Abstract: A vehicle having a fluid-powered rotary dipper stick assembly including a boom attachment head and a bucket attachment head with an outer body extending therebetween. A shaft extends longitudinally within the outer body. An inner body is disposed within the outer body immediately inward of the outer body to provide support thereto. In one embodiment, the inner body is rigidly attached to the shaft for rotation as a unit relative to the outer body. In another embodiment, the outer body and the shaft are rigidly attached together for rotation as a unit relative to the inner body. A linear-to-rotary transmission mechanism including a piston sleeve is disposed within the inner and outer bodies and is operable to produce rotational movement of the shaft relative to whichever of the outer or inner bodies is not connected to the shaft.

Abstract: A fluid-powered actuator having a body with an interior helical groove, a drive member supported for rotary movement relative to the body, and a carrier reciprocally mounted within the body. In a first embodiment, the carrier rotatably retains first and second rollers in a fixed axial and circumferential position relative to the carrier, with the one roller engaging the body groove and the other roller engaging a helical groove formed on the drive member. The carrier includes a piston portion. In an alternative embodiment, only a single roller is used for engaging the body groove and the carrier has a key member which projects into a keyway recess of the drive member to permit substantially uninhibited axial movement of the carrier relative to the drive member as the carrier reciprocates within the body while coupling the rotational drive of the carrier to the drive member.

Abstract: A fluid-powered, laterally tiltable bucket assembly having a bucket with a pair of bucket clevises, and an actuator having a generally cylindrical body with an output shaft rotatably disposed therein with an axis in general parallel alignment with a forward rotation plane through which the bucket is rotatable on a backhoe arm by the operation of a rotation link. A bracket is attached to the body and has a pair of clevises for pivotal attachment to the vehicle arm and rotation link. The output shaft has a pair of shaft clevises for attaching the shaft to the corresponding bucket clevises. A linear-to-rotary transmission device disposed within the body produces rotational movement of the shaft relative to the body to produce lateral tilting of the bucket in a lateral plane generally transverse to the forward rotational plane for the bucket.

Abstract: A fluid-powered actuator having a body with first and second end walls, with a bulkhead positioned therebetween, which is adjustably rotatable to angularly position the bulkhead relative to the body for fluid-powered operation to establish the end limits of rotation of an output shaft. The actuator has first and second piston heads disposed in the body on opposite sides of the bulkhead to define four fluid-tight chambers. In the preferred embodiment, the bulkhead is selectively clamped between two sidewall portions. A sleeve extends between and fixedly connects the piston heads together. A plurality of guide rods are fixedly attached to and extend between the piston heads and through apertures in the bulkhead in one embodiment, and between the first piston head and the bulkhead and through apertures in the first piston head in another embodiment to transmit torque to the body and through the bulkhead.

Abstract: A fluid-powered rotary actuated support for a platform, having a body with a vertical axial orientation during use. A drive member has a drive shaft extending coaxially within the body and a flange attached to an end portion of the shaft toward an upper body end. The shaft and flange are formed as an integral unit free of connection joints therebetween. The flange projects radially outward from the shaft beyond an inner body surface and is rotatable relative to the body through a horizontal plane. A first ball race is formed in the flange and a second ball race is formed in the body with balls disposed therebetween. Linear-to-rotary transmission means disposed within the body are operable for providing rotational movement between the drive member and body. The body utilizes a stationary seal to facilitate seal placement and reduce the overall length of the body.

Abstract: A percussion tool usable as part of a single tool impact device or a multi-tool impact device. In each case, the tool is rotatably driven by a high-torque rotary actuator with the tool being longitudinally splined and received within a correspondingly longitudinally splined hollow drive shaft of the actuator. The tool extends fully through the drive shaft to a rearward end thereof at which is positioned a percussion hammer to provide reciprocating endwise impact to the tool. The tool is held within the drive shaft by a splined lock member which can be rotated between a release position with its splines aligned with the drive shaft splines, and a locked position with its splines misaligned with the drive shaft splines. The device is mountable on a mobile vehicle having an articulated arm.

