63 results about "Drag minimization" patented technology

The lower extremity exoskeleton comprises two leg supports connectable to person's lower limbs and configured to rest on the ground during their stance phase. Each leg support comprises a thigh link and a shank link; a knee joint configured to allow flexion and extension between the shank link and the thigh link. The lower extremity exoskeleton further comprises an exoskeleton trunk connectable to the person'supper body. The exoskeleton trunk is connectable to the thigh links of the leg supports allowing for the flexion and extension between the leg supports and the exoskeleton trunk. Two torque generators are coupled to each of the knee joints. A power unit, capable of providing power, is coupled to the torque generators. In operation when a leg support is in a stance phase and climbing a slope or stairs, the power unit injects power into the respective torque generator thereby extending the respective knee angle. When a leg support is in stance phase and not climbing a slope or stairs, the power unit does not inject any power to the respective torque generator, but without dissipating any stored power in said power unit, it forces the torque generator to resist flexion of the respective knee joint. When a leg support is in a swing phase, the power unit does not inject any power to the respective torque generator, but without dissipating any stored power in said power unit, it forces the torque generator to minimize its resistance to knee flexion and extension.

An occlusion bypassing apparatus for re-entering the true lumen of a vessel after subintimally bypassing an occlusion in a vessel. The apparatus includes an outer shaft component having a needle lumen there-through. A proximal end of the outer shaft component is fixed within a handle of the apparatus at a first attachment point. A stabilization tube of the apparatus is disposed within the needle lumen. A proximal end of the stabilization tube is fixed within the handle at a second attachment point that is spaced apart from the first attachment point and an elongated body and a distal end of the stabilization tube are not attached to the outer shaft component. A needle component of the apparatus is configured to be slidably disposed within the stabilization tube and removable therefrom, and the stabilization tube minimizes resistive forces exerted onto the needle component by the outer shaft component.

An undercarriage-mounted battery pack is provided that includes a foot well cavity that is aligned with the foot well corresponding to one or more of the vehicle's seats, e.g., the rear vehicle seats. A portion of the battery pack is located in front of the foot well cavity while a second portion is located behind the foot well cavity, where the two portions are coupled together using conduits. The bottom surface of the battery pack may be shaped in order to minimize drag and enhance the flow of air under the vehicle. The battery pack may include cross-members, either interposed between battery subassemblies or incorporated into the subassembly enclosures, to increase side impact resistance and provide further protection to the batteries within the pack as well as the vehicle's occupants.

A heat sink (10) includes a circular base (20), a plurality of fins (30), and a central post (40). The base is adapted to be in thermal contact with an electronic device, to remove heat therefrom. The post extends from a top surface (26) of the base. The post has a first surface connected to the top surface and a second surface (44) dimensioned according to a heat sink fan to be attached thereon. The post also has a concave side surface (42) between the second surface of the post and the top surface of the base, for directing airflow. The fins are identical in height to the post. The fins are curved, aligned and spaced from each other at uniform intervals corresponding to directions of airflow generated from the fan. These minimize resistance to cooling air entering or exiting the heat sink.

A nebulizing assembly includes a base having a centered through hole; an nebulizing plate disposed on the base, the nebulizing plate having a radially outer area formed as a gluing section provided with a plurality of glue holes and a central area formed as a spraying section corresponding to the through hole on the base; and a piezoelectric driving element stacked on a top of the nebulizing plate and attached to the gluing section, and having a centered mist outlet. A glue layer is applied over the gluing section to fill up all the glue holes and can provide an extremely high bonding force when becoming dried to thereby firmly bond the nebulizing plate between the base and the piezoelectric driving element. The mist outlet and the through hole on the base have the same diameter to enable minimized resistance applied the whole structure to the nebulizing plate.

