Abstract: Artificial muscles are provided including a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, an electrode pair including a first electrode and a second electrode positioned in the electrode region of the housing, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and a stiffening member positioned between the housing and at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode. The stiffening member increases a stiffness of the housing in a direction toward the expandable fluid region from an opposite edge of the electrode region. The electrode pair is actuatable between a non-actuated state and an actuated state such that actuation from the non-actuated state to the actuated state directs the dielectric fluid into the expandable fluid region.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a vehicle includes a hydraulic monitoring control unit configured to receive an operational signal from a sub-system of the vehicle and control flow of hydraulic fluid to actuators of components based on the operational signal. The hydraulic monitoring control unit is configured to bypass the flow of the hydraulic fluid in relation to a subset of the actuators in response to the operational signal indicating an altered operational state of the sub-system.

Abstract: A hydraulic system includes: a cylinder in which an interior of a tube is divided by a piston into a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber; a first bidirectional pump connected to the first pressure chamber by a first supply/discharge line; a second bidirectional pump connected to the second pressure chamber by a second supply/discharge line and coupled to the first bidirectional pump in a manner enabling torque to be transmitted between the first and second bidirectional pumps; a relay line connecting the first and second bidirectional pumps such that a hydraulic liquid discharged from one of the first and second bidirectional pumps is introduced into the other of the first and second bidirectional pumps; and an electric motor that drives the first or second bidirectional pump. At least one of the first and second bidirectional pumps is a variable displacement pump whose delivery capacity per rotation is freely variable.

Abstract: A gearbox is coupled to a power end housing of a reciprocating pump, where the gearbox includes at least one support member having a first end securely affixed to the gearbox, and the at least one support member having a second end securely affixed to an immobile part of the reciprocating pump for supporting the gearbox and resisting movement of the gearbox relative to the reciprocating pump.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for a working machine, the hydraulic system includes: a hydraulic fluid reservoir; a boom actuator having an ascending chamber and a descending chamber; a first pump; a first directional control valve comprising a first ascending state configured for moving the boom in the ascending direction, a descending state configured for moving the boom actuator in the descending direction, and a first neutral state; a second pump; a second directional control valve comprising a second ascending state configured for moving the boom actuator in the ascending direction, and a second neutral state; wherein the second directional control valve further comprises a float state configured to connect at least one of the ascending and descending chambers to the hydraulic reservoir for permitting the boom to move freely in the descending and/or descending directions.

Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a first electric machine connected to a first hydraulic machine and a second electric machine connected to a second hydraulic machine. An output side of the second hydraulic machine is connected to an input side of the first hydraulic machine. A hydraulic consumer is hydraulically coupled to an output side of the first hydraulic machine via a supply line and is powered by the first hydraulic machine. A return line hydraulically couples the hydraulic consumer to an input side of the first hydraulic machine. The second hydraulic machine provides a flow of hydraulic fluid to the input side of the first hydraulic machine if a requested flow from the first hydraulic machine exceeds a flow of the return line and recuperates energy if the requested flow from the first hydraulic machine is lower than the flow of the return line.

Abstract: A valve unit (V) has a valve housing (50) that includes a supply oil passage (55) configured to receive operating oil from a hydraulic pump, and a pressure adjustment valve (Va) configured to adjust the pressure of the supply oil passage (55). The pressure adjustment valve (Va) includes a pressure adjustment valve body (61) configured to open and close the supply oil passage (55), a compression coil spring (62) that keeps the pressure adjustment valve body (61) at a closed position when the pressure of the supply oil passage (55) is smaller than a set value and allows the pressure adjustment valve body (61) to open when the pressure of the supply oil passage (55) is not smaller than the set value, and a restriction member (63) configured to, when the pressure adjustment valve body (61) becomes open against the urging force of the spring (62) in response to a pressure of the operating oil, abut against the pressure adjustment valve body (61) to restrict movement of the pressure adjustment valve body (61).

Abstract: A hydraulic control loop controls a hydraulic adjusting cylinder. The cylinder has a cylindrical housing and a displaceable piston therein. The piston divides the housing interior into a first and a second hydraulic chamber. A first hydraulic valve supplies the first hydraulic chamber with hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic pressure of the first hydraulic chamber is adjustable by controlling the first hydraulic valve. A second hydraulic valve supplies the second hydraulic chamber with hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic pressure of the second hydraulic chamber is adjustable by controlling the second hydraulic valve. A control device controls the two hydraulic valves. In a position control state, the second hydraulic valve is controlled by a position control signal dependent on the working position of the piston and the first hydraulic valve is controlled by an adjusted position control signal, that is generated on the basis of the position control signal.

