482 results about "Spring system" patented technology

A supporting device for supporting in a lithographic projection apparatus a supported part relative to a supporting part, is presented. The supporting device includes a first part that engages the supporting part of the lithographic projection apparatus; a second part that engages the supported part of the lithographic projection apparatus; a supporting spring system disposed between the first part and the second part; and a position control system configured to control a position of the supported part. The position control system comprises at least one reference object that is movable relative to the supporting part; a reference support device that supports the reference object relative to the first part, wherein the reference object and the reference support device form a reference mass-spring system; at least one position sensor that detects at least one attribute of the position of the second part relative to at least one of the reference objects, the position sensor including a sensor output for outputting a position signal representing at least one of the attributes; and an actuator, communicatively coupled to the position sensor, that is configured to adjust the position of the second part relative to the first part, in response to the position signal.

An adjustable coil spring system placed within a leg of a vehicle such as a mountain bicycle fork. The spring system comprises an adjustable first soft spring seated on top of a second firm spring having greater length than the first soft spring. A coupler assembly is positioned between two springs comprised of a threaded bolt threadedly received within a coupler. A spring adjustment means may comprise a knob connected to the threaded bolt through a non-round shaped shaft, wherein the threaded bolt is disposed within the first soft spring. As the knob rotates, the coupler is moved up along the threaded bolt, decreasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing firm spring characteristics of the spring system. As the knob rotates in an opposite direction, the coupler moves down, increasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing soft spring characteristics of the spring system.

Systems and methods of a package advance system for moving a package on a shelf of a vending machine which may include an end plate positioned on the shelf, a dispensing door positioned near a dispensing end of the shelf that opens to dispense the package, and a spring system affixed to the end plate that applies a force on the end plate towards the dispensing door.

A spring system for relatively displacing elements attached to end mounts of the rod assembly comprises a housing having a rod member movable between extended and retracted positions relative thereto, and a first compression spring in the housing surrounded by a second compression spring for biasing the rod member to one of an extended or retracted position relative to the housing. The two springs are oppositely wound whereby, from a compressed condition, the spring rod exerts an expansion force which increases at a linear rate. The spring system includes a valve arrangement to control the rate at which the spring rod moves from a retracted position to an extended position.

A mechanical-shock-mount assembly enables attachment of a mechanical-shock-sensitive electronic device to a support structure. Two identical shock-mount structures are attached and located on opposite sides of an electronic device. Each shock-mount structure has a pair of generally planar spring-like cantilever beams that have their free ends for attachment to the support structure. Damping material is located on the surfaces of the cantilever beams between the beams and clamping surfaces. At least one clamping surface is a plate that compresses the damping material between itself and the beam and / or compresses the damping material between the beam and a surface of the support structure when it is attached to the support structure. This shock-mount structure acts as a highly-damped nonlinear spring system that provides mechanical-shock resistance for the device in a direction perpendicular to the cantilevered beams and high stiffness in a direction in the plane of the beams. If desired, the shock-mounts can be first assembled to the support structure before attaching the device. The support structure can optionally have additional features for attaching other components of the device host.

A manually retractable side step assembly for a vehicle includes a rotatable step having a latch mechanism and a spring system that work in concert to rotate the step from a stowed position to a deployed position. In a stowed position, the step is in line with the running board of the vehicle. However, depressing a release button automatically rotates the step 180°, thus exposing an enlarged step area for providing ease of access to a roof rack on a minivan, SUV, or sport wagon, or if used with a pick-up truck, ease of access to a toolbox that is located in the rear of the truck.

The present invention 10 discloses a spring system 20 and a latch system 18 for either maintaining a set of pliers in an open position or a closed position. The spring system 20 operates by having a spring 32 disposed on a pair of studs 42 located in the trough 44 of an outwardly curved portion 40 of the handles 28, 30 of the pliers. The latch system 18 comprises a pair of tongue-like members 48, 50 and a wire loop member 58 which hooks onto a notch 49 in one of the tongue-like members 50. The spring system 20 normally maintains the pliers in an open position when no load is applied to handles 28, 30.

