Abstract: Hydraulic cylinders made of fiber-resin composite materials have a central piston chamber section and bell-shaped internally threaded end sections. Cylinders are made by winding resin coated fibers over a mandril over which externally threaded sleeves are slipped and spaced apart so as to define the end sections. After curing the resin, the winding is cut in the areas of the sleeves to separate the cylinders. An expendable strip is wound onto the sleeves and in the cutting operation is cut into. A bearing, a seal cavity and an enlarged inside diameter at a piston rod end of the cylinder may also be provided using a method of the invention, with the cylinders being cut apart between the ends of sleeves and between the other ends of the cylinders.

Abstract: A hydraulic pressure reducing and relieving valve has a body with input, control and relief ports, a tubular spool slidably received within the body for selectively providing communication between the ports, and a tubular quill within the spool which the spool can slide over. The quill has a lumen which provides communication from one end of the spool to the other, so as to pressure balance the spool with relief pressure, and together with the spool defines a feedback chamber in communication with the control port which generates a force on the spool which opposes the operating force exerted on the spool by a solenoid. The spool may also be biased by a spring in the feedback chamber.

Abstract: A two stage pressure control valve has a poppet movable toward and away from a valve seat to vary the cross-sectional area of a passageway from an inlet to an outlet. The position of the poppet is dependent in part on the difference in pressure between a fluid pressure at the inlet which exerts an force on the poppet in one axial direction and a control pressure which is produced by a fluid flow from the inlet in a chamber downstream from the inlet and which exerts a force on the poppet in the opposite axial direction. The control pressure is controlled by an electromagnetic coil which can be variably energized to move an armature so as to vary a variable restriction downstream from the control pressure so as to vary the control pressure. A tube extends through and forms an axial sliding seal with the poppet and communicates a flow of fluid from the inlet to the variable restriction and the chamber is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the tube.

Abstract: A retainer for the drive shaft of a hydraulic torque wrench has an eccentric pivotably connected to the free end of the shaft which can be pivoted between an unlocked position and one or more locked positions and locked in any of the positions with a plunger. In the unlocked position, the eccentric does not overlap a bearing of the wrench so that the shaft and eccentric can be withdrawn axially from the wrench drive head. In the locked position(s), the eccentric overlaps and abuts an axial face of the bearing so that the eccentric cannot be drawn into the bearing, thereby securing the shaft against axial movement out of the wrench drive head in the direction from the eccentric toward the bearing.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling the speed of multiple hydraulic fluid power devices when the flow demand of the devices exceeds the flow capacity of a pressure source supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the devices has multiple pressure controlled proportional flow supply valves for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the power devices. Load sense pressures which indicate the pressure delivered by the valves to the corresponding devices are compared to determine the highest load sense pressure, which is compared to the supply pressure by a proportional speed sensing valve to regulate the pilot pressure. In the preferred embodiment, the pilot pressure is regulated by the proportional speed sensing valve to be equal to the differential between the supply pressure and the highest load sense pressure, and a limit control is provided in one form of the proportional speed sensing valve.

Abstract: A vibration isolator has four fluid filled variable volume load bearing chambers, with two arranged on one side of a core and the other two on the other side. The core and chambers are contained within a frame, with the chambers extending between the core and the frame, so that vibrating the core axially compresses or extends the chambers. Diagonally opposite pairs of chambers are each connected with a separate fluid track, and the two fluid tracks may be tuned to have different resonant frequencies or the same resonant frequency. The chambers are defined by elastomeric bodies which may be reinforced using a tubular shaped reinforcing element adjacent to the chamber, to help contain the pressures within the chamber without materially increasing the compression strength of the elastomeric bodies.

Abstract: A caster has two spaced apart wheels with an elastomeric torsional shock and vibration isolating suspension between them. The wheel axis is spaced longitudinally from a bearing axis to subject elastomeric disks positioned between the wheels to torsional shear stresses to help absorb shocks and vibrations. A snubber is provided for limiting the angular motion of the wheels about a bearing axis.

