Abstract: A vibration dampening suspension device for isolating a truck cab from the force vibrations of a vehicle frame, which includes an impact plate mounted to the truck cab, and a support plate mounted to the vehicle suspension. The device further includes a link member pivotally interconnected at one end with the support plate at a support pivot, and a lever member with a first end pivotally interconnected with the impact plate at a main pivot. The link member is pivotally interconnected with the lever member for rotation of the lever member with respect to the main pivot during compression of the shock absorber when the supporting body, suspended body and device are in a dynamic condition. A hydraulic shock absorber is provided with a first end pivotally interconnected with the lever member second end at a shock pivot and the second end pivotally interconnected with the impact plate at a pivot spaced from the main pivot.

Abstract: A linkage rod for absorbing shocks and vibrations has a housing with a central bore. A spacer tube and a spacer load plate are inserted into the central bore. Several resilient members preferably formed of crimped metal wire strands are located in the central bore between the spacer load plate and a piston load plate. A mounting member has a shoulder formed between body and neck portions. A snubber cap having a central opening with an inwardly-directed wall is positioned around the mounting member. A snubber nut is attached to the mounting member to trap the inwardly-directed wall between the snubber nut and the shoulder. The snubber cap is fastened to the housing and the mounting member may move axially relative to the housing. The resilient members resist axial movement of the mounting member.

Abstract: A suspension unit for supporting a cab on the chassis of a truck has two U-shaped yokes, one with arms extending down and the other with arms extending up. The arms of one yoke are nested within the arms of the other in a sliding fit and a bearing in a vertical slot connects each pair of adjacent arms. An air spring and one or two shock absorbers can be mounted between the yokes. A guideway having a bottoming rib or a stop element with a cushioning pad is formed on one of the arms of each adjacent pair and the other arm of the corresponding pair is received within the guideway and abuts the bottoming rib or stop element in a fully compressed position to prevent excessive loads on the air spring, shock absorbers and bearings. The unit is mounted on a truck between the cab and chassis with one pair of adjacent arms fore and the other pair aft, to provide relatively free vertical movement, pivoting about a fore and aft axis, and fore and aft translational rigidity of the truck cab relative to the chassis.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling the speed of multiple hydraulic fluid power devices when the flow demand of the devices exceeds the flow capacity of a pressure source supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the devices has multiple pressure controlled proportional flow supply valves for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the power devices. Load sense pressures which indicate the pressure delivered by the valves to the corresponding devices are compared to determined the highest load sense pressure, which is compared to the supply pressure by a proportional speed sensing valve to regulate the pilot pressure. In the preferred embodiment, the pilot pressure is regulated by the proportional speed sensing valve to be equal to the differential between the supply pressure and the highest load sense pressure, and a limit control is provided in one form of the proportional speed sensing valve.

Abstract: A clamp arm for attachment to the plunger of a clamping cylinder has a body with a central opening for receiving the plunger and a working arm portion extending outwardly from the opening. The body has a radial slot extending from the central opening and a bore in the body that extends transversely through the slot. One portion of the bore is threaded to receive a headed bolt to draw the sides of the slot together to lock the body on the plunger. The body is axially restrained on the plunger by means of a ring received in a counter bore above the transverse bore for the headed bolt. The ring is received in a circumferential groove in the plunger. Alternatively, the headed bolt that is used to draw the sides of the slot together engages a circumferential groove in the plunger.

Abstract: A proportional pressure control valve has a metering spool which selectively meters flow between an axial first port and radial second ports. The spool is axially reciprocable with a larger face toward the first port and a smaller face opposite from the first port, with a pressure equalization bore through the spool. A first spring extends between the smaller face of the spool and an armature and the armature is biased to a normal position by a second spring and also has a pressure equalization bore through it. Radial orifices are formed in the end of the armature facing the smaller face of the spool, and the end of the armature seats in the main bore in which the spool is seated. Passageways extend from the orifices to the second ports, and two selectively and variably energizable electromagnetic coils coaxially encircle the armature, one to draw the armature to one side of the normal position and the other to draw the armature to the opposite side.

