1862 results about "Gravitational force" patented technology

A golf club head has tee handling and ball retrieval included therein. The tee handling includes an opening for receiving a tee head and having a roof coupled to a club shaft coupler, so that a golfer pressing upon the shaft may apply force through the golf club head to drive the tee into the earth. A partially open ring receives a tee shaft therein, but is sized to prevent a tee head from passing there through, so that a golf tee may be picked up and held therein. The tee may be picked up either when laying upon the ground or when already inserted into the earth. Ball retrieval is achieved by slightly cup-shaped relatively planar arms that form a semi-circular opening therebetween, into which a golf ball will nest and be retained by gravitational forces. A golf ball striking surface is additionally provided, which may be shaped to either serve as a putter, driver, or other suitable club.

A system includes at least one body, a link for suspending the body for movement with gravity from a first elevation position to a second elevation position, and an electrical energy generator coupled with the body through the link to drive the generator to generate electricity upon movement of the body with gravity from the first to the second elevation position. The at least one body has a mass of at least approximately 100 tonnes; the first and the second elevation positions define a distance therebetween of at least approximately 200 meters; and / or the system further includes an operator configured to operate the link to controllably move the at least one body against gravity from the second to the first elevation position to increase a gravitational potential energy of the at least one body, and to maintain the gravitational potential energy of the at least one body.

An apparatus having an arrangement of two or more identical accelerometers with aligned sensitivity axes. Each of the accelerometers senses motion over at least one axis. The accelerometer readings include a component corresponding to gravitational force that is the same for each accelerometer in the arrangement. Logic circuitry in communication with the accelerometer arrangement couples accelerometer signals to a processor to compute motion variables.

A robot control apparatus for controlling force exerted between a working tool mounted at the forward end of a robot arm and a workpiece is disclosed. The apparatus includes a force measuring unit for acquiring the force data required for the control operation, a calculating unit for calculating the force exerted by gravity on the force measuring unit and the dynamic terms generated by the motion of the robot arm, of all the forces exerted on the force measuring unit from the working tool, a compensation unit for compensating the force measured by the force measuring unit using the force exerted by gravity and the dynamic terms calculated by the calculating unit, and a command adjusting unit for adjusting the operation command for the robot arm in accordance with the force exerted on the force measuring unit by the dynamic terms and gravity in the case where each of the dynamic terms is larger than a predetermined threshold value. As a result, the workpiece can be accurately machined even in the case where the forward end portion of the robot arm is changed a comparatively great degree in the direction of movement thereof.

A mobile robot has a mobile mechanism, a swing mechanism and a control unit. The mobile mechanism is of a coaxial two-wheeled type and controls a forward thrust using inverted pendulum control. The swing mechanism actively swings an upper body laterally with respect to the mobile mechanism. A centrifugal force and a gravitational force act on a center of gravity of the mobile robot. A swing attitude is controlled such that a location of intersection of an extension of a composite vector of the forces acting on the center of gravity of the mobile robot and a ground plane of wheels is kept between left and right wheels.

An in-vivo imaging device including a ballast that may for example orient such device in a known orientation relative to the gravitational force on such ballast. Such imaging device may, for example, assume a known orientation when it is free to move, and may capture images from such known orientation. The device may include one or more imagers, which may be oriented at different angles or points of view (e.g., forward and transverse). A method of use may include moving a patient so that the device inside the patient images different fields of view.

Systems and methods are disclosed for extracting freshwater from atmospheric humidity in extremely hot and humid climates and supplying freshwater to a small group of people, a building, a farm, or forestation area. The freshwater is treated to provide drinking water by disinfecting to eliminate microorganisms and filtration to remove suspended particulates from air, erosion or corrosion products, and disinfected waste. Compact units provide drinking water for individuals, passengers in cars, vans, trucks, or recreational boats, or crewmembers on a seagoing cargo ship whether from atmospheric humidity or from moisture-laden gases. Furthermore, systems are disclosed for the ample supply of freshwater with minimal treatment for small- to large-sized buildings in a manner that alleviates the heat load on buildings. Collection of freshwater from hot humid ambient air is also provided for other uses, such as irrigation and farm animal drinking. Various methods are used for condensation of water vapor suspended in the air as alternative to conventional refrigeration cycles using CFC refrigerants. Devices are disclosed using naturally occurring brackish cold water, circulation of cooling water cooled by thermoelectric cooling or thermoacoustic refrigeration as well as evaporative cooling and transpiration cooling. Water produced by the systems may flow under gravitational forces entirely or with the assistance of boasting pumps.

