Abstract: A vane-type hydraulically powered rotary actuator having a shaft provided with a radially extending vane. The shaft is rotatably carried inside a generally cylindrical actuator chamber formed in the housing of the rotary actuator. The vane includes a pair of end walls which move adjacent the actuator housing during operation of the rotary actuator. Improved means are provided for sealing the space between the end walls of the vane and the actuator housing during operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A magnetic snap-action directional control valve mechanism preferably for use with a fluid pressure actuated reciprocating motor or pump (28). A driven member, represented by a tie rod assembly (42) in the described preferred embodiment, is caused to reciprocate at the same frequency as the reciprocating motor (28) due to contact of the driven member by a sealing member within the motor as represented by a piston (36) in the described preferred embodiment. The driven member includes a magnetic area which magnetically interacts with another magnetic area on the valve core of the magnetic directional control valve, thus causing the valve core (19) to also reciprocate at the motor frequency. Due to the nature of the magnetic interaction between the magnetic areas, the valve core (19) reciprocates in a snap-action fashion.

Abstract: A master/slave fluid-pressure apparatus having a first valve respective to angular movement of a master arm for producing fluid pressure which is applied as a pilot pressure to shift a closed-center three-position directional valve in one direction, which then allows a fluid-pressure actuator to be operated to cause a slave arm to follow the master arm in angular motion. The angular movement of the slave arm actuates a second valve coacting therewith to develop a fluid pressure which is applied as another pilot pressure to the directional valve. When the fluid pressure from the second valve reaches a predetermined point, the directional valve is shifted in the opposite direction to stop operation of the fluid-pressure actuator. The first and second valves may either be pressure reducing valves or relief valves.

Abstract: A positioner-actuator control system includes a pair of relays and a pivotally mounted beam for operation thereof in response to a pneumatic control signal. A summing beam has forces applied to it from an input signal, a controlled device position lever, a zero adjustment and a damping mechanism comprising a pair of flat springs attached to the relay beam and to the summing beam. A clamp is movable along the flat springs to permit user adjustment of the damping force.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster includes a booster piston axially slidable in a bore of a housing and delimiting therein a boosting compartment, and a brake pedal responsive operating element which partially extends into the boosting compartment to act as a plunger therein. A control valve has a valve body which is stationary relative to the housing and a valve member which is slidably received in the valve body and controls communication of a pressure chamber with sources of control fluid at reference pressure and at control pressure, the pressure in the boosting compartment being proportionate to the pressure in the pressure chamber.

Abstract: A seal unit having a casing portion and an elastomeric seal body bonded thereto, with the seal body including an excluder lip, a primary liquid seal lip and a separate gas or vapor sealing lip. The primary and secondary lips insure against leakage in both the static and dynamic conditions of the seal. While gas or vapor sealing lip is seated against the valve body of an associated mechanism. The gas or vapor lip in effect provides a relief valve action and is able to be urged into a position of engagement with another part of an associated machine member by its own inherent resiliency. The relief valve bleeds gas and liquid in one direction but not in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A brake power servo booster including a stationary stop provided on the cylindrical projection of a rear shell, and a movable stop provided on an input shaft connected between a brake pedal and a valve mechanism, and operationally associated with the stationary stop to restrict the retracted position of the input shaft. An intermediate stop member is slidably provided in the cylindrical projection, and has its retraction restricted by the stationary stop. The input shaft extends slidably through the intermediate stop member. The movable stop is adapted for abutment on the intermediate stop member to restrict the retracted position of the input shaft.

Abstract: In a high pressure hydraulic system a slave unit is supplied with fluid from a source through a control valve assembly. The assembly has a valve mechanism to control flow between ports communicating with the source and slave unit. The valve mechanism has two members, a first member controlling flow through the first port in response to a spring, a solenoid, and the pressure differential, the solenoid being unable to move the member against a significant pressure differential, and a second member controlling flow through the second port in dependence on the first member, the pressure differential and a spring. The first port has an elastomeric seal preventing leakage when the port is closed. The system has particular advantages when it is used as a vehicle suspension levelling system, in which an electronic control system controls the supply of fluid from an accumulator through a manifold and control valve assemblies to hydraulic suspension struts in accordance with ride height signals.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder including a closed cylinder in which are mounted a rotor for rotation about the axis thereof and two pistons for linear movement, the pistons being respectively sleeved onto two ends of the rotor and bounding a first arcuate fluid tight chamber with the inner surface of the cylinder and the peripheral surface of the rotor. At least one vane member is provided on the rotor for operating with the fluid to produce a rotational output. At least one piston rod is connected to one end of the rotor and mounted to the closed end of the cylinder in fluid tight relationship. On both sides of the first fluid tight chamber are two second fluid tight chambers bounded respectively by two pistons associated with the inner surfaces of the cylinder and the closed ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for assembling a protective boot in an air brake actuator. A mounting tube extends into the nonpressurized air chamber of the actuator and is formed with a groove in an outer peripheral surface. The end of the boot serves as a sleeve which is slipped over the end of the tube. A retainer ring, preferably carried by the boot, is forced downwardly to compress portions of the boot into the tube groove to thereby secure the boot in place.

Abstract: The double-acting hydraulic cylinders of the lift system are connected in a master-slave series relationship. When the cylinders have been retracted to a predetermined extent, a control valve between the last slave and a primary selector valve of the system is mechanically closed responsive to the arrival of the cylinders at such retracted condition and, simultaneously, the master is prevented from further retraction by either mechanical means or another hydraulic control valve between the master and the primary selector valve. Thus, the cylinders and their interconnecting lines are cut off from inadvertent overcharging, as well as fluid escape, so that all cylinders remain uniformly extended with drift from their established positions. Several circuit arrangements are disclosed, including provision for bleeding off higher than necessary operating pressures tending to become trapped within the cylinders and their associated flow lines after the cylinders have reached the intended point of retraction.

