1255 results about "Pneumatic cylinder" patented technology

A semiconductor wafer support pin assembly. A susceptor has at least three support pins configured to raise a wafer above the top surface of the susceptor. Each support pin includes and upper pin and a lower pin, which lock together by means of a quick-release mechanism in the form of a bayonet mount. The upper pin is made of a non-metallic material, such as polybenzimidazole. The susceptor is driven up and down by a lifting mechanism, driven by an electric motor or pneumatic cylinder. The susceptor moves up and down, relative to the support pins.

The invention relates to systems and methods for rapidly and isothermally expanding and compressing gas in energy storage and recovery systems that use open-air hydraulic-pneumatic cylinder assemblies, such as an accumulator and an intensifier in communication with a high-pressure gas storage reservoir on a gas-side of the circuits and a combination fluid motor/pump, coupled to a combination electric generator/motor on the fluid side of the circuits. The systems use heat transfer subsystems in communication with at least one of the cylinder assemblies or reservoir to thermally condition the gas being expanded or compressed.

A robotic hand and arm where the fingers are driven by rotational motors with drums, and pulled with cables using rolling friction. The hand extends into a robotic arm through a wrist wherein the wrist is controlled by pneumatic cylinders. Each finger preferably is provided with four manufactured parts and a single pulley. The thumb is provided with three pulleys for independent distal movement. Cables wraps around or over pulleys, eliminating tight bends. A glove is provided about the robotic hand which provides a compressive, liquid resistant membrane.

A stretcher 1 comprises a bed 21 on which a sick or injured person will be laid, legs 22 foldably provided on the bed 21, casters 23 provided at the legs 22, respectively, a tank 10 for storing high-pressure gas, pneumatic cylinders 8 and 9, and intake switches 11 and 13. When the intake switches 11 and 13 are turned ON, high-pressure gas is introduced from the tank 10 into the pneumatic cylinders 8 and 9 so that piston rods 28 are retracted. Thus, the legs 22 are given forces toward deployment so that the bed 21 is given an ascending force.

The invention relates to an apparatus for moving an Iron Roughneck into position to allow making-up or breaking-out of threaded joints in a drill string. The apparatus may also be used to move other drilling equipment into position on the centerline of the well or at mouse holes. A self-balanced, dual synchronized parallelogram arm is utilized to accomplish the movement of the devices. Hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are used for extension and retraction of the arm rather than to support the tool. The arm may hold the tool in any position without cylinder assistance. The linkage in the synchronized parallelogram may be accomplished by gears, links, slots, or rollers.

An internal inspection unit for pipe has ultrasonic transducers that inspect weld volume, weld root, and wall thickness. The ultrasonic transducers are mounted to a portion of the inspection unit that is rotatable, but no more than one full revolution. One of the units has independently movable shoes for each separate transducer. The shoes are moved between retracted and extended positions by pneumatic cylinders. The other unit has shoes that support more than one transducer, the shoes being biased outwardly by springs.

A rivet gun includes a pneumatic motor (4), that drives a segment stem 7. A pneumatic cylinder (21) actuates a hydraulic cylinder (22) which sends oil under pressure to an expansion chamber (10) provided for moving back the segment stem (7) and buckling the rivet (2) fixing it to a laminate structure (100). The rivet gun also includes a change-over switching device (30) linked to controls (50,60) for reversing rotation of the motor (4). The controls (60) include an inlet valve (61) operated by a trigger (64) for connecting a compressed air infeed duct 14 with a feed-discharge duct (23) leading to the pneumatic cylinder (21). A discharge valve (63) is disposed in series with the inlet valve (61) and has an adjustment ring (176) for adjusting of the maximum traction force. Another discharge valve (90) is disposed in series with the discharge valve (63) previously mentioned and is provided for adjustment of the stroke of the segment stem (7).