Abstract: A fluid-powered helical actuator including a cylindrical body; a rotatable output member supported for rotation relative to the body and connectable to an external device; first and second independently rotatable sleeves reciprocally mounted within the body; a piston reciprocally mounted within the body for application of fluid pressure to one or the other opposing sides thereof to produce axial movement, the piston operatively engages at least one or the other of the sleeves to axially move the sleeves in response to axial movement of the piston; and torque-transmitting elements for transmitting torque between the first sleeve and the body, between the first sleeve and the output member, between the second sleeve and the output member, and between the second sleeve and the body.

Abstract: A fluid-powered device having a body with interior helical grooves, an output shaft with exterior helical grooves, a plurality of rollers having circumferential grooves, and an axially reciprocating piston sleeve mounted within the body and retaining the rollers in axially offset and nested relation to each other and in fixed axial and circumferential position relative to the piston sleeve during powered operation of the device. The rollers are retained by the sleeve portion of the piston sleeve in circumferentially distributed arrangement between the grooved body and shaft surface portion in seated engagement with the grooved body and in seated engagement with the grooved output shaft for transmitting force between the body, output shaft and piston sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid-powered actuator having a body with interior helical grooves, an output shaft with exterior helical grooves, a first set of rollers in rolling engagement with only the body grooves and axially skewed at an angle corresponding to the lead angle of the body grooves, a second set of rollers in rolling engagement with only the output shaft grooves and axially skewed at a skew angle corresponding to the lead angle of the output shaft grooves, and an axially reciprocating piston sleeve mounted within the body and retaining the rollers in fixed axial and circumferential position relative to the piston sleeve during powered operation of the device. In several embodiments, the first and second sets of rollers are axially spaced apart.

Abstract: A fluid-powered linear actuator having a body, and an output shaft with a piston portion disposed within the body. The shaft is axially movable in a first direction in response to fluid pressure on the shaft piston portion. A piston sleeve is mounted within the body and has a piston head to define with the shaft piston portion a fluid-tight chamber. A second fluid-tight chamber is provided on the opposite side of the piston head. Exterior sleeve splines transmit torque between the sleeve and the body in response to axial movement of the piston sleeve, and interior sleeve splines transmit axial force between the sleeve and the shaft in response to axial and rotational movement of the piston sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid-powered device having a body with interior helical grooves, an output shaft with exterior helical grooves, a plurality of rollers having circumferential grooves, and an axially receiprocating piston sleeve mounted within the body and retaining the rollers in fixed axial and circumferential position relative to the piston sleeve during powered operation of the device. The rollers are retained by the sleeve portion of the piston sleeve in circumferentially distributed arrangement between the grooved body and shaft surface portion with at least a first plurality of the rollers in seated engagement with the grooved body and at least a second plurality of the rollers in seated engagement with the grooved output shaft for transmitting force between the body, output shaft and piston sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid-powered rotary actuator particularly well suited for use in operating an aircraft flight control surface. The body has a stationary body portion and a rotatable body portion with an elongated annular sleeve reciprocally and coaxially mounted within the body. A tie-rod coaxially projects through the sleeve from end-to-end between the stationary and rotatable body portions to maintain their relative longitudinal position against axial separation during actuator operation. To each axially outward side of the sleeve is an annular ball deflector. The axially outward portions of the sleeve and the corresponding portions of the stationary and rotatable body portions have helical ball races formed therein to transmit torque between the body portions and the sleeve to cause the rotatable body portion to rotate in response to fluid-powered linear reciprocation of the sleeve.

Abstract: A valve actuator for providing rotational drive to a valve through a valve stem, where the valve includes a flange with attachment bolt holes for attachment of the actuator thereto using bolts. The actuator has an outer body having a sidewall and a base end position toward the valve flange, a rotatable output drive member accessible from the base end and adapted for coupling to the valve stem and having rotational end limits, and an attachment base fixedly attached to the body toward the base end and having a base flange and an attachment lip. The lip is attached to the base flange and is spaced apart from the body sidewall to define an annular space therebetween. A plurality of clips are positioned about the lip to secure the body to the valve flange while allowing selective rotation of the body to adjustably set the rotational end limits of the output drive member relative to the valve.

