Abstract: A temperature sensitive locking mechanism is provided for a fluid pressure actuator which will hold the shaft of the actuator in a spring compressing position until the occurrence of a pre-selected temperature in the vicinity of the actuator. Locking threads are provided on the exterior of the actuator, and a latching collet, having a plurality of peripherally spaced, internally threaded, latching arms cooperates with such threads and prevent movement of the actuator shaft by abutting a surface of a stop block which is in abutment with the actuator shaft. The radial faces of the threads are sufficiently angled so as to exert an outwardly directed camming force on the collet latching arms to permit the release of the latch under the axial forces produced by the spring bias on the actuator shaft. The collet latching arms are forcably retained in locked position by an encircling spring wire, the ends of which are connected by a fusible link.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously adjusting the fluid pressures in a dual hydraulic circuit arrangement in which in a first hydraulic circuit pressurized fluid is supplied from a first pressure source to a first fluid pressure activated device and in a second hydraulic circuit pressurized fluid is supplied from a second pressure source to a second pressure activated device, comprising a cylinder having opposite closed ends and spaced bulkheads therein defining a central chamber between the bulkheads and a pair of chambers on respective opposite sides of the bulkheads. A pair of spaced first pistons are slidably mounted in the central chamber to define a control pressure chamber therebetween and first and second primary fluid pressure chambers between respective pistons and the bulkheads. The first primary fluid pressure chamber is connected to the first pressure source while the second primary fluid chamber is connected to the second pressure source.

Abstract: A locomotion unit is remotely controlled to advance stepwise through a passageway by frictional engagement with the surfaces of the passageway walls. A support section is mounted on the locomotion device to bring special tools to bear at predetermined positions within the passageway to which the support is brought by the locomotion unit.

Abstract: A hydraulic adjustment apparatus as is for instance used to adjust a roller of a rolling mill has a cylinder forming a first cylinder chamber and having a first cylinder surface directed backwardly in a predetermined direction in the first chamber. A first piston is displaceable forwardly and backwardly in the direction in the first chamber relative to the cylinder and has in this chamber a forwardly directed first piston face of a predetermined first piston area. The first piston is formed with at least one second chamber receiving a forwardly and backwardly displaceable second piston having a forwardly directed end engageable with the first chamber surface. This second piston in turn has a second piston face of a predetermined second piston area substantially smaller than the first piston area and directed backwardly in the second chamber.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum pump is proposed, having a rotor with vanes which rotates eccentrically within a housing bore. Each vane is coupled with a body which is ineffective at relatively low pump rpm; however, at higher rpm, the body engages the vane in such a manner that it removes the vane from its track within the housing bore.In this manner, an rpm-dependent shutoff device is created for the pump. In cooperation with the furnishing of underpressure as an auxiliary pressure in motor vehicles, the pump is used to supplement the underpressure which prevails when the internal combustion engine is at low, idling rpm; this prevailing underpressure is at a very low pressure level, and so when it is thus supplemented there is sufficient auxiliary vacuum force available over the entire rpm range.

Abstract: The present invention converts longitudinal motion into rotary motion. A reciprocating piston (that may receive a motive force from any desired means) oscillates longitudinally on a drive shaft. Extending through the piston parallel to the drive shaft is at least one ratchet pin that has a sprague clutch attached thereto by a ratchet arm for turning the drive shaft in one rotary direction. Also extending through the piston is at least one angle pin anchored in each end of a housing for the piston, which angle pin is at a slight angle with respect to the drive shaft and the ratchet pin. The slight angle causes the ratchet pin to arcuately move back and forth as the piston oscillates longitudinally. The arcuate movement of the ratchet pin causes the sprague clutch to turn the drive shaft. An adjustment of the slight angle may be provided to infinitely vary ratios of longitudinal movement to arcuate movement.