An exercise apparatus includes a compact resistance unit that houses a pneumatic cylinder. The cylinder is connected to a pulley wheel that moves at least toward the cylinder. A main cable extends about a portion of the pulley wheel. One end of the main cable is fixed to the unit housing and the other end is attached to a pulley block of a block-and-tackle mechanism. A user cable extends through the block-and-tackle mechanism and is connected to a handle. The pneumatic cylinder resists movement of the handle away from the unit.

A system and method of using an exercise system having a resistance structure of handles connected to cables, which cables are connected to at least one pneumatic cylinder that creates resistance, wherein the resistance is adjusted by the user via actuators in the handles, so that the user does not need to release the handles to adjust the resistance. The system is typically supported by a frame to surround the user, and the pneumatic cylinder may be connected to an equalizing tank that may be housed within or integrated into the frame. The system may include a monitor to visually display system parameters and other information to the user. The system may calculate resistance and work done by the user by measuring piston displacement and speed, as well as using accelerometers or other devices integrated into the handles.

An air driven hydraulic pump includes two opposed cylinders to either side of a center section. Two pneumatic pistons are slidable in the opposed cylinders and are coupled with one another by a common shaft extending through the center section. The pneumatic pistons ride in the opposed pneumatic cylinders and include hydraulic plungers extending therefrom. Cylinder heads integral with the cylinders provide hydraulic cylinders aligned with the hydraulic plungers. An air valve delivers pneumatic pressure to alternate sides of both pneumatic pistons such that the forces on the pistons are additive alternately in each direction.

The present invention is a seat height adjustment mechanism for exercise equipment having a seat. Examples of such exercise equipment include: stationary exercise bicycles; road or mountain type bicycles; resistance strength training supporting racks or platforms (e.g., preacher curl benches, military or shoulder press racks, etc.) for use with free weights; and resistance strength training machines that employ as resistance weight plates, deflectable members, elastic bands, springs, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, etc. The mechanism comprises a member, a telescopic member, and an engagement member. The member extends upwardly and includes a rack. The telescopic member includes a first end telescopically received in the member and a seat end. The engagement member is coupled to the telescopic member and adapted to engage the rack.

A face mask manufacturing machine includes a platform, a first-side edge fusion module, a second-side edge fusion module, a folding device, and a center line fusion module. The first-side and second-side edge fusion modules and the center line fusion module each comprise a pneumatic cylinder, which is operatively coupled to automatic control facility for carrying out automatic operation to thereby reduce the labor needed for operating fusion facility and enhance manufacturing efficiency.

Weight lifting simulator apparatus includes a primary pneumatic cylinder providing the principal resistance for simulating weight lifting exercise with at least one secondary cylinder in free fluid interconnection with the primary cylinder whereby constant and balanced loading is achieved, with provisions for dynamic simulation of weight inertia effect, and control thereof, as in lifting a real weight. The primary and the secondary cylinders are associated with a guideway, the primary cylinder being fixed to the guideway and the secondary cylinder being slidable relative to the guideway and pivotable relative to the piston rod of the primary cylinder. Variation of the securement position of the primary cylinder on the guideway is available and valving is provided in the fluid interconnection.

Actuators, and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators, provide independent valve control with a large initial or opening force. In an exemplary embodiment, an actuator includes a driver further including a housing defining a longitudinal axis and first and second directions, an actuation mechanism capable of generating actuation force at least in the first direction, and a rod with one end operably connected with at least one part of the actuation mechanism and with the other end available for an operable connection with a load such as an engine valve; at least one return spring operably connected with the rod through a spring retainer assembly and biasing the rod in the second direction; and a pneumatic booster further including a pneumatic cylinder, a pneumatic piston operably connected with the rod through the spring retainer assembly and biasing the rod in the first direction, a charge mechanism providing a controlled fluid communication between the pneumatic cylinder and a high-pressure gas source, and a bleed mechanism providing a controlled fluid communication between the pneumatic cylinder to a low-pressure gas sink.