Features for a high performance prosthetic foot are provided in a package suitable for use with Symes and reverse-Symes amputees. The foot has a very low profile despite incorporating ankle-type torsional features complete with biasing. Other optional features are presented by way of a dual-rate padding spring system, that convincingly allow for both walking and running (together with related tasks like jumping) by way of a single prosthetic setup. Additional features may be provided in the padding springs directed toward more natural foot movement and response. The foot may be provided alone, in connection with a prosthetic socket and be bare or encased in order to appear more natural.

In a gas turbine having a plurality of moving blades provided on a rotary shaft in a circumferentially adjoining condition, a seal pin is provided in a spacing between the shanks of the adjacent moving blades for preventing leakage of cooling air from a blade root portion side to an airfoil side; an arcuately depressed portion is formed on the shank of each of the moving blades; and vibration of each of the moving blades is suppressed in such a manner that the seal pin serves as a spring system while the airfoil portion, the platform, the shank, and the blade root portion serve as a mass system.

M-16 / AR-15 firearms modified with a new gas operating system are described. The modification of the firearm with the new gas operating system has a forward mounted gas and recoil spring system in which high pressure propellant gases from the cartridge expand in the barrel and operate the firearm.

A seal arrangement for sealing the space between a rotating element and a stationary element, the sealing arrangement comprising a compliant plate seal housing supported adjustably in the stationary element, the compliant plate seal housing supporting a compliant plate seal; and a spring system provided between the compliant plate seal housing and the stationary element to bias the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element. Alternatively, or additionally, one or more actuators may be provided to move the compliant plate seal housing in a direction away from a surface of the rotating element.

A translation and rotation mechanism is disclosed, which comprises of one or more bi-directional electrostatic actuators. Each bi-directional electrostatic actuator comprising of fixed electrodes and movable electrodes, where the fixed electrodes of each actuator being attached onto a base. The movable electrodes of each actuator are connected to the translating and rotation unit through a spring system. The movable elements of each said actuator being able to rotate with respect to the base plane by applying voltage signals to the actuator and by controlling the voltage signals applied to each said actuator independently, said translating and rotation unit being able to translate, rotate, or translate and rotate simultaneously.

A foil thrust bearing forms the primary rotating interface for a film riding face seal. This face seal includes a spring system that will allow the entire assembly to translate axially relative to a static attachment. The complete assembly will form a hybrid foil / film riding face seal that shows much promise at being sufficiently flexible to enable operation in a gas turbine engine. The seal includes a flexible top plate having a non-flat surface under its working conditions, and a spring support system to allow the top plate to accommodate axial excursions and out-of-flat distortions.

A foil thrust bearing forms the primary rotating interface for a film riding face seal. This face seal includes a spring system that will allow the entire assembly to translate axially relative to a static attachment. The complete assembly will form a hybrid foil / film riding face seal that shows much promise at being sufficiently flexible to enable operation in a gas turbine engine. The seal includes a flexible top plate having a non-flat surface under its working conditions, and a spring support system to allow the top plate to accommodate axial excursions and out-of-flat distortions.

The invention relates to a nonlinear rail type collaborative tuning damper which comprises an external cavity unit, a spring system, a viscous liquid, an internal cavity unit, a cushioning material and a particle group. Two groove rails which are arranged in the length direction of the cavity are arranged at the bottom of the damper external cavity unit, the internal cavity unit can slide back and forth along the groove rails and is connected with the inner wall of the external cavity through the spring system, the portion between the external cavity unit and the internal cavity unit is filled with the viscous liquid, the inner wall and bottom of the internal cavity are covered with the cushioning material, and the particle group is composed of circular particles with different sizes. Shaking of the viscous liquid enables the internal cavity to move back and forth to consume energy, and friction and collision of the liquid and the container wall provides the damping effect; the structure self-vibration frequency is tuned by the spring system, and the energy is consumed by means of the collision and friction between the particles or between the particles and the cavity wall. According to the nonlinear rail type collaborative tuning damper, the advantages of various dampers are combined, the vibration damping frequency band is wide, the effect is good, and the nonlinear rail type collaborative tuning damper has wide applicability in the field of civil engineering structure vibration control.

