Abstract:
A stylus support carries a stylus having a stylus tip for following a workpiece surface which rotates relative to the stylus support. A transducer senses a displacement of the stylus tip as follows the surface. A support structure includes a mounting arm and an attitude arm carrying the stylus support and mounted to the mounting arm by a kinematic coupling so as to be moveable between the first attitude in which a stylus extends in a first direction and a second attitude in which the stylus extends in a direction transverse to the first, the movement being substantially centred at the stylus tip. The coupling comprises protrusions and recesses provided on opposing faces of the attitude and mounting arms, the protrusions and recesses being configured to cooperate to constrain relative motion of the opposing faces when the attitude arm is moved into one of the first and second attitudes.
Abstract:
An overload detecting assembly comprising a lateral probe (18) which cooperates with a first load bearing member (10) as it moves towards a second load bearing member (11) and in turn deflects an indicator member (20) which may take a permanent set when a yield point is exceeded. Ready inspection of the indicator member reveals whether or not it has been bent. The indicator member may comprise a cantilevered beam (24) formed in a sleeve (20) coaxial with the load bearing members (10, 11). Alternatively, an extension (25) of the probe (18) may deflect laterally at a midpoint under overload conditions. Alternatively, the probe (18) may form an impression in an indicator member (30) under overload conditions.
Abstract:
A main landing gear assembly for an aircraft comprising: an elongate beam pivotally coupled about its longitudinal axis to the aircraft such that the axis of rotation of the elongate beam is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft fuselage; a shock strut pivotally coupled at a first end to the elongate beam and coupled at a second end to a wheel assembly; a folding forward stay pivotally coupled at a first end to the elongate beam and pivotally coupled at a second end to the shock strut; and a rigid rear stay pivotally coupled at a first end to the aircraft and pivotally coupled at a second end to the shock strut, the rigid rear stay being arranged to restrain the path of the shock strut when moving between a deployed and a retracted position such that the wheel assembly is located forward and inboard in the retracted position in comparison with its location in the deployed position.
Abstract:
A system for restricting flexion of a spinal segment in a patient comprises a constraint device having a tether structure and a compliance member coupled with the tether structure. The tether structure is adapted to be coupled with a superior spinous process and a sacrum. The system also includes an anchor member that is anchored to the sacrum. The anchor member has an attachment feature that is adapted to couple with the constraint device.
Abstract:
A prosody analyzer enhances the interpretation of natural language utterances. The analyzer is distributed over a client/ server architecture, so that the scope of emotion recognition processing tasks can be allocated on a dynamic basis based on processing resources, channel conditions, client loads etc. The partially processed prosodic data can be sent separately or combined -with other speech data from the client device and streamed to a server for a real-time response. Training of the prosody analyzer with real world expected responses improves emotion modeling and the real-time identification of potential features such as emphasis, intent, attitude and semantic meaning in the speaker's utterances.
Abstract:
A semi-levered landing gear for an aircraft comprises a main shock absorber strut (1) connected to the airframe; a bogie beam (4) extending fore and aft of the airframe with forward and aft wheels (J, T) and a main pivot connection (5) to the strut (1) between the forward and aft wheels (7, T) and an auxiliary actuator (49) connected between the strut (1) and the front of the bogie beam (4) at an auxiliary pivot (14). The auxiliary actuator (49) comprises a two stage telescopic hydraulic unit comprising a first stage piston and cylinder actuator (59, 63) and a second stage piston and cylinder actuator (56, 50) operating coaxially within an outer casing (50). A respective piston rod (65, 60) each extends from each end of the casing (50) and is connected to a respective one of said (strut 1) and bogie beam (4). The first stage actuator (59, 63) is operable to an extended position, and the second stage actuator (56, 60) is operable between a retracted position (Fig. 11) and an extended position (Fig. 12) defined by respective end stops (75, 77) within the outer casing (50) and serves to control the tilt position of the bogie beam (4) relative to the strut (1). The second stage actuator (56, 60), when in the retracted position with the first stage actuator (59, 63) in the extended position, limits the length of the auxiliary actuator (9) between its connections (62, 67) to the strut (1) and bogie beam (4), so as to assume a predetermined intermediate length in which the bogie beam (4) is restrained to tilt about the auxiliary pivot (14) and thereby lengthens the landing gear during take-off. The second stage actuator (56, 60), when in the extended position with the first stage actuator (59, 63) in the extended position, allows the length of the auxiliary actuator (49) to assume a predetermined maximum length in which the bogie beam (4) is tilted about the main pivot (5) to a stowing position for stowing the landing gear in the aircraft.
Abstract:
Light is directed along a sample path towards the sample surface and along a reference path towards a reference surface such that light reflected by the sample surface and light reflected by the reference surface interfere. Relative movement is effected between the sample surface and the reference surface along a measurement path and the light intensity resulting from interference between light reflected from the reference surface and regions of the sample surface is sensed at intervals along the measurement path to provide a number of sets of light intensity data values with each light intensity data value representing the sensed light intensity associated with a corresponding one of said regions. The sets of light intensity data are processed to determine a position along the measurement path at which a predetermined feature occurs in the light intensity data for each sensed region and to enhance image data representing the intensity data to facilitate the detection by a user of the interference fringes.
Abstract:
A workpiece centring assembly comprising a workpiece support surface and sleeve, the workpiece support surface and sleeve being arranged for relative rotation, and jaws arranged for movement with respect to the workpiece support surface to centre the workpiece on the workpiece support surface, further comprising elongate bearings arranged for rotation with the workpiece support surface, slidable members supporting the jaws and arranged for movement along the elongate bearings, and connectors having pivotal couplings to respective slidable members and the sleeve, wherein the relative rotation causes the connectors to pivot about their pivotal couplings to allow movement of the slidable members along the elongate bearings and consequential movement of the jaws with respect to the workpiece support surface.
Abstract:
A system for fusing a spine comprises a flexion limiting tether having a superior portion, and an inferior portion. The superior portion of the device is coupled to a superior portion of the spine, and the inferior portion of the device is coupled to an inferior portion of the spine thereby constraining flexion of the spine. The system also includes bone graft for fusing the superior and inferior portions of the spine together. The bone graft is disposed between the superior and inferior portions of the spine, and the tether has a width suitable for holding the bone graft in a mass disposed between the superior and inferior portions of the spine. The tether also has a porosity suitable to allow body fluids to pass therethrough so that the graft material forms a solid mass.
Abstract:
A solar cell module for back-contacted solar cells includes in a layer a number of back- contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means. The planar contacting means is arranged for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence, and is a layered connection structure with a first stratum and a second stratum. The first stratum is arranged between the layer of the solar cells and the second stratum. A first pair of adjacent solar cells is connected in series along a first conductive path in the first stratum and one solar cell of the first pair is connected in series to a next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence along a second conductive path in the second stratum.