Abstract: A pneumatic system controlling a bath crust breaker includes a cylinder defining a piston chamber. A piston is slideably displaced within the cylinder by pressurized fluid directed to either a piston chamber first portion with respect to the piston or a piston chamber second portion oppositely positioned about the piston. A pneumatic valve system includes a first control valve aligned between first control valve first and second positions, the first control valve first position aligned with the first portion, and in the first control valve second position is aligned with the second portion. A second control valve is aligned between second control valve first and second positions. An orifice between a pressure source and first control valve is sized to control fluid flow rate so a pressure reached in either the first or second portion during a crust breaking cycle is less than a pressure source maximum pressure.

Abstract: A control system for a heavy duty hydraulic hammer reduces blank firing of the hammer. The control system provides a reduced flow of hydraulic fluid to the hammer for a selected period of time upon actuation of the hammer and then provides full hydraulic flow increasing the frequency of impacts to full rated values.

Abstract: The piston rod of a longitudinal feed cylinder of a tracer controlled lathe is connected with the lathe carriage by means of an operative connection consisting of another hydraulic cylinder or a cam arrangement which permits the rod of the feed cylinder to continue movement in the feed direction while maintaining the carriage in a fixed position. This permits the cutting tool mounted on the cross slide to machine a sharp shoulder on the workpiece perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the lathe spindle. The circuit includes a tracer valve that is variably restricted in accordance with movement of a stylus following a contoured template. The tracer valve is conneted to a feed line from a high pressure pump which extends directly or indirectly to one side of a hydraulic cylinder for displacing the cross slide in the carriage. The opposite side of the cross slide cylinder is connected to a low pressure pump.

Abstract: A retractable tool apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a movable vehicle for working the area around and between objects in a row. The tool apparatus includes an extendable and retractable outrigger arm attachable on one of its ends to the vehicle. A work tool is mounted on the other end of the outrigger arm. An electro-hydraulic control system controls the retraction of the outrigger arm. This control system includes sensors in the form of a pair of wands mounted on the outrigger arm to sense objects in proximity to the work tool before the work tool contacts the objects. The first wand activates the control system upon contact with an object to retract the work tool. The second wand holds the control system in its retraction mode upon contact with the object even after the first wand has cleared the object.

Abstract: A sequencing valve mechanism utilized to control a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure medium from an on/off type pressure source to a two-chambered pneumatic or hydraulic appliance is disclosed. A pawl on a ratchet arm is driven around a ratchet island by the alternate application and withdrawal of pressure to the sequencing device. The ratchet arm is pivotally attached to a valve control arm which regulates a valve so as to control the output of a pressure source. The shapes of the ratchet island portions are such that two alternate applications and withdrawals of pressure are required for the pawl to complete one cycle about the island and, thereby, actuate the valve to different output positions only on alternate applications of pressure to the sequencing device.

Abstract: A rotary to linear control for actuating an axially movable spool of a digital rotary input servovalve has a threaded drive between a rotating nut and a threaded shank directly connected to the spool. The threads are hydrostatically preloaded to eliminate thread backlash and provide improved valve-actuator stability. The rotary drive is a digital stepper motor capable of moving at incremental movements about its rotational axis which rotates the nut. The threads provide a preload and a cushioning effect which essentially provides an accurate reference position for the axially movable spool each time the threads are actuated.

Abstract: An electronically controlled apparatus for controllably positioning pneumatic actuators includes, in a first embodiment, first means for selectively flowing compressed fluid to the actuator and valve means for selectively exhausting compressed fluid from the actuator. An electronic control panel is adapted to receive digital command signals from a computerized controller and is coupled to the first means and to the valve means for actuation thereof in response to the command signals. Means are included for isolating electrical switching transients from the controller.In a second preferred embodiment, the positioner also includes transducer means for generating a feedback signal representative of the position of the actuator piston assembly. A third preferred embodiment is similar to that of the second embodiment and incorporates a control adapted to receive analog rather than digital command signals. An optional high limit pressure switch may be used with any embodiment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling the profile of an aperture cut by a cutting head capable of traversing movement in two directions at right angles to each other, e.g. the cutting head of a mining machine, wherein means is provided to control the movement of the cutting head in said two directions and including a template for an internal profile representing that part of the aperture to be cut, a sensing device engageable with the template profile, follower means associated with the cutting head to cause relative movement between the sensing device and template in a direction related to movement of the cutting tool, movement of the sensing device into engagement with the profile operating hydraulic sensing equipment which automatically overrides the means to control the movement of the cutting head, thereby preventing the cutting head from moving beyond the desired tunnel profile.

