Abstract: An actuator has: a rod having a socket portion at one distal end of the rod; and a swivel cap including: a base portion having an inner surface and an outer surface having an origin of the radius at the center of the plane that defines the outer surface; a raised domed portion disposed on the inner surface of the base portion and mounted in the socket portion of the rod; a raised region located on at least one of the raised domed portion or the socket portion; wherein the swivel cap tilts relative to the rod in response to angular misalignment with a load to a tilt angle; a housing having an interior elongated hole wherein the rod is dimensioned to fit in the elongated hole; a piston dimensioned to fit in and move along the elongated hole while connected to the rod; and mating structure located on at least one of the piston and rod, the mating structure configured to allow the rod to attach to the piston in a manner to create clearance between the rod and the piston to allow the rod and piston to move with re

Abstract: An actuator has: a rod having a socket portion at one distal end of the rod; and a swivel cap including: a base portion having an inner surface and an outer surface having an origin of the radius at the center of the plane that defines the outer surface; a raised domed portion disposed on the inner surface of the base portion and mounted in the socket portion of the rod; a raised region located on at least one of the raised domed portion or the socket portion; wherein the swivel cap tilts relative to the rod in response to angular misalignment with a load to a tilt angle; a housing having an interior elongated hole wherein the rod is dimensioned to fit in the elongated hole; a piston dimensioned to fit in and move along the elongated hole while connected to the rod; and mating structure located on at least one of the piston and rod, the mating structure configured to allow the rod to attach to the piston in a manner to create clearance between the rod and the piston to allow the rod and piston to move with re

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic system has an air powered motor driving a hydraulic pump with a pressure limiting valve that turns off air flow to the air motor when a hydraulic pressure output by the pump at a sense port of the valve reaches a certain limit. A valve element of the valve has spring, hydraulic and pneumatic sections, with an unbalanced area of the hydraulic section in a sealed pressure chamber of a cartridge that is part of the valve housing. The pneumatic section extends out one end of the cartridge to fill a bore between the air inlet and outlet ports when the pneumatic section is extended, and allow air to pass when it is retracted.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic system has an air powered motor driving a hydraulic pump with a pressure limiting valve that turns off air flow to the air motor when a hydraulic pressure output by the pump at a sense port of the valve reaches a certain limit. A valve element of the valve has spring, hydraulic and pneumatic sections, with an unbalanced area of the hydraulic section in a sealed pressure chamber of a cartridge that is part of the valve housing. The pneumatic section extends out one end of the cartridge to fill a bore between the air inlet and outlet ports when the pneumatic section is extended, and allow air to pass when it is retracted.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic system has an air powered motor driving a hydraulic pump with a pressure limiting valve that turns off air flow to the air motor when a hydraulic pressure output by the pump at a sense port of the valve reaches a certain limit. A valve element of the valve has spring, hydraulic and pneumatic sections, with an unbalanced area of the hydraulic section in a sealed pressure chamber of a cartridge that is part of the valve housing. The pneumatic section extends out one end of the cartridge to fill a bore between the air inlet and outlet ports when the pneumatic section is extended, and allow air to pass when it is retracted.

Abstract: A rotary air motor driven hydraulic pump has separate pressure and return actuators and first and second stage eccentric driven pistons 180 degrees out of phase and driven by the motor through a gear reduction unit. The pressure and return actuators are on/off/proportional valves and the pump has two pressure relief valves with one adjustable from outside of the pump for a user to set a pressure limit of the pump. Above a certain output pressure limit, a bypass valve shunts flow in excess of that needed to precharge the second stage compression chamber from the first stage piston to an elastic reservoir from which the hydraulic fluid pumped by the pump is drawn. To make the pump stall at a certain output pressure, a pressure limiting valve can be used that cuts off the air supply to the pump at the desired output pressure.

Abstract: A fluid storage tank including an entrained air removal mechanism is provided. The entrained air removal mechanism assists in consolidating small air bubbles entrained within the fluid into larger bubbles such that the air bubbles have sufficient buoyancy to escape the fluid flow. The entrained air removal mechanism may be in the form of a plurality of saw toothed slots communicating different chambers within the fluid storage tank. The fluid storage tank can also be configured to direct fluid flow towards the sidewalls of the fluid storage tank as the fluid transitions from one chamber to another to promote heat transfer out of the fluid storage tank and to avoid the fluid within the tank acting as a thermal insulator.

Abstract: A hydraulic storage tank is provided. The hydraulic storage tank includes a storage tank, a return flow filtration chamber, a contaminant containment chamber (CCC) and a tube connecting the return flow filtration chamber with the CCC. The storage tank defines a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid. The return flow filtration chamber is configured to house a return flow filter. The CCC includes a boundary wall bounding a cavity and a CCC outlet fluidly communicating the cavity with the reservoir. The CCC outlet is radially inward from the boundary wall. The tube defines a discharge passage fluidly connecting the filtration chamber with the cavity of the CCC and includes an inlet in fluid communication with the filtration chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with the CCC. The outlet of the tube directs fluid in angular direction about an axis defined by the contaminant containment chamber outlet.