An amphibious vehicle achieves a stable ride, maneuverability, and high speed. The vehicle includes a hull having a “V” center portion with outboard sponsons. The sponsons reside between the front wheel wells and the rear wheels wells for improving lift and transition to planing. Shallow tunnels begin in rear portions of the front wheel wells and taper into the sponsons to release water trapped in the wheel wells. Inward facing turning edges also reside between the front and rear wheel wells and improve in-water handling. Wheels are retractable by pneumatic cylinders in parallel with air shock absorbers and suspension cutout in the hull allow the suspension to lower through the hull. Flaps reside under suspension members and rise to cover the suspension cutouts when the wheels are retractable when the wheels are raised to reduce drag. A Morse cable couple a rack and pinion unit to a jet drive.

An automated, electric tong system and methods usable for making-up and breaking out threaded connections between tubular members, wherein the electric tong system comprises a power tong for applying torque and rotating the upper tubular member, a backup tong for gripping tubulars, and a lift assembly for vertically moving the electric tong system into proper position to grip the upper and lower tubulars. The power and backup tongs and lift assembly of the electric tong system are integrated into a single transportable unit and operated by three separate electrical motors, controlled by a single driver. The backup tong is located below the power tong and comprises a pneumatic cylinder, which operates a backup door, and a linear actuator driven by an electric motor for use in latching the backup tong door in a closed position and applying or releasing a clamping force to a tubular, during make-up or break-out operations.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for the easy installation or removal of screen elements from a shaker table without the use of tools. Pneumatic cylinders are used to move hold down bars up and down to either allow for screen elements to be installed or removed from the screen bed section assembly, or to clamp them into the screen bed section assembly of a shaker so that the screen elements will not move during shaker operations.

A lift-assisted device having a patient support structure, a base, and an undercarriage. The device can be powered by a pneumatic cylinder and a compressed gas source. The undercarriage can be a scissors linkage having at least one first member being slidably connected to the patient support structure an upper end of the first member and pivotally connected to the base at a lower end of the first member, and at least one second scissors linkage member, the second scissors linkage member being pivotally connected to the first scissors linkage member. An upper end of the second member is pivotally connected to the patient support structure, and a lower end of the second member is pivotally connected to the base. The pneumatic cylinder is arranged for moving the upper end of the first member and the lower end of the second member with respect to the patient support structure.

The invention relates to the field of toys for children, in particular to a three-claw manipulator for a doll catcher. The manipulator comprises a cylinder and further comprises a bottom plate, a pushing mechanism, clamping claws and connection rods. The pushing mechanism can be a micro hydraulic cylinder or a micro pneumatic cylinder or a pen type electric push rod or an electromagnetic element. The clamping claws can be rigid elastic clamping claws or air bag type elastic clamping claws. A layer of foaming cotton can be wound around each clamping claw, each clamping claw can be wrapped by a layer of pure cotton soft cloth, and clamping electromagnets can be installed on the clamping claws. The clamping claws can be various combinations of rigid clamping claws, elastic clamping claws and electromagnetic clamping claws. The three-claw manipulator for the doll catcher can be suitable for clamping toys made from one of or various materials such as common stuffing, hard plastic, soft plastic, wood and iron, and can greatly enrich the varieties of toys in the doll catcher.

The invention discloses an active paying-off rewinder of aluminum clad steel wires. The rewinder is characterized by comprising an active paying-off mechanism, a tension mechanism and an automatic wire arranging and taking-up mechanism, wherein the aluminum clad steel wire grail tool of the active paying-off mechanism of the rewinder is driven by a motor to realize uniform wire paying-off; an upper tension pulley of the tension mechanism is fixed on a rack, and a lower tension pulley of the tension mechanism is jointly supported by a pneumatic cylinder and a lower tension pulley support; under the action of the pneumatic cylinder and aluminum clad steel wire tension, the tension pulley is used for adjusting the aluminum clad steel wire tension by vertical movement; and the automatic wire arranging and taking-up mechanism is characterized in that a wire arranging seat rotating shaft, a wire arranging seat guide rail, a movable mandril and a fixed mandril are arranged between two fixed supports; the wire arranging seat rotating shaft is provided with a wire arranging seat and a wire arranging seat driving wheel; the wire arranging seat guide rail is provided with two stop pins for playing a limit role; the movable mandril and the fixed mandril are respectively connected with the grail tool in a splicing mode; the fixed mandril is provided with a grail tool driving wheel, a brake pad and a driven wheel; and the driven wheel is connected with the wire arranging driving wheel which is arranged on the wire arranging seat rotating shaft by a driving belt. Therefore, the product quality is ensured, the production efficiency is improved and the labor intensity is reduced.

