Abstract: The booster comprises, in a radial opening (21) of the valve body (6), a first positioning member (22) fastened in the valve body and a second positioning member (23) interposed between the first positioning member and an interacting shoulder (19) of the valve plunger (14), the second positioning member (23) internally associated in a hinged connection with the first positioning member and having an outer end zone (30) interacting, in a rest position of the booster, with a stationary surface (31), with which the piston structure (2-5) also interacts by coming up against it, to assign to the valve plunger (14) a specific rest position relative to the valve body (6).

Abstract: A digitally controlled air-over-hydraulic actuator includes a pneumatic cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder each having a separate piston and a common connecting rod. The pneumatic piston applies force to the connecting rod urging movement of the hydraulic piston. Bleeding of oil from one side of the hydraulic piston to the other is controlled by means of digital pulses applied to a digital valve that allows oil on either side of the hydraulic piston to flow to the other. The digital valve includes a moving piston having an oil passage that is momentarily aligned with ports to opposite sides of the hydraulic cylinder. A control system senses the differential pressure between opposite sides of the pneumatic piston to produce pulses that accelerate the digital valve piston past the ports, precisely controlling forced movement of the hydraulic piston.

Abstract: A piston has skirt portions (13) which are provided with parallel rows (14) of cavities (15) whose maximum depth below the surface of the skirt portion is 0.010 mm. Parts (20,23) of the skirt portion are left between the cavities for providing a reduced area, in comparison with the full skirt portion, for the transmission to an associated cylinder or liner of lateral loads; this reduced area reducing the frictional losses. The cavities (15) hold lubricating oil and provide a cushion of oil which supplies oil to the reduced bearing areas and which tends to resist lateral movement of the piston at top and bottom dead center, so reducing or eliminating "piston slap".

Abstract: A steering wheel end shaft part and a gear end shaft part are connected together elastically by means of a mechanism located between the shaft parts, the relative rotation between the shaft parts being converted into a large-stroke pivoting movement of a setting lever which actuates a control valve unit of the power steering system.

Abstract: A hinged plate diaphragm pump comprising a pumping chamber defined by an inflexible member and a flexible member opposed thereto. The flexible member has at least three inflexible plates with edges in a common plane. Each plate has at least two straight plate hinge edges, each plate hinge edge being adjacent to and aligned with a second plate hinge edge of an adjacent plate, the adjacent edges of each plate hinge edge and second plate hinge edge is attached together by a flexible hinge strip. Preferably, the plates comprise at least one array of plates positioned about an axial center of symmetry perpendicular to the common plane. The hinged plates can be hingedly connected to a surrounding support plate and an axially central plate positioned at the axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A brake booster includes a solenoid valve which enables the opening or closing of a passage which provides a communication between a constant and a variable pressure chamber through a valve mechanism. The invention utilizes an empty space left within the constant pressure chamber for disposing a solenoid valve therein. The solenoid valve is mounted on a valve body in a manner to utilize the entry space efficiently to allow the solenoid valve to be mounted on the valve body without increasing the axial size of the brake booster.

Abstract: A vacuum booster including a push rod, a housing having a first and second compartments, a power piston located in the housing and operated by a pressure differential between the first and second compartments and including a small and large diameter opening portion, a control valve operatively associated with the push rod and located within the power piston for controlling the pressure differential between the first and second compartments in response to movement of the push rod, an output member having a rear end portion slidably disposed within the large diameter opening portion of the power piston, a valve plunger provided in the control valve and having one end slidably disposed in the small diameter opening of the power piston, a resilient reaction disc located adjacent the rear end portion of the output member and disposed within the large diameter portion of the power piston, and an elastic member disposed between the rear end portion of the output member and the power piston and defining a position of

Abstract: A linear actuator (42) includes a housing (44), and a linearly displaceable piston (46) having a shaft (48) with a gradated position scale (60) and a gradated direction scale (62) disposed by ion implantation on a casing (50) of the shaft, in axial alignment (49) with the shaft stroke. Proximity sensors (64, 66) mounted in the housing sense movement in the position of the scales to provide sensed shaft position signals (68) and sense shaft direction signals (70).

