Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120137667 | Regenerative Hydraulic Pump - A regenerative hydraulic pump that allows for efficient operation of a hydraulic system under high pressure/low flow conditions that comprises a crankshaft providing a rotating inertial mass, and a regenerative hydraulic pump cylinder that comprises a pump cylinder housing, a pump piston mechanically connected to the crankshaft; and a compliant pressure chamber that stores a portion of the energy extracted by the pump piston during a pumping stroke for release back to the pump piston and to the crankshaft during a regenerative back stroke. | 06-07-2012 |
20120237319 | Robotic Lift Device with Human Interface Operation - An operator controllable robotic device is disclosed. The robotic device comprises a support member, an upper robotic arm, a lower robotic arm, and a control arm. The upper robotic arm is coupled to the support member and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the support member. The lower robotic arm is coupled to the upper robotic arm and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the upper robotic arm. The control arm allows an operator to control the robotic device. The control arm is coupled to the upper robotic arm and has rotational movement in at least one degree of freedom relative to the upper robotic arm. The control arm allows a movement of the operator to control a movement of at least one of the upper robotic arm and the lower robotic arm. | 09-20-2012 |
20120277901 | Platform Perturbation Compensation - A method for compensating for a perturbation external to a platform having a plurality of mechanical arms in accordance with an embodiment of the technology includes detecting a normal positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform using a sensor. A perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement of the platform can also be detected using the sensor. The normal positional and/or orientational measurement and the perturbed positional and/or orientational measurement can be compared to determine a positional and/or orientational difference. A position and/or orientation of a mechanical arm can be adjusted to compensate for the perturbation based on the positional and/or orientational difference. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277911 | Variable Strength Magnetic End Effector For Lift Systems - A device and method for adjusting the magnetic strength of a magnetic end effector for lift systems is described. The magnetic end effector is capable of lifting discriminate payloads by selectively varying the strength of the magnetic forces output by the magnetic end effector. An actuator can be operatively coupled to the variable strength magnet end effector, wherein the actuator is selectively actuatable to control the adjustment of the variable strength magnet. The actuator may also be configured to maintain the variable strength magnet at a desired magnetic force output strength once achieved for any given amount of time. | 11-01-2012 |
20120277915 | Multi-Degree of Freedom Torso Support For a Robotic Agile Lift System - A controllable robotic arm system comprises a base unit and a moveable torso coupled to the base unit. The moveable torso is capable of moving in at least one degree of freedom independently of movement of the base unit. At least one robotic slave arm is moveably coupled to the torso. A master control system is operable to control the robotic slave arm and the moveable torso. The master control system includes an input interface by which a user can cause control signals to be communicated to the robotic slave arm and the moveable torso. | 11-01-2012 |
20120328395 | Teleoperated Robotic System - A teleoperated robotic system that includes master control arms, slave arms, and a mobile platform. In use, a user manipulates the master control arms to control movement of the slave arms. The teleoperated robotic system can include two master control arms and two slave arms. The master control arms and the slave arms can be mounted on the platform. The platform can provide support for the master control arms and for a teleoperator, or user, of the robotic system. Thus, a mobile platform can allow the robotic system to be moved from place to place to locate the slave arms in a position for use. Additionally, the user can be positioned on the platform, such that the user can see and hear, directly, the slave arms and the workspace in which the slave arms operate. | 12-27-2012 |
20130013108 | Robotic Agile Lift System With Extremity Control - A mobile robotic lift assistance system that can accommodate and provide for operator manipulation and control of a robotic arm and associated end effector locally from and via the robotic arm itself, and within a zone of operation. The mobile robotic lift assistance system can include one or more robotic arms having an associated extremity control system operable therefrom, wherein the operator enters the zone of operation and engages a control interface device to manipulate and control the robotic arm, any end effector associated therewith, and optionally the mobile platform unit. The control interface system facilitates extremity control by the operator of the mobile robotic lift assistance system. | 01-10-2013 |