A spring system arrangement and a related connector are disclosed. The purpose is to allow the use of contact springs, such as coil contact springs, with relatively large size body, to be located on a small center distance, i.e. pitch, and to electrically connect with contact pads of high density electronic devices, having a small device pitch. The device pitch can be smaller than the diameter of the spring body itself. In order to achieve this desired small spring pitch and high density, the contact springs are located in a nested head-to-toe and / or staggered orientation. Furthermore, the connectors utilize guide plates, referred to as combs, to accurately control the alignment of the contact springs tips to the contact pads of the electronic devices.

The present disclosure describes a performance enhancing shoe sole that includes an anterior support structure and a posterior support structure that are connected by a first support structure. The anterior support structure and posterior support structure are flexible bent spring structures. The first support structure provides a plantar interface that includes a midfoot arch. The shoe sole is positionable in a shoe to provide shock absorption and controlled energy return from the posterior support structure to the first support structure. The shoe sole is an interconnected bent spring system that can be a single ribbon of flexible material defining multiple pivot angles or a multi-layered cantilevered flexible bent spring. The shoe sole can also include inserts that dampen shock.

A control system for placing controlled members in required positions including two control columns assigned to the controlled members to be moved, each control column having two degrees of freedom. Two actuators controlled by two control circuits apply to their associated control column either a resisting torque or a displacement torque. Each control column is provided with a mechanical spring system spring-loading the associated control column into its neutral position and adapted to provide, in the event of manipulation of the corresponding control column, a resisting torque in support of the resisting torque supplied by the associated actuator.

A vibration control system for a structure having a first structural member and a second structural member. The vibration control system having a liquid spring operably interposed between the first structural member and the second structural member. The liquid spring uses a compressible liquid to seamlessly generate spring and / or damping forces in the suspension system in response to relative displacement between the first structural member and the second structural member. A second volume of compressible liquid is located in a second chamber. The second volume is removably connected to the liquid spring by a fluid passage. A valve is coupled to the fluid passage, the valve selectively operable to place the second volume in communication with the liquid spring. A controller is electrically coupled to the valve. The controller emitting a control signal to control the valve.

A self-sustaining electrical power generating system includes a spring system that stores stored energy, the spring system having an input for recharging the stored energy and an output for releasing the stored energy, wherein the spring system generates a monitor signal based on a status parameter of the spring system and wherein the spring system releases the stored energy in accordance with an output control signal. A generator converts the stored energy of the spring system into electric power. A spring recharge module recharges the stored energy of the spring system in response to a recharge control signal. A control module generates the recharge control signal and the output control signal, based on the monitor signal.

The invention is a stationary running machine for indoor use. It offers a natural running gait to the user and also significantly lower impact than when running on a normal running surface. It also has no rotating parts. It uses a spring system to offer an upward force vector to reduce the effective impact weight of the user. By lifting the body up during running, the invention makes it easier for the user to run and reduces the strike impact. The invention also acts to bring the user back to their initial position after each step so that there is no need for a moving conveyor belt, like used in a treadmill, to keep the user in a central position on the machine while the user is running on the machine. The invention may include a suitable running ramp, that can further offer cushioning and / or rebounding properties.

A durable sealing curtain assembly preferably comprising a pair of tracks slidably attached to opposite sides of an opening such as a door or window, a curtain having its lateral edges engaged by the tracks, and spring systems attached to each track, whereby the spring systems urge the tracks outwardly to maintain the curtain taut yet allow the tracks to slide inwardly towards the center of the opening so that the curtain does not endure excessive pressure upon application of an external force. At least one track preferably also comprises a cam mechanism that is operative to urge the track inwardly to release tension from the curtain and thereby allow the curtain to be more easily raised or lowered, after which, the cam mechanism can be disengaged to allow the track to return to its outwardly biased position, thus returning the curtain to a taut condition.

