Abstract: Disclosed is a fail-safe fluidic actuation system (1) having a safety position, comprising a control element (2) having at least one first and one second chamber (3, 4); having a working circuit (5) with a motor/pump device (6), wherein the control element can be actuated by means of the working circuit at least in the operational state.

Abstract: An improved drive mechanism (100) adapted to be mounted on a support for controllably moving a first output shaft (16) about either or both of two orthogonal axes (T, E). The drive mechanism has a stationary lower portion adapted to be mounted on the support and having a movable upper portion mounted for movement relative to the stationary portion. The improved drive mechanism broadly includes: a first power train (10, 12, 2, 4, 14) for controllably rotating a first gear (6); a second power train (9, 11, 1, 3,13) for controllably rotating a second gear (5); and a third gear (7) connected to the first output shaft and meshing with at least one of the first and second gears. The first, second and third gears form a portion of a differential-like mechanism (18) mechanically coupling the first and second power trains to the first output shaft. The first and second power trains may be selectively operated to controllably and cooperatively move the first output shaft to a desired position relative to the support.

Abstract: A valve (1) comprises: a body (2); a bushing (3) slidably mounted on said body; a valve spool (4) slidably mounted on said bushing; said bushing and spool having respective control edges (5) that are adapted to cooperate with one another as a function of the relative position between said bushing and spool to vary the size of a control opening therebetween; a first drive (11) operatively arranged to controllably move one of said bushing and spool relative to said body; and a second drive (12) operatively arranged to controllably move the other of said bushing and spool relative to said body; whereby said first and second drives may be selectively operated to move said bushing and spool simultaneously in opposite directions to increase the dynamic response of said valve.

Abstract: An adjustment and stabilization unit (1), such as for a weapon, includes a movable platform (3), a rotational mass (2) mounted on the platform and stabilized in inertial space, and an adjustment drive (6) for adjusting the rotational mass. The adjustment drive includes a driving device (7) connecting the adjustment drive with the rotational mass, a force-sensing device (16) for measuring torque, and at least one stabilization control circuit for controlling the rotary adjustment drive by means of the measured torque. The force-sensing device (16) has an annular design and is arranged between the platform (3) and the adjustment drive (6). The driving device has a shaft (10) that extends through force-sensing device (16). The force-sensing device measures the torque transmitted between the adjustment drive and the platform, and being transmitted to the adjustment drive as a result of an acceleration of the rotational mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a weapon having an eccentrically-pivoted barrel (1) that is mounted on a movable base (2), and to a method of elevating and stabilizing such a barrel. A drive mechanism (3) acts between the barrel and the base to permit and enable the elevation of the barrel relative to the base to be selectively changed. A compensation device acts between the barrel and base to compensate for the unbalance of the barrel. The compensation device includes a gyroscope (13) mounted on the barrel and arranged to provide an output signal, a set point generator (12), a closed-loop control device (10) and an actuating element (16). The actual position of the barrel is sensed by the gyroscope, which supplies its output signal to the set point generator. The set point generator produces a set force value as a function of the gyroscope output signal.

Abstract: A valve (1) comprises: a body (2); a bushing (3) slidably mounted on said body; a valve spool (4) slidably mounted on said bushing; said bushing and spool having respective control edges (5) that are adapted to cooperate with one another as a function of the relative position between said bushing and spool to vary the size of a control opening therebetween; a first drive (11) operatively arranged to controllably move one of said bushing and spool relative to said body; and a second drive (12) operatively arranged to controllably move the other of said bushing and spool relative to said body; whereby said first and second drives may be selectively operated to move said bushing and spool simultaneously in opposite directions to increase the dynamic response of said valve.

Abstract: The invention refers to a tilting mechanism for creating track curve-dependent tilt of the superstructure of rail vehicles (1), consisting of a coupling (15) with which the superstructure (2) is movably connected to a bogie (3) in such a way that the superstructure can be transferred from an upright initial position into a tilted position relative to the bogie and having a drive (31) and an transfer mechanism including a transfer mechanism by which means the superstructure can be movably transferred from its initial position into its tilted position relative to the bogie. To be able to manufacture such tilting mechanism in a more inexpensive way, the invention aims at equipping the transfer mechanism with a mechanism with a variable transmission, the transmission of the mechanism increasing with increasing inclination angle of the superstructure relative to the bogie during transfer of the superstructure from its initial position into its tilted position.

Abstract: A system generates a brake pressure with a pump which delivers a volume into the chamber of a master brake cylinder and builds up a pressure which is used by at least one additional assembly, particularly a power-assisted steering system. The system has at least one distributing and throttling element for admitting a definable pressure to the chamber of the master brake cylinder and/or the additional assembly. The one or more distributing and throttling elements can be triggered, as a function of the brake pedal position and/or of driving condition values and/or of operating values of the vehicle, such that the chamber and/or the additional unit can be acted upon by a pump generated adjustable pressure.