Abstract: A servomotor which actuates the throw-out device of a clutch, particularly in an automotive vehicle, has a piston which is reciprocable in a housing and is adapted to be coupled to a reciprocable motion transmitting rod for the throw-out device by a compensating device having cylindrical rollers which establish a motion transmitting connection between the piston and the rod as soon as the piston leaves its starting position in response to evacuation of air from the housing at one side of the piston. The rollers are automatically disengaged from the rod when the piston returns to its starting position so that the rod can be moved by the clutch in a first direction to compensate for wear upon the parts of the clutch or in a second direction to compensate for expansion of one or more friction discs in the clutch.

Abstract: An improved fluid collection device for mounting on cylinder-shaft assemblies, such as stuffing boxes, to control the leakage of fluids. The device comprises a flexible sleeve mounted to the end face of a stuffing box through a radial flange and having an upper cylindrical portion which extends along a length of the shaft reciprocating within the stuffing box. The sleeve includes a first inwardly extending radial portion which wipingly engages the surface of the shaft forming a collar therearound. The wiping collar forms a closed first chamber defined by the inner walls of the sleeve, the surface of the shaft, and the face of the stuffing box adjacent the shaft. Fluid communication is provided between the chamber and a fluid collection reservoir. A second partially closed chamber is similarly formed above the first chamber and is defined by the surface of the shaft, the cylindrical inner sleeve, the open circular end of which is spaced from the shaft, and the inwardly extending radial portion.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system comprising a hydraulic actuator having opposed openings adapted to alternately function as inlets and outlets for moving the element of the actuator in opposite directions, a pump for supplying fluid to the actuator, pilot operated meter-in valve means to which the fluid from the pump is supplied for controlling the direction of movement of the actuator, meter-out valve means associated with each opening of the actuator for controlling the flow out of said actuator, and a pilot operated check valve operable for controlling flow from the meter-in valve means to one end of the actuator and for preventing flow out the end of said actuator, the pilot operated check valve being operable at a lower pilot pressure than the meter-out valve means and including time delay means such that the valve functions to prevent flow out of the actuator after a predetermined time delay from the time when pilot pressure to said meter-out valve means is interrupted, insuring relief valve protection.

Abstract: A pneumatic drive for actuating switchable devices such as valves and the like includes a cylinder and a cylinder base, the cylinder having an annular slot which extends in a plane transverse to the axis of the cylinder between an interior cylinder space and the outside. A piston is movable within the cylinder space and is connected to one end of a piston rod, the other end of the rod being coupled to the device to be actuated. A supply line communicates pressurized gas to the cylinder space to move the piston away from the cylinder base, while a spring biases the piston in the direction toward the cylinder base. An annular groove is formed in at least one of two annular surfaces which bound the annular slot in the axial direction, and a sealing ring is seated in the groove for axial movement so that the ring projects into the annular slot in response to pressurized gas communicated through a branch line into the closed end region of the groove.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism for detecting the presence of the piston or other movable element of a fluid cylinder for reversing switch purposes and the like is disposed in the end cap of the cylinder and is engaged by the cushion spear on the piston to provide transverse linear motion for actuation of a microswitch. The mechanism consists of a slender rod supported for movement transverse to the motion of the piston, the rod having a shoe at its lower end which receives a plunger, the latter passing through a bore in the end cap and adapted to be cammed upwardly by engagement with the cushion spear. The shoe and plunger are spring-biased toward the piston and the upward movement against the bias serves to actuate a microswitch external of the end cap to signal the presence of the piston. In a design suitable for different size cylinders, the plunger is formed of square stock of appropriate length.

Abstract: A self-leveling series type hydraulic system including boom and bucket valves which separately control boom and bucket cylinders and a flow divider valve positioned in the exhaust flow path from the rod end of the boom cylinder. The flow divider valve splits the flow sending a portion of it to the cap end of the bucket cylinder so as to maintain the bucket in a level condition during raising of the boom with the remaining flow connected to one of the boom valve motor ports whereby the bucket valve can be separately actuated concurrent with the boom valve and supplied with oil so as to override the self-leveling function if desired.

Abstract: The invention disclosed comprises an air cushion system that utilizes a two-diameter piston and a floating bushing to create an effective air cushion seal which prevents the piston from hitting the barrel bridge.