4201 results about "Torque transmission" patented technology

Articulating mechanisms, link systems, and components thereof, useful for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, the remote manipulation of instruments such as surgical or diagnostic instruments or tools, are provided. The link systems include links wherein torque can be transferred between at least two adjacent links while allowing for pivoting motion between the links. Mechanisms for preventing undesired lateral movement of links relative to one another are also provided.

Articulating mechanisms, link systems, and components thereof, useful for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, the remote manipulation of instruments such as surgical or diagnostic instruments or tools, are provided. The link systems include links wherein torque can be transferred between at least two adjacent links while allowing for pivoting motion between the links. Mechanisms for preventing undesired lateral movement of links relative to one another are also provided.

A method and apparatus to control an electro-mechanical transmission during a shift event, including identifying a fault in an off-going clutch, is provided. The method includes deactivating an off-going torque-transfer clutch, monitoring slippage of the off-going torque-transfer clutch, and limiting a change in operation of an electrical machine operatively connected to the transmission until the slippage of the off-going torque-transfer clutch exceeds a threshold. Limiting a change in operation of the electrical machine comprises limiting an output torque of the electrical machine, comprising limiting a time-rate change in the output torque and limiting a magnitude of the output torque. The limit of the change Is discontinued when the slippage of the off-going torque-transfer clutch exceeds the threshold.

A method and apparatus are provided to control operation of an electro-mechanical torque transmission device selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear modes and two continuously variable modes, and operative to transmit torque input from a plurality of torque-generative devices. The transmission device includes a hydraulic circuit and is operative in one of a plurality of operating modes by selective actuation of a plurality of hydraulically-actuated torque-transfer clutches. The method comprises monitoring pressures in the hydraulic circuit, and restricting operation of the transmission when any one of the monitored hydraulic pressures does not correspond to an expected pressure thereat. Presence of a fault is verified during the restricted operation.

An aircraft including an airframe having a fuselage which extends longitudinally, and having fixed wings including a main wing, a horizontal tail wing and a vertical tail wing. A propeller-rotor torque transmission has a bevel gear which transmits the rotation of an input shaft simultaneously to a propeller shaft and to a rotor shaft. An engine gearbox supplies the above-mentioned input shaft with rotationalal motive power. The aircraft further includes a propeller collective pitch controller, a rotor collective pitch controller, an engine power controller which controls the output of the above-mentioned engine gearbox for the purpose of changing the rotational speed of the input shaft, and a flight control system having a directional (yaw) control system which controls the flight direction of the aircraft by controlling the positions of the above-mentioned control surfaces.

A temporary cardiac-assist device is disclosed. The device includes a pump assembly that is deployed in the ascending aorta or the heart. A torque transmission line couples the pump assembly to an external motor for driving impeller blades within the pump assembly. The pump assembly expands in size at its destination site for operation. In operation, neither the torque transmission line nor elements that support the impeller blades are under axial forces.

A hybrid vehicle drive for a motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electric machine which is selectively coupled with the internal combustion engine. The electric machine can be operated as a generator and as a motor. Regulation device which responds to a reference signal predetermined by a reference signal preset device are provided for the active damping of vibrations, especially torsional vibrations in the torque transmission path between the internal combustion engine and wheels of the motor vehicle driven by the latter. The regulation device also respond to sensing device which deliver an actual-value vibration signal containing vibration information about a rotating structural component of the motor vehicle and control the load torque exerted on the internal combustion engine by the electric machine for reducing or eliminating the vibrations of the structural component. An analysis device for determining a frequency spectrum of the actual-value vibration signal is associated with the regulation device. The reference signal preset device establishes a reference signal with predetermined frequency spectrum. The regulation device control the frequency spectrum of the load torque exerted on the internal combustion engine by the electric machine such that excessive spectral vibrations of the actual-value vibration signal are reduced or eliminated.

A hybrid drive arrangement for a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine (1), which is connected or can be connected in a wheel-driving manner, via a first torque transmission path (11, 13), to a driving wheel (15) of the motor vehicle. An electric machine (19), which is operable at least as a motor, is fed from an electrical energy source (7, 29) of the motor vehicle and is connected or can be connected in a wheel-driving manner, via a second torque transmission path (21, 23, 13), to the driving wheel (15). Arranged in the first and/or the second torque transmission path are coupling elements (11, 23) which, in a first operating state, permit the driving of the motor vehicle by the wheel-driving torque of the electric machine (19), operated as a motor, without mechanical torque support from the internal combustion engine (1), and which, in a second operating state, permit the driving of the motor vehicle by the internal combustion engine (1), without mechanical torque support from the electric machine (19). Depending on the driving speed of the motor vehicle, an electronic driving control system (31) activates the first operating state, at least in a first range of driving speeds including standstill of the vehicle, if the driving speed is less than a predetermined speed limit, and activates the second operating state, at least in a second range including the maximum speed of the vehicle, if the driving speed is greater.

