Abstract: The described air compressor has an annular piston received within a cylinder for reciprocal movement to drive pressurized air on both piston strokes to an outlet which is arranged in line with the air inlet and driving power source. A shuttle valve alternately opens and closes ports at opposite ends of the pump cylinder to accomplish valving for the pressurized air. Rotative drive applied to an axially located rotor within the compressor housing via a planetary gear assembly alternately drives the rotor in opposite directions. A gear on the rotor is drivingly related to gears located on two threaded shafts which pass through threaded openings in the piston. Accordingly, rotation of the rotor drives the annular piston from one extremity to another in the pump cylinder.

Abstract: The safety device includes a self-closing cylindrical gate which, in closed position, blocks the hydraulic conduit surrounding the hydraulic turbomachine; the gate is housed, in the open position, in a chamber including two components near the hydraulic conduit defining wth the gate two orifices situated upstream and downstream with respect to the gate; pressure on top of the gate takes an intermediate value between the upstream and downstream pressures, and is determined by the ratio of the product of the discharge coefficient with the passage cross-section upstream orifice over the product of the discharge coefficient with the passage cross-section downstream orifice, so that a pressure is exerted on the upper edge of the gate, resulting in a force which tends to move the gate to close the hydraulic conduit.

Abstract: The device is used to operate a cylindrical gate which is used to protect and/or seal a hydro-electric installation including hydraulic turbo-machines; a set of hydraulic servomotors are distributed above the circumference of the cylindrical gate and connected with it by means of operating rods; each servomotor includes a cylinder and a piston; a minimum of three servomotors are interconnected between themselves, and a synchronizing device connects those interconnected servomotors; each servomotor includes a nut, thrust bearings, a threaded rod going through the nut and the thrust bearings to allow translation of the piston in the cylinder and to change this translation into a rotation.

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: Helically splined hydraulic actuator provided with hydraulic cushioning and rapid initiation of movement. The actuator is provided with an elongated cylindrical bearing integral with the shaft of the actuator for increasing radial and moment load-carrying capacity of the actuator without increasing its length.

Abstract: A fluid operated pintle assembly for rotatively supporting a reel where clearance is provided between the walls of a pintle carrying piston and its cylinder and an annular diaphragm extends across the piston and cylinder in sealing engagement and extends down into the clearance.

Abstract: A brake unit for automatically adjusting slack between the brake surfaces of a railway brake has a pre-stressed spring which is released during the initial stroke of the brake piston in a braking application so as to expedite contact of the brake surfaces. After slack has been overcome, further movement of the piston in the braking direction will cause the force-transmitting components to be coupled together so that braking force is transmitted directly to the brake surfaces by subsequent movement of the piston in the braking direction. The release of the pre-stressed spring during the overcoming of slack in the brake rigging will increase the speed of the brake application with respect to the speed of the braking piston.

Abstract: An adjustment means for variable height adjustment of hydraulically or pneumatically operable supports, e.g. legs on tables, chairs, beds etc., adjustment means for simultaneously raising and lowering all supports and for separately adjusting each of said supports to suit the contour of the floor surface or similar foundation comprised of pressure chambers (13) in the housing (11) of the adjustment means (10), the number corresponding to the number of supports, each pressure chamber having a piston (14), which by way of an adjusting screw (15) cooperates with a driving nut (16), which is unrotatably but axially displaceably arranged in the housing. The driving nut is displaced by means of a threaded spindle (17) which is rotatably but undisplaceably mounted in the housing.

Abstract: A helical rotary actuator has a torque transmitting section that can be a sealing section or a clearance section but which is welded to a ring gear so that torque forces imposed on the ring gear can be carried through the torque transmitting section to the base of the actuator. In the method of fabrication, the splines on the ring gear are cut after a weldment is made between the ring gear and the torque transmitting section of the cylinder. The pistons within the cylinder are hydraulically cushioned.

Abstract: A multiple-section, multiple-position switching valve and a hydraulic powered valve actuator for controlling subsea well equipment, such as valve operators, connectors and other hydraulically actuated devices, with only two hydraulic pressure source lines from the surface to the subsea location of such well equipment. The switching valve includes a plurality of readily removable and replaceable valve sections, each having a unique combination of valve portings, which sections can be connected end to end to obtain a switching system having a predetermined matrix of switching control. The valve actuator moves the switching valve in a first direction through a sequence of distinct positions, and then reverses and moves the switching valve in the opposite direction through the same distinct positions.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuatable swing clamp, having a piston arranged within a housing, the piston rod of which extends in sealed manner out of the housing and carries a clamping arm, and which, in addition to an axial clamping movement, carries out a turning movement corresponding to a guide device, the turning movement effecting a swinging of the clamping arm, the guide device comprising a control bolt extending into the piston and being arranged normally non-rotatably on the housing, and at least two pairs of control curves, formed in a guide surface between the control bolt and the piston, and a guide member arranged on the piston or control bolt extending into the control curve. The guide member comprises at least two diametrically opposite and axially staggered guiding members.