The present invention makes it possible to integrate and control in one circuit the systems, such as electric power components, a driving motor, a stack, and an AC condenser which have the maximum enthalpy under similar operational temperature and use conditions, by using an integrated radiator. Therefore, it is possible to minimize air-through resistance of the radiator for cooling the stack and the electric power components and ensure smooth and stable cooling performance of the stack, electric power components, and AC condenser while improving fuel efficiency by reducing the condensation pressure of the air conditioner. Further, it is possible to improve cooling efficiency by non-repeatedly arranging heat exchangers, and reduce the weight of a vehicle, volume of the parts, and the manufacturing cost, by avoiding using too many parts, such as a radiator, a water pump, and a reservoir tank.

This invention is an improved tissue-localizing device with an electrically energized locator element for fixedly yet removably marking a volume of tissue containing a suspect region for excision. The electrical energizing of the locator element facilitates the penetration of the locator element in to subject's tissue and minimizes resistance due to dense or calcified tissues. At least one locator element is deployed into tissue and assumes a predetermined curvilinear shape to define a tissue border containing a suspect tissue region along a path. Multiple locator elements may be deployed to further define the tissue volume along additional paths defining the tissue volume border that do not penetrate the volume. Delivery of electric current may be achieved through monopolar or bipolar electronic configuration depending on design needs. Various energy sources, e.g. radio frequency, microwave or ultrasound, may be implemented in this energized tissue-localizing device.

A new hydroponic growing system that incorporates a non-woven soft-sided fabric container housed and / or supported within a plant reservoir container is proposed. The present invention includes a main reservoir that is in communication with multiple plant reservoir containers connected each other. The predetermined intervals are set and controlled by the controller at the main reservoir to fill and drain the plant reservoir containers. With an aid of use of a soft-sided fabric container made of fine mesh-like non-woven material, the present invention minimizes the medium from travelling with nutrients when the pump is activated to drain the bucket. In addition, the present invention includes aeration devices, such as an air tube, creating a vent which minimizes water resistance when draining the bucket. Variations on the type or material for the soft-sided fabric container, and various methods for supporting and suspending the soft-sided fabric containers can be considered.

A method and apparatus for varying the washout of a wing such that induced drag is minimized during a flight. The washout is varied pursuant to an optimized twist distribution that depends on the wing planform and an optimized twist amount which depends, at least in part, upon the operating conditions, including those parameters used to determine the lift coefficient. The optimum twist may be employed by geometric or aerodynamic twist, including full spanwise control surfaces used to simultaneously provide roll control, high-lift and minimum induced drag. The optimum twist may also be employed be twisting just a portion of the wing or the entire wing, either geometrically or aerodynamically.

A golf club includes a club head that has one or more air passages extending from its front face to its rear face, so that when the club is swung in a ball-striking action air in the path of the club head is transferred from a pressurized zone on the head front face through the air passages into a low pressure wake area behind the club head. The air transfer action minimizes resistance to club movement, so as to contribute to a faster club head speed and a longer ball travel.

This invention is an improved tissue-localizing device with an electrically energized locator element for fixedly yet removably marking a volume of tissue containing a suspect region for excision. The electrical energizing of the locator element facilitates the penetration of the locator element in to subjects tissue and minimizes resistance due to dense or calcified tissues. At least one locator element is deployed into tissue and assumes a predetermined curvilinear shape to define a tissue border containing a suspect tissue region along a path. Multiple locator elements may be deployed to further define the tissue volume along additional paths defining the tissue volume border that do not penetrate the volume. Delivery of electric cut-rent may be achieved through monopolar or bipolar electronic configuration depending on design needs. Various energy sources, e.g., radio frequency, microwave or ultrasound, may be implemented in this energized tissue-localizing device.

The invention relates to a driving force generating device including a column (1) provided with a plurality of flexible elements (3) positioned around the column (1), which react in response to the flow by rotating positively in the same direction. The invention is characterised in that the flexible elements take the form of aerodynamic membranes (3), the arrangement and shape of which correlate with logarithmic spiral patterns. The invention is also characterised in that it includes a movable head (2) positioned in the upper part of the central column (1) and a base (4) positioned in the lower part of said column (1), the upper part of each membrane (3) being secured to the movable head (1) and the lower part of each membrane being secured to the base (4). The invention can be used to balance kinetic, gravitational and centrifugal forces, thereby minimising resistance.

