Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus has a plurality of pump modules each of which is formed by a plurality of working chambers having a common high pressure manifold. A connecting circuit switchably connects pump modules to first and second hydraulic circuit portions to allocate capacity as first and second demands for hydraulic fluid vary. In an apparatus which may have two or more connecting circuit outputs, valves may be controlled or working chamber pumping cycles made inactive to facilitate the reallocation of a pump module from one output to another, and a control strategy addresses pump module allocation when the demands for hydraulic fluid exceed available capacity.

Abstract: A sailcloth including a woven fabric of a first fiber material and a second fiber material woven into it, in which the second fiber material forms a network structure within the woven fabric, with the second fiber material having a higher tearing resistance than the first fiber material and with the second fiber having a sliding ability within the woven fabric.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus has a plurality of pump modules each of which is formed by a plurality of working chambers having a common high pressure manifold. A connecting circuit switchably connects pump modules to first and second hydraulic circuit portions to allocate capacity as first and second demands for hydraulic fluid vary. In an apparatus which may have two or more connecting circuit outputs, valves may be controlled or working chamber pumping cycles made inactive to facilitate the reallocation of a pump module from one output to another, and a control strategy addresses pump module allocation when the demands for hydraulic fluid exceed available capacity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the precipitation of arsenic and heavy metals from acidic, in particular sulphuric acid, process water (12), containing both arsenic and heavy metals, comprising a precipitation method phase (II) with a sulphide precipitation stage (C) in which arsenic and at least one primary heavy metal are precipitated together, wherein a sulphide precipitating agent (16) is added to the process water (12) such that arsenic is precipitated as arsenic sulphide and the at least one primary heavy metal is precipitated as metal sulphide. The sulphide precipitation stage (C) comprises a first sulphide precipitation step (C.1) in which a sulphide precipitating agent is added to the process water (12) in a first sulphide precipitation reactor (14), whereby an intermediate fluid (22) is generated still containing arsenic or still containing arsenic and the primary heavy metal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the precipitation of arsenic and heavy metals from acidic, in particular sulphuric acid, process water (12), containing both arsenic and heavy metals, comprising a precipitation method phase (II) with a precipitation stage (D) in which arsenic and at least one primary heavy metal are precipitated together, wherein a sulphide precipitating agent (20) is added to the process water (12) such that arsenic is precipitated as arsenic sulphide and the at least one primary heavy metal is precipitated as metal sulphide. The precipitation method phase (II) comprises a conditioning stage (C) which is carried out before the precipitation stage (D) and in which a conditioning agent (16) is added to the acidic process water (12), which has an effect on the character, in particular the filtering properties, at least of the precipitated arsenic sulphide.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a synthetically commutated machine with one or more services, a prime mover coupled to the machine, a hydraulic circuit extending between the services and hydraulic loads to fluidically connect the services to the hydraulic loads such that groups of one or more services are fluidically connected to respective groups of one or more hydraulic loads. The apparatus configured such that the flow of hydraulic fluid to or from a group of services of the machine is controlled responsive to measuring a flow rate and/or pressure requirement of the hydraulic loads which are fluidically connected to the services, or receiving a demand signal indicative of a demanded pressure and/or flow rate based on a pressure and/or flow demand of hydraulic loads which are fluidically connected to the services.

Abstract: A hydraulic system employing an electronically commutated fluid working machine having working chambers, each having one or more electronically controllable valves actively controlled by a controller to regulate the net displacement of working fluid into or out of low- and high-pressure manifolds on a cycle by cycle basis to meet an indicated demand. The high-pressure manifold has an additional outlet, regulated by a controllable outlet valve. If the demand indicated by a demand signal is expected to cause pulsatile flow or vibrations which may excite resonant modes, the controller causes the displacement of working fluid by the working chambers to exceed the demand indicated by the demand signal, and the controller simultaneously opens an electronically controllable outlet valve to allow some of the excess flow to leave, such that the net displacement of fluid meets the demanded displacement of fluid, while mitigating the pulsatile flow or undesirable vibrations.

Abstract: A sailcloth including a woven fabric of a first fiber material and a second fiber material woven into it, in which the second fiber material forms a network structure within the woven fabric, with the second fiber material having a higher tearing resistance than the first fiber material and with the second fiber having a sliding ability within the woven fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a synthetically commutated machine with one or more services, a prime mover coupled to the machine, a hydraulic circuit extending between the services and hydraulic loads to fluidically connect the services to the hydraulic loads such that groups of one or more services are fluidically connected to respective groups of one or more hydraulic loads. The apparatus configured such that the flow of hydraulic fluid to or from a group of services of the machine is controlled responsive to measuring a flow rate and/or pressure requirement of the hydraulic loads which are fluidically connected to the services, or receiving a demand signal indicative of a demanded pressure and/or flow rate based on a pressure and/or flow demand of hydraulic loads which are fluidically connected to the services.