Abstract: A transaxle casing has a fluid sump having a gear top cover, an HST, a reduction gear train and at least one axle disposed in the transaxle casing. The gear top cover accommodates a part of a rotation portion of the reduction gear train. An air supply and exhaust hole is disposed on an upper surface of the gear top cover facing an air sump and is arranged at a position different from a point above a bevel gear. A breather is attached at the air supply and exhaust hole, and a first inner wall extending downward from the upper surface of the upper casing member, is positioned between the part of the bevel gear and the air supply and exhaust hole.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid medium. As the medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: A method for controlling a cylinder includes providing a cylinder having a piston, a servo valve and a measuring device having at least one first position sensor and one second position sensor, measurements are taken of the position of the piston in the cylinder body simultaneously with the first position sensor and the second position sensor, at least one first displacement speed of the piston is determined on the basis of the piston position measurements obtained with the first position sensor, at least one second displacement speed of the piston is determined on the basis of the piston position measurements obtained with the second position sensor, and each of the first and second determined displacement speeds of the piston are compared with a modelled or predetermined displacement speed of the piston, in such a way as to identify the most reliable position sensor.

Abstract: A filter assembly, in particular used as a portable service unit for hydraulic applications, has a motor-pump unit (8) with one outlet (14) connected to a filter element (18) in the main flow. Another other outlet (26) of the motor-pump unit is connected to a device for measuring particles in the fluid in a bypass flow having a particle sensor (36). As a component of the device for measuring particles, a fluid line (38) of predeterminable length as a stilling section is on the inflow side of the particle sensor (36) in such a way that gases carried along in the fluid re-dissolve in the fluid. The fluid line (38) of predeterminable length is accommodated in a housing part (52) of the assembly, combined to form at least one winding.

Abstract: It is to provide a control valve that can make the valve body smaller and the structure simplified and the hydraulic pressure system equipped therewith. The plural number of parallel feeder oil paths that are respectively connected to the plural number of pumps and are not cut off by displacement of spools is provided in the valve body in a linearly through all spool holes. For each section, a connection oil path is provided to connect any one side of parallel feeder oil paths to the bridge circuit B of the internal spools. Parallel feeder oil paths can be positioned in a simple shape, but also, just by properly providing connection oil paths, without depending on each section belonging to any of pump systems, positioning of section can be freely done within the valve body. Making the valve body smaller and the structure simplification can be executed.

Abstract: An artificial muscle stack that includes a plurality of artificial muscle layers. Each artificial muscle layer includes one or more artificial muscles having a housing with an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair having a first and second electrode positioned in the electrode region. The first and second electrodes each include two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. The two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions. At least one of the first and second electrode includes a central opening positioned between the tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. The plurality of artificial muscle layers are arranged such that the expandable fluid region of the artificial muscles of each artificial muscle layer overlaps at least one tab portion of one or more artificial muscles of an adjacent artificial muscle layer.

Abstract: A master cylinder is described. The master cylinder includes a chamber delimited by a piston and supplied from a brake fluid reservoir installed on the top of the master cylinder by an end fitting engaged in a nozzle on the body of the master cylinder. The piston has a nose of reduced section upstream of its skirt guided in the bore hole of the master cylinder and the nozzle is connected to the chamber by a drill hole issuing into the chamber at least partly upstream of the piston in rest position. A valve module is installed in the drill hole to manage communication between the reservoir and the chamber as a function of the position of the piston and the pressure in the chamber with respect to the pressure in the reservoir.

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: A hydraulic oil monitoring system includes an image-data acquiring unit that acquires image data of the oil surface of hydraulic oil stored in a hydraulic oil tank of a work vehicle and an image analyzing unit that outputs, based on the image data, air bubble data relating to air bubbles included in the hydraulic oil.

Abstract: A control system is provided for a power machine that includes a hydraulic charge circuit with a hydraulic charge pump, and a variable displacement drive pump. A signal for control of displacement of the drive pump can be diverted from the hydraulic charge circuit downstream from the pump, including via a flow path that branches from the hydraulic charge circuit from a location upstream of a hydraulic load.

Abstract: A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g.

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.