The present invention makes it possible to integrate and control in one circuit the systems, such as electric power components, a driving motor, a stack, and an AC condenser which have the maximum enthalpy under similar operational temperature and use conditions, by using an integrated radiator. Therefore, it is possible to minimize air-through resistance of the radiator for cooling the stack and the electric power components and ensure smooth and stable cooling performance of the stack, electric power components, and AC condenser while improving fuel efficiency by reducing the condensation pressure of the air conditioner. Further, it is possible to improve cooling efficiency by non-repeatedly arranging heat exchangers, and reduce the weight of a vehicle, volume of the parts, and the manufacturing cost, by avoiding using too many parts, such as a radiator, a water pump, and a reservoir tank.

The invention relates to a trough transportation system, which is a long-distance and high-volume transportation system, introduces a continuous transportation mode in the pipeline transportation, adopts the design that the power is transferred from the ship to the shore for haulage, and water current and air flow (air cushion) are minimized, and adopts technical measures of up-down linkage transmission with a grade climbing, and the like, and improves the ship speed and reduces the energy consumption. The trough transportation becomes the current most energy-saving and quickest high-volume transportation system. The transportation system doubles the energy utilization rate of the common shipment and a few times energy utilization rate of road transportation. The rough transportation system is different from the prior river and ship; and the river is a pipeline or an open pipeline, while ship is a self-floating container. The operating mode with less water ensures that the transportation system has the capability of crossing the desert.

Provided are devices and methods to minimize drag caused by abrasion powder between clutch plates and to prevent a faulty engagement or release of a dry clutch. A hybrid driving force transmission device is provided, wherein a multi-plate dry clutch is arranged in a sealed space and used for connecting / disconnecting transmission of a driving force is provided with drive plates, driven plates, friction facings, and a housing cover. The drive plates are splined to a clutch hub, and have, in the sections thereof that are splined to the clutch hub, vent holes for channeling the air flowing in the axial direction. The driven plates are splined to a clutch drum. The housing cover has an external air intake hole for drawing external air into the sealed space, and an external air discharge hole for discharging the airflow from the sealed space to the outside.

A defrosting device for use in a household or commercial environment to effectively defrost frozen food packages is described. The device consists of three major parts; a top shell, a bottom shell and a hinge mechanism connecting the top shell and the bottom shell to allow the top shell to rotate around the hinge to open and close relative to the bottom shell. To defrost a frozen food package, the defrosting device rests on a flat surface, such as on a countertop, and the frozen food package is sandwiched between the top shell and the bottom shell. Since resistance to heat transfer from the ambient, air and from the flat surface to the frozen food package is minimized through the paths along the top shell as well as the bottom shell, the defrosting device is able to effectively defrost frozen food packages.

A brake caliper that has the same performance as a brake caliper with multiple pistons despite its compact structure, in which drag resistance between a brake pad and a brake disk is minimized, that is less likely to produce non-uniform wear of brake pad and brake squealing, and whose weight and cost are suppressed. Pistons (23) are formed in a circular hollow cylindrical shape, and apply pressing force to a disk rotor (1) by circular pressing parts. Piston-containing holes (21) recessed in a circular shape and containing the pistons (23) so that they can slide in the axial direction of the pistons are formed in caliper bodies (100, 105).

An occlusion bypassing apparatus for re-entering the true lumen of a vessel after subintimally bypassing an occlusion in a vessel. The apparatus includes an outer shaft component having a needle lumen there-through. A proximal end of the outer shaft component is fixed within a handle of the apparatus at a first attachment point. A stabilization tube of the apparatus is disposed within the needle lumen. A proximal end of the stabilization tube is fixed within the handle at a second attachment point that is spaced apart from the first attachment point and an elongated body and a distal end of the stabilization tube are not attached to the outer shaft component. A needle component of the apparatus is configured to be slidably disposed within the stabilization tube and removable therefrom, and the stabilization tube minimizes resistive forces exerted onto the needle component by the outer shaft component.

