Abstract: A rotary actuator includes a shaft rotatably mounted on a body, and a servovalve arranged to operate a vane motor for selectively rotating the shaft relative to the body. A portion of the shaft extends beyond the body. Supply and return passages are provided to the body and shaft so that fluid power supplied to the body is supplied to the servovalve and is also available at the end of the shaft beyond the body. Two or more such rotary actuators may be connected by intermediate brackets to provide a wrist actuator capable of movement about axes.

Abstract: A pressure cylinder assembly includes a cylinder and an outwardly projecting flange. The assembly is formed by inserting into the cylinder open end a body having a groove in its outer surface, so that the groove lies in opposition to a wall of the member, and deforming said wall into the groove to lock the body axially within the member. This deformation produces corresponding depressions in the outer surface of the member. A flanged collar is then placed around the member and deformed into the depressions to lock the collar axially and rotationally relative to the body with the flange of the collar projecting outwardly for mounting the assembly on a support.

Abstract: A self contained gas spring interchangeable with a coil spring comprising a cylindrical body having a constant diameter external cylindrical surface, the cylindrical body having open ends and a piston within said cylindrical body and having one end projecting through one of the openings of the cylindrical body. The piston and the cylindrical body have interengaging flanges that limit the outward movement of the piston relative to the cylindrical body. A plug is positioned in the other end of the cylindrical body to close the opening of the cylindrical body. A charging valve is positioned in the plug for charging the interior of the gas spring. The piston has a hollow inner end with an inner surface tapering outwardly and axially toward the plug. The plug has a generally complementary surface such that the piston can move downwardly about a portion of the plug thereby substantially reducing the height of the gas spring.

Abstract: A fluid actuated ram assembly includes a cylindrical barrel and a rear end cap attached to a rear end of the cylindrical barrel. A piston is located within the cylindrical barrel and both the piston and the cylindrical barrel are adapted for relative movement with respect to each other. There is also provided a piston rod having a piston attached to one end portion thereof. There is also provided a bearing member or guide bush located adjacent to the piston which has a central aperture for the piston rod and also one or more longitudinal passages communicating with the piston. There is also provided a front end cap releasably attached to the cylindrical barrel which has a fluid port communicating with the one or more longitudinal passages of the bearing member or guide bush.

Abstract: The cylinder includes a cylindrical body and two heads made rigid therewith by means of connection rings interposed between the cylindrical body and a cylindrical member rigid with the heads and extending inside and parallel to the cylindrical body. The rings abut against mechanical retainers rigid with the cylindrical body and threadably engage the heads. Fluid-tight sealing is provided by O-ring seals.

Abstract: An improved hand-operated vacuum pump is disclosed and includes a cylinder, head assembly, and elastic seal member. The cylinder and head assembly define opposing grooves, and the elastic seal member is positioned in the grooves to secure the head assembly to the cylinder. A piston assembly is operative within the cylinder to draw a vacuum within the head assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulically driven reciprocating motor (10) includes a hydraulic cylinder (12) and a piston (60) mounted for reciprocation within the cylinder. The piston has passageways (74) formed therethrough which are normally sealed by a floating valve (90). Rods (76) are carried by the piston (60) and normally project from one end thereof. When the piston (60) reaches the limit of its travel in one direction the rods (76) disengage the floating valve (90), thereby opening the passageways (74) through the piston (60) to permit movement of the piston (60) in the opposite direction. When the piston (60) reaches the limit of its travel in the opposite direction, the floating valve (90) again seals the passageways (74) through the piston (60) to complete the operating cycle of the motor (10).

Abstract: An actuator is made up of a piston, a cylinder and cylinder endpieces fluid-tightly fixed to the ends of the cylinder. Each endpiece has a skirt tightly placed around an end part of the cylinder. The outer face of an end part of the cylinder and the opposite inner face of a skirt resting against it have cooperating locking parts and a fluid-tight joint is produced between them by a gasket acted upon by a radial or lengthways force.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic cylinder has built-in variable adjustments for allowing selectively adjustable orientation of the barrel and hydraulic port thereon with respect to the bottom clevis and the hydraulic port thereon. The two hydraulic ports or connectors can be rotated to various orientations with respect to one another, merely by unthreading and loosening a locking collar, rotating the bottom clevis to the desired position, and rethreading and tightening the locking collar.