Abstract: Sail membrane made of a woven fabric of synthetic fibers, with said fabric having a microroughness in the form of groove families crossing one another arranged so as to achieve a density of 5 to 25 grooves/mm deposited on or integrated into said fabric structure.

Abstract: A fluid working machine has at least one working chamber of cyclically varying volume and low and high pressure valves to regulate the flow of working fluid into and out of the working chamber, from low and high pressure manifolds. The low and high pressure valves are actuated by electronically controlled valve actuation means which, when actuated, applies forces to the low and high pressure valve members to open and/or close the respective valves. The low and high pressure valve members are independently moveable and, although the low pressure valve member typically begins to move quickly in response to a shared valve control signal, the high pressure valve member typically moves only after a change in the pressure within the working chamber.

Abstract: A valve unit for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and both a first working fluid line and second working fluid line, the valve unit comprising: a first valve comprising a first valve member and one or more cooperating first valve seats, a second valve comprising a second valve member and one or more cooperating second valve seats, an actuator coupled to both the first and second valve members through which a force may be applied to urge the first valve member open or closed and to urge the second valve member open or closed, a coupling between the actuator and the first valve member, wherein the coupling between the actuator and the first valve member comprises a connector which extends at least partially through the second valve member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cylinder assembly for a fluid-working machine. The assembly includes a body having a first end and a second end. The body further includes a cylinder, a poppet valve seat and a face-sealing annular valve seat. The cylinder is open to the first end and configured to receive a reciprocating piston. The poppet and annular valve seats extend around an axis through the cylinder. An annular valve including the annular valve seat and an annular valve member extends around the cylinder. Thus, the cylinder assembly is compact.

Abstract: A valve unit for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and both a first working fluid line and second working fluid line, the valve unit comprising: a first valve comprising a first valve member and one or more cooperating first valve seats, a second valve comprising a second valve member and one or more cooperating second valve seats, an actuator coupled to both the first and second valve members through which a force may be applied to urge the first valve member open or closed and to urge the second valve member open or closed, a coupling between the actuator and the first valve member, wherein the coupling between the actuator and the first valve member comprises a connector which extends at least partially through the second valve member.

Abstract: In a face sealing annular valve, an annular valve member is retained around or within a guide. The annular valve member is configured so that, when the annular valve member and the annular valve seat are coaxial, the spacing between the guide means and the guide-engaging surface region increases with distance along the central axis from a minimum of spacing between the annular valve member and the guide means. An end stop limits the tilt of the annular valve member. Advantageously, the annular valve member has restricted radial movement, enabling a good seal to be formed, while being unable to simultaneously contact diametrically opposite sides of the guide and jam.

Abstract: A face sealing annular valve (1) for a fluid-working machine has an annular valve member (10, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110) having a relaxed configuration in which a first seat-engaging surface (14, 101) of the annular valve member can sealedly engage with a first sealing surface of an annular valve seat (8), but a second seat-engaging surface (15, 101) cannot sealedly engage with a second sealing surface (9), and is elastically deformable to a deformed configuration in which the second seat-engaging surface can sealedly engage with a second sealing surface, while the first seat-engaging surface remains sealedly engaged with the first sealing surface. The annular valve member can be made with relatively high tolerances and is only loosely retained by a guide in the relaxed configuration.

Abstract: In usual hydraulic pumps, a separate assembly opening is provided for every valve of the hydraulic pump. This design causes sealing problems. It is proposed, that the fluid inlet valve and the fluid outlet valve can be assembled through a common assembly access port. Further, the fluid inlet valve and the fluid outlet valve can be arranged around a common cavity, or even within the same cavity, via the common assembly access port in the fluid working machine's body.

Abstract: A rocking cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder, rotatable about a rocking axis between first and second end positions, having a cylinder bore terminating at a cylinder bearing surface and a cylinder aperture, and a bearing component having a component bore terminating at a component bearing surface and a component aperture. The ratio of the area of the second one of the apertures to the square of the maximum extent of the second one of the apertures in a direction perpendicular to the rocking axis and perpendicular to a second axis for fluid flow is greater than the ratio of the area of the first one of the apertures to the square of the maximum extent of the first one of the apertures in a direction perpendicular to the rocking axis and perpendicular to a first axis for fluid flow.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump unit includes a cylindrical member that is fit into an outer circumference of the main shaft and a hydraulic pump body arranged on an outer circumferential side of the cylindrical member. The hydraulic pump body includes a ring cam mounted on the outer circumference of the cylindrical member, a pump bearing, a pump housing, a plurality of pistons housed in the pump housing and actuated by the ring cam, and a plurality of cylinders which guide the plurality of pistons in a radial direction and are arranged in a circumferential direction. The hydraulic pump unit is configured such that the pump unit is insertably fixed to the main shaft by the cylindrical member.