20140251155 | VENDING MACHINE FOR POPPING KERNELS - The present invention relates to a popcorn vending machine, comprising a kernel holding chamber configured to store and dispense kernels, a heating chamber comprising an inlet configured to receive kernels from the kernel holding chamber, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber, at least one air blower disposed in communication with the heating chamber, wherein the air blower is configured to blow air into the heating chamber, thereby moving kernels within the heating chamber and selectively removing popped flakes from the high intensity microwave region when popped, and a heating chamber outlet connected to the heating chamber for receiving popped flakes from the heating chamber and dispensing the popped flakes into a container. | 09-11-2014 |
20140251156 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR POPPING KERNELS - The present invention relates to improved devices and methods for popping popcorn, comprising moving popcorn kernels within a heating chamber with airflow and subjecting the popcorn kernels to focused microwave energy sufficient to cause the popcorn kernels to pop. In some embodiments, the devices and methods utilize a single-mode resonant microwave applicator to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more anti-node high intensity microwave regions and subjecting popcorn kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions. | 09-11-2014 |
20140251157 | SINGLE-MODE MICROWAVE POPPING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an apparatus for popping kernels, comprising a heating chamber for containing kernels, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more high intensity microwave regions, and a device configured to move kernels within the high intensity microwave regions. | 09-11-2014 |
20140251984 | METHODS FOR POPPING KERNELS WITH FOCUSED MICROWAVES - A method of popping kernels, comprising moving kernels within a heating chamber with airflow, and subjecting the kernels to focused microwave energy sufficient to cause the kernels to pop, resulting in popped flakes. | 09-11-2014 |
20140251985 | METHODS FOR POPPING KERNELS WITH SINGLE-MODE MICROWAVE DEVICE - The present invention relates to a method for popping kernels, comprising generating a standing microwave energy field in a single-mode resonant microwave applicator, wherein the standing microwave energy field comprises an array of one or more high intensity microwave regions; and subjecting kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions, sufficient to cause the kernels to pop and produce popped flakes. | 09-11-2014 |
20140251986 | SINGLE-MODE MICROWAVE POPPING DEVICE - The present invention relates to an apparatus for popping kernels, comprising a heating chamber configured to contain kernels, a microwave emitter configured to produce microwave energy within the heating chamber and heat the kernels, a single-mode resonant microwave applicator configured to generate a stable focused high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber, and an air blower configured to create airflow within the heating chamber sufficient to move the kernels within the heating chamber. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255568 | METHODS FOR POPPING KERNELS WITH SINGLE-MODE MICROWAVE DEVICE - The present invention relates to a method for popping kernels, comprising generating a standing microwave energy field in a single-mode resonant microwave applicator, wherein the standing microwave energy field comprises an array of one or more high intensity microwave region, providing a heating chamber encompassing the one or more hot zones, delivering kernels to the heating chamber and moving the kernels through the high intensity microwave region within the heating chamber, subjecting kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions, sufficient to cause the kernels to pop and produce popped flakes, and selectively discharging popped flakes from the heating chamber by upward airflow. | 09-11-2014 |
20140255569 | METHODS FOR POPPING KERNELS TO ACHIEVE IMPROVED POPPING YIELD - The present invention relates to a method of popping kernels, comprising moving kernels within a heating chamber with airflow, and subjecting the kernels to focused microwave energy sufficient to cause the kernels to pop, resulting in popped flakes, wherein the method produces popped flakes with an average popping yield greater than 94%. The present invention also relates to a method for popping kernels, comprising generating in a single-mode resonant microwave applicator a standing microwave energy field comprising an array of one or more anti-node high intensity microwave regions, subjecting kernels to the microwave energy in the one or more high intensity microwave regions, sufficient for the kernels to achieve a uniform distribution of microwave energy heat to cause the kernels to pop, wherein the method produces popped flakes with an average popping yield greater than 94%. | 09-11-2014 |