36347 results about "Pulley" patented technology

A manipulator includes a working unit comprising an operation command unit, horizontal roller and vertical rollers mounted thereon, drive pulleys rotatable in response to operation of the horizontal roller and the vertical roller, a connector, a first rotational axis disposed on a distal end of the connector, a second rotational axis extending perpendicularly to the first rotational axis, tubular members rotatably supported on a shaft providing the first rotational axis, and wires having rear and front portions trained around the drive pulleys and the tubular members, respectively. A drive mechanism operates about the first rotational axis in response to rotation of the tubular member, and an end effector operates about the second rotational axis in response to rotation of the tubular member.

An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce friction and enhance force reflection. A unique wrist mechanism operates to enhance surgical dexterity compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. The system is optimized to reduce the number of actuators required and thus produce a fully functional articulated surgical instrument of minimum size.

The present invention is a wrist mechanism and a method for making robotic devices in which the transmission of motion, force and/or torque around a revolute joint can be accomplished without coupling. This construction allows mounting the actuators on the base or lower elements of a mechanism, so that only linkage elements move the end-effector. Thus reducing inertia of the moving elements and increasing performance of the device. The decoupled motion of the end-effector or links is achieved by routing their transmission cables around idler pulleys placed parallel to the joint rotation axis on an optimal position such any stretch on the transmission cable is minimized. In particular, this construction can be use for robotic surgical tools that have two independently driven jaws, decoupled and orthogonal from its articulating wrist.

A multi-function Pilates exercise apparatus featuring a foldable frame (200-203), a counterbalance mechanism (271), a wheeled base (90), a rotatable pulley riser with a flexible pulley mount (112), gear changing apparatus (FIG. 9) and adjustable footbar (471). The frame is designed to fold into an upright position and to be rolled to a desired location. The pulley assemblies may be rotated and positioned below the carriage rails. The gear changing apparatus permits the user to adjust the carriage position with a single handed operation. The exercise system includes a reformer, a pole apparatus, and mat mode including a long/short box.

An orthotic device is provided, including an orthosis body adapted to be wrapped around the torso of a wearer of the device, the orthosis body having at least two segments in juxtaposed relationship. Means are provided at free end portions of the at least two segments to releasably secure the free end portions to one another. At least two cables are provided, each cable operatively connected to the at least two segments. At least two sets of pulleys are mounted on the at least two segments with each cable operatively connected to the at least two segments running through a pulley on each of the at least two segments in alteration, shortening of each cable pulling the at least two segments together and tightening the orthotic device with the aid of a mechanical advantage dependent upon the number of pulleys mounted on each of the at least two segments.

A continuously variable transmission is mounted on a vehicle capable of selecting plural drive modes and changes a target engine speed between drive modes. A pulley ratio is controlled by a motor. An ECU for transmission control includes a calculation section which outputs a target engine speed as a function of throttle opening and vehicle speed, and a motor control value determination section which outputs a control value for controlling the motor based on the target engine speed and an actual engine speed. In a case where, when a drive mode is selected, the current target engine speed changes by an amount exceeding a predetermined judgment value according to vehicle speed, the motor control value determination section updates the current target engine speed in a stepwise manner. The resulting configuration reduces a shift shock caused by a drive mode change.

An introducer has a shaft with a central lumen, a control handle with a deflection assembly, and a tensile member with a distal portion extending along opposing sides of within the shaft and a proximal portion extending within the control handle. The deflection assembly has a deflection arm, and a rotatable member rotationally coupled to the deflection arm, wherein the rocker member has at least one pulley engaged with the proximal tensile member portion. Rotation of the deflection arm in one direction draws the proximal tensile member portion for deflecting the shaft.

To provide a continuously variable transmission and a control method thereof, allowing for control of the axial position of a movable sheave without a sensor for measuring the axial position of the movable sheave on a rotational shaft and for stable control with the movable sheave being held in position, without the increase in the size of mechanisms and power consumption.

