A system and method are provided for reducing vibrations and loads in one or more rotor blades on a rotor hub of a wind turbine when the rotor hub is in a locked or idling condition. An electronically tunable mass damper is attached to a fixed location on one or more of the rotor blades. The mass damper is maintained on the rotor blades during the locked or idling condition of the rotor hub. The method includes sensing movement of a mass component of the mass damper from vibrations or oscillations induced in the rotor blade. The mass damper is automatically tuned based on the sensed movements of the mass component by automatically varying an electrical characteristic of the mass damper.

A solar tracker system includes a support tube, a solar panel assembly connected to the support tube, and an active lock connected to the support tube. The active lock includes a housing defining a chamber and a seal. The seal prevents a flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in a sealed state and allows the flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in an unsealed state. The active lock further includes a locking system motor connected to the seal to transition the active lock between the sealed state and the unsealed state, a battery providing power to the locking system motor, and an antenna for receiving instructions controlling the locking system motor.

A portable device for precision plasma and oxy-fuel torch cutting is provided. Versions of an example portable cutting torch tool guide the gun of a cutting torch to make precision linear cuts or curved cuts in a metal workpiece. In an implementation, the device is a gun for a cutting torch, with an integrated rail follower and adjustable vertical and horizontal offsets from a workpiece. The cutting torch tool may use various kinds of rails for stable cuts, with optional movement damping, motorized drive, servos for vertical and horizontal offset, and remote control with user interface.

Energy conversion systems and methods are disclosed. In one aspect, the system is for converting or redirecting energy received by an impact to an automobile in a proximal direction into another type of energy. The system includes a body having a first engagement structure and an impact member configured to be installed within an outer perimeter compartment of the automobile to receive an impulse. The impact member having a second engagement structure and a third engagement structure. The second engagement structure being configured to engage with the first engagement structure of the body to facilitate the impact member translating in the direction relative to the body. The system further includes a converter having a fourth engagement structure, the fourth engagement structure being configured to engage with the third engagement structure of the impact member and convert the energy received by the impact member into another type of energy. The system may change or redirect a direction of a force vector associated with the received impulse.

A vibration damper that damp vibrations transmitted between a drive unit and a support body. The vibration damper comprises: an elastic member interposed between the drive unit and the support body; a rotor supported by the drive unit or the support body; and a vibration translating mechanism that rotates the rotor and reciprocates the rotor between the drive unit and the support body, in response to the vibrations acting in a vibrating direction to isolate the drive unit and the support body away from each other and bring the drive unit and the support body closer together.

A novel rotation vibration damper and to vibration absorbers having the damper for wind turbines or other high and, relative to the height thereof, narrow installations or buildings. The disclosure particularly relates to vibration absorbers comprising at least one oscillating mass on a pendulum cable or pendulum rod, wherein the mass is caused to vibrate by an excitation frequency which can be damped by a rotation damper and, in particular, a rotating eddy current magnet damper which forms part of the absorber.

A damping device and a wind turbine generator system comprising the damping device. The damping device comprises: damping components; structural supports, the structural supports connecting the damping components to a mass block provided on an object to be damped, each structural support comprising a gear, and the gear being rotatably provided on the structural support; and guide rails, wherein each guide rail has a predetermined curvature, each guide rail has a first end used for being rotatably connected to the object to be damped and a second end supported on the corresponding structural support, a tooth portion engaged with a gear is formed on a side portion of each guide rail, and when the mass block swings, the swing of the mass block is converted into transmission by means of the engagement transmission between the guide rail and the gear for input into the corresponding damping component.

A door component has a controllable rotary damper and two connector units which can be moved relative to one another. One of the two connector units can be connected to a load-bearing construction and the other one can be connected to a movable door device of a vehicle, in order to damp a movement of the door device between a closed position and an open position in a controlled manner. Two mutually engaged spindle units are arranged between the two connector units, one spindle unit being a threaded spindle and the other being a spindle nut. A first spindle unit is fastened rotatably on a coupling rod connected to one of the connector units. A magnetorheological transmission device is arranged between the coupling rod and the first spindle unit, in order to brake a rotational movement of the first spindle unit as required.

A solar tracker system includes a torque tube, a solar panel assembly attached to the torque tube, a housing defining a chamber and a fluid passageway extending from the chamber, and an active lock connected to a seal configured to prevent a flow path of fluid while in a sealed state and allow the flow path of fluid in an unsealed state. The system further includes a controller in communication with the torque tube and the active lock. The controller is programmed to receive a command to place the solar panel assembly in a stowed position, instruct the torque tube to rotate the panel assembly to a stowed angle corresponding to the stowed position, monitor a current angle of the panel assembly, compare the current angle to the stowed angle, and instruct the seal to transition to the sealed state when the current angle is equal to the stowed angle.

A suspension device includes a damper. The damper includes: a ball screw; a ball screw nut screwed with the ball screw; a bearing that rotatably supports a nut unit (nut assembly) provided with the ball screw nut; and a housing that houses the bearing inside. A part between the housing and the bearing in an axial direction is provided with an elastic body.