Abstract: A tilt cab latch has a piston which is biased to cam on a rotor to capture and exert a preload force on a pin. The end of the piston is formed by cylindrical and conical surfaces which match respective internal cylindrical and angled cylindrical surfaces on the rotor. The conical and angled cylindrical surfaces cam on one another to exert the preload force on the pin, and the cylindrical surfaces provide positive locking against retrograde rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: In a plunger apparatus for exerting a spring-loaded force on a work piece, a plug, whose depth of insertion determines the amount of the force exerted by the spring, is pressed into the body of the apparatus and, by the friction between the plug and the inner surface of the body, is held immobile to torque applied to the plug in installing and removing the apparatus from a machine and to forces experienced in operations.

Abstract: Coupling unit for releasably connecting fluid lines in or on two parts whose relative position is variable. In order to ensure reliable centering of the ends of the fluid lines to be connected while avoiding excessively high shear stresses, a distance plate (1) is arranged between the parts (M and W) containing the fluid lines (L and K, respectively) to be connected. The distance plate (1) is fastened in an axially mobile manner to the first part (M) by means of at least one guide rod (F) fastened to the latter and whose distance from the other part can be varied by means of at least one piston rod (S) arranged in the guide rod (F). A number of bushings (3) equal to the number of line connections to be made are housed in axial recesses (2) in the distance plate (1). The bushings (3) are held in their respective recesses (2) with axial and radial play, are connected to one part (M) by a mobile flexible tubular line (L) and are associated with the other part (W) by a fixed connecting sleeve (A).

Abstract: A modular valve has a valve housing which defines a manifold interface having a normally open port, a normally closed port and a common port. A manifold block is mounted to the valve housing with its valve interface sealed against the manifold interface. The valve interface of the manifold block has first, second and third valve ports which lead to respective first, second and third mounting ports at a mounting interface of the manifold block. The first, second and third valve ports and the normally open normally closed and common ports are arranged to communicate with one another in either of two angularly spaced positions of the valve housing relative to the manifold block. In one position, the first valve port comunicates with the normally open port, the second valve port communicates with the normally closed port, and the third valve port communicates with the common port.

Abstract: A two-stage, proportional pressure control valve is disclosed which may be used for uni-directional fluid flow. A poppet is movably positioned within a body of the valve. Pressure forces acting on the poppet affect the position of the poppet and thus the magnitude of fluid flow through the valve. A control pressure chamber is defined by the poppet and an orifice plate. The orifice plate includes an passage which may be blocked by an armature. An electromagnetic driver produces a magnetic flux path that is substantially proportional to a variable input current. The electromagnetic driver is operable to move the armature and thereby allow fluid in the control pressure chamber to exit through the passage. The proportional pressure control valve can be incorporated into a damper of a vehicle suspension system where the input current is governed by an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

Abstract: A proportional pressure control valve is disclosed which may be used for uni-directional or bi-directional fluid flow. An electromagnetic driver mounted in a driver cavity of a housing produces a magnetic flux path in response to a variable input current. The magnitude of the flux path is substantially proportinal to the input current. The flux path passes through an armature which is movable within the driver cavity. The armature is connected to a metering spool so that the two move in unison. The metering spool is movable within a main bore between a sealing position and an infinite number of open positions. The position of the metering spool determines the magnitude of fluid communication between pressure ports. A feedback section of the housing establishes a pressure feedback force which impacts on the position of the metering spool and the armature. The valve may also include a spring for biasing the metering spool to a fail-safe position within the housing.

Abstract: A direct-operated, two-way solenoid valve is disclosed. The valve balances the hydraulic flow forces acting on a poppet in order to achieve fast-acting, high-flow operation. The valve has a housing with the poppet mounted in a main bore. The poppet has a sealing end with a longitudinal central bore that is open at the sealing end and terminates in a pressure wall. A radial cross bore in the poppet provides fluid communication between the central bore and an outlet port formed in the housing. The sealing end of the poppet may contact a valve seat to prevent fluid communication between an inlet port formed in the housing and the central bore of the poppet. The sealing end of the poppet is biased into contact with the valve seat to prevent fluid communication between the inlet port and the central bore. An actuator generating a magnetic flux path tends to move the poppet out of contact with the valve seat.