A continuously variable transmission in which, on a rotational shaft 1 thereof are mounted a fixed sheave 2 positioned in the axial direction and a movable sheave 3 slidable axially, so as to face each other, a motor is provided for driving the movable sheave, and a slide driving means 16 is provided for sliding the movable sheave 3 axially by the rotation of the motor, characterized in that: the motor is a step motor 6, and the step motor 6 and the slide drive means 16 are mounted coaxially with the rotational shaft 1.

The present invention provides a bi-directional catheter with nearly double the throw in its catheter tip deflection. In particular, the travel path of each the puller wire includes a U-turn or doubling-back around a pulley which minimizes the offset angle between the puller wire and the longitudinal axis of the control handle while maximizing the travel distance of that puller wire for any given distance traveled by the pulley drawing the puller wire. In one embodiment, the catheter has an elongated catheter body, a catheter tip section with first and second diametrically-opposed off-axis lumens, and a control handle which includes a steering assembly having a lever structure carrying a pair of pulleys for simultaneously drawing and releasing corresponding puller wires to deflect the tip section of the catheter.

A delivery system for deploying a medical device, such as a stent, at increasing deployment speed is described. The system comprises a catheter comprising a catheter shaft, a retractable sheath slidably mounted on the catheter shaft, and the device in a compressed state sandwiched between the shaft and sheath. A control handle is included with a housing and knobs for a user to apply a rotary or other force to retract the sheath. The sheath is attached to a slider that is mounted on a slide rod and attached to a drive belt. A take up pulley is provided in the housing and connected to the belt input knob, so that the pulley turns when the knob is turned. The belt is attached to the pulley so that the drive is wound onto the rotating pulley. As the belt winds upon the pulley, the overall outside diameter of the pulley increases, thereby increasing the deployment speed.

A Pilates machine tension device support system for efficiently providing a tension force to a movable platform of an exercise machine. The Pilates machine tension device support system generally includes a frame, a platform movably positioned upon the frame and a tension assembly connected between the frame and the platform to provide selective tension upon the platform in a first direction. The tension assembly is comprised of a plurality of pulleys and a plurality of tension devices positioned upon the pulleys, wherein the tension devices are attached between a frame and the platform. The tension members are selectively engaged to the platform to increase or decrease the tension applied to the platform for varying levels of workouts.

A factory-prepared preterminated and pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable having at least one mid-span access location for providing access to a plurality of preterminated optical fibers pre-connectorized with a multi-fiber connector is provided. Also provided is a method of forming a pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable by terminating and pre-connectorizing a predetermined number of the plurality of optical fibers of the cable to create a pre-connectorized mid-span access location. The fiber optic distribution cable provides a low profile mid-span access location that is sufficiently flexible to be installed through relatively small-diameter buried conduits and over aerial installation sheave wheels and pulleys without violating the minimum bend radius of the cable or the optical fibers. A protective encapsulant protects and seals the mid-span access location during cable reeling, unreeling, installation and until the access location is needed for interconnecting a connectorized fiber optic drop or branch cable.

In a manipulator, an actuator block contains motors and rotary shafts extending from the motors. A working unit of the manipulator contains a connecting portion, attachable to and detachable from the actuator block. The connecting portion has pulleys connectable to ends of the rotary shafts, and has a locking plate movable by alignment pins. The locking plate has slits, which are engaged with plate-shaped portions formed on the upper ends of the pulleys. A coil spring is placed between the locking plate and a top plate.

A large diameter rope having improved fatigue life on a sheave, pulley, or drum is disclosed. This rope includes a blend of HMPE filaments and liquid crystal polymer filaments selected from the group of lyotropic polymer filaments and thermotropic polymer filaments. The rope may be constructed as a braided rope, a wire-lay rope, or a parallel core rope.

A method of operating an exoskeleton device includes: receiving sensor information; connecting a clutch system to a pulley system in; determining whether to engage a drive train gear to the clutch system based on the sensor information; engaging the drive train gear through the clutch system when determined to engage the drive train gear; and powering a first motor to drive the drive train gear for controlling a joint or segment of exoskeleton device.

