Abstract: Composite tubes may be fabricated by filament winding a layer of resin impregnated carbon fiber with a near-axial fiber orientation over a mandrel and over end-fittings. Bands of resin-impregnated fibers are then wound circumferentially around this near-axial layer in a position that coincides with a circumferential groove in the underlying end-fittings. The ends of the near-axial layer are folded back over the bands, resulting in a double layer of intact near-axial fibers locked into the groove on the end-fittings by the bands of intact circumferential fibers. Testing has shown this arrangement to be effective for introducing very high axial loads onto the composite tube.

Abstract: A hydrostatic assembly includes a pump having a yoke and an associated rotating group. The pump yoke has a bucket portion and an arm portion. At least one fluid passage extends through the pump yoke. The hydrostatic assembly also includes a motor having a yoke and an associated rotating group. The motor yoke also has a bucket portion and an arm portion. At least one fluid passage extends through the motor yoke. The arm portion of the pump yoke and the arm portion of the motor yoke have associated coupling portions for fluidly coupling the pump yoke to the motor yoke so that the at least one fluid passage in the pump yoke is in direct fluid communication with the at least one fluid passage in the motor yoke.

Abstract: A fluid system includes a controllable first pump unit for supplying fluid pressure to at least one implement; a prime mover arranged to supply a driving torque to the first pump The first pump unit is arranged to supply fluid pressure to the implement. The fluid system further includes a controllable second pump unit connected to a fluid accumulator. The prime mover is arranged to supply a driving torque to the second pump unit in order to accumulate fluid pressure in the accumulator during periods of low demand. Fluid pressure from the accumulator is arranged to drive the second pump unit to assist the prime mover during periods of high demand in order to supply an additional driving torque in excess of the available driving torque from the prime mover.

Abstract: A refrigerant accumulation and oil recovery device for recovery/regeneration/recharging units for a refrigerant fluid withdrawn from refrigeration or air conditioning plants or heat pumps, characterized by comprising a refrigerant fluid accumulation/evaporation vessel and an oil recovery vessel, said vessels being closed at their top by at least one plate which supports them both, the plate presenting a plurality of passages defining, with said vessels, a part of the charging/recycling circuit of said recovery/regeneration unit, in which said accumulation/evaporation vessel and said oil recovery vessel present at least one wall in common, such that any refrigerant fluid leakage from one of said vessels at the connection interface between said common wall and said plate is recovered into the other.

Abstract: A dual position pilot operated valve assembly having a main piston, with a valve member, reciprocable within a valve body, wherein the valve body is adapted for sealingly mating with a valve seat and passage located intermediate the valve body inlet and outlet ports, the valve body having a cylindrical adapter secured to an open end thereof and housing a secondary piston, reciprocable therein, with an axial stem depending from the second piston bottom surface and extending through the adaptor to the first piston cavity for intermittent contact therewith; and an end cap secured to and closing the adapter and having an inlet port interconnected with a source of high pressure control gas and respective first and second conduits leading to the main and secondary piston bore cavities, with an adjustment mechanism controlling the degree of opening/closing of the valve assembly. Several methods of operation are also set forth.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve includes a valve body, a valve spool that is movable relative to the valve body for controlling fluid flow through the valve body, and a spool return assembly for biasing the valve spool into a centered position relative to the valve body. The hydraulic valve further includes a position sensor assembly having a sensor portion affixed relative to the valve body and a movable portion that is movable relative to the sensor portion in response to movement of the valve spool. The sensor portion is responsive to a position of the movable portion for outputting a signal indicative of the position of the valve spool relative to the valve body. The movable portion of the position sensor assembly is biased into engagement with the spool return assembly.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement is arranged to detect at least one position of a displaceable component in a fluid device, which fluid device comprises a wall enclosing a cavity, in which cavity the component is displaced by pressurized fluid selectively applied to the component. The sensor arrangement includes a magnetic sensor mounted outside the wall and a first sensor element that is connected to the magnetic sensor and extends through the wall and a predetermined distance into the cavity. The magnetic sensor is arranged to detect the position of at least one predetermined second sensor element located on the displaceable component by sensing a change in magnetic flux induced in the first sensor element by the second sensor element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for controlling a hydraulically driven motor, forming part of a hydraulic system in which hydraulic fluid under pressure forms a main flow through a main duct in which the motor is connected. The motor drives a varying load, and one or more valves (7) are adapted for controlling the hydraulic fluid flow through the motor on the one hand during operation and on the other hand for starting and stopping of the motor. One of the valves consists of a flow control valve (7) which is connected in the main duct (1) downstream of the outlet of the motor, and the flow control valve (7) is integrated with the motor housing (50).

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for detecting and transmitting test data from a housing (10) including a pressure chamber (11) that is filled with a high-pressure fluid and is homogeneously pressurized via strip conductors (21) which are connected to a sensor (23) and are guided out of the housing (10). A circuit board (12), both faces of which are subjected to the pressure prevailing in the pressure chamber (11) and at least one portion (30) of which extends out of the housing is disposed inside the pressure chamber (11) as a support of the strip conductors (21). The housing (10) that encloses the pressure chamber (11) is separated on the plane of the printed board (12), the faces of the housing halves (13, 14) clamping the printed board (12) in such a way that radial forces exercised within the printed board when pressure is applied are absorbed by the housing.

Abstract: A method of fluidly connecting coaxially aligned first and second couplings (50, 130), wherein the both couplings (50, 130) have an inner high pressure passage (26) and a coaxial outer lower pressure passage (53). Initially the first coupling inner high pressure passage (26) is fluidly connected with the first outer lower pressure passage (53) while isolating the second coupling inner high pressure passage (166) and the coaxial outer lower pressure passage (151). Then the first coupling inner high pressure passage (26) and one of the second coupling inner and outer passages (166, 151) is fluidly connected with the first coupling coaxial outer lower pressure passage (53) while isolating the other of the second coupling inner and outer passages (166, 151).

Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine utilizes a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic pump coupled to a rotor and a hydraulic motor coupled to an induction generator to produce variable frequency power that is converted to grid frequency power by electronic controls.

Abstract: A lost motion mechanism that is operatively interconnected with a hydraulic cylinder is provided. The lost motion mechanism includes an elongated rod connected with a portion of the hydraulic cylinder. An elongated sleeve member is adapted to receive at least a portion of the rod extension. The sleeve member includes at least one slot of a predetermined length. At least one pin member is attached relative to the rod extension and protrudes into the at least one slot. The pin member together with the slot limits the longitudinal movement of the rod extension and enables an implement to be moved by hydraulic force both upward and downward relative to ground level as well as enables the implement to be free floating relative to the ground level.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing movement of a first object relative to a second object. The apparatus includes indicia markings formed on the first object and a sensor capable of reading the indicia markings. A slipper element is secured relative to the sensor and is biased into engagement with the first object. The slipper element maintains the sensor within a predetermined range of distances from the indicia markings on the first object. In one embodiment, the first object is a piston rod of a piston assembly and the second object is a cylinder in which a piston of the piston assembly is located.

Abstract: Improvements in trunnion shaft-controlled swashplate axial hydraulic piston pumps as well as hydraulic systems used in hydrostatic transmissions utilized. e.g., in zero-turn-radius (ZTR) wheeled vehicles, such as grass mowers, with one embodiment thereof pertaining to, in combination, the noted pump, devoid of any internal servo control, and a reversible power actuator, for controlling the angle of the swashplate, externally affixed to the housing containing the pump and operatively interconnected with an end of the trunnion shaft extending from the pump housing, with the power actuator being one of a rotary actuator, a fluid power axial cylinder and a rotary electronic actuator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for controlling a hydraulically driven motor (2), forming part of a hydraulic system in which hydraulic fluid under pressure forms a main flow through a main duct (1) in which the motor is connected. The motor is adapted to drive a load with varying loading, and one or more valves (6, 7) are adapted for controlling the hydraulic fluid flow through the motor on the one hand during operation and on the other hand for starting and stopping of the motor. One of the valves consists of a flow control valve (7) which is connected in the main duct (1) downstream of the motor (2) and is adapted for on the one hand starting/stopping of the motor and on the other hand constant flow control of the hydraulic fluid flow through the motor.

Abstract: An arrangement for controlling two drive units which interact with one another, one of which includes a hydraulically driven motor (2). The motor drives a varying load, and one or more valves (6, 7) control hydraulic fluid flow through the motor during operation and for starting and stopping of the motor. One of the valves is a flow control valve (7) for flow control of the hydraulic fluid flow through the motor. The second drive unit (37) performs a working movement which, under the action of hydraulic flow influences the loading of the motor. The flow of the hydraulic fluid to the second drive unit is controlled in a coordinated way with the control of the flow through the motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for reducing energy losses in a machinery unit (1), having at least one part (4) which is arranged to rotate in fluid about a rotation axis (6) in a substantially closed chamber (3) delimited in the radially outward direction by means of a wall (18) extending around the rotation axis. The wall (18) has a radially inward facing wall surface (10) extending wholly or partially around the revolution, which wall surface is highly smooth and extends close to, but with an interspace (14) to the radially outer surface which is generated around the revolution by the rotary part (4). The interspace is suited to minimizing the rotating fluid volume and, at the same time, maintaining necessary width for a boundary layer in the fluid between the generated surface and the wall surface.

Abstract: In a variable displacement type hydraulic pump/motor assembly including at least one internally movable component, such as a yoke, a swashplate, and the means for moving the swashplate, the improvement includes imparting on this component absolute location indicia markings and the addition of an optical/electronic sensor unit capable of reading such indicia markings fixedly located on a housing of the pump/motor assembly and including an optical read head extending into the housing interior and located at a spaced distance from the indicia markings for reading same, relative to a reference location, and producing a signal indicative of the absolute position of the movable component. The signal can then, in turn, be used for controlling the displacement of the pump/motor assembly. A method for determining the absolute component position is also set forth.

Abstract: A diversion valve fluid coupling, permitting alternate flows in first and second operating positions, including a valve housing with inlet, first and second outlet ports; a quick disconnect coupling attached to the second outlet port and a seal interposed therebetween; a movable diverter valve assembly, having interconnected actuating and opposing valves; the actuating valve, in the first operating position, having a first sealing engagement with the seal; the opposing valve, in the second operating position, having a second sealing engagement with a first outlet port; a biasing member, biasing the diverter valve into the first sealing engagement, blocking the second outlet port while permitting flow to the first outlet port; and, for the second operating position, a nipple member, removably mating with the quick disconnect coupling and translating the diverter valve into the second sealing engagement, blocking the first outlet port while permitting flow into the second outlet port.

Abstract: A distributor, for use in a refrigerant system for conveying refrigerant between an expansion device and an evaporator, having a longitudinal body, an actuator, a plug, a first nozzle, and a second nozzle. The longitudinal body having a first end, a second end, a longitudinal passage between the first and second ends. The first nozzle being affixed within the passage. The second nozzle being rotatable within the passage for alignment and misalignment with the first nozzle. The second nozzle having a plurality of gear teeth engageable with the actuator, which is adjustable. A method of mixing refrigerant fluid while passing through the distributor.