Abstract: An adaptive stepped compensator valve for controling hydromechanical control apparatus having high and low pressure control lines. The adaptive stepped compensator valve includes a housing having an elongated bore and a plurality of ports formed therein, a sleeve, disposed in sealed slidable engagement with the housing in the bore, and having an opening formed therein extending the length of the sleeve and direct acting main and balance spools disposed in the opening. High pressure fluid is inputed into a first chamber of the valve formed by the main spool and a second chamber formed by a balance spool. Low pressure fluid is inputted into a third chamber formed by an end of the main spool which abuts an end of the balance spool. The invention outputs a control signal based upon a detected difference in pressure between the high pressure fluid and the low pressure fluid.

Abstract: A constant velocity joint (10) rotationally connecting rotationally mounted first and second members (12 and 14) together each having an axis of rotation (16 and 18) in accordance with the invention and includes at least one axial bore (42) within the first shaft offset from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the first member, a plurality of axial channels (46) extending along each axial bore which are located in a peripheral wall (44) of each axial bore; at least one axial bore (42) within the second member offset from and parallel to the axis of rotation of the second member, a plurality of channels (46) extending along each axial bore which are located in a peripheral wall (44) of each axial bore of the second member; at least one pair of rods connected together by a joint (28) having at least one degree of rotational freedom, one of the rods of each pair of connected rods being disposed in an axial bore within the first member and another of the rods of each pair of connected rods being disposed in a

Abstract: Spherical ball drive mechanism for directly coupling a rotary force motor to a valve member, includes a spherical bearing assembly at one end of the valve member. The spherical bearing assembly consists of an outer race member having a concave spherical inner bearing surface and a spherical bearing member having a convex spherical outer bearing surface complementary to the concave spherical inner bearing surface of the outer race member and received therein. The outer race member has a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve member and a transverse center axis radially offset from the longitudinal axis of the valve member. An eccentric output shaft of the rotary force motor extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve member for receipt in a longitudinal bore in the spherical bearing member.