Abstract: A valve assembly for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and a working fluid gallery comprises: a valve comprising a valve member and one or more cooperating valve seats; an actuator actuatable to apply a force to urge the valve member away from or towards the one or more valve seats; and a coupling between the actuator and the valve member. The coupling comprises a connector located at least partially within a tube. A connector void provided between at least a portion of the connector and the tube is in fluid communication with a working fluid gallery outlet.

Abstract: A valve assembly for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and a working fluid gallery comprises: a valve comprising a valve member and one or more cooperating valve seats; an actuator actuatable to apply a force to urge the valve member away from or towards the one or more valve seats; and a coupling between the actuator and the valve member. The coupling comprises a connector located at least partially within a tube. A connector void provided between at least a portion of the connector and the tube is in fluid communication with a working fluid gallery outlet.

Abstract: A fluid working machine has at least one working chamber of cyclically varying volume and low and high pressure valves to regulate the flow of working fluid into and out of the working chamber, from low and high pressure manifolds. The low and high pressure valves are actuated by electronically controlled valve actuation means which, when actuated, applies forces to the low and high pressure valve members to open and/or close the respective valves. The low and high pressure valve members are independently moveable and, although the low pressure valve member typically begins to move quickly in response to a shared valve control signal, the high pressure valve member typically moves only after a change in the pressure within the working chamber.

Abstract: A valve unit for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and both a first working fluid line and second working fluid line, the valve unit comprising: a first valve comprising a first valve member and one or more cooperating first valve seats, a second valve comprising a second valve member and one or more cooperating second valve seats, an actuator coupled to both the first and second valve members through which a force may be applied to urge the first valve member open or closed and to urge the second valve member open or closed, a coupling between the actuator and the first valve member, wherein the coupling between the actuator and the first valve member comprises a connector which extends at least partially through the second valve member.

Abstract: A valve unit for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and both a first working fluid line and second working fluid line, the valve unit comprising: a first valve comprising a first valve member and one or more cooperating first valve seats, a second valve comprising a second valve member and one or more cooperating second valve seats, an actuator coupled to both the first and second valve members through which a force may be applied to urge the first valve member open or closed and to urge the second valve member open or closed, a coupling between the actuator and the first valve member, wherein the coupling between the actuator and the first valve member comprises a connector which extends at least partially through the second valve member.

Abstract: In a face sealing annular valve, an annular valve member is retained around or within a guide. The annular valve member is configured so that, when the annular valve member and the annular valve seat are coaxial, the spacing between the guide means and the guide-engaging surface region increases with distance along the central axis from a minimum of spacing between the annular valve member and the guide means. An end stop limits the tilt of the annular valve member. Advantageously, the annular valve member has restricted radial movement, enabling a good seal to be formed, while being unable to simultaneously contact diametrically opposite sides of the guide and jam.

Abstract: A face sealing annular valve (1) for a fluid-working machine has an annular valve member (10, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110) having a relaxed configuration in which a first seat-engaging surface (14, 101) of the annular valve member can sealedly engage with a first sealing surface of an annular valve seat (8), but a second seat-engaging surface (15, 101) cannot sealedly engage with a second sealing surface (9), and is elastically deformable to a deformed configuration in which the second seat-engaging surface can sealedly engage with a second sealing surface, while the first seat-engaging surface remains sealedly engaged with the first sealing surface. The annular valve member can be made with relatively high tolerances and is only loosely retained by a guide in the relaxed configuration.

Abstract: A fluid working machine has at least one working chamber of cyclically varying volume and low and high pressure valves to regulate the flow of working fluid into and out of the working chamber, from low and high pressure manifolds. The low and high pressure valves are actuated by electronically controlled valve actuation means which, when actuated, applies forces to the low and high pressure valve members to open and/or close the respective valves. The low and high pressure valve members are independently moveable and, although the low pressure valve member typically begins to move quickly in response to a shared valve control signal, the high pressure valve member typically moves only after a change in the pressure within the working chamber.

Abstract: In a face sealing annular valve, an annular valve member is retained around or within a guide. The annular valve member is configured so that, when the annular valve member and the annular valve seat are coaxial, the spacing between the guide means and the guide-engaging surface region increases with distance along the central axis from a minimum of spacing between the annular valve member and the guide means. An end stop limits the tilt of the annular valve member. Advantageously, the annular valve member has restricted radial movement, enabling a good seal to be formed, while being unable to simultaneously contact diametrically opposite sides of the guide and jam.

Abstract: A face sealing annular valve (1) for a fluid-working machine has an annular valve member (10, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110) having a relaxed configuration in which a first seat-engaging surface (14, 101) of the annular valve member can sealedly engage with a first sealing surface of an annular valve seat (8), but a second seat-engaging surface (15, 101) cannot sealedly engage with a second sealing surface (9), and is elastically deformable to a deformed configuration in which the second seat-engaging surface can sealedly engage with a second sealing surface, while the first seat-engaging surface remains sealedly engaged with the first sealing surface. The annular valve member can be made with relatively high tolerances and is only loosely retained by a guide in the relaxed configuration.