Abstract: A two-stage flow-control electrohydraulic servovalve has a pilot-stage (14) and a second-stage valve spool (6) mounted for sliding movement relative to a body (1). The pilot-stage (14) is arranged to provide an output pressure, which is used to selectively displace the second-stage spool (6) relative to the body, to establish flow through the second-stage. The second-stage spool has a plurality of lobes, which are overlapped with respect to passageways communicating with the control ports (3,4). A spool position feedback servoloop is closed about the second-stage valve spool and the pilot-stage. The improvement provides a compensation circuit (21) for modifying the command signal (e.sub.c) so as to compensate for the "dead zone" in the normal second-stage flow-to-displacement characteristics, such that the second-stage output flow will be substantially proportional to the command signal.

Abstract: A control circuit (10) for an extrusion die (13) is operatively arranged to supply a command signal (e.sub.c) to an actuator (24,25) for controlling the movement of a mandrel (11) relative to a die head (12) as plasticized material is extruded through an orifice (14) to form a parison (15). The controller includes a memory (28) for receiving and storing a plurality of initial set points supplied from a keypad (29). A recalculation circuit (42) is operatively arranged to recalculate the magnitude of each set point according to the equation S.sub.n(r) =(S.sub.n(i) -G.sub.1)B+G.sub.2, where S.sub.n(r) is the recalculated value a particular set point, G.sub.1 is a first reference die gap, G.sub.2 is a second reference die gap, B is a scaling factor, and S.sub.n(i) is the corresponding initial set point stored in memory. The recalculation circuit is operatively arranged to supply each recalculated set point to the memory to replace the initial set point stored therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the tool position in a machine tool, permitting position data and adjustment speed data to be altered without the operator having to consider the actual value of such data. The apparatus comprises an alteration memory adapted to have alteration data in the form of absolute values or percentages entered thereinto and to hold such data available for a subsequent calculation process involving the data relating to the tool position or adjustment speed, respectively.The calculation is automatically carried out with the aid of gating means within the apparatus. Alternatively possible is an overwriting of data with values entered without calculation.

Abstract: A control circuit is adapted to control the movement of a pintle relative to the die head of extrusion apparatus. A command signal is supplied to a signal generator, which produces a first output signal in the form of a series of continuous voltage triangles, and a second output signal in the form of unit pulses. An impedance matrix contains a plurality of potentiometers which may be remotely connected to a summing amplifier. The potentiometers are arranged in a numerical order. Odd-numbered potentiometers are supplied with the triangular output signal from the signal generator. Even-numbered potentiometers are supplied with the signal generator triangular output signal, but which has been phase-shifted by half the width of one triangle. The pulse output from the signal generator is supplied to a decoder, which successively connects pairs of numerically-adjacent potentiometers with the summing amplifier during overlapping time intervals.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for generating a self-adjusting saw-tooth wave in response to an input signal containing a plurality of successive start pulses separating time intervals of variable length. The apparatus includes an integrator for generating a ramp signal during each time interval, a comparator for comparing the value of the integrator output signal with a predetermined maximum value and for supplying, at the end of each time interval, the difference therebetween as a correction signal to modify the slope of the ramp signal generated during the next subsequent time interval. The slope of the ramp signal is adjusted to accommodate variations in length of successive time intervals so that the peak value of such ramp signals will equal a predetermined maximum value at the end of successive time intervals of equal length.

Abstract: A jig is provided for storing setting data of apparatus having a plurality of adjacent slidable setting members. The positions of the members relative to the frame and to each other determines the setting data of the apparatus. The jig includes a plurality of bars mounted on a frame for independent sliding movement relative thereto, and a set screw for releasably holding the bars in desired positions. Each bar has an end face arranged to be selectively contacted by an aligned setting member.

Abstract: An improved regulator is provided for varying the rotational speed of a screw conveyor arranged to supply material to a variable-volume chamber having a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder. The regulator produces a sum signal proportional to the algebraic sum of positive input signals reflecting the desired degree of chamber filling and the desired discharge volume, and negative input signals reflecting the actual filling volume and the actual degree of chamber filling. This sum signal is converted to a proportional time-dependent signal which is used to adjust the speed of the conveyor. The conveyor speed is increased or decreased by an amount depending on the magnitude and polarity of the sum signal. In use, the regulator practices an improved method of regulating the speed of a conveyor.

Abstract: A control circuit is adapted to control the movement of a pintle relative to the die head of extrusion apparatus. A command signal is supplied to a signal generator, which produces a first output signal in the form of a series of continuous voltage triangles, and a second output signal in the form of unit pulses. An impedance matrix contains a plurality of potentiometers which may be remotely connected to a summing amplifier. The potentiometers are arranged in a numerical order. Odd-numbered potentiometers are supplied with the triangular output signal from the signal generator. Even-numbered potentiometers are supplied with the signal generator triangular output signal, but which has been phase-shifted by half the width of one triangle. The pulse output from the signal generator is supplied to a decoder, which successively connects pairs of numerically-adjacent potentiometers with the summing amplifier during overlapping time intervals.

Abstract: A control system for a hydraulic punch press is adapted to dissipate the energy stored in a hydraulic actuator so that the punch will exit the workpiece without substantial release impact. The control system includes a signal generator for producing a progressively increasing command signal while the punch penetrates the workpiece, a position transducer for producing a negative feedback signal indicating the actual punch position during such penetration, and a summing point for supplying the difference between the command and actual signals as an error signal to a servovalve used to control operation of the actuator.