Abstract: Fluid actuator includes a piston rod comprised of a wound filamentary composite structure to provide an extremely light weight, relatively low cost, envelope efficient design. Attached to the piston rod are one or more non-integral piston heads which are preloaded against one or more ramp surfaces on the exterior of said piston rod. A pair of oppositely facing ramp surfaces may be formed on the piston rod by interspersing filler means between the piston rod fiber layers. Another ramp area may be formed by providing an external groove in the piston rod which is engaged by longitudinally split support shoes that provide an attachment surface for a detachable piston head. An internal ramp may also be provided on the inner diameter of the piston rod adjacent the axial outer end thereof for mating engagement by a conically ramped exterior surface on an internal metal stud used to attach a rod end assembly to the axial outer end of the piston rod.

Abstract: The stop key (20) of the valve plunger (4) is made of metal wire and comprises a central portion having two lateral mounting strand parts (23) housed in grooves facing each other (13) in the radial opening (11) for mounting the key in the hub (1) of the servomotor, the two lateral parts (23) being joined by a central strand part in the shape of a V or a Y (24) and extending outward by parts forming arms (22) cooperating in elastic engagement with the outside periphery of the hub (1).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting valves in automobile engines which utilizes an elongated indicating stick having a first set of indicia for identifying the specific valves to be adjusted with the engine in a first position, and a second set of indicia for indicating the particular valves to be adjusted following rotation of the engine one full turn in the normal direction of rotation.

Abstract: An improvement in a known power steering system of the type in which movement of a steering wheel is transmitted via a torsion bar to an oil path switching valve to actuate a power cylinder in a desired steering direction by switching a high pressure oil path extending from an oil pump to the oil path switching valve and a low pressure oil path extending from the oil path switching valve to an oil tank. A part of the working oil flowing through the high pressure oil path is led to a reaction piston to restrain torsion of the torsion bar.

Abstract: The distributor, typically one having a star-shaped rotor in a disc-shaped stator, incorporates two components, primary and secondary, defining two parallel distribution circuits (10, 10') controlling an assistance actuator (V) and incorporating, in each circuit, three variable restrictions (1-3 or 1'-3'), together with, advantageously, two other parallel reaction circuits (20, 20') with two restrictions in series (4, 5 and 4', 5'). The chamber (V.sub.1, V.sub.2) of the assistance actuator (V) are joined to the distribution circuits (10, 10'), respectively, between the second (2, 2') and third (3, 3') variable restrictions which create the differential assistance pressure, the central point of the distributor being determined by the first (1, 1') and second (2, 2') variable restrictions.

Abstract: A piston and cylinder actuator is of modular construction and is made of axially aligned actuator cells or units that are able to be joined together end to end and each comprise a cylindrical wall with end walls, a piston and a piston rod. In the case of all single cells, with the possible exception of the cell at the end opposite to the end at which the piston rod is to act on a load, the piston rod projects out from the two sides of the piston and the end walls each have an opening for the piston rod ends so that in the assembled condition of the actuator the piston rods of the individual cells abut each other where the end faces of the cells adjoin each other. The piston driving spaces that in all cases are on the same side of the each piston, may be supplied with driving fluid in parallel by way of ducts running from one end of the actuator to the other and made up of holes in the cylindrical walls of the cells.