Abstract: An actuator for a rotary valve preferably embodying a diaphragm motor operated by pressure fluid. A driving sleeve is reciprocated linearly by the diaphragm motor and within said sleeve is a rotatable shaft, which is axially aligned with the diaphragm motor and driven by a ball screw. A driven sleeve is fixed to said shaft and receives the stem of the valve. All parts are in linear alignment. Means are provided for limiting the extent of the linear movement of the parts.

Abstract: A helical rotary actuator is provided with end bearings which overlie or wrap around the cylinder wherein the piston of the rotary helical actuator is linearly reciprocated. The wrapping around of the bearing reduces the length of the actuator and also increases the circumferential bearing surface for carrying higher radial loads within the confined length of the actuator. In one embodiment, inner and outer radial bearings are provided with the outer bearing wrapping around and the inner bearing supporting the output shaft of the actuator through a large diameter collar for greatly increasing the radial load-carrying capacity of the actuator.

Abstract: A rotary power driver is provided which drives with a two-stage torque and speed control, wherein the initial driving is done at higher speed and lower torque, and a subsequent higher torque is automatically imposed with lower speed. The second stage is a selected pre-set stage, with provision for the selected torque built into the driver. The second stage is imposed on the drive shaft by a one-way clutch or ratchet drive.

Abstract: A rotary actuator apparatus provides compound rotation at its output in two planes perpendicular to one another. This compound rotation is utilized in positioning a workpiece or in positioning a rock drill on the boom of a vehicle. A rotary rack and pinion actuator has an output pinion shaft rotatably mounted in an external housing and a piston driven rack in a cylinder at right angles to the output shaft housing. This cylinder is welded to the output shaft housing so that the cylinder can transmit rotational torque to the output shaft housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic clamp comprising an assembly of concentrically-arranged parts wherein axial movement of a first part effects rotation of a second part and axial movement of a third part effects a corresponding axial movement of the second part and wherein the first part controls supply of pressure fluid to the third part so that rotation is first imparted to the second part and thereafter axial movement is imparted thereto and wherein a clamp arm is fixed to said second part.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a hydraulic jack comprising a cylinder and a piston rod assembly which is movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the cylinder. The jack also has mechanical locking means including a rotatable shaft and movable into engagement with the piston rod assembly in response to rotation of the shaft, thereby to lock the piston rod assembly in its extended position. The locking means reinforces the piston rod assembly in its extended position along substantially the entire length of the piston rod assembly.

Abstract: A pressure operated valve actuator is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, fluid under pressure is introduced at either end to actuate the device. The device includes a cylindrical body having top and bottom end caps which close the body. On the interior, there is a central shaft which is rotated. A piston traverses the internal cavity of the housing, the piston being urged by pressure introduced above or below the piston. The piston is prevented from rotation by specified guide posts. As the piston traverses the length of the apparatus, engagement is made by the piston and the central shaft with helical grooves receiving a ball bearing. This achieves rotational motion from the linear movement of the piston to the central shaft. This rotational movement is imparted to the shaft, and, dependent on scale factors, a specified amount of rotation, such as one-quarter turn, can be obtained. The apparatus functions bidirectionally.

Abstract: A polygonal hydraulic actuation ring is provided for modulating the area of a variable position nozzle. The actuation ring comprises a plurality of actuators arranged end to end in the form of a polygon circumscribing a plurality of pivotable flaps, each of which is acted upon directly by one of the actuators. The actuators are synchronized by the use of gears and helical screws to expand and contract in unison, thereby changing the diameter of the polygonal actuation ring and the exhaust flow path area defined by the flaps. Rod end and head end hydraulic fluid flows are provided to all actuators simultaneously through a system of internal flow passages, and only one rod end supply line and one head end supply line are required for the entire actuation ring. Cooling is provided by an air film flowing over each hydraulic cylinder and by hydraulic fluid recirculation.

