Abstract: In a flow rate controller and a drive device, a housing is provided therein with a first flow passage, a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage, a first throttle valve provided to the first flow passage, and a second throttle valve provided to the second flow passage. A pilot check valve is provided to the second flow passage and is connected in series to the second throttle valve. A pilot air flow passage communicates with a pilot port of the pilot check valve for supplying and discharging pilot air, and a third throttle valve is provided to the pilot air flow passage. In response to the pressure of the pilot air, the pilot check valve switches between a state in which the passage of exhaust air discharged from an air cylinder is permitted and a state in which passage of the exhaust air is prevented.

Abstract: An artificial muscle includes a housing including an electrode region, an expandable fluid region, a first film layer, and a second film layer. The first film layer and the second film layer each include an inner protective layer having a first elasticity, an outer protective layer having a second elasticity, and a reinforcing layer provided between the inner protective layer and the outer protective layer, the reinforcing layer having a third elasticity greater than the first elasticity of the inner protective layer and the second elasticity of the outer protective layer. The artificial muscle further includes an electrode pair positioned in the electrode region of the housing and between the first film layer and the second film layer, and a dielectric fluid housed within the housing.

Abstract: A control valve of hydraulic system for a working machine is provided, which includes a main body and a spool. The main body includes first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, and first second, third, fourth and fifth inner fluid paths connected to the first, second, third, fourth and fifth ports, respectively. The spool is configured to move between a neutral position and a communicating position allowing fluid communication between the second inner fluid path and the fifth inner fluid path or between the first inner fluid path and the fifth inner fluid path. The spool includes a communicating hole configured to allow the fluid communication between the second port and the fourth port, or between the first port and the fourth port, when the spool is in a position between the communicating position and the neutral position.

Abstract: An automatic oil return structure is provided. The automatic oil return structure has an oil storage bag, a piston, and a main body assembly. The piston has an oil storage chamber. The main body assembly has a main channel, a piston oil channel, a pressure regulating channel, a control channel, an operation channel, a minor channel, and an oil return channel. When the pressure of the main channel achieves a limit pressure, the pressure pushes the control blocking assembly away such that the pressure regulating channel communicates with the communication channel, and the pressure also pushes the operating assembly away such that the minor channel communicates with the return channel. At the same time, the pressure of the oil storage chamber pushes the oil blocking assembly, so as to isolate the oil storage chamber from the main channel, and the oil storage chamber communicates with the oil return channel.

Abstract: A collar for a telescopic cylinder with a cap includes the terminal portion of the cap that presents the opening of the cap, such that the collar includes in the following order a first annular element with a contoured profile, which surrounds the terminal portion and is welded thereto, and a second annular element, which can move with respect to the terminal portion and to the first annular element. The collar further includes an O-ring, made of rubber, surrounding the terminal portion and a third annular element surrounding the terminal portion and welded thereto. The first annular element has, at its internal circumference, an annular guide with a curved internal circumferential surface, the internal circumferential surface having, at each point of its circumference, a vertical cross-section with a shape that is concave as it progresses toward the outside of the collar.

Abstract: An HST circuit has a hydraulic pump that converts a drive force of an engine into energy of oil, and a hydraulic motor that converts the energy of the oil converted by the hydraulic pump into drive energy. Pressure sensors detect a pressure of the oil within the HST circuit. A variable charge pump replenishes the oil into the HST circuit. A controller controls a capacity of the variable charge pump based on the pressure of the oil within the HST circuit detected by the pressure sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to variable recruitment actuator systems and related methods. In one embodiment, a variable recruitment actuator system may include a high-pressure fluid connection and a plurality of actuators. A variable recruitment actuator mechanism may selectively recruit a subset of the plurality of actuators based on a position of the variable recruitment actuator mechanism by selectively placing the subset of the plurality of actuators in fluid communication with the high-pressure fluid connection. A control system to control the position of the variable recruitment actuator mechanism may operate based on an input from a user.

Abstract: A wedge drive (1) has a slide upper part (4), a slide lower part (2), and a slide (3) arranged between the slide upper part (4) and the slide lower part (2). The slide (3) is movable between a closed and an open position in a working position. The slide (3) has a variable-position device (10), a first stop (30) and second stop (40), to obtain either the working position or an installation position. In the working position, the device (10) is positioned so that it is used as the limiter for the first stop (30) when the wedge drive (1) is actuated or is in its intended fully open position. In the installation position, the device (10) is positioned so that the second stop (40) supports itself on the device (10).

Abstract: Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits for agricultural implements are disclosed herein. An agricultural implement includes a fluid source, a plurality of fluid demand devices, a delivery control valve, and a priority valve. The fluid source is configured to supply hydraulic fluid. The plurality of fluid demand devices are each configured to receive hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source during operation of the agricultural implement. The delivery control valve is fluidly coupled between the fluid source and a first fluid demand device. The delivery control valve is configured to selectively deliver hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source to the first fluid demand device during operation of the agricultural implement. The priority valve is fluidly coupled between the delivery control valve and the first fluid demand device.

Abstract: A piston lock system having first and second cylinders, first and second pistons telescopically connected to the cylinders, and first and second piston locks. The piston locks are movable in a transverse direction within a planar region between the cylinders, between unlocked positions in which the piston locks are not located between the free ends of the cylinders and the free ends of the piston, and locked positions in which the piston locks are located between the free cylinder ends and the free piston ends. A control link is operatively connected to the piston locks, and configured to simultaneously move the piston locks between the locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: An underwater energy storage system comprising a container where energy is stored by transporting water between the container and a body of water, is disclosed. 5 The container comprises a water- and gas-tight membrane surrounding a container volume, where the container is rendered mainly incompressible by a fill material comprising densely packed, incompressible objects arranged in the container volume, the fill material forming a mainly incompressible aggregate.

