sealing bellows corresponds to an axial position of the command plate and of the stem.

A closing device for a mold group with two half-molds extends along a main axis and has a device body mountable to one of the two half-molds, and a closing group having a closing element rotatable about a rotation axis between a closing position, in which the two half-molds are lockable and an opening position, in which the two half-molds are releasable. A movement group housed in the device body and engaged with the closing group to rotationally move the closing element has a stem movable along the main axis and transmission members for transforming linear motion of the stem into rotatory motion of the closing element. A command group has a command plate engaged with one command end of the stem and a metal sealing bellows engaged with the command plate. A position of the metal sealing bellows corresponds to an axial position of the command plate and of the stem.

An apparatus and its method of use provide a preload to the assembly of large structures, for example the assembly of an aircraft wing panel to an aircraft wing frame. The apparatus and its method of use preloads the aircraft wing panel of the aircraft wing structure and presses the aircraft wing panel against the aircraft wing frame of the aircraft wing structure, temporarily securing the aircraft wing panel against the aircraft wing frame and indexing the aircraft wing panel to the aircraft wing frame for the installation of permanent fasteners securing the aircraft wing panel to the aircraft wing frame.

A mechanism is hereby disclosed that, when activated in the linear direction of its axis, will expand and contract radially. The novel nature of the device is that of compliant methods and materials used in its design. Compliant members, referred to as dyads, translate the motion and imply resistance in a single structure. Thus eliminating the need for separate members, hinges, pins, springs and the associated assembly. When these compliant dyads are combined in the novel configurations hereby disclosed, a device is created that expands (or contracts) in multiple directions from its primary axis of actuation. Furthermore, one or more actuation dyad sets could be arranged at various angles relative to the global vertical axis. The radial expansion/contraction can be 2D or 3D by adding more primary activation dyad sets. Such a device can be applied to many applications and industries. One such application is for gripping the inside of a tube or object for moving manually or in automation. The compliant nature of this device can be optimized to auto-adapt to the objects size and shape allowing for greater part variation and reduce manufacturing line change-over times. Other applications would include snap fit connections, spherical articulating joints, spinning cutting tools, speed limiting using friction and centrifugal force, braking rotational forces or transmitting it, automatic centering, expanding elastic bands in an assembly process, and stretching an opening for fitment. The design of this device is material friendly and can be made of plastic, composite and metals. It may be of a single monoform construction (created by molding, machining, or additive manufacturing) or made of multiple parts including pivots and different materials to achieve the desired articulation.

A coupler assembly is provided for coupling components in a power transmission system, such as a rack and pinion drive system. The coupler assembly includes a floating mount and a pair of clamp members movable between an unfastened configuration in which the floating mount is adjustably supported between the clamp members and a fastened configuration in which the floating mount is fixedly secured between the clamp members. At least a pitch and a yaw of the floating mount are adjustable when the clamp members are in the unfastened configuration. Methods and systems which relate to or include the aforementioned coupler assembly are also provided.

A suction cup is provided, including: a cup body, including a sucking face, the cup body defining an axial direction perpendicular to the sucking face; a pump, connected to an end of the cup body opposite to the sucking face, the pump including a first passageway, a direction in which the first passageway extends and the axial direction forming an included angle therebetween; a movable handle, slidably disposed within the first passageway, including a piston.

In an embodiment, a display apparatus includes: a backlight module; a housing having a cavity for receiving the backlight module therein; adsorption device mounted on the housing and configured for removably adsorbing the backlight module on the housing; and a controller configured for controlling the adsorption device to switch between a turn-on state in which the adsorption device generates an adsorption force to adsorb the backlight module to the housing and a turn-off state in which the adsorption device stops the adsorption to remove backlight module from the housing.

Methods and apparatuses for aligning a first hole in a first panel with a second hole in a second panel to define a through-hole. A wall that defines the second hole is gripped from within the through-hole to pull the second panel towards the first panel and thereby establish a clamp-up of the first panel and the second panel.

Methods and apparatuses for providing a clamp-up are provided. An apparatus for forming a clamp-up comprises an end effector. The end effector is positioned at a first side of a panel joint and applies a first clamp-up force to a first panel of a panel joint and an equal and opposite second clamp-up force to a second panel of the panel joint to provide the clamp-up.