Abstract: Worm to rack piston seal for power steering gear having a resilient cylindrical body with internal thread construction conforming to the profile and lead of the worm for a rack piston nut. During powered right and left turns, the seal is pressure loaded radially for improved fluid sealing and relaxed during low pressure conditions when there is no steering input for improved returnability of the rack piston nut to its centered position.

Abstract: A torque applicator includes a house and a stem extending through a bore therein, the stem including teeth which are engageable with teeth disposed on a piston axially movable within the bore and positioned between an inner wall of the house and the stem. The piston is further engageable with an axially movable element which is positioned between the piston and the inner wall of the house, the axially movable element including teeth which are engageable with teeth disposed on the inner wall of the house.

Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder of non-circular cross section having three ports and a center axis, three pistons and a piston rod which is provided with at least one male thread having a pre-determined helical angle at a pre-determined pitch. One of the pistons is mounted on the piston rod for rotation relative thereto while being fixed against axial displacement therealong, and the other two pistons are provided with at least one female spiral thread engaged with the male spiral thread on the piston rod, while being maintained at a small spacing therebetween. Thus, the piston rod can reciprocate in the cylinder in opposite axial directions and can rotate, relative to the cylinder, in opposite angular directions, and further, an accurate positioning of the piston rod can be effected at a beginning and/or an end of an operating cycle thereof.

Abstract: A control rod drive for a nuclear reactor which has an index tube coupling a control rod at one end and connecting a drive piston at the other end is adapted to vertically move the index tube by hydraulic pressure applied thereto. The index tube is formed with at least one helical groove on the outer surface and a plurality of recesses on the bottom surface of the helical groove. Collet fingers each having one end always urged against the index tube and the other end secured to a drive cylinder are provided for controlling the movement of the index tube. The collet fingers are able to engage with and disengage from the helical groove during rapid insertion of the control rod into a reactor core while able to slide in the helical groove during extraction of the control rod out of the core and to engage with the recess to prevent the movement of the control rod.

Abstract: A multiple cylinder sinusoidal engine comprising a plurality of piston/cylinder arrangements lying parallel to, and around, a shaft cylinder is disclosed. Mounted in the shaft cylinder is a sine shaft, i.e., a cylindrical shaft having formed in its periphery at least one closed, double wave, continuous, sinusoidal groove. Coupling mechanisms couple the pistons to the sinusoidal groove or grooves of the sine shaft such that reciprocating motion of the pistons causes rotary motion of the shaft. Various air/fuel, exhaust and ignition passageways are provided through the sine shaft (or through the engine block in some embodiments) to allow air and fuel to enter the piston cylinders and exhaust gases to be emitted therefrom, and to allow ignition energy to be applied to air/fuel mixtures, as necessary. In one form, a single igniter is provided. The single igniter is coupled, sequentially, to each piston/cylinder arrangement as the sine shaft revolves.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator is proposed which is provided with an arrangement accessible from the outside for manually releasing the brake in the absence of fluid pressure to release it, the releasing arrangement comprising a member which rotates a splined force applying member relative to a force transmitting member against the force of a return spring which holds abutting ends of the splines of the elements mutually aligned.

Abstract: A rock drill has a housing accommodating pistons defining working chambers. Rotary drive of a drill steel has an overrunning clutch and a screw pair. The screw pair is arranged between the pistons and is formed by outer and inner helical threads respectively provided on these pistons. One of the pistons is kinematically connected with the housing, and the other piston which cooperates, during the drilling, with a chuck receiving the drill steel shank is in force transmitting connection with the rotary drive of the drill steel.The invention is aimed at lowering vibration of the rock drill housing by arranging the screw pair of the rotary drive between the pistons.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic actuator for use as a swing motor in a material handling apparatus of the type having a vehicle mounted boom. Two embodiments are disclosed and each includes a vertically disposed, double-acting cylinder having an internal, vertically reciprocal piston. The cylinder may be disposed between yoke arms mounting a boom and provision is made for securing the cylinder to the vehicle frame. A coupling device is secured to one of the yoke arms and has a first splined surface while means are carried by the piston and movable therewith and include a second splined surface slidably engaging the first splined surface.