This invention relates to an automatic pod-conveyor and brewer assembly for fresh hot beverage. The brewer sub-assembly (100) includes a pneumatic cylinder (110) with its piston rod (120) fitted to a brewer plunger (130). An injection nozzle (180) is detachably fixed from underneath to the brewer base (195) with its conical tip protruding into the brewer chamber (150). The single serving pod (160) is a receptacle (510) containing the brewing, infusible or other material (520), covered and sealed with a porous membrane (530). The injection nozzle (180) injects hot pressurized water, received through its interior from a suitable water heating system, into a single serving pod (160) placed within the brewer sub-assembly (100), and the brewed beverage flows out to a dispensing cup through a liquor outlet port (190) in the brewer base (195). The pneumatic cylinder (110) is operated by air solenoid valve (165) with compressed air from a compressed air storage tank (170). The pod-conveyor sub-assembly (200) includes a pod conveyor (210) which, by its rotational movement in a horizontal plane, conveys the pod (160) to the brewer sub-assembly (100) from chutes (280, 290). The pod-conveyor (210) is operated by a pusher motor (250) in co-operation with a pusher gear (230) fitted to the integral shaft (215) of the pod-conveyor (210). The assembly can be used to prepare hot beverage of a wide variety of brewing, infusible or other materials like tea, coffee, materials of plant origin such as floral pieces like Jasmine flowers, vegetable pieces like carrots, onions, materials of animal origin such as honey or other suitable beverage powder/material which can be placed in the single serving pod (160) of the assembly.

A spinning-head punch assembly has a crown-shaped cutting head that rotates at a high rate of speed, creating high quality holes in webs of plastic film or other materials. A rotary drive such as an electric motor is mounted on a reciprocating carriage above an apertured backing plate, and a pneumatic cylinder is actuated to thrust the cutting head toward the web. A spring biased clamp holds the web firmly around the die hole. In the first part of the punch cycle, the clamp closes down onto the web, and then the spinning cutting head contacts the web. The teeth on the web pierce the material so the punch cuts a clean hole, and does not pull or tear the material. Then on the second part of the punch cycle, the pneumatic cylinder lifts the cutting head away from the web material, and as the carriage reaches the top of its stroke the clamp releases the web so that it can advance to the next hole location.

A substrate processing system includes a notch aligner. The notch aligner includes a rotating support device, a servomotor for rotating the rotating support device, a sensor for detecting a notch formed in a wafer, a wafer lifting device, a cylinder actuator for vertically moving the wafer lifting device, and a CPU. The rotating support device holds a wafer in a horizontal position. The sensor detects the notch to determine the orientation of the wafer. The wafer lifting device receives the wafer from the rotating support device and lifts up the wafer from the rotating support device. A notch detection signal provided by the sensor is given to the CPU. The CPU gives control signals to the servomotor and the pneumatic cylinder actuator to operate the servomotor and the cylinder actuator so that the wafer is aligned.

An integrated folding mechanism of a treadmill having a slide pusher supported by a pneumatic cylinder at the bottom of a platform frame thereof. In this way, the rear support may be pushed upward to bring the platform frame in a vertical stable folding position or in a flat ground-touching position when the platform frame is moved upward and downward. Meanwhile, a coupling rod is pivotally interposed between the rear support and an L-shaped handrail assembly. Under the action of an elastic element, the handrail assembly is movable with the platform frame for creating a synchronic folding and extending action.

