Abstract: A coupler including electrical and pneumatic interfaces. The coupler includes a manifold having pneumatic apertures and a support having connector apertures to accommodate one or more valves.

Abstract: A coupler including electrical and pneumatic interfaces. The coupler includes a manifold having pneumatic apertures and a support having connector apertures to accommodate one or more valves.

Abstract: A method of generating a CAD model of a part in a series of parts uses an assembly design table modified to provide the necessary parameters for creation of the model from the value of the parameters of the part that distinguish the part from the other parts in the series of parts. A user may identify the part to be modeled through a user interface on a computer on a network that communicates with a database of part numbers on a computer on the network and a CAD model server on the network.

Abstract: A clamp including kinetic energy control. The clamp includes a self-compensating, non-adjustable hydraulic damper having kinetic energy absorption, such as a shock absorber.

Abstract: A plug for a port is provided. Preferably, the plug and a cartridge configured to couple fluid tubes to a housing use substantially identical components such as a seal and a retainer or guide.

Abstract: A telescoping fluid cylinder having an inner rod and outer rod moving between extended and retracted positions. A first piston and second piston move the outer rod and inner rod through the cylinder in which a valve of the first piston provides for independent movement of the inner rod and outer rod.

Abstract: A stepping motor is driven in both closed-loop and open-loop modes while initiating microstepping after a predetermined threshold velocity has been reached. A feedback device such as an encoder is mounted on the stepping motor shaft and the encoder keeps track of the mechanical position of the rotor. Based on feedback from the encoder, stator phases are activated to maintain a 90° phase advance and produce maximum torque. A lead angle compensation technique is used to advance the motor lead angle, to allow for the excitation currents to reach maximum even at higher speeds. The stepping motor controller employs this strategy in order to produce maximum torque across a wide range of motor speeds and actuator motions.

Abstract: A pneumatic coupling is provided. The pneumatic coupling is configured to couple a plurality of pneumatic lines together. According to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the pneumatic coupling includes first and second housings and a plurality of fittings sized to receive the pneumatic lines.

Abstract: In a brine temperature control apparatus, the temperature of brine in a tank disposed in a brine fluid circulating passage is controlled using a three-way proportional valve. The three-way proportional valve does not open and close in an abrupt ON/OFF fashion, but rather the degree of opening thereof for supplying chilled brine to the tank is gradually adjusted in proportion to a detection signal indicative of the brine temperature in the tank. Thus, a water hammer problem is avoided, and the coolant circulating circuit including such a three-way proportional valve can be used effectively even with large capacity chiller units.

Abstract: In a constant temperature liquid circulating apparatus, in order to determine parts and locations requiring maintenance work and maintenance time intervals before the occurrence of an irregular operation, so that any downtime in operation of a constant temperature liquid circulating apparatus is made as short as possible, a system is provided in which respective components of the apparatus are provided with sensors for use in monitoring various kinds of condition amounts in a continuous manner. Especially, among such components, a three-way proportional valve is provided between the outlet of a heat exchanger and an inlet to a holding tank, in a cooling liquid circulating circuit which supplies a constant temperature cooling liquid to a load, and a sensor is provided which detects a degree of valve opening of the three-way proportional valve.

Abstract: A lift axle control system is provided for a vehicle that has fixed axles and a lift axle. The lift axle is configured to move between a raised position spaced apart from the ground and a lowered position in contact with the ground to reduce the load carried by the fixed axles. The lift axle control system is configured to control the raising and lowering of the lift axle. According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, the lift axle control system includes a housing and a valve configured to control the flow of air to a lower bag that lowers the lift axle into contact with the ground.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a fluid cylinder is provided that is configured to move an object between first and second positions. The fluid cylinder includes a cylinder housing and a shaft configured to move between extended and retracted positions relative to the cylinder housing. Preferably, the fluid cylinder includes a scraper positioned to contact an outer surface of the shaft to remove contaminants therefrom during movement of the shaft. Furthermore, the preferred fluid cylinder includes an anti-rotation mechanism positioned to prevent rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a fluid cylinder is provided that is configured to move an object between first and second positions. The fluid cylinder includes a cylinder housing and a shaft configured to move between extended and retracted positions relative to the cylinder housing. Preferably, the fluid cylinder includes a scraper positioned to contact an outer surface of the shaft to remove contaminants therefrom during movement of the shaft. Furthermore, the preferred fluid cylinder includes an anti-rotation mechanism positioned to prevent rotation of the shaft.

Abstract: An escapement device configured to control the flow of items along a flow path having a housing, first and second shafts positioned in the housing to move between extended and retracted positions and a spherical lock member positioned to contact one of the shafts to block it from moving between the extended and retracted position.