University of Cambridge

University of California

Haldex Brake Products Corporation

Camcon Technology Ltd.

Mclaren Racing Limited

Neil E Houghton

Malcolm Clive Smith

Laurence John Potter

Wladyslaw Wygnanski

Robert David Prescott

David Cebon

Faryar Jabbari

Tryphon T Georgiou

Anthony Richard Glover

Andrews Odhams

Peter J G Long

Jonathan Miller

Leon M Henderson

Leon Michael Henderson

Embodiments of this disclosure are directed to devices that allow for adjusting of device parameters in a manner that does not involve power dissipation in an essential way. Thus, power demands when such devices are used in applications can be insignificant. This applies to both springs and inerters, which constitute basic lossless building blocks of mechanical device systems, and are analogues of inductors and capacitors in electrical circuits. Embodiments of this disclosure are also directed to a lossless adjustable 2-port transformer, and realization of mechanical translational and rotary transformers are set forth in the following. Embodiments of this disclosure allow for reduction of power demands in adjusting device parameters.

Lossless continuously adjustable devices

An electromagnetic valve comprises a yoke, a magnet having pole pieces defining a gap, a flexure assembly having one end attached to the yoke such that part of the flexure assembly extends into the gap, and a mechanism configured to polarize the magnetizable portion so that the extending part of the flexure assembly is attracted towards a pole piece by a magnetic force, thereby defining a valve state. The flexure assembly has at least one resilient portion and at least one magnetizable portion, wherein the extending part of the flexure assembly is movable between the pole pieces through an intermediate position towards which it is resiliently biased such that a resilient mechanical force is generated by deflecting the resilient portion from an undeflected position. The magnetizable portion and the resilient portion are configured such that the magnetic force defining the valve state is greater than the resilient mechanical force.

Electromagnetic flexure

A device for use in the control of mechanical forces is provided. The device includes first and second terminals for connection to components in a system for controlling mechanical forces and independently moveable. The device further comprises a hydraulic device connected between the terminals and containing a liquid. The hydraulic device is configured to produce upon relative movement of the terminals, a liquid flow to generate an inertial force due to the mass of the liquid to control the mechanical forces at the terminals such that they are substantially proportional to the relative acceleration between the terminals.

Force-controlling hydraulic device

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Neil E Houghton