Provided are devices and methods to minimize drag caused by abrasion powder between clutch plates and to prevent a faulty engagement or release of a dry clutch. A hybrid driving force transmission device is provided, wherein a multi-plate dry clutch is arranged in a sealed space and used for connecting / disconnecting transmission of a driving force is provided with drive plates, driven plates, friction facings, and a housing cover The drive plates are splined to a clutch hub, and have, in the sections thereof that are splined to the clutch hub, vent holes for channeling the air flowing in the axial direction. The driven plates are splined to a clutch drum. The housing cover has an external air intake hole for drawing external air into the sealed space, and an external air discharge hole for discharging the airflow from the sealed space to the outside.

An aircraft exterior door installation with a door attached to an airframe. A damper is arranged to damp motion of the door as it is opened by rotating it away from the airframe. A coupling mechanism couples the damper with the door over an opening damping range and decouples the damper from the door at the end of the opening damping range. The damper does not damp the motion of the door as it opens beyond the opening damping range. Instead of damping the door over its full range of motion, it is only damped over a limited inner range of its motion. A further advantage of decoupling the door and the damper is that the damper does not need to extend into the airflow to the same extent as the door, thus minimising aerodynamic drag.

A wound closure device includes a filamentary element having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of barbs extending outwardly from the filamentary element. Each barb has a base connected with the filamentary element, a tip spaced from the base, and an outer edge that extends between the base and the tip. The outer edge includes a first section having a concave surface that extends between the base and a transition point of the barb and a second section having a convex surface that extends between the transition point of the barb and the tip of the barb. The outer edge transforms from the concave surface of the first section to the convex curve of the second section at the transition point of the barb. The tip of the barb has a convexly curved surface facing the distal end of the filamentary element. The unique dual radius shape of the outer edge of the barbs and the tips of the barbs minimizes resistance when the filamentary element is pulled in a first direction through tissue and maximizes resistance to movement when the filamentary element is pulled in an opposite, second direction through tissue for holding the wound closure device stationary.

A wide angle arrowhead which is light weight, and which has minimal structure and surface area to decreased arrowhead weight, surface area and drag to increase performance of an arrow to which it is attached. A blade cutting edge of the wide angle arrowhead maintains an interior angle relationship to the centerline of an arrow shaft where such relationship can be fashioned to have one interior angular relationship within a specified angular range. Also, drag is minimized by the utilization of a thin ground blade cutting edge, an additional benefit of which is the decreasing of the cutting edge bluntness, thereby enhancing easy target penetration.

A vertical axis fluid turbine for mechanical and electrical power generation is disclosed. The turbine is comprised of at least three camber-less symmetrical foils rotating about a main axis. Each foil is capable of independent rotation about its own respective axis. A closed loop feedback control system orients the foils to consistently maintain a forward edge into the flow of the fluid. Each foil generates lift in the forward and rearward arcs of rotation, while minimizing drag.

A sit-astride amphibious vehicle configuration which supports a high performance envelope both on land as well as in water. The vehicle has a planing hull and four retractable wheels. Handlebars provide for directional control in both modes of operation. Each road wheel is retractable by pivoting through at least 45° so as to maximize ground clearance when in the land mode of operation and to minimize drag at substantial lean angles when in the marine mode of operation. While a jet drive may remain directly connected to the engine at all times, the driven wheels are only connected during land mode via a speed-change transmission. The entire power train is supported by a frame that is separable from the hull which in turn has a detachable top deck portion, whereby such configuration simplifies the construction, repair and servicing of the vehicle.

A linear motor and a linear compressor using the linear motor are provided. Since an inner core is linearly and reciprocally moved together with a target movement body and a magnet insertion recess is formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, the forward / backward vibration movement of a magnet can be effectively controlled. In addition, since a gap is minimized, self-resistance that interferes with a force exerted by the magnet can be minimized, and accordingly, the size of the magnet necessary for outputting the same force can be minimized.