Abstract: The method and system employing double-acting, fluid-driven, twistor-pairs as combined flexural supports, joints, torque motors and linear-response angular deflectors in arms and legs of robots. Thus, the twistor-pairs at each joint advantageously serves as hinge or flexural support for the limb supported by the joint and simultaneously serves as double-acting turning motor for moving the portions of the arm or leg supported by the twistor pair. Various jointed-arm or jointed-leg robots, called "arthrobots" are shown embodying the invention. Controllably varying fluid pressure P.sub.1 and R.sub.2 (usually pressurized air) fed into elastic shells forming respective fluid chambers of a double-acting, twistor-pair at each joint, deflects a limb into predetermined predictable angular positions, depending upon these pressures.

Abstract: Piston rods (60, 62) of three linear hydraulic motors (36, 38, 40) are connected at their outer ends (64, 68) to two spaced apart transverse frame members (10, 12). A cylinder housing (72) is driven back and forth along each pair of piston rods (60, 62). Three transverse drive beams (48, 50, 52) are provided. Each drive beam (48, 50, 52) is directly connected to an associated one of the cylinder housings (72). Three sets of floor slat members (1, 2, 3) are provided. Each set (1, 2, 3) is connected to an associated one of the transverse drive beams (48, 50, 52). The linear hydraulic motors (36, 38, 40) are operated for moving the floor slat members (1, 2, 3) in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction. Each cylinder housing (72) has four fluid chambers (82, 84, 86, 88). The first and third chambers (82, 86) are interconnected and the second and fourth chambers (84, 88) are interconnected.

Abstract: Piston rods (60, 62) of three linear hydraulic motors (36, 38, 40) are connected at their outer ends (64, 68) to two spaced apart transverse frame members (10, 12). A cylinder housing (72) is driven back and forth along each pair of piston rods (60, 62). Three transverse drive beams (48, 50, 52) are provided. Each drive beam (48, 50, 52) is directly connected to an associated one of the cylinder housings (72). Three sets of floor slat members (1, 2, 3) are provided. Each set (1, 2, 3) is connected to an associated one of the transverse drive beams (48, 50, 52). The linear hydraulic motors (36, 38, 40) are operated for moving the floor slat members (1, 2, 3) in one direction, for advancing a load, and for retracting them in the opposite direction. Each cylinder housing (72) has four fluid chambers (82, 84, 86, 88). The first and third chambers (82, 86) are interconnected and the second and fourth chambers (84, 88) are interconnected.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator for a rail vehicle brake unit, comprising a cylinder and a rod shaped member. The actuator includes a cylinder-shaped housing, a piston with a piston rod and a spring intended to act in a brake applying direction.In order to obtain a truly modular system the actuator, as an integrated and self-contained unit, is arranged on the rod-shaped member of the brake unit. Its housing is attached to the brake unit cylinder. The actuator piston rod is tubular and slidable on the rod-shaped member.

Abstract: In a fluid pump or motor improvements are provided to the piston shoes therein to permit a higher pressure in the respective device. Other improvements are done to the hydrostatic bearings in radial piston or radial chamber type fluid motors and pumps. A further arrangement is, that plural pistons are applied to permit the use of two different fluids in the respective device. This leads also to the application of disc springs and their modification in a pump or motor to make the pumping of non-viscous fluids like water possible at very high pressure. Motors are provided with arrangements to permit them to drive and to carry simultaneously or to have hollow shafts, whereby improved and novel machines and vehicles are obtained.