A hand truck comprises a movable platform configured to lower a weight of a full beer keg to the ground from a height of a truck loading surface. The hand truck comprises a lowering mechanism comprising a controlled resistance device configured to lower the platform at a controlled rate. In one embodiment, the controlled resistance device comprises a plurality of springs and a pneumatic cylinder.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for z-axis control and collision detection and recovery for waterjet and abrasive-jet cutting systems. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a linear rail, a slide member coupleable to a cutting head and slideably coupled to the linear rail, at least one actuator having a first end coupled to the slide member and a second end fixed with respect to the linear rail, a position sensor, and a controller. The actuator provides an adjustable support force that supports the weight of the cutting head, allowing the cutting head to be controllably positioned at a desired height above the workpiece. The actuator may include a pneumatic cylinder, or alternately, a linear motor. In another aspect, an apparatus includes a first mount member coupleable to a controllably positionable mounting surface of the waterjet cutting system, a second mount member coupleable to the cutting head and disengageably coupled to the first mount member, and a sensing circuit having a plurality of first conductive elements disposed on the first mount member and a plurality of second conductive elements disposed on the second mount member. In the event of a collision between the cutting head and an obstruction, the second mount member disengages from the first mount member to prevent breakage of the cutting head. Following the collision, the second mount member is quickly and easily re-engaged with the first mount member without time-consuming re-calibration. In one embodiment, re-engagement of the second end first mount members is automatically performed by a biasing member.

A system and method providing automatic adjustment of flows used to empty dry material from a pressure pot or hopper. In some embodiments, based on pressure increases in the conveying line that receives the dry material, the flow of conveying-fluid to the conveying line automatically increases and/or the flow of pressurization fluid to the hopper that assists pushing dry material out of the hopper automatically decreases and/or rotary-valve speed controlling dry-material rates from the hopper automatically slows. In some embodiments, one or more discretely or continuously adjustable critical-flow venturies (CFVs) automatically adjust mass flow of fluid based on, e.g., pintle position set by a pneumatic cylinder controlled by conveying-line pressure. Each pintle moves in and out of its CFV throat, adjusting throat area, thus setting the rate of flow. In some embodiments, pintle cross-sectional area is linearly proportional to distance from the tip of the pintle.

A motion platform providing motion for roll, pitch, heave, surge, yaw, and sway from only three electric motors. Each motor moving one of three frames in a particular direction (roll, pitch, or yaw) via either a pulley style system or a direct system. The motion platform having a control system to precisely move the motion platform in response to received commands. The motion platform capable of operating in a room with at least eight foot ceilings and one standard power outlet. The motion platform utilizing pneumatic cylinders and infrared beams as safety devices.

An electrically actuated linear actuator capable of simulating the performances of a pneumatic cylinder; the actuator includes a gear reduction unit connected to a slidable rod via a drive device including a screw-nut assembly. The gear reduction unit is slidably supported and, at the end of the working stroke of the actuator, is moved backwards by the rotation of the screw of the drive device, against biasing springs which provide a forward thrust on the rod. An electronic control unit selectively controls the power supply to the electric motor and to a locking brake, in relation to control signals emitted by a rotary signal generator.

A method and apparatus for remotely installing a monolithic liner in a conduit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a main component body including electromagnetic actuators, pneumatic cylinders, linear actuators relays, solenoids, ion generator, attachment points for tethers, umbilical, cameras and diameter specific guides and a reciprocation head attached thereto. The longitudinally traversing reciprocation head incorporates a fluid driven rotary turbine motor assembly communicating with shaft and self cleaning dissipation device integrating both conical and inverted cone surfaces. Also included on the reciprocating assembly is an impingement block for the efficient mixing of products and a termination mechanism for the precise remote control of product flow. Additionally, the assembly provides the ion generator to direct a stream of negatively charged air flow to the shaft and the diffusion device to effectively prohibit excess material accumulation.