Disclosed is a cyclic mechanism for engaging or disengaging a switch with the stage of the cycle being determined by a height to which a first object is lifted relative to a second object. The mechanism has few moving parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, is reliable, can be incorporated into a wide range of devices or structures, and operates as an incident to raising or lowering a first object relative to a second.

A compensated actuator, in various embodiments, comprises a base and an electric actuator and a fluid actuator interconnected to cooperatively allow for movement of an upper deck frame to which one or more compensated actuators are connected with or without using a pivoting connector. When so connected, a predetermined set of compensated actuators are connected to the upper deck frame and a platform intermediate the upper deck frame and the platform in a predetermined pattern and linear forces from the electric actuator and fluid actuator combined to impart rotation to an output attachment point.

An assembly for converting motion, the assembly comprising a first arm rotatable about a first fixed pivot; a second arm rotatable about a second fixed pivot, the second fixed pivot spaced apart from the first fixed pivot; a third arm pivotably connected to the second arm; a first connecting arm extending between the first arm and the third arm, the first connecting arm pivotably connected to the first arm spaced and pivotably connected to the third arm; and a second connecting arm extending between the first arm and the second arm, the second connecting arm pivotably connected to the first arm and pivotably connected to the second arm. The assembly finds use in supporting and moving components of a building. In one embodiment, the assembly finds use in deploying a solar panel array.

An actuator system mounted to a gas turbine engine that communicates mechanical power for positioning variable guide vanes within the gas turbine engine. The actuator system includes a torque box having components for communicating mechanical power to the variable guide vanes for positioning the vanes and an actuator mechanically coupled to provide mechanical power to the components of the torque box used to communicate the provided mechanical power to the inlet guide vanes. The actuator is mounted to the torque box via an elongate fastener extending in one direction and another elongate fastener extending in another direction.

An undulatory structure and methods for the fabrication and use thereof. The undulatory structure includes a buckled sheet and one or more work input elements for deforming the buckled sheet in an undulating manner wherein each point in a series of points on a sinuously-shaped profile of the buckled sheet travels at least partially along a figure eight-shaped path. The undulatory structure can be adapted for use as a solid-state transducer wherein the buckled sheet provides mechanical advantage without appreciable opposition from elastic restoring forces, thereby achieving improved force, displacement and efficiency characteristics.

The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a longitudinal axis, a carrier element mounted for driven movement, a motion transmitter that has a first end for transferring a drive force to the carrier element, which first end is provided at a position being offset from the longitudinal axis, and the motion transmitter has a second end positioned essentially on on the longitudinal axis or is arranged for being positioned essentially on the longitudinal axis during operation, wherein the motion transmitter has a first coupling part comprising the first end, which first coupling part essentially extends along a centre axis arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second coupling part comprising the second end, which first coupling part is fixedly connected with a first connecting portion of an elastic pivot element that allows that the first coupling part and the second coupling part can pivot with respect to each other at least in a first pivoting plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and by the centre axis, and wherein the first coupling part is made from a plastics material, including reinforced plastics materials, having a Young's modulus of at least 5000 MPa or from a metal material, and at least the first connecting portion, in particular the whole elastic pivot element, is made from a plastics material having a Young's modulus of not more than 3000 MPa, optionally of not more than 1000 MPa, further optionally of not more than 500 MPa.

A motion assembly that produces pitch and roll motions includes lower and upper plates. A pivotable coupling having upper and lower shafts extending from its center is coupled between the upper and lower plates. At least two linear actuators are coupled between the plates. Extension and retraction of the actuators pivots the upper plate about the pivotable coupling relative to the lower plate. A vehicle includes two steerable propulsion wheels coupled to a chassis. A lower plate of a pitch and roll assembly, similar to that just described, couples to the chassis via a slew bearing. Seating is coupled to the upper plate. The seating rotates with respect to the chassis via controlled rotation of the slew bearing with reference to the chassis. The seating can be rotated to point in any direction with respect to the chassis regardless of the direction the steerable propulsion wheels move the chassis.

The present disclosure is concerned with an oral hygiene implement having a longitudinal axis, a carrier element mounted for driven movement, a motion transmitter that has a first end for transferring a drive force to the carrier element, which first end is provided at a position being offset from the longitudinal axis, and the motion transmitter has a second end positioned essentially on on the longitudinal axis or is arranged for being positioned essentially on the longitudinal axis during operation, wherein the motion transmitter has a first coupling part comprising the first end, which first coupling part essentially extends along a centre axis arranged at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and a second coupling part comprising the second end, which first coupling part is fixedly connected with a first connecting portion of an elastic pivot element that allows that the first coupling part and the second coupling part can pivot with respect to each other at least in a first pivoting plane spanned by the longitudinal axis and by the centre axis, and wherein the first coupling part is made from a plastics material, including reinforced plastics materials, having a Young's modulus of at least 5000 MPa or from a metal material, and at least the first connecting portion, in particular the whole elastic pivot element, is made from a plastics material having a Young's modulus of not more than 3000 MPa, optionally of not more than 1000 MPa, further optionally of not more than 500 MPa.

Disclosed is a cyclic mechanism for engaging or disengaging a switch with the stage of the cycle being determined by a height to which a first object is lifted relative to a second object. The mechanism has few moving parts, is inexpensive to manufacture, is reliable, can be incorporated into a wide range of devices or structures, and operates as an incident to raising or lowering a first object relative to a second.

A compensated actuator, in various embodiments, comprises a base and an electric actuator and a fluid actuator interconnected to cooperatively allow for movement of an upper deck frame to which one or more compensated actuators are connected with or without using a pivoting connector. When so connected, a predetermined set of compensated actuators are connected to the upper deck frame and a platform intermediate the upper deck frame and the platform in a predetermined pattern and linear forces from the electric actuator and fluid actuator combined to impart rotation to an output attachment point.