The present invention shows a crane control of a crane which includes at least one cable for lifting a load, wherein at least one sensor unit is provided for determining a cable angle relative to the direction of gravitational force. Furthermore, there is shown a crane control for driving the positioners of a crane which includes at least one first and one second strand of cables for lifting the load, with a load oscillation damping for damping spherical pendular oscillations of the load, wherein first and second sensor units are provided, which are associated to the first and second strands of cables, in order to determine the respective cable angles and / or cable angular velocities, and the load oscillation damping includes a control in which the cable angles and / or cable angular velocities determined by the first and second sensor units are considered. Furthermore, a corresponding crane and a method are shown.

An in-vivo imaging device including a ballast that may for example orient such device in a known orientation relative to the gravitational force on such ballast. Such imaging device may, for example, assume a known orientation when it is free to move, and may capture images from such known orientation. The device may include one or more imagers, which may be oriented at different angles or points of view (e.g., forward and transverse). A method of use may include moving a patient so that the device inside the patient images different fields of view.

Provided is a vehicle testing apparatus which involves load variation and alignment variation, for analyzing a maneuverability of a vehicle on flat belts or rollers adapted to be rotated together with wheels of the vehicle, and in particular, maneuver variation. Load variation caused by an inertia force and a gravitational force which are produced during actual running of the vehicle, and tire alignment variation caused by suspension strokes, are forcibly reproduced by forces produced by actuators or a gravitational force, thereby it is possible to evaluate a maneuverability of the vehicle in a condition substantially the same as that during actual running of the vehicle.

A geophysics-based method for determining the position of a stationary earth object uses the periodic changes in the gravity vector of the earth caused by the sun- and moon-orbits. Because the local gravity field is highly irregular over a global scale, a model of local tidal accelerations can be compared to actual accelerometer measurements to determine the latitude and longitude of the stationary object.

A vertical axis wind turbine having a plurality of blades around its periphery and a pivotable door associated with each blade. Each door has a pivot axis that is inclined outwardly toward the bottom of the turbine so that gravitational forces will pull the doors toward an open position. The doors are designed to move toward a closed position to at least partially block wind forces from the blades when the rotor rotates at potentially damaging speeds. The turbine has mating coils on the rotor and the support column to generate electrical energy when the rotor rotates.

A lighting system comprising a track having a first and a second rail (5, 7), mutually extending equidistantly. Said first and second rail comprise a first respectively a second electrically conductive strip (13, 15), mutually electrically isolated. A lighting module comprising a first and second electrical contact, which lighting module in mounted position rests by gravitational force on the first and second rail. When mounted the first and second electrical contact are in electrical contact with a respective one of the first and second electrically conductive strip. The lighting module is dismountable from the track by a single displacement of the lighting module in a direction against the direction of the gravitational force.

A stationary exercise cycle includes a simulation system for simulating real-world terrain based on environmental and other real-world conditions. Using topographical or other data, an actual location can be simulated. The exercise cycle may include a resistance mechanism that is adjusted based on changes in simulated slope, and by amounts simulating actual frictional and gravitational forces. The simulated speed of the rider, as well as speed and direction of a simulated wind, are used to determine a simulated air speed. Based on the simulated air speed, the simulation system determines the simulated air resistance hindering the rider, and changes reflective of the simulated air resistance are made by the resistance mechanism. The stationary exercise cycle takes into account actual or approximate physical information of the user in determining the real-world conditions that are simulated, including the height, weight, shape, and / or rising position of the rider.

