Other

Springactive, Inc.

Arizona Board of Regents, a Body Corporate

Kevin L Hollander

Thomas G Sugar

Jeffrey A Ward

Robert Holgate

Joseph Karl Hitt

Nathan Cahill

Darren Kinney

Raymond Churchwell

Michael Craghead

Alex Boehler

Preston Clouse

A rock drill automatic reversing system can comprise a rifle bar which can comprise a groove end and a pawl end, wherein the groove end has helical shaped grooves, a double pawl comprising a body, a first wing, and a second wing, a first pawl support having at least one first slot opening in a first radial direction and a second pawl support having at least one opposing slot opening in an opposing radial direction. At least one ring gear guide, and at least one control key rod that transverses parallel to the axis of the rifle bar within the first pawl support and the second pawl support to interact with the double pawl to change the direction of the rock drill depending on the at least one control key rod's state.

Automatic reversing mechanism for a rock drill

A joint actuation device for adding torque to a joint of a user includes an actuation system having an actuator and a spring. A lever is configured to couple to the user's leg and to the actuation system. The lever configured to rotate at a device joint with respect to the actuation system. A first sensor measures a position of the device joint. A second sensor measures deflection in a spring. The actuator is positioned based on the position of the device joint and deflection in the spring. The actuator is configured to deflect the spring to apply a torque the device joint. The device joint aligns with the user's joint to add a torque to the user's joint during a gait activity. The actuator disengages the spring during a non-gait activity. The lever is configured to disengage from the actuator when the device joint exceeds a predetermined angle.

System and method of bidirectional compliant joint torque actuation

A joint torque augmentation system includes linkage assembly configured to couple to a user. Linkage assembly includes a unidirectional link and a device joint. The linkage assembly is worn by a user or is configured to couple to footwear. An actuator is coupled to the linkage assembly to provide a torque at a joint of the user. A sensor is coupled to the user to measure a position of the user. A control system is coupled to the sensor and actuator. A phase of gait for the user is determined by the control system based on the position measured by the sensor. The actuator produces a tension force on the linkage assembly during a first phase of gait. A compliant element is coupled between the actuator and linkage assembly. The compliant element is tuned based on a load carried by the user.

Joint torque augmentation system and method for gait assistance

A prosthetic joint device includes a foot portion and a main body pivotally coupled to the foot portion at a first joint. A first compliant member is coupled to the main body and foot portion. A first clutch is coupled to the first compliant member. An actuator is coupled to the first clutch to lock and unlock the first clutch and engage and disengage the first compliant member. A control system is coupled to the actuator to control the actuator based on a gait activity. The first clutch is locked to engage the first compliant member. A second compliant member is coupled to the main body and foot portion. A sensor is coupled to the prosthetic joint device to measure a physical state of the prosthetic joint device. The engagement and disengagement of the first compliant member is timed based on the physical state of the prosthetic joint device.

Quasi-active prosthetic joint system

A method of vehicular safety management is disclosed in which a garment or like product is worn by an occupant of the vehicle. The garment includes crushable elements which absorb or dissipate energy on fracture from impact. An article of manufacture is disclosed which is worn by a vehicle occupant during travel and which incorporates component elements which fracture on impact and thereby dissipate collision energy.

Impact protection

A method for harvesting energy from ankle motion includes coupling a generator module across an ankle joint, the generator module including a generator and an elastic member. The generator is affixed to the leg shank and at least one of the generator and the elastic member is continuously coupled to the foot across the ankle joint. Energy may be harvested in the elastic member while generating electricity with the generator from motion of the ankle joint. Alternatively, or in addition, electricity may be generated with the generator from energy harvested in the elastic member after the energy is harvested.

Method and apparatus for harvesting energy from ankle motion

The present invention is a mechanical element, commonly referred to as a 'Jack Spring' that is based upon the concept of adding and subtracting coils from a spring. In particular, with the method and apparatus of the present invention, by changing the number of coils in a spring, the actual or intrinsic stiffness of the spring is structurally changed. A very simple and practical method is used to adjust the number of coils. The Jack Spring actuator of the present invention is based upon adjusting the effective structure of a spring.

Adjustable stiffness Jack Spring actuator

Adjustable stiffness jack spring actuator

The present invention is a spring based actuator with a leaf spring having a length, width and thickness and a coil spring positioned over the leaf spring. The coil spring further comprises: a first end; a second end; and at least one force generator acting on either the first end of the coil spring and the second end of the coil spring to deflect the coil spring and the leaf spring.

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Kevin L Hollander