Abstract: A fluid actuated cylinder assembly adapted to be connected to a pressurized fluid system which includes a cylinder barrel closed at one end thereof and open at the opposite end, the cylinder barrel having an annular groove formed in the interior circumferential surface thereof and a slot formed adjacent the opposite end, a cylinder head removably mounted in the opposite end of the cylinder barrel, the cylinder head having an annular groove formed in the exterior circumferential surface thereof in alignment with the annular groove formed in the cylinder barrel and an axially extending opening formed therein, a cylinder rod slidably mounted in the axially extending opening formed in the cylinder head, a piston connected with the cylinder rod within the cylinder barrel to form a first and second chamber, a ring member positioned in the annular grooves formed in the cylinder barrel and cylinder head slidable through the slot formed in the cylinder barrel and port means formed exclusively in the cylinder head for

Abstract: The poppet trip device of the present invention is adapted for hydraulic cylinder units having a poppet axially movable within a poppet sleeve extended through the piston of the hydraulic cylinder unit. A head end of the poppet extends outwardly from the piston for engaging the head end of the cylinder in response to movement of the piston to the cylinder head end whereby the poppet is unseated and fluid communication is established through the poppet sleeve. Since the piston is spaced from the free end of the piston rod, however, engagement of the piston rod with the base end of the cylinder leaves the base end of the poppet spaced from the cylinder base end. The trip device or contact member of the present invention therefore is supported between the cylinder base end and piston for engaging the base end of the poppet in response to movement of the piston rod to the cylinder base end whereby the poppet is unseated and fluid communication is established through the poppet sleeve.

Abstract: Fluid power motor construction provides for an encompassing guard tube or cylinder to be spaced around the entire cylindrical body section which accommodates the reciprocating piston member in order to preclude any harmful denting to such body section. The construction utilizes retaining rings to anchor the end caps and is especially adapted to facilitate the initial assembly of the motor and its subsequent repair while permitting the maintenance of close tolerances on the length of the piston stroke.

Abstract: A hydraulic actuator, readily assemble and disassemble, which can be used for effecting actuation of food processing machinery or bulk bait or other commodity dispensers. Since it is necessary that such devices be safe and non-polluting, components which come in contact with the hydraulic fluid can be made of plastic so that tap water can be utilized as the hydraulic fluid.The actuator is made readily assemble and disassemble by including devices for quick and easy sealing and locking of the component parts. These devices have only a minimal number of subcomponents.

Abstract: A fluid operated cylinder is provided including a tube having rod end and blind end caps which are attached to the tube by radial plugs. The plugs permit relative movement between the rod end cap and the tube when the cylinder is operated to accommodate axial misalignment between the piston rod and the tube.

Abstract: A power steering mechanism for a vehicle which comprises a rotary steering control member and a driving piston connected to a member in the steering gear of the vehicle. The piston separates two pressure chambers in the housing. The mechanism also comprises a shaft of which the first end defines a screw cooperating with a nut attached to the piston. A pressure fluid distribution valve is adapted to control fluid communication between the pressure source formed by a pump, and the two pressure chambers. The distribution valve is of the rotary type and comprises a sleeve moving as a whole with the rotary control member and a rotor moving in unison with the shaft. The shaft and the rotor are connected to opposite ends of a torsion bar. The second end of the shaft is broadened and contains a bore. This other end is provided with orifices and defines the sleeve of the rotary valve, in which the rotor is mounted for rotation.

Abstract: A rack and pinion power steering gear is disclosed which includes a manifolding arrangement to eliminate external fluid connections between the power steering valve and the cylinder. The manifolding arrangement includes a tube which is received within the steering housing. The diameter of the tube is less than the diameter of the housing in which the rack is received so that an annular fluid passage is defined between the outer circumferential surface of the tube and the inner circumferential surface of the housing. The annular passage communicates fluid the entire length of the rack mechanism, so that fluid may be selectively admitted to opposite sides of the piston depending upon the direction which the vehicle wheels are turned. The manifolding mechanism further includes a sleeve which extends into the tube and which is provided with passages extending therethrough to communicate fluid pressure to the other side of the piston.

Abstract: An improved fluid power motor construction provides for an encompassing guard tube or cylinder to be spaced around the entire cylindrical body section which accommodates the reciprocating piston member in order to preclude any harmful denting to such body section. The guard cylinder in the present improved constructions is also typically used to serve multiple structural functions, as for example, in one embodiment, it can be used to hold the end portions of the body section tightly to the end cap sections. In a tie rod type of fluid motor constructions, the guard tube will serve as a longitudinal spacer between the end portions of the unit, while with respect to a special repairable form of motor unit the outer guard tube will serve as the tying compression-tension member between the end sections.

Abstract: A three position fluid powered actuator including a cylinder having a first end, a second end and an intermediate plate, the first end and intermediate plate having coaxial openings therein, a piston reciprocally positioned within the cylinder between the second end and the intermediate plate, a piston rod affixed to the cylinder and sealably and slidably received in the opening in said first end. The piston rod has a reduced diameter portion between said cylinder first end and the intermediate plate. Positioned on the reduced diameter portion of the piston rod is a pair of spring followers each abutting against the shoulder formed at each end of the intermediate portion and between the followers is a compressed spring. When fluid pressure is applied to the cylinder to either side of the piston, the piston is moved, compressing the spring. When the fluid pressure is removed, the spring returns the piston to the intermediate position.