Abstract: The adjusting device includes a threaded spindle onto which an adjusting nut is screwed, a frictional-engagement turning mechanism for the adjusting nut, a brake for preventing a turning movement of the adjusting nut and a resilient connection between the turning mechanism and the working piston. The brake is formed by two seal lips of a sealing arrangement stationarily connected with the working piston, the two seal lips abutting in a sealed relation against the adjusting nut and acting in opposite directions.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively moving, for instance alternately or simultaneously rotating and displacing in axial direction, a machine element mounted to be rotatable and axially displaceable, comprising a motor, a hollow cylinder and a piston displaceable in said hollow cylinder. The piston is provided with a connection element for rigidly connecting it with the machine element. The piston also has a lengthwise extending opening which is sealed towards the outside at the side of the connection element and at the other end there extends into said lengthwise extending opening a drive shaft connected with said motor. This drive shaft at the side of the connection element has an end which together with the inner surface of the piston forms a first sealing section forming a sealed sliding seat, said drive shaft at the region of its end connected with the motor possessing a second sealing section which together with the hollow cylinder or an element rigidly connected therewith forms a tightly closing sliding seat.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an engine having opposed cylinders with a guided rotary and reciprocating piston which telescopes over an output shaft and transmits rotary motion directly to the output shaft without the need for a crankshaft. Guided rotary movement of the piston is afforded by rollers rotatably supported on a radial pin on the cylindrical wall of the piston. The rollers travel in an elliptical type groove on the inside surface of the cylinder to impart rotary motion to the piston as a result of rectilinear motion of the piston caused by combustion of fuel in the working chambers on opposite sides of the piston. The engine can also be operated by an external source of pressurized gas or operated as a pump. The rotary motion is transmitted to the output shaft by a rider block which has a square cross section and which is fixed to the output shaft and is complementary in shape to a square opening in the piston. The rider block is movable between end walls in the piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for use in engines having reciprocating pistons and rotary piston rods wherein hydraulic fluid is supplied to each cylinder to not only lubricate the piston and cylinder but also to facilitate the movement of the piston to the top dead center position.

Abstract: An hydraulically operated failsafe valve actuator for use on non-rising valve stems, particularly in a subsea environment. A rotatable shaft is connected to the non-rising valve stem. In one embodiment the valve is actuated to open by a fluid pressure operated motor acting against the bias of a spring. Means connects means linearly movable along the shaft and converts the linear movement of the linear movable means to rotary movement of the shaft. Spring means moves the linearly movable means in one direction to cause the shaft to rotate in one direction. Fluid pressure means, including a fluid pressure operated motor, rotates the shaft in an opposite direction to cause the linearly movable means to move in an opposite direction along the shaft. In another embodiment the valve is actuated to open by a fluid pressure operated piston acting against the bias of the spring. The piston is mounted on the rotatable shaft and moves linearly along the shaft to cause the shaft to rotate.

Abstract: A fluid cylinder having a tubular housing with a piston reciprocably mounted therein and capable of fluid pressure actuation in opposite directions. One side of the piston carries an actuating rod which slidably extends through one end of the tubular housing, while a coaxially aligned bore extending from the opposite side of the piston and into the actuating rod has a threaded surface adapted to receive a threaded member which, in turn, is rotatably carried at the other end of the tubular housing. The threaded surfaces of the piston bore and the rotatable threaded member engage in a self-locking relationship such that the piston is incapable of movement when subjected to fluid pressure unless the threaded member is initially and continually rotated. Means are provided for selectively rotating the threaded member upon fluid pressure actuation of the piston in either direction.

Abstract: A spring-loaded brake cylinder has a piston therein one side of which is loaded by a spring and the other side of which is subjected to a pressure medium introduced into the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with an auxiliary release device comprising a screw coupling having a first coupling member which is rotatable but not axially displaceable and a second coupling member threadedly engaged with the first coupling member and acting upon the brake cylinder through an abutment coupling against the force of the load spring. The first coupling member is provided with a reversible thread and a second coupling means is provided to retain the second coupling member against rotation when the pressure acting upon the cylinder falls below a predetermined level.

Abstract: The actuator comprises a cylinder of non-circular cross section, two types of pistons and a piston rod which is provided with at least one spiral male thread having a pre-determined helical angle at a pre-determined pitch. One of the piston is mounted on the piston rod for rotation relative thereto while being fixed against axial displacement therealong, and is provided with two relief pressure control valves opening in respective opposite directions, and the other piston is provided with at least one female spiral thread engaged with the male thread on the piston rod. The rod can thus reciprocate in the cylinder in opposite axial directions and can rotate, relative to the cylinder, in opposite angular directions.

Abstract: A clamp with angular and axial movements which are effected in sequence preferably by means of a single power actuator. The clamping member is mounted within a non-rotatable piston to which it is connected by a pin or ball and inclined cam slot connection whereby axial movement of the piston produces rotary movement of the connecting member which is restrained against axial movement until the rotary movement is completed. Further axial movement of the piston then produces axial movement of the clamping member.