Design and first result of combined Langmuir-magnetic probe on J-TEXT tokamak

In order to measure boundary electrostatic and magnetic fluctuations simultaneously, a set of combined Langmuir-magnetic probe (CLMP) has been designed and built on Joint-Texas Experimental Tokamak (J-TEXT). The probe consists of 8 graphite probe pins and a 3D magnetic probe, driven by a mechanical pneumatic device. By means of simulation, the shielding effect of the graphite sleeve on the magnetic fluctuation signal is explored, and the influence of the eddy current was reduced by cutting the graphite sleeve. In the experiment, it has been verified that the mutual inductance of electromagnetic signals can be ignored. And a 70~90kHz electromagnetic mode is observed around the last closed magnetic surface (LCFS). The establishment of CLMP provides data for the exploration of the coupling of electrostatic and magnetic fluctuations.

Development of Reinforced Extension Type Flexible Pneumatic Actuator with Circumferential Restraints and Its Application for Rehabilitation Device

Based on super-aging society in Japan, a welfare pneumatic device to give passive exercise for the temporally injured elderly and disabled has been actively researched and developed. In previous study, based on opinions of Physical Therapist (PT) and Occupational Therapist (OT), a home-based rehabilitation device that could give passive exercise for patients using extension type flexible pneumatic actuators (EFPA), built-in quasi-servo valves and built-in displacement sensors using a wire type linear potentiometer was proposed and tested. However, the device did not have enough force and stiffness to drive shoulders with both arms. In this study, to get enough generated force and stiffness of the device, a parallel arranged EFPA reinforced with circumferential restraint was proposed and tested. The rehabilitation device for shoulder joint using the improved actuator was also proposed and tested. The built-in attitude control system using valves, sensors and an embedded controller was also developed. As a result, it can be confirmed that the device can give passive exercise with larger moving area and enough force and torque to move patient’s shoulder joint.

Experimental Data of the Ear Threshing Process in a Pneumatic Device

Introduction. The current problem is the high level of grain injuries during the threshing process. Therefore it is necessary to develop the gentle methods for separating grains from ears. These methods shall exclude direct shock influence of operative parts of the threshing devices on cereal grains. The objective of research is to study the process of the wheatear threshing in the pneumatic device and to estimate the influence of device settings on cereal grain separation and damage. Materials and Methods. The experimental apparatus is a pneumatic threshing device. The threshing is carried out in case of the interaction of an ear and concave under the influence of the alternating high and low pressure of the airflow generating by the rotor’s blades. Separation is carried out by means of deriving light-load tailings into the reduced pressure chamber. Results. The grain damage decreases in reducing the speed of rotor blades motion and consequently the speed of ears motion in the threshing unit. Germ damage and grain breakage decrease almost to zero at a minimum blade motion speed of 13.5 mps. The range of blade speed between 13.5 and 20 mps is the most favorable for the pneumatic grain threshing in terms of the germ damage. The pneumatic threshing on the experimental device results in effective assorting of grains and light-load tailings of ears. Discussion and Conclusion. Process of the wheat ears pneumatic threshing has satisfactory results. The pneumatic threshing reduces grain endosperm damage by 10…12%. Grain germ damage decreases by 5%, practically to zero. Crushing of grain at rotor blades minimum speed is no more than 0.5%. Comparison of shares of the damaged and crushed grains when using the pneumatic threshing with shares of the damaged grains when using the traditional combine threshing has showed that the offered method of the threshing provides a reduction in grain damage.

Innovative pneumatic device for combined seeding of various tilled crops

For sowing seeds of agricultural crops, the industry produces seeding devices of various modifications, these include seeding devices of pneumatic seeders, operating both on excess air pressure and on vacuum. The design we have developed belongs to the second group. The purpose of current work is to create a pneumatic sowing device operating in a vacuum, capable of sowing seeds of row crops and forage crops in a combined and nesting way in compliance with established seeding patterns and rates.