Robots comprising two links joined by a pivot joint are provided. In some cases, the pivot joint allows the robot to lean to either side. One link of the robot includes an electrically activated actuator such as an electric motor configured to rotate a pulley. A belt is engaged with the actuator, and the ends of the belt are coupled to the other link on either side of the pivot joint. Tensioners, such as springs, provide tension on either side of the belt. Actuating the actuator changes the position of the belt to respond to sloping surfaces and turns, for example.

An isolator decoupler comprising a pulley, a shaft, a bushing slidingly engaged with the pulley and slidingly engaged with the shaft, the pulley journalled to the shaft by a bearing, a one-way clutch fixed to the shaft and engaged with the bushing whereby the bushing rotates in unison with the one-way clutch, a torsion spring engaged between the pulley and the one-way clutch to resiliently couple the pulley to the shaft, and the pulley non-resiliently directly coupleable to the shaft in a temporary predetermined loaded condition.

An apparatus that provides for rotation about two axes orthogonal to each other includes a gimbal having two arms adjoining a portion that is mounted to a base for rotation about a first axis. A shaft defining a second axis orthogonal to the first pivotally couples a mounting plate to the arms. The mounting plate has an arcuate edge with first and second parallel grooves therein adapted to receiving a drive cable. A drive cable that is engaged with a drive pulley is aligned by at least one idler pulley with the first and second grooves of the mounting plate. The drive cable has opposing free ends that are received in the first and second grooves of the mounting plate. A motor is coupled to the drive pulley for controlling the drive cable travel, to accordingly rotate the mounting plate to provide for orientating a device in a desired direction.

There is provided a surgical instrument incorporating driving force mechanisms capable of transmitting a driving force through an articulated section of the surgical instrument. In one embodiment, a series of racks connect with a transfer gear to pass forces around the articulated section. In an alternative embodiment a series of cable sections and wheels or pulleys are provided to transmit a driving force through the articulated section of the surgical instrument.

A vehicle includes a frame assembly, an engine mounted on the frame assembly, and a continuous variable transmission connected to the engine. The continuous variable transmission includes a housing including an air intake duct and an exhaust duct, a drive shaft disposed in the housing, a drive pulley including at least one sheave disposed on the drive shaft, a driven shaft disposed in the housing and spaced from the drive shaft, a driven pulley including at least one sheave disposed on the driven shaft, and a fan disposed on the driven shaft. The fan is disposed between an inner surface of the housing and the driven pulley so as to be spaced from the driven pulley. The air intake duct defines an opening in the housing for providing air from outside the housing into the housing, and the air intake duct is axially aligned with the driven shaft and the fan disposed thereon, such that the air flows directly into the fan and is directed to the driven pulley.

In one example, a strength training system includes a folding frame having a central sub-frame and first and second lateral sub-frames, and pivoting cross members pivotally coupling the central sub-frame to at least one of the first and second lateral sub-frames, the folding frame being configured to move between an unfolded position and a folded position in which the first and second lateral sub-frames are generally parallel in the unfolded position. The strength training system also includes a strength training assembly coupled to the folding frame. The strength training system may include a pulley machine that includes pulleys and cables. In at least one example, the pulleys and cables may be secured to the folding frame in a pre-assembled manner. Further, in at least one example, the strength training system may be assembled without the use of tools.

A vehicle steering apparatus includes a steering input section having at least a steering wheel to which steering input is applied, and a steering output section having at least a steering rack shaft and operatively associated with left and right steered wheels for steering the steered wheels by steering-rack-shaft movement produced by a steering force determined based on the steering input and transmitted directly or indirectly to the steering rack shaft. The steering rack shaft is split into left and right movable rack shaft portions. Also provided is a steer angle converter enabling a differential rack stroke between left and right rack strokes of the left and right movable rack shaft portions. The steer angle converter is constructed by at least one of a variable-pitch dual rack arrangement and a dual taper-pulley arrangement of a cable back-up mechanism.