A robot controller according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a base; a first link; a first actuator which drives to rotate the first link relative to the base; a first torque transmission mechanism which transmits the torque of the first actuator to the first link at a speed reducing ratio of N₁; a first angular sensor which detects a rotating angle θ_M1 of the first actuator; a first angular velocity sensor which detects an angular velocity ω_A1 of the first link rotating relatively to the base; and a processor which calculates an angle of the first link relatively to the base by using a high frequency content of an integrated value of ω_A1 and a low frequency content of θ_M1*N₁, the high frequency content being equal to a first frequency or higher and the low frequency content being equal to a first frequency or lower.

Apparatus and methods for selectively releasing a first wellbore component to a second wellbore component using a disconnect device. In one embodiment, the method includes coupling a disconnect device to a workstring and a downhole tool; performing a downhole operation using the downhole tool, and selectively releasing an upper portion of the disconnect device from a lower portion of the disconnect device, thereby releasing the downhole tool from the workstring. The method may also include reconnecting the upper portion of the disconnect device to the lower portion of the disconnect device. In one embodiment, the disconnect device is capable of transferring torque to the wellbore component.

An electric power steering system is provided which is capable of providing a favorable steering feeling without using compensation logics such as of inertia compensation and friction compensation. The electric power steering system includes road-noise suppression control means (213) for controlling a steering assist motor (9) in a manner to damp torque transmission in a higher frequency region representing road noises than a frequency region representing road information. A friction value of a steering mechanism (A) is decreased enough to allow the intrinsic vibrations of the steering mechanism (A) to appear. Rotor inertia of the steering assist motor (9) is set to a value small enough to allow the frequencies of the intrinsic vibrations to be present in the frequency region where the torque transmission is damped by the road-noise suppression control means (213).

A vehicle transmission includes a differential gearset having five coaxial gear elements and two output members. Two of the gear elements are controllable via torque-transmitting devices such as friction brakes or electric motors to establish a plurality of speed ratios between the input shaft and the two output members. The two output members are selectively operatively connectable to an output shaft via a gear arrangement that allows for a plurality of speed ratios between the output members and the output shaft. If the torque-transmitting devices are electric motors or hydraulic pumps, then a continuously variable speed ratio between the input shaft and the output shaft is achievable. The plurality of speed ratios between the two output members and the output shaft enable a plurality of compound split operating modes, facilitating smaller and less powerful motors or pumps compared to the prior art.

A bi-directional overrunning clutch is disclosed for controlling torque transmission between a secondary drive shaft and secondary driven shafts. The overrunning clutch includes a pinion input shaft in a differential housing that engages with a clutch housing rotatably disposed within the differential housing. At least one race is located adjacent to the clutch housing and is engaged with an output shaft. A cage is located between the race and the clutch housing. The cage is movable with respect to the clutch housing. A <DEL-S DATE="20030304" ID="DEL-S-00001"/>first<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00001"/> coil is mounted within the differential housing adjacent to the cage and is adapted to produce an electromagnetic field when energized which causes the cage to drag with respect to the clutch housing. The dragging of the cage with respect to the clutch housing positions <INS-S DATE="20030304" ID="INS-S-00001"/>rolls within <INS-E ID="INS-S-00001"/>the cage to engage the clutch housing with the race when wheels on a primary drive shaft lose traction. <DEL-S DATE="20030304" ID="DEL-S-00002"/>A<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00002"/> <INS-S DATE="20030304" ID="INS-S-00002"/>If desired a <INS-E ID="INS-S-00002"/>second coil <DEL-S DATE="20030304" ID="DEL-S-00003"/>is<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00003"/> <INS-S DATE="20030304" ID="INS-S-00003"/>may be <INS-E ID="INS-S-00003"/>mounted within the differential housing adjacent <DEL-S DATE="20030304" ID="DEL-S-00004"/>adjacent<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00004"/> to the cage. The second coil is adapted to produce an electromagnetic field when energized which advances cage with respect to the clutch housing causing the clutch housing to engage with the races. When the second coil is activated, the output shaft drives the pinion input shaft producing engine braking. An electronic control system is utilized to control the energizing of the coils.

The present invention provides as tarter capable of keeping a state where a pinion and a ring gear maintain meshing with each other when an engine stops without providing a plunger stopper using a solenoid or the like. The state where the pinion and the ring gear maintain meshing with each other in the engine stop mode continues by movement resistance which occurs when a torque transmission member moves. Concretely, an inclination angle of a helical spline in a helical spline engagement part is set so that the above state continues. The helical spline engagement part is a part where a helical spline on the outer periphery of an output shaft of a starter motor and a helical spline on the inner periphery of the torque transmission member mesh with each. Consequently, the above state continues without a plunger stopper using a solenoid or the like.