Abstract: A fluid storage tank including heat extraction arrangements is provided. The fluid storage tank includes a passive and an active heat exchanger. A fan draws ambient air through both the active and passive heat exchangers to dissipate heat energy stored in the fluid passing through or stored within the tank.

Abstract: A fluid storage tank including an entrained air removal mechanism is provided. The entrained air removal mechanism assists in consolidating small air bubbles entrained within the fluid into larger bubbles such that the air bubbles have sufficient buoyancy to escape the fluid flow. The entrained air removal mechanism may be in the form of a plurality of saw toothed slots communicating different chambers within the fluid storage tank. The fluid storage tank can also be configured to direct fluid flow towards the sidewalls of the fluid storage tank as the fluid transitions from one chamber to another to promote heat transfer out of the fluid storage tank and to avoid the fluid within the tank acting as a thermal insulator.

Abstract: A reservoir is provided. The reservoir defines an internal storage cavity. A plurality of system connections extend through a sidewall of the reservoir defining channels fluidly communicating the internal cavity of the reservoir with the exterior of the reservoir. A valve arrangement has a valve member that operably simultaneously closes off all of the plurality of system connections to prevent fluid flow from the internal cavity through the system connections when in a closed position. The valve arrangement, when the valve member is in an open position, permits fluid flow from the internal cavity and through all of the plurality of system connections.

Abstract: A rotary air motor driven hydraulic pump has separate pressure and return actuators and first and second stage eccentric driven pistons 180 degrees out of phase and driven by the motor through a gear reduction unit. The pressure and return actuators are on/off/proportional valves and the pump has two pressure relief valves with one adjustable from outside of the pump for a user to set a pressure limit of the pump. Above a certain output pressure limit, a bypass valve shunts flow in excess of that needed to precharge the second stage compression chamber from the first stage piston to an elastic reservoir from which the hydraulic fluid pumped by the pump is drawn. To make the pump stall at a certain output pressure, a pressure limiting valve can be used that cuts off the air supply to the pump at the desired output pressure.

Abstract: A hydro-pneumatic system has an air powered motor driving a hydraulic pump with a pressure limiting valve that turns off air flow to the air motor when a hydraulic pressure output by the pump at a sense port of the valve reaches a certain limit. A valve element of the valve has spring, hydraulic and pneumatic sections, with an unbalanced area of the hydraulic section in a sealed pressure chamber of a cartridge that is part of the valve housing. The pneumatic section extends out one end of the cartridge to fill a bore between the air inlet and outlet ports when the pneumatic section is extended, and allow air to pass when it is retracted.

Abstract: A breather for a fluid storage tank, a storage tank incorporating same, and a method of releasing pressure in a fluid storage tank is provided. The present invention permits graduated release of pressure within the storage tank by allowing for varied flow rates of air out of the storage tank. In one embodiment, a valve assembly is provided that includes a valve member that has a graduated release feature that adjusts the size of a gap though the valve assembly formed between the valve member and a corresponding valve seat.

Abstract: A hydraulic storage tank is provided. The hydraulic storage tank includes a storage tank, a return flow filtration chamber, a contaminant containment chamber (CCC) and a tube connecting the return flow filtration chamber with the CCC. The storage tank defines a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid. The return flow filtration chamber is configured to house a return flow filter. The CCC includes a boundary wall bounding a cavity and a CCC outlet fluidly communicating the cavity with the reservoir. The CCC outlet is radially inward from the boundary wall. The tube defines a discharge passage fluidly connecting the filtration chamber with the cavity of the CCC and includes an inlet in fluid communication with the filtration chamber and an outlet in fluid communication with the CCC. The outlet of the tube directs fluid in angular direction about an axis defined by the contaminant containment chamber outlet.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable speed hydraulic pump designed to operate at a maximum horsepower throughout its pressure range by adjusting motor speed according to motor load parameters. In particular, the variable speed hydraulic pump includes a hydraulic pump unit coupled to a variable speed electric motor by a drive unit and to a hydraulic fluid tank for pressurizing and pumping hydraulic fluid when operated by the motor. A motor controller is electrically connected to the motor to supply drive signals to the motor based on electrical characteristics of the drive signals which are dependent on the load exerted on the motor. Suction from the load is provided by both the main pump and a bidirectional supercharging pump by reversing the direction of the motor and shifting a 4/3 valve to connect the main pump inlet to the load and its outlet to tank.

Abstract: The invention provides a variable speed hydraulic pump designed to operate at a maximum horsepower throughout its pressure range by adjusting motor speed according to motor load parameters. In particular, the variable speed hydraulic pump includes a hydraulic pump unit coupled to a variable speed electric motor by a drive unit and to a hydraulic fluid tank for pressurizing and pumping hydraulic fluid when operated by the motor. A motor controller is electrically connected to the motor to supply drive signals to the motor based on electrical characteristics of the drive signals which are dependent on the load exerted on the motor. Suction from the load is provided by both the main pump and a bidirectional supercharging pump by reversing the direction of the motor and shifting a 4/3 valve to connect the main pump inlet to the load and its outlet to tank.