Abstract: A rotary regenerator is provided with a hydraulic drive system to vary the rotational speed in relation to the temperature scanned. The hydraulic control system provides accurate operation at low rotational speeds.

Abstract: An apparatus providing for the generation, control and application of power to a cyclic functioning machine, using fluids under pressure to transmit and control energy by means of a rotary, segmented cam wheel. The cam wheel provides a plurality of interchangeable segments formed into a rim portion with axially spaced complementary counteracting cam faces formed about opposite rim ends. An individual cam follower, carried on a piston rod of a related hydraulic cylinder, coacts with each of the cam faces to accurately regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from a working cylinder of a machine to provide timed and synchronized machine functions through the control movement of the working cylinder. The contoured configuration of the cam faces are arranged to provide for a desired acceleration and retardation of machine motions. Further, variable speed drive means, employed to drive the cam wheel, provides a timing adjustment between machine cycles.

Abstract: The specification discloses an automatic programmable valve sequencer employing a rotatable cam cylinder operating adjacent cam valves by means of cam segments mounted thereon to directly operate air cylinders or other air-operated tools.While the cam cylinder is manually advanced between steps where such cylinders or other tools are to be actuated, if a particular program doesn't utilize all the steps available, by virtue of one cam cylinder in combination with several control valves being able to automatically advance the cam cylinder when programmed to do so, the valve programmer will advance past vacant steps to the start of the next programmed cycle immediately on completion of the previous one.

Abstract: A cryogenic expansion engine includes intake and exhaust poppet valves each controlled by a cam having adjustable dwell, the valve seats for the valves being threaded inserts in the valve block. Each cam includes a cam base and a ring-shaped cam insert disposed at an exterior corner of the cam base, the cam base and cam insert being generally circular but including an enlarged cam dwell, the circumferential configuration of the cam base and cam dwell being identical, the cam insert being rotatable with respect to the cam base. GICONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTIONThe invention described herein was made in the course of, or under, a contract with the UNITED STATES ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION.

Abstract: Control apparatus including first and second hydraulic cylinders hydraulically interconnected in parallel. Cam operated means for reciprocating the piston in the first cylinder, this causing relative movement between the second cylinder and the piston thereof. The second cylinder is connected to a cutter unit of a wood edging machine so that movement of the second cylinder moves the cutter unit. Pneumatic control means is connected to the piston of the second hydraulic cylinder and is operable to cause movement of the second cylinder unaffected by the piston therein. Detecting means is operatively connected to the pneumatic control means. This detecting means is positioned to detect knots in the edges of boards moving in the direction of the cutter unit to cause movement of said unit to avoid the knots.

Abstract: A programmer includes an intermittently rotating drum, having thereon a series of actuators arranged in a pre-selected manner, for actuating in a predetermined order, a plurality of devices, such as fluid valves, each of which, when actuated, causes an operation to be performed. The drum is indexed by a stepping motor controlled by impulses of energy to a pilot valve in response to rotation of the drum. The actuators are removably mounted on the drum, so that the programming of the series of operations as to the order thereof, and duration of each, can be done quickly and easily, in advance. Individual valves can also be shut off when not needed.

Abstract: A multiple-spindle machine tool or a multi-speed transmission wherein the spindles or shafts carry several fluid-operated aggregates in the form of clutches, brakes and/or work clamping devices which receive pressurized fluid by way of axially movable spools mounted in or surrounding the respective spindles or shafts. The spools are movable axially by a stationary cam (in a machine tool) or by an indexible cam (in a transmission), and receive pressurized fluid which is admitted axially or radially, depending upon whether the spools are received in or surround the respective spindles or shafts.

Abstract: A controller for controlling the operation of an automatic machine which includes a number of pneumatically operated devices, for example a machine for blow moulding hollow glass articles, comprises a closed box containing a number of valves each of which is arranged to control one of the pneumatically operated devices of the machine. A first compressed air supply system is connected to the box for supplying compressed air to some only of the valves in the box, the remaining valves being shut-off from this system, and a second compressed air supply system is provided for supplying these remaining valves which are not supplied by the first system. Pressure relief means is also provided for de-pressurising one of the systems so that the valve supplied by this system and the devices which they control become inoperative while the other valves remain pressurised by the other system and accordingly the devices controlled by these other valves remain operative.