Abstract: A compact, high response regulating valve has a solenoid modulated armature and plunger construction. The solenoid assembly and armature minimize magnetic flux leakage by maintaining the armature in close proximity to the induced magnetic field. In one embodiment, the lightweight armature has a number of holes to increase the speed at which it may be modulated. Mounted to the armature is a regulator plunger which controls fluid communication between the valve's inlet and outlet ports. Normally spring-biased closed, the plunger uses a line seal to maximize flow with minimal longitudinal plunger movement. Plunger response time is enhanced by eliminating elastomeric friction (i.e., eliminating O-rings and replacing them with a number of notches about the plunger periphery). A conical seat and bevelled plunger provide an effective line seal.

Abstract: A snap-in type fastener for securing an object to an apertured support includes a shank member having predetermined diameter and length. A locking member integral with one end of the shank member is provided to extend through the support aperture to facilitate engaging of the apertured support by the shank whereby the locking member resists withdrawal of the fastener from the apertured support. A head member is disposed at the other end of the shank member and includes a resilient member which provides for axial deflection of the shank for a selected distance in the direction of the apertured support to facilitate engaging of apertured supports of different thicknesses. The resilient member may form all or a portion of the head member depending upon the method of securing or may be associated with the head member.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder device powered by a pressurized fluid and having a mechanical locking means for the piston. The locking means is alternatively actuated into and out of locking position by the pressurized fluid.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuating unit for raising a hospital bed includes a reservoir, a hydraulic piston cylinder device the cylinder of which has its ends connected to the reservoir through a supply conduit that contains a hydraulic plunger pump with suction and pressure valve means and through a return conduit which contains an orifice in a normally closed relief valve. A branch conduit leads to a hydraulic liquid accumulator from the supply conduit at a location between the cylinder and pressure valve means. A multiple pilot operated check valve of the differential type is provided in the branch conduit towards the accumulator. The largest and smallest end faces of the differential spool member are subject to the pressure in the branch conduit while the differential area of the spool member is subject to the pressure in a conduit which leads from the return conduit at a location between the orifice and the relief valve.

Abstract: A valve has a magnetic drive unit axially spaced from a valve section. An axially movable armature is moved by an electromagnet and an annular permanent magnet having radial magnetization. Reciprocation of the armature opens and closes a poppet valve to regulate fluid flow between two chambers. The magnetic characteristics of the magnetic drive unit are such that the armature remains in either of two axial limit positions when current is not being applied to the electromagnetic coils. In order to compensate for fluid flow forces tending to close the poppet when open, a biasing spring is also used to help overcome these forces. In an embodiment applied to vehicle shock absorbers, an orifice plate and disc springs are used adjacent the poppet structure to permit damping characteristics which vary depending on whether the piston or the shock absorber is compressing or rebounding.

Abstract: A vibration damper comprising a housing containing two bell-shaped membranes of resiliently deformable material facing one another, and defining a single liquid filled chamber. The damper is interposed between two devices to be isolated, one of such devices being affixed to the housing and the other being affixed to a rod, which passes between both membranes, with a circular washer shaped element located between the tops of the bells of the membranes. Upon movement of the rod and deformation of the membranes the liquid is subjected to friction due to shearing of the fluid against the housing due to the movement of the washer through the liquid in a non-throttling arrangement.

Abstract: A clean room gripper having sliding jaws and including a pressurized piston cylinder and actuator section for moving the jaws towards and away from one another. The jaws are in the form of upper and lower finger sections, with the lower section being provided with a sliding seal located between it and a mating outer surface of an evacuated chamber, whereby no particles or dust created within the unit because of mechanical action will be allowed to escape from the gripper during operation to add to contamination of the environment in a clean room.