Abstract: The present disclosure is to provide a piston assembly in which a particle does not leak out of a cylinder, and including, in an embodiment, a piston body; a piston rod connected to the piston body; a first groove formed in an outer surface of the piston body; and a particle discharge flow path extending from an internal space of the piston body to the outer surface of the piston body.

Abstract: An actuation unit includes an actuating arm pivotable between an open and closed position; a pneumatic cylinder comprising a stem movable linearly along a cylinder axis and configured to control pivoting of the actuating arm; and a closing device that includes a braking unit configured to brake movement of the actuating arm having a surface portion configured to come into contact with at least one braking assembly. The braking assembly is locked against rotation and axially movable between a non-braking and braking configuration. The surface portion is in a non-orthogonal arrangement with respect to the cylinder axis and the braking assembly includes a plurality of rollers retained in the braking assembly with clearance at least with respect to a radial movement thereof, the rollers being able to assume a first radial configuration not in contact with the surface portion and a second radial configuration in contact with the surface portion.

Abstract: The utilization of hydro-generation technology is provisioned inside of water distribution systems within large urban buildings that require water pressure reduction. These micro-hydro-generators reduce the water pressure for tenant use and converts the energy into electricity to be used or sold.

Abstract: A fluid end block for a reciprocating pump defines a fluid chamber and a packing bore. An outlet fluid passage is formed in the fluid end block in communication with the fluid chamber and includes an outlet valve. An inlet fluid passage is formed in the fluid end block in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and includes an inlet valve. A plunger is reciprocally disposed in the packing bore. Packing in the packing bore is positioned to contact the plunger and a packing sleeve is disposed between the packing and the packing bore. The packing sleeve is a hollow cylinder with inner and outer surfaces and an inner end configured to be inserted into the packing bore. The inner end includes a bevel extending between the outer surface and the inner end, the outer surface including a notch formed therein adjacent the inner end.

Abstract: Disclosed are a pedal simulator including a housing, a piston part slidably mounted in an inner space of the housing, and including a plurality of piston rod units, and a plurality of damper parts mounted in the housing, and disposed to face the plurality of piston rod units, respectively, wherein the damper parts are compressed by pressure from the piston rod units facing each other.

Abstract: A brake system includes a single chamber power transmission unit, a plurality of wheel brakes, and an iso/dump control valve arrangement associated with each wheel brake of the plurality of wheel brakes. A reservoir is hydraulically connected to the single chamber power transmission unit and to each of the iso/dump control valve arrangements. A pump piston is associated with at least one wheel brake. The pump piston is driven by a second electric motor for selectively providing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the iso/dump control valve arrangement of the at least one associated wheel brake. First and second switching valves are provided, and are two-position, three-way type valves, each hydraulically interposed between at least one iso/dump control valve arrangement and both of a selected pump piston and the output line of the single chamber power transmission unit. First and second electronic control units are provided.

Abstract: Disclosed here is a system and method to control multiple eversion-based actuators using a single motor, or no motor, thereby reducing the size and cost of the multiple eversion-based actuators. An activation mechanism can include a motor rotating in an expansion direction, rotating shaft, clutch, brake, pressure source under high pressure, and/or valve. The activation mechanism can cause the actuators including a wound reel of material to unwind and lengthen. A retraction mechanism can include a motor rotating in a contraction direction opposite the expansion direction, rotating shaft, clutch, pressure source having low pressure, valve associated with the pressure source, and/or the passive retraction system. The retraction mechanism can cause the actuators to rewind and shorten.

Abstract: A pneumatic hydraulic retractable device includes a fluid pressure cylinder having a cylinder body and a plug seat disposed in the cylinder body, a piston rod movably disposed in the fluid pressure cylinder, a control valve set having a valve seat disposed at the piston rod and forms an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber with the cylinder body therebetween, and a valve rod disposed in the valve seat for controlling communication between the upper and lower fluid chambers, and a pressure relief element forming a pressure relief gap with the piston rod. The pressure relief gap communicates with the lower fluid chamber through a communication portion of the pressure relief element. As such, when the valve rod is opened, the fluid is allowed to flow between the lower fluid chamber and the pressure relief gap through the communication portion for reducing airtight effect.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive system for an agricultural implement includes a high pressure supply line configured to provide hydraulic fluid under pressure. The hydraulic drive system also includes a low pressure return line configured to return the hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic drive system further includes a plurality of hydraulic motors and coupled to the high pressure supply line. The hydraulic drive system still further includes a plurality of cylinder systems isolated from the high pressure supply line to minimize a supply pressure of the hydraulic fluid provided from a pump coupled to the high pressure supply line and to minimize throttling losses in the hydraulic drive system during operation of the hydraulic drive system.

Abstract: A hybrid actuation device that includes a first plate coupled to a second plate, a shape memory alloy wire coupled to the first plate, and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate. The artificial muscle includes a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a first electrode and a second electrode each disposed in the electrode region of the housing and a dielectric fluid disposed within the housing. The expandable fluid region of the housing is positioned apart from a perimeter of the first plate and the second plate. A first alignment aid is positioned between the first plate and the first electrode, the first alignment aid having an inner surface facing the first plate and an outer surface facing the first electrode.