A rigging structure for a compound archery bow includes first and second pulley assemblies, pivotally mounted on axles at tips of corresponding first and second limbs of a compound bow and interconnected by cables. Each pulley assembly includes a dynamic synchronizing component, and the rigging preferably also includes means for avoiding the usual leaning moment imposed upon the pulley assemblies by the cables of conventional riggings.

A manipulator includes a hollow joint shaft, wires extending through the joint shaft, pulleys mounted on an end of the joint shaft, for imparting a drive force to the wires, a distal-end working unit mounted on another end of the joint shaft, for being actuated by the wires, and a sealing member for preventing liquid such as blood from flowing from the distal-end working unit through the joint shaft to a connector. The sealing member has holes defined therein, and the wires are slidably inserted through the holes.

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.

To improve tracking, an exercise treadmill is provided with a frame including molded plastic pulleys, having an integral gear belt sprocket, an endless belt extending around the pulleys and a motor operatively connected to the rear pulley to drive the belt. The pulleys are molded out of plastic and have a diameter of approximately nine inches. A mold and method for producing large diameter treadmill pulleys having an integrally molded sprocket are also disclosed. A deck underneath the running surface of the belt is supported by resilient members. A positive lateral belt tracking mechanism is used to correct the lateral position of the belt. A belt position sensor mechanism is used in combination with a front pulley pivoting mechanism to maintain the belt in the desired lateral position on the pulleys. The exercise treadmill also includes a lift mechanism with an internally threaded sleeve engaged to vertically aligned nonrotating screws. A user display of foot impact force on the belt is also provided.

A height adjustable table, which has a constant-force counterbalance mechanism integrated into a top assembly of the table is disclosed. The height adjustable table can include a top assembly supported by a base assembly, which can include right and left telescoping leg assemblies. The top assembly can include a work surface supported by a housing. A counterbalance mechanism, which can include a spring coupled to a snail cam pulley, can be mounted within the housing. A synchronized lift mechanism, which can include at least two bands operatively engaged with a pulley system disposed within the right and left telescoping leg assemblies, can be operatively coupled to the snail cam pulley such that the counterbalance force provided by the counterbalance mechanism is transmitted to the synchronized lift mechanism.

A roll joint utilizes at least one tendon guide surface to guide actuator tendons for distal roll off and on their respective drums on a central shaft of the roll joint. The tendon guide surface turns the actuator tendon in an axial direction in a more compact space than might be required for a pair of pulleys, while using fewer parts with larger features more easily formed on a small scale.

Disclosed is a mechanism for raising and lowering a patient support including a base having two spaced posts extending upwardly, a sliding sleeve on each base post and a cross member fixed to and extending between the sleeves. An actuator is located between the base and the cross member to move the cross member vertically with respect to the base. A horizontal member located above the cross member is slidingly moveable with respect to the sleeves and includes guides to capture the sleeves. A pulley is provided on the cross member and supports a chain or belt, fixed to the base at a first end and at the other end to the horizontal support. As the actuator raises and lowers the cross member, the upper support is raised and lowered at a greater speed. On the base is a reversible fold down pole to assist the patient in raising and lowering themselves.

A cordless blind comprising a headrail, a bottom rail suspended from the headrail by a first cord and a second cord. A window covering disposed between the headrail and the bottom rail, a drive actuator including a spring motor and a spool for accumulating the cords is coupled to the spring motor. A one-way tensioning mechanism is mounted and coupled to the drive actuator and the bottom rail wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to provide a resistant force on movement of one of the first and second cords in one direction. Another embodiment of the cordless blind provides the one-way tensioning mechanism comprising a mechanism bracket with the mechanism bracket having a base and a first upright and second upright coupled to the base. Each upright defines an aperture proximate a distal end of each upright and further each upright including a pawl with one pawl aligned in facing relationship with the other pawl. A pulley is mounted between the two uprights. The pulley has a cylinder with a sidewall at each end of the cylinder with each sidewall having an interface and an outerface. Each outerface has a plurality of ratchet teeth configured to selectively engage the pawl on each upright. The pulley is configured to move within the apertures to one of a free-wheeling position and a stopped position.