Abstract: A waste container crusher particularly adapted for crushing automotive type oil filters or other structurally rigid disposables containing hazardous waste has a housing with an open bottom which is closed off by an anvil plate. The anvil plate slideably receives three equiangularly spaced posts which are secured to a roof plate at the top of the housing, above the anvil plate. Nuts on the posts support the anvil plate below the roof plate, so that the anvil plate is suspended from the roof plate by the posts. The roof plate is secured to a hydraulic cylinder which produces a 10 ton driving force for a platen guided by the posts to crush a container placed on the anvil plate below the platen. In the anvil plate, four blind bores in a rectangular pattern in the top surface intersect a central blind bore extending from the bottom surface, and a smaller central through-bore provides communication between the lower central blind bore and the top of the anvil plate.

Abstract: A vibration dampening suspension device for isolating a truck cab from the force vibrations of a vehicle frame, which includes an impact plate mounted to the truck cab, and a support plate mounted to the vehicle suspension. The device further includes a link member pivotally interconnected at one end with the support plate at a support pivot, and a lever member with a first end pivotally interconnected with the impact plate at a main pivot. The link member is pivotally interconnected with the lever member for rotation of the lever member with respect to the main pivot during compression of the shock absorber when the supporting body, suspended body and device are in a dynamic condition. A hydraulic shock absorber is provided with a first end pivotally interconnected with the lever member second end at a shock pivot and the second end pivotally interconnected with the impact plate at a pivot spaced from the main pivot.

Abstract: A linkage rod for absorbing shocks and vibrations has a housing with a central bore. A spacer tube and a spacer load plate are inserted into the central bore. Several resilient members preferably formed of crimped metal wire strands are located in the central bore between the spacer load plate and a piston load plate. A mounting member has a shoulder formed between body and neck portions. A snubber cap having a central opening with an inwardly-directed wall is positioned around the mounting member. A snubber nut is attached to the mounting member to trap the inwardly-directed wall between the snubber nut and the shoulder. The snubber cap is fastened to the housing and the mounting member may move axially relative to the housing. The resilient members resist axial movement of the mounting member.

Abstract: A suspension unit for supporting a cab on the chassis of a truck has two U-shaped yokes, one with arms extending down and the other with arms extending up. The arms of one yoke are nested within the arms of the other in a sliding fit and a bearing in a vertical slot connects each pair of adjacent arms. An air spring and one or two shock absorbers can be mounted between the yokes. A guideway having a bottoming rib or a stop element with a cushioning pad is formed on one of the arms of each adjacent pair and the other arm of the corresponding pair is received within the guideway and abuts the bottoming rib or stop element in a fully compressed position to prevent excessive loads on the air spring, shock absorbers and bearings. The unit is mounted on a truck between the cab and chassis with one pair of adjacent arms fore and the other pair aft, to provide relatively free vertical movement, pivoting about a fore and aft axis, and fore and aft translational rigidity of the truck cab relative to the chassis.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for controlling the speed of multiple hydraulic fluid power devices when the flow demand of the devices exceeds the flow capacity of a pressure source supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to the devices has multiple pressure controlled proportional flow supply valves for controlling the supply of hydraulic fluid to the power devices. Load sense pressures which indicate the pressure delivered by the valves to the corresponding devices are compared to determined the highest load sense pressure, which is compared to the supply pressure by a proportional speed sensing valve to regulate the pilot pressure. In the preferred embodiment, the pilot pressure is regulated by the proportional speed sensing valve to be equal to the differential between the supply pressure and the highest load sense pressure, and a limit control is provided in one form of the proportional speed sensing valve.

Abstract: A clamp arm for attachment to the plunger of a clamping cylinder has a body with a central opening for receiving the plunger and a working arm portion extending outwardly from the opening. The body has a radial slot extending from the central opening and a bore in the body that extends transversely through the slot. One portion of the bore is threaded to receive a headed bolt to draw the sides of the slot together to lock the body on the plunger. The body is axially restrained on the plunger by means of a ring received in a counter bore above the transverse bore for the headed bolt. The ring is received in a circumferential groove in the plunger. Alternatively, the headed bolt that is used to draw the sides of the slot together engages a circumferential groove in the plunger.