A coil conductor for connecting an electrode near a distal end of a medical electrical lead with an implantable medical device (IMD) connected with a proximal end of the medical electrical lead includes a multi-filar coil and a torque enhancing sheathing. The multi-filar coil comprises a co-radially wound, multi-filar coil that has an inductance of approximately 1.5 μH or greater. The sheathing is extruded over to enhance the torque transmitting properties of the coil conductor.

A motor unit comprises a housing for containing a motor, a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force, a torque sensor mechanism for detecting torque, and a controller for controlling power to the motor in response to a detected amount of torque. An actuator couples the torque sensor to a sensor of the controller. The actuator is configured to move relative to the controller sensor thereby causing the sensor to produce a signal indicative of the detected level of torque. The controller is contained within the housing of the motor. The motor unit may also have an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force with a first torque transmission path for transferring the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path for transferring the motor provided driving force to said drive mechanism. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus, but may be used in a pedal driven apparatus such as a bicycle where an externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals of said apparatus which are fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft. In this case, the auxiliary shaft comprises a pedal spindle of the bicycle and the drive mechanism comprises a sprocket or belt drive.

A closed loop shift control apparatus and method based on estimated torque in friction elements controls a torque transfer phase when shifting from a low gear configuration to a high gear configuration for an automatic transmission system. When pressure actuated friction elements are selectively engaged and released to establish torque flow paths in the transmission, estimates of torsional load exerted on the off-going friction element are used to predict the optimal off-going friction element release timing for achieving a consistent shift feel. The estimated torque is preferably calculated by using estimated torque signals generated as a function of speed measurements represented either the engine speed and turbine output speed or transmission output speed and wheel speed under dynamically changing conditions.

The magnitude of torque which can be transmitted by a bypass clutch between the housing and the turbine of a torque converter between a prime mover, such as an engine, and an automatic transmission in the power train of a motor vehicle is selectively regulatable by a computerized regulating unit. The regulation involves the transmission of torque by the clutch in dependency upon the magnitude of the torque being transmitted by the output element of the engine and ascertaining as well as adaptively applying to the clutch a variable force so that the clutch can transmit a predetermined torque. This entails automatic selection of a minimum slip between a torque receiving and a torque transmitting part of the power train. Compensation, particularly long-range compensation, is carried out for the existence of possible differences between the predetermined and actual torques being transmitted by the clutch.

A screwing-tool with a device to adjust transmitted torque consists of a handle to introduce a torque to the device, which is borne in the hollow of the handle and a driver-shaft as outpout element of the torque. On the driver-shaft inside the handle two separate couplings are assembled, between them a compression spring exerting a spring force onto the two couplings. Each coupling consist of a first and second socket engaging each other by gearings at their opposing faces. The maximum torque at which the torque-transmission will be interrupted cab be adjusted in that way, that by an adjustment-element the distance between the couplings can be changed resulting in a change of the tension of the spring exerting a load on the couplings. The teeth of the gearings slide and the sockets rotate relatively to each other and interrupt the torque-transmission if a pre-adjusted torque is exceeded.

A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, two countershaft gearing arrangements, one planetary gear set, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the countershaft gearing arrangements includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets. The torque transmitting devices include a combination of clutches, brakes, and synchronizers.

The present invention relates to methodology of and apparatus for accurately positioning devices for performing endoscopic cannulation, papillotomy and sphincterotomy and similar procedures. The sphincterotome with a steerable or adjustable distal segment of the present invention allows the physician to control the position of the distal tip of the device independently of the endoscope and adjust for inconsistencies in the device and the anatomy. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a threaded portion of a cable assembly cooperates with a torque transmission element and a cog to enable the operator to rotate a cutting wire into a desired position relative to the catheter. Alternate embodiments allow the operator to fix the depth of a needle knife while allowing, if desired, accurate rotational positioning of the associated catheter. Threaded stabilizing elements, pivot elements and a steering wire may be used together or individually to accomplish these features. Presently available products that may be modified according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, Boston Scientific Sphincterotomes and Needle Knives.

A power transmission includes a first rotating member driven by an external drive source, an electromagnetic solenoid provided to the first rotating member, a second rotating member fixed to a main shaft of a rotary apparatus, and an mechanism for engaging and disengaging a plunger of the electromagnetic solenoid from the second rotating member. When the rotary apparatus is not used, the energy of the external drive source may be prevented from being wasted by interrupting the torque transmission from the first rotating member to the second rotating member by the operation of the mechanism for engaging and disengaging.

A CAM device includes an array of CAM cells each having a spin torque transfer (STT) storage cell to store a data bit. Each STT storage cell includes a first magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element coupled between a first input node and an output node of the CAM cell, a second MTJ element coupled between a second input node and the output node of the CAM cell, and a first match transistor coupled between the match line and ground potential and having a gate coupled to the output node. The logic state of the data bit is represented by the relative resistances of the first and second MTJ elements.