Abstract: An example spool includes a shaft varying in diameter along a length of the shaft, and a plurality of annular lands formed on the shaft and spaced-apart by respective reduced diameter annular neck portions. The plurality of annular lands comprise at least one annular metering land, and wherein the at least one annular metering land comprises: one or more sine notches formed as a portion of a sine wave, and one or more additional notches having a different shape from the one or more sine notches.

Abstract: An accumulator for storing fluid that includes a shell that defines an interior volume of the accumulator. The shell includes at least one port for providing fluid to a fluid system. The accumulator also includes an accumulator shaft disposed in the interior volume and extending at least partially across the interior volume from a first interior surface of the shell along a longitudinal axis of the shell, e.g., a central axis. The accumulator includes a piston-plate disposed in the interior volume such that the piston-plate and a second interior surface of the shell define a chamber in the interior volume. The accumulator further includes a motor disposed in the interior volume. The accumulator is configured such that rotational movement of the motor translates to linear movement of the piston-plate along the accumulator shaft.

Abstract: A variable output cylinder system includes a housing forming an inner cavity, the housing having a centerline co-axially extending through center of the inner cavity, and a first section secured to a second section, the first section having a sidewall the tapers outwardly relative to the centerline and relative to an opening passing through a thickness of the first section; a piston rod extending through and slidingly engaged with the opening; a piston head rigidly attached to an end of the piston rod; a pliable membrane fixedly secured to an outer surface of the piston head, the pliable membrane forming a sealed chamber within the second section, the pliably membrane forming an area disposed between the of the first section and an outer surface of the piston head; and a second opening extending through a thickness of the second section and configured to provide passage to the sealed chamber.

Abstract: Provided is a cylinder device capable of preventing rotation unevenness while reducing power consumption and achieving compactification in particular. The present invention is to provide a cylinder device including a cylinder body and a shaft member supported in the cylinder body, the cylinder body being provided with a rotation port that communicates with an outer circumferential surface around the shaft member and rotates the shaft member based on a supply and discharge of a fluid. Thus, it is possible to prevent rotation unevenness while reducing power consumption and achieving compactification.

Abstract: Actuator systems and methods of operation are disclosed. The systems include a hydraulic actuator having a primary piston having a piston head arranged within a housing defining retract and extend chambers on opposite sides of the piston head. A control element is configured to control a supply of pressure to each of the retract and extend chambers. An actuator valve is coupled to the housing and includes a secondary piston that is biased into the retract chamber in an open flow state and when the primary piston is in a fully retracted state the piston head urges the secondary piston into a closed flow state. The actuator valve defines a flow chamber where, in an open flow state, fluid can be passed through the flow chamber and in a closed flow state the fluid is prevented from passing through the flow chamber.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed that produce a pneumatic actuator end cap having an integral volume booster. An example pneumatic actuator end cap includes a first cavity to provide a first fluid passageway to receive a pressurized fluid from a source external to the pneumatic actuator end cap, a second cavity to provide a second fluid passageway to route the pressurized fluid to an internal chamber of a pneumatic actuator in which a piston is disposed, and a third cavity containing a fluid valve to control a flow of the pressurized fluid between the first fluid passageway and the second fluid passageway.

Abstract: An artificial muscle system includes a collapsible skeleton, a flexible skin, and a muscle actuation mechanism. The collapsible skeleton is contained inside a volume defined, at least in part, by the flexible skin. The flexible skin and the collapsible skeleton are configured for the flexible skin to provide a pulling force on the collapsible skeleton when a pressure difference exists between the inside of the sealed volume and a surrounding environment to change at least one of the dimensions and thus geometry of the collapsible skeleton. The muscle actuation mechanism includes at least one of the following to deploy or contract the collapsible skeleton: (a) a fluid displacing, releasing, or capturing mechanism configured to increase or decrease fluid pressure inside the sealed volume; and (b) a heating or cooling element configured to change the temperature of fluid in the sealed volume.

Abstract: A master brake cylinder for a brake system of a vehicle having a master brake cylinder housing, a primary piston component, a secondary piston component, a primary spring device which is preloaded with a first preload force between the primary piston component and the secondary piston component, and a secondary spring device, which is preloaded with a second preload force between the secondary piston component and a wall component (of the master brake cylinder housing, with the second preload force of the secondary spring device being greater than the first preload force of the primary spring device. A brake device for a vehicle, a brake system for a vehicle, and a production method for a mater brake cylinder for a brake system of a vehicle are also described.

Abstract: An electro-hydrostatic drive for realizing a rapid movement during a rapid movement phase, a force-building movement during a force-building movement phase. The apparatus comprises a hydro-machine with variable volume and/or rotational speed, driven by an electric motor, for providing a volume-stream of a hydraulic fluid, a first cylinder with a piston chamber, an rod chamber, and a plunger rod, a reservoir, a pressure source, a relief valve, a check valve, a fluid connection between the piston chamber and the hydro-machine, a fluid connection between the rod chamber and the hydro-machine, a fluid connection between the piston chamber and the reservoir, a fluid connection between the rod-chamber-side port of the hydro-machine and the reservoir, a fluid connection, through the relief valve, between the reservoir and the pressure source.