Abstract: A proportional pressure control valve has a metering spool which selectively meters flow between an axial first port and radial second ports. The spool is axially reciprocable with a larger face toward the first port and a smaller face opposite from the first port, with a pressure equalization bore through the spool. A first spring extends between the smaller face of the spool and an armature and the armature is biased to a normal position by a second spring and also has a pressure equalization bore through it. Radial orifices are formed in the end of the armature facing the smaller face of the spool, and the end of the armature seats in the main bore in which the spool is seated. Passageways extend from the orifices to the second ports, and two selectively and variably energizable electromagnetic coils coaxially encircle the armature, one to draw the armature to one side of the normal position and the other to draw the armature to the opposite side.

Abstract: A tilt cab latch has a piston which is biased to cam on a rotor to capture and exert a preload force on a pin. The end of the piston is formed by cylindrical and conical surfaces which match respective internal cylindrical and angled cylindrical surfaces on the rotor. The conical and angled cylindrical surfaces cam on one another to exert the preload force on the pin, and the cylindrical surfaces provide positive locking against retrograde rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: In a plunger apparatus for exerting a spring-loaded force on a work piece, a plug, whose depth of insertion determines the amount of the force exerted by the spring, is pressed into the body of the apparatus and, by the friction between the plug and the inner surface of the body, is held immobile to torque applied to the plug in installing and removing the apparatus from a machine and to forces experienced in operations.

Abstract: Coupling unit for releasably connecting fluid lines in or on two parts whose relative position is variable. In order to ensure reliable centering of the ends of the fluid lines to be connected while avoiding excessively high shear stresses, a distance plate (1) is arranged between the parts (M and W) containing the fluid lines (L and K, respectively) to be connected. The distance plate (1) is fastened in an axially mobile manner to the first part (M) by means of at least one guide rod (F) fastened to the latter and whose distance from the other part can be varied by means of at least one piston rod (S) arranged in the guide rod (F). A number of bushings (3) equal to the number of line connections to be made are housed in axial recesses (2) in the distance plate (1). The bushings (3) are held in their respective recesses (2) with axial and radial play, are connected to one part (M) by a mobile flexible tubular line (L) and are associated with the other part (W) by a fixed connecting sleeve (A).

Abstract: A modular valve has a valve housing which defines a manifold interface having a normally open port, a normally closed port and a common port. A manifold block is mounted to the valve housing with its valve interface sealed against the manifold interface. The valve interface of the manifold block has first, second and third valve ports which lead to respective first, second and third mounting ports at a mounting interface of the manifold block. The first, second and third valve ports and the normally open normally closed and common ports are arranged to communicate with one another in either of two angularly spaced positions of the valve housing relative to the manifold block. In one position, the first valve port comunicates with the normally open port, the second valve port communicates with the normally closed port, and the third valve port communicates with the common port.

Abstract: A two-stage, proportional pressure control valve is disclosed which may be used for uni-directional fluid flow. A poppet is movably positioned within a body of the valve. Pressure forces acting on the poppet affect the position of the poppet and thus the magnitude of fluid flow through the valve. A control pressure chamber is defined by the poppet and an orifice plate. The orifice plate includes an passage which may be blocked by an armature. An electromagnetic driver produces a magnetic flux path that is substantially proportional to a variable input current. The electromagnetic driver is operable to move the armature and thereby allow fluid in the control pressure chamber to exit through the passage. The proportional pressure control valve can be incorporated into a damper of a vehicle suspension system where the input current is governed by an electronic control unit of the vehicle.

Abstract: A proportional pressure control valve is disclosed which may be used for uni-directional or bi-directional fluid flow. An electromagnetic driver mounted in a driver cavity of a housing produces a magnetic flux path in response to a variable input current. The magnitude of the flux path is substantially proportinal to the input current. The flux path passes through an armature which is movable within the driver cavity. The armature is connected to a metering spool so that the two move in unison. The metering spool is movable within a main bore between a sealing position and an infinite number of open positions. The position of the metering spool determines the magnitude of fluid communication between pressure ports. A feedback section of the housing establishes a pressure feedback force which impacts on the position of the metering spool and the armature. The valve may also include a spring for biasing the metering spool to a fail-safe position within the housing.