Abstract: A brake power servo booster, in which a fluid pressure difference is generated between opposite sides of a power piston, is provided with a wedge shaped member which is forced by the power piston between the wedge shaped recess of the members of an output shaft. When the wedge shaped member is forced into the recess by the piston the distance between the members of the output shaft is enlarged.

Abstract: There is provided a hoist as for an ocean floor dredging operation, which is capable of providing hydraulic heavy lifting capacity, for raising or lowering the dredging means between a surface ship and the ocean floor, and further can routinely provide the ship heave compensation when lifting capacity is not required, for example during dredging operation, or if the raising or lowering of pipe during pipe deployment and retrieval operations is discontinued for any other reasons, such as extremely high seas. The pneumohydraulic system comprises a piston slidably sealably movable within a cylinder and dividing the cylinder into upper and lower portions; a pneumohydraulic accumulator for providing hydraulic fluid to each of the cylinder portions and the necessary valve means to open and close the necessary connections for filling and evacuating one of the cylinder portions with hydraulic fluid without rendering hydraulically inoperative the second portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus that controls movement of an arm through a gaseous or liquid fluid. The apparatus incorporates a plurality of longitudinally extensible hose members that expand and contract their respective lengths responsive to introduction and withdrawal, respectively, of hydraulic fluid thereinto and therefrom. The hose members are interconnected to one another through a plurality of longitudinally spaced, transversely disposed brace members that may serve as lever means so that expansion or contraction of one hose member can effect an opposite response in an opposed member. The brace members may be interconnected by a spine means that coincides with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the apparatus. A sheath covers the apparatus. The arm has applications in the field of robotics and a special rat tail-like form of the apparatus provides a low drag substitute for conventional aircraft rudder and elevator assemblies.

Abstract: A power assisted steering gear has a toothed part 1 such as a pinion coupled through a torque responsive rod 12 to an input shaft 4 so that rotation of the shaft 4 rotates the pinion 1 to drive an output member having a servo motor associated therewith. Fluid flow to the servo motor for power assistance is controlled by the valve 6 by displacement of component parts of the valve during relative rotation between the input shaft 4 and the pinion 1 as permitted by the rod 12.The valve 6 and pinion 1 form a unified assembly 7 carried on the shaft 4 and which is inserted into and removed from the housing 3 (by way of a side port 15) in unit manner. The assembly 7 is retained in the housing 3 solely by means, such as a spring clip 25, which is readily accessible from the exterior of the housing.The unified assembly 7 is rotatably borne in the housing by bearings 16 and 17 which may form part of the assembly for removal therewith or be retained within the housing following removal of the unified assembly.

Abstract: In an oil-free multistage gas compressor comprising cylinders, a plurality of compression pistons in respective cylinders and a transmission mechanism for reciprocating said compression pistons through guide pistons serially connected to said compression pistons, the improvement wherein a common space where these pistons come in and out is defined adjacent the connections, and a diaphragm is disposed in said space transversely whereby said compression pistons are oil-tightly separated from said guide pistons.

Abstract: A body sleeve which houses a stator and a rotary vane extending radially from a drive shaft is sealed at its ends to a pair of head assemblies by flexible, metal end plates which retain tapered, roller thrust bearings within the head assemblies.

Abstract: A power assisted steering gear has a toothed part 1 such as a pinion coupled through a torque responsive rod 12 to an input shaft 4 so that rotation of the shaft 4 rotates the pinion 1 to drive an output member having a servo motor associated therewith. Fluid flow to the servo motor for power assistance is controlled by a valve 6 by displacement of component parts of the valve during relative rotation between the input shaft 4 and the pinion 1 as permitted by the rod 12.The toothed part 1 is rotatably borne in the housing by a bearing 16 which journals a shaft part 19 formed by an extension of the rod 12 through the toothed part 1.The valve 6 and pinion 1 may form a unified assembly 7 carried on the shaft 4 and which is inserted into and removed from the housing 3 in unit manner.

Abstract: A tandem-type brake booster including a closed shell assembly composed of front and rear chambers defined by a partition member therein and power pistons coaxially disposed in the front and rear chambers, respectively, the power pistons being operatively coupled with each other and passing through a substantially central portion of the partition member, each of the front and rear chambers being divided into a constant-pressure chamber subjected to a vacuum and a variable-pressure chamber communicable selectively with the constant-pressure chamber and atmosphere, the constant-pressure chambers in the front and rear chambers being held in communication with each other, the variable-pressure chambers in the front and rear chambers being held in communication with each other, the power pistons being axially movable in unison by pressure differences between the constant-pressure chambers and the variable-pressure chambers, respectively, one of the front and rear chambers having an outside diameter smaller than tha

Abstract: A valving mechanism for use in machines such as internal combustion engines, steam engines, gas compression engines or air compressors. The mechanism employs a piston valve reciprocating within a cylindrical chamber under the direct action of cam surfaces carried upon a gear-driven flywheel. The cylindrical valve chamber carries a plurality of spaced apart ports, which are interconnected with the cylinder of the machine and with intake and exhaust systems. The machine has a piston reciprocated within the cylinder by means of a crank shaft which carries a crank shaft gear which interconnects with and drives the flywheel gear. One side of the flywheel gear carries cam surfaces which move the piston valve between the several positions required during the compression and exhaust and intake cycles of the machine. The valve chamber is mounted, transversed to the cylinder and in parallel with the crank shaft.