A seismic energy dissipation system for use with structures such as buildings, bridges and the like. The system includes a gravity frame, at least one reaction frame, and connection apparatus for connecting the gravity frame and the reaction frame. The connection apparatus includes springs for setting a period of response and energy dissipation units for dissipating energy within the structure, thus controlling the response of a structure with respect to internal forces, accelerations and deformations due to external excitations such as wind or earthquake.

Ambulatory membrane pump intended for medical use e.g. for infusion purposes, consisting of two main parts: 1) the basic device with motor drive and computer, and 2) the administration set, which is disposable. The arrangement with check valves in both ends of the administration system safeguards that no leakage happens when gravitational forces are acting, due to height differences between fluid bag and needle.

In accordance with the present invention a vehicle comprises a tilting section and a hanging section both connected to each other. When the vehicle is stationary or traveling straight, gravity will pull the hanging section downwards which will stabilize and keep the tilting section upright. When the vehicle is turning, centrifugal force will swing the hanging section outward and tilt the tilting section inside the turn.

A stationary exercise cycle includes a simulation system for simulating real-world terrain based on environmental and other real-world conditions. Using topographical or other data, an actual location can be simulated. The exercise cycle may include a resistance mechanism that is adjusted based on changes in simulated slope, and by amounts simulating actual frictional and gravitational forces. The simulated speed of the rider, as well as speed and direction of a simulated wind, are used to determine a simulated air speed. Based on the simulated air speed, the simulation system determines the simulated air resistance hindering the rider, and changes reflective of the simulated air resistance are made by the resistance mechanism. The stationary exercise cycle takes into account actual or approximate physical information of the user in determining the real-world conditions that are simulated, including the height, weight, shape, and / or rising position of the rider.

A control device for a legged mobile robot, in which a correction manipulated variable of a desired floor reaction force (desired floor reaction force's moment) is subsequently determined based on an error between an actual state quantity, such as a body posture angle, of the robot 1 and a desired state quantity of the same, and at the same time, a desired movement of the robot 1 is subsequently determined by the use of the correction manipulated variable and a dynamic model. At this time, a friction force component, which defines a frictional force between the robot 1 and a floor such as a translation floor reaction force's horizontal component, is set as a variable to be limited, and an allowable range of the variable to be limited is set. The desired movement is determined so that the variable to be limited remains within the allowable range and a resultant force of an inertial force and gravity, generated by the movement of the robot 1 on the dynamic model, balances with a floor reaction force obtained by correcting the desired floor reaction force by the correction manipulated variable. The desired movement is determined by adjusting a plurality of movement modes having mutually different generation ratios of a floor reaction force's moment and a translation floor reaction force.

The invention discloses a multi-robot formation method, belonging to the field of intelligent control. The method comprises the following steps of: controlling the whole formation motion trail by the leader motion trail, firstly, determining a kinematics model of the leader, and determining the direction of the motion of the leader according to a resultant force of a repulsive force and a gravitational force; creating a motion model of following the leader by the follower, following the leader by the follower according to certain distance and angle, and determining the motion trail of the follower according to a motion model created by the artificial potential field; introducing an AdHoc between the leader and the follower, creating information feedback, and ensuring that no loss occurs in the process of following the leader by the follower. With the method provided by the invention, a multi-robot system can successfully avoid obstacles in the process of finishing tasks to reach a target point, and also can keep initial order in the whole process, implement real-time order control on multiple robots and be more suitable for some occasions where multiple robots are needed for finishing tasks (such as transporting, rescuing and the like) synchronously.

A wind turbine is presented where the operation lifetime of the main bearing is extended by relieving the main bearing by reducing the mean bending moment on the bearing by means of individual pitch control of the blades of the rotor so as to create an aerodynamic mean tilt moment on the rotor by means of aerodynamic forces on the blades, the tilt moment at least partly counteracting the bending moment caused by the overhang load forces on the main bearing from the gravitational pull on the rotor mass.