Abstract: A hydraulic powering system includes a hydraulic cylinder, an accumulator, and a manifold assembly. The hydraulic cylinder includes: (i) a hydraulic cylinder construction having a hydraulic cylinder wall and first and second hydraulic cylinder end caps forming an internal volume, a piston constructed to slide within the internal volume between the first and second hydraulic cylinder end caps and dividing the internal volume into an extend region and a retract region, and a piston rod extending from the piston and through the retract region and one of the first and second end caps to outside the hydraulic cylinder; (ii) an extend port in fluid connection with the extend region of the hydraulic cylinder; and (iii) a retract port in fluid communication with the retract region of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electric hydraulic brake device, which includes a main brake unit, which provides a braking fluid to a plurality of wheel cylinder units by driving a motor, a storage unit connected to the main brake unit and configured to store the braking fluid, and an auxiliary brake unit which is connected to the main brake unit and the storage unit and provides the braking fluid to some of the plurality of wheel cylinder units when an operation error of the main brake unit occurs and in which a hydraulic circuit is physically distinguished.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic control system comprises a high-low pressure decoupling valve, a high-pressure control oil circuit including a main pressure regulating pilot solenoid valve connected to a transmission controller and used for regulating the main oil pressure according to the instructions of the transmission controller and a main pressure regulating mechanical valve, a low-pressure cooling and lubricating oil circuit, a mechanical pump communication with the high-pressure control oil circuit, and an electronic pump is in communication with the high-pressure control oil circuit or the low-pressure cooling and lubricating oil circuit by means of the high-low pressure decoupling valve. The main pressure regulating mechanical valve is used for guiding the flow output by the electronic pump and/or the mechanical pump in communication with the high-pressure control oil circuit to the low-pressure cooling and lubricating oil circuit according to the control of the main pressure regulating pilot solenoid valve.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.

Abstract: A pump control assembly for controlling a variable displacement hydraulic pump includes a spool mounted within a valve block. The spool is configured to move between a first and a second position within the valve block so as to selectively control the displacement of the attached pump. The pump control assembly further includes first and second chambers that each apply a force to opposite ends of the spool. The first chamber is positioned at a first end of the spool in fluid communication with a pump output port. The second chamber is positioned at a second end of the spool and in fluid communication with a hydraulic tank port and a proportional pressure reducing valve. The second chamber also includes a piston and first and second springs positioned on either side of the piston.

Abstract: There is provided a control module for a hydraulic system. The module comprises a tank and a plurality of valves. The tank is configured to store hydraulic fluid and is substantially cylindrical. The plurality of valves fluidly connect with the tank and are configured to control distribution of hydraulic fluid from the tank to one or more components of the system. The plurality of valves are spaced around a circumference of the tank. One or more passages fluidly connect the tank with at least one of the plurality of valves and/or a first of the plurality of valves with a second of the plurality of valves.

Abstract: Hydraulic actuator systems of aircraft are described. The hydraulic actuator systems include a hydraulic actuator having a housing and piston therein. The piston includes a piston head separating the housing into a retract cavity and an extend cavity. An actuator controller is hydraulically coupled to the retract cavity by a first hydraulic line and hydraulically coupled to the extend cavity by a second hydraulic line and configured to control a hydraulic pressure within each of the retract cavity and the extend cavity to control actuation of the hydraulic actuator. A position-lock controller is arranged along at least one of the first hydraulic line and the second hydraulic line, the position-lock controller is configured to hydraulically decouple the actuator controller from at least one of the retract cavity and the extend cavity.

Abstract: A screw-pump type electro-hydraulic actuator preferably includes an electric motor device, a hydraulic tube, a pump piston, a spline rod, an actuator rod and a hydraulic control circuit. The electric motor device preferably includes an electric motor and a gearbox. One end of the spline rod is engaged with an output of the gearbox. The pump piston preferably includes a piston base, three sets of screw pump rollers, a spline drive gear, a first piston end plate and a second piston end plate. The hydraulic flow circuit includes a first relief valve, a first check valve, a second relief valve, a second check valve and an accumulator. The screw pump rollers are rotatably retained in the piston base between the first and second piston end plates. The spline gear drives the pump driven gears of the three drive screw pump rollers through the spline drive gear to pump hydraulic oil.

Abstract: An agricultural system that includes a cylinder and a rod that moves axially in and out of the cylinder to raise and lower a header. A cylinder lock system controls movement of the rod. The cylinder lock system includes a cap-end fixture that couples to the cylinder and receives the rod. A rod-end fixture couples to an end of the rod. The system includes a lock piston. The lock piston includes a protrusion. The lock piston rotates about the rod and selectively couples the protrusion to the cap-end fixture to lock and unlock the rod-end fixture to the cap-end fixture.

Abstract: An artificial muscle includes an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode. One or both of the first electrode and the second electrode includes a central opening. The first electrode and the second electrode each include two or more fan portions and two or more bridge portions. Each fan portion includes a first end having an inner length, a second end having an outer length, a first side edge extending from the second end, and a second side edge extending from the second end. The outer length is greater than the inner length. Each bridge portion interconnecting adjacent fan portions at the first end.