Abstract: A contractility actuator includes a longitudinal quadrilateral mesh of relatively inelastic segments with anchor points at either end, an expandable bladder confined within the mesh and means for introducing and inflating the bladder with a liquid for generating a contractile force between the anchor points mechanically analogous to a muscle but of much greater magnitude. Two or more of the contractile actuators are arranged in a system for precisely articulating one or more arms pivotally secured at the distal ends of a structural member.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hydraulic reaction mechanism which is easy to manufacture and for use with an automotive power steering system. The mechanism has an input shaft and an output shaft which are rotatable relative to each other and mounted in a housing. A servovalve is mounted between the shafts and actuated in response to the relative movement between the shafts. Radially protruding portions are formed at the end of the input shaft that is on the side of the output shaft. The output shaft has an enlarged portion provided with cylinder holes in which reaction pistons are received. The pistons hydraulically push both sides of the radially protruding portions. The pistons have grooves in which retaining plates for restricting rearward movement of the pistons are engaged.

Abstract: A diaphragm (32) for a servomotor which separates the interior of first (12) and second (14) shells into first (18) and second (20) chambers. The diaphragm (32) has an external bead (30) with first rib (31) having first (40) and second (42) sealing surfaces and an annular projection (46) extending therefrom which engages the rear shell (14) or divider (15) to guide the first (40) and second (42) sealing surfaces into contact with corresponding surfaces on the first (12) and second (14) shells. When the first (12) shell is connected to the second (14) shell, the projection (46) is compressed into the first rib (31) while a portion (33, 35) of the first rib (31) expands into cavities (37, 39) on both sides of the annular projection (46) to develop internal resiliency that uniformly acts on the first (40) and second (42) sealing surfaces. The diaphragm (32) has an internal bead (34) with a second rib (56) that snaps into a groove (36) on the hub (38) located in the servomotor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an abutment arrangement for limiting the stroke of a piston and cylinder actuator. The abutment arrangement comprises an integrated detector which may be in the form of a proximity feeler screwed into a guard housing. The abutment arrangement may be furthermore so designed that it prevents twisting of the piston rod in the cylinder.

Abstract: In a selective control device for plural kinds of oil-hydraulic actuators comprising an actuator selective valve for selecting an operative oil-hydraulic actuator from among plural kinds of oil-hydraulic actuators and a directional control valve for operating the selected actuator extendedly and retractedly, the actuator selective valve is provided with a quick extensional position which functions to connect an extensional pressure port thereof to a bottom side oil chamber of the selected actuator and also to connect a head side oil chamber to the bottom side oil chamber in order to extend the selected actuator quickly. The construction of the actuator selective valve eliminates a quick extensional valve adopted in a prior oil-hydraulic control device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a combined servo control and jack unit which comprises a casing, an actuated piston slidably disposed in a piston chamber and having a piston rod extending outwardly of the casing. A servo valve chamber, axially parallel to the piston chamber, has slidably mounted therein a spool and also a sleeve member which is mechanically connected to the piston rod. Shifting the spool in either axial direction directs hydraulic fluid to one or the other side of the piston, thus moving the latter until spool stopping, at which time the sleeve automatically, almost instantly, blocks off the flow in the new position. A variable speed, gradual action of the piston is obtained without hydraulic shock or cavitation.

Abstract: An elevating apparatus for a working vehicle includes separate front lifting and rear lifting mechanisms that can be elevated by hydraulic cylinders, a feedback rod arranged between a link arm of one of the lifting mechanisms and a hydraulic pressure control apparatus for controlling the hydraulic cylinders. A change-over lever selects the front lifting mechanism or the rear lifting mechanism, and an elevating lever controls elevation of the lifting mechanisms. When one of the lifting mechanisms is selected and elevated by operation of the change-over lever, the elevating lever is operated normally without causing abutment between an adjuster member attached to the feedback rod that is interactive with the elevating lever, and an interactive member of the elevating lever. A return mechanism between the change-over lever and the elevating lever enables the elevating lever to be returned to the neutral position when selecting one of the front and rear lifting mechanisms.