The invention relates to a space microgravity environment ground simulation experiment device. The device comprises a foundation, two support posts, a transverse air floating guide rail, a longitudinal air floating guide rail, a slide trolley and a weightless simulation control system. Two support posts are respectively mounted on the foundation horizontally, the transverse air floating guide rail is mounted on the two support posts, the longitudinal air floating guide rail is mounted on the transverse air floating guide rail, the slide trolley is mounted on the longitudinal air floating guide rail, weightless simulation control system is mounted on the slide trolley, and a controller is mounted on the slide trolley. The weightless simulation control system comprises a servo motor, a coiling wheel, a hang spring, a force sensor and an aircraft, the servo motor is connected with the coiling wheel, the coiling wheel is connected with the hang spring, the hang spring is connected with the force sensor, the force sensor is connected with the aircraft, and the controller is respectively connected with the force sensor and the servo motor in an electrical signal manner. The device is simple in structure, high in vividness, convenient to operate, easy to achieve, low in cost, and unlimited in experiment time.

A tilting inversion exerciser includes a table rotatably supported on a supporting stand for supporting a user and having one or more hand grips attached to the table and rotated in concert with the table relative to the supporting stand, for being grasped by the user to pull the user's body upwardly against gravity force, when the user is suspended above the ground. The table includes two opposite side edges each having a trunnion for rotatably attaching to the supporting stand. The table includes two hanger bars for supporting the trunnions, and the hand grip includes an end panel for securing to the trunnion with one or more fasteners.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to the collection of bodily fluids through the use of gravity and microfluidic properties by way of a collector. The collector can make use of microfluidic networks connected to collection sites on the skin of a subject to gather and shuttle blood into a reservoir by a combination of capillary action and gravitational forces. The collected fluid is moved through the microfluidic networks and into the reservoir by a variety of approaches.

A system for monitoring and recording vehicle and passenger data constantly during operation, which combines, stores and analyzes data. A recording device connects to systems that may include vehicle status, video, audio or other data sensor and collection interfaces. Data may be selectively retrieved wirelessly and stored encrypted to preserve authenticity. Data collected could also include: temperature (inside / outside); weather conditions; tire slip; roll, yaw, pitch; altitude; speed and changes to speed; GPS data; any available radio signals and the strength and source of those signals; vibration; sound level and changes; air pressure; light and changes; intrusion; moisture; humidity; inertia / gravitational forces; vehicle (OBD) error codes; vehicle weight; tire pressure; location of the device within the vehicle; engine RPM (and other OBD available data); time / date, and passenger embark, riding, and disembark data. These data can be later decrypted to analyze driver performance or verify the existence of a claimed accident.

A vehicle is provided for the independent inspection of hard-to-reach inner spaces which are bounded by ferromagnetic inner walls, especially in large cast parts, such as steam chests of a steam turbine. The vehicle includes at least two wheels which are rotatable around a common axis, are at a distance from each other in the axial direction, and can be driven independently of each other. With such a vehicle, the entire inner space can be inspected if the vehicle has adherence elements which hold the vehicle against the gravity force with the wheels on the respective inner wall.

A sensitive and specific method of detecting chemical species, viruses and microorganisms is presented to improve performance of molecular-recognition-based assays utilizing particles decorated with molecular recognition agents such as antibodies and DNA probes, and observing analyte-dependent changes in the response of the particles to forces such as magnetic or gravitational forces or Brownian thermal fluctuations.

The present invention relates to a gas-liquid mass transfer and reaction equiopment of high-pressure rotating bed in ultragravity force field. Said invention drive equipment is a magnetic drive equipment, including driving portion, driving magnetic stell protecting cover positioned on the exterior of the machine shell and driving magnetic steel and driving shaft which are placed in the protecting cover and driven portion, driven magnetic steel protecting cover positioned in the interior of the machine shell and driven magnetic steel and driven shaft which are placed in the driven magnetic steel protecting cover. The driving portion and driven portion are separatedy by means of magnetic isolation cover between both them. Said invention adopts band pressure design and measures of internal and internal magnetic steel protecting cover, magnetic steel cooling system, high-effective coating layer and others so as to raise mass transfer effect.