An overvoltage protection element having at least one overvoltage limiting component in a housing, terminal contacts for electrical connection of the overvoltage protection element to a path to be protected, an electrically conductive connecting element and with a spring system acting on the connecting element, a first terminal contact being directly connected with the first pole of the overvoltage limiting component, the connecting element being in electrically conductive contact with the second terminal contact and the second pole of the overvoltage limiting component via a thermally separating connection. With the thermal connection separated, the connecting element moves out of electrically conductive contact with the second terminal contact and the second pole of the overvoltage limiting component by the force of the spring system an insulating disconnecting element connected to the connecting element is moved between the second terminal contact and the second pole of the overvoltage limiting component.

A system and method in accordance with an embodiment reduces the cross-axis sensitivity of a gyroscope. This is achieved by building a gyroscope using a mechanical transducer that comprises a spring system that is less sensitive to fabrication imperfection and optimized to minimize the response to the rotations other than the intended input rotation axis. The longitudinal axes of the first and second flexible elements are parallel to each other and parallel to the first direction

The present disclosure describes a performance enhancing shoe sole that includes an anterior support structure and a posterior support structure that are connected by a first support structure. The anterior support structure and posterior support structure are flexible bent spring structures. The first support structure provides a plantar interface that includes a midfoot arch. The shoe sole is positionable in a shoe to provide shock absorption and controlled energy return from the posterior support structure to the first support structure. The shoe sole is an interconnected bent spring system that can be a single ribbon of flexible material defining multiple pivot angles or a multi-layered cantilevered flexible bent spring. The shoe sole can also include inserts that dampen shock.

A puck is movable within a puck field of motion defined by a boundary. Arcuate springs connect the puck to the boundary. Each arcuate spring has a first end connected to the puck and a second end connected to the boundary, and applies a force to the puck that maintains the puck in a predetermined region of the puck field of motion when no external force is applied to the puck. In an embodiment, each arcuate spring includes a planar spiral member. The arcuate springs can also apply a force that dampens any oscillations in the puck position when the puck returns to the predetermined region in the puck field of motion. The puck can also include an electrode that is electrically connected to a point outside the puck field of motion by one of the arcuate springs.

Impact attenuating / spring systems may include first and second body portions and at least one spring member at least partially included between the body portions. The spring member(s) may substantially enclose and / or be pivotally engaged with the body portion(s). The components of the impact attenuating and spring element may be arranged such that when a force is applied to the body portion(s), the spring member(s) will exert a counter force to urge the impact attenuating and spring element back toward its original orientation. The spring members may include one or more polymeric element that stretches under a tensile force. The impact attenuating and spring elements may be included in a piece of footwear or other device in a manner such that a user or a retailer (or others) can select an appropriate spring member (or portion thereof), e.g. depending on characteristics of the user or the intended use.

For a sensor whose sensor structure is implemented in a micromechanical structural component and which has parts which are movable in relation to the stationary substrate of the structural component, and which also includes an unsupported seismic mass (1), a spring system having at least one spring (2), the seismic mass (1) being connected to the substrate through the spring system, an overload protection to limit the deflection of the spring system and the seismic mass (1) in at least one direction, and means for detecting the deflections of the spring system and the seismic mass (1), design measures are proposed whereby the impact forces may be reduced to prevent conchoidal breaks and resulting incipient damage to the sensor structure, as well as formation of particles. To that end, at least one two-dimensional stop (3) for at least one moving part of the sensor structure is provided as overload protection. Alternatively or in addition thereto, at least one spring stop (7) for at least one moving part of the sensor structure is provided according to the present invention as overload protection.