Abstract: A fluid-powered helical actuator including a body, a rotatable shaft member, first and second independently rotatable sleeves reciprocally mounted within the body, a piston reciprocally mounted in the body to produce axially movement in response to the application of fluid pressure, and torque-transmitting ball races and balls for transmitting torque between the sleeves and the body, and the sleeves and the shaft. An adjustment collar is provided for applying an adjustable and oppositely directed axial force on the first and second sleeves for selective relative axially movement thereof to axially preload the first and second sleeves for simultaneously eliminating backlash in all the ball races. In one embodiment, the collar is replaced with a cam ring. An alternative embodiment utilizes a non-cylindrical body a dimension in a first lateral direction greater than a dimension in a transverse second lateral direction.

Abstract: A fluid-powered helical actuator including a cylindrical body; a rotatable output member supported for rotation relative to the body and connectable to an external device; first and second independently rotatable sleeves reciprocally mounted within the body; a piston reciprocally mounted within the body for application of fluid pressure to one or the other opposing sides thereof to produce axial movement, the piston operatively engages at least one or the other of the sleeves to axially move the sleeves in response to axial movement of the piston; and torque-transmitting elements for transmitting torque between the first sleeve and the body, between the first sleeve and the output member, between the second sleeve and the output member, and between the second sleeve and the body.

Abstract: A fluid powered, rotary actuator having a body, an annular member supported for rotation relative to the body, a fluid powered piston reciprocally mounted within the body, corresponding ball races on the body and the piston with balls disposed therein for transmitting torque therebetween, and corresponding ball races on the annular member and the piston with balls disposed therein for transmitting torque therebetween. The body has opposing, generally axially inward projecting support arms, between which the annular member is positioned with ball bearings disposed between the mating annular end walls of the support arms and the annular member. In one embodiment of the invention, the annular member has an attachment rim extending radially outward beyond the body, and adapted for attachment of an external device.

Abstract: A fluid-powered differential ball screw actuator with torque-transmitting helical ball-carrying races. The actuator includes a body with an interior first ball race and first and second ends; a first stop stationary with respect to the body for engaging and limiting travel of balls along the first ball race toward the first end; and output shaft rotatably supported within the body and having an exterior second ball race; a second stop stationary with respect to the shaft for engaging and limiting travel of balls along the second ball race toward the first end; and a piston reciprocally mounted within the body for application of fluid pressure to produce movement of the piston toward the first or second end. The piston has a sleeve coaxially receiving the shaft, with a third ball race cvonfronting and corresponding to the first ball race to form an outer set of races and a fourth ball race confronting and corresponding to the second ball race to form an inner set of races.

Abstract: A fluid-powered rotary actuator for providing end-limited rotational drive to another device, having a splined output shaft rotatably supported within a body and a drive end coupled to the other device; a linear-to-rotary transmission providing relative rotational movement between the body and the shaft, the transmission including a piston for application of fluid pressure to first and second side thereof to produce linear movement of the piston in first and second opposed directions which movement is translated into rotational movement of the shaft; a threaded body end cap adjustable from an end of the body remote from the drive end to permit selective longitudinal positioning of the cap relative to said body, and having a stop surface for engaging the second side of the piston and limiting its travel in the first direction; and an elongated sleeve adjustable from the remote end and extending from outward of the cap at the remote end to beyond the piston, and having a stop shoulder for engaging the first sid

Abstract: A fluid-powered torque wrench connectible to external fluid lines including an elongated cylindrical body having ports for introducing pressurized fluid therein; an output shaft rotatably disposed within the body and having a drive end for securing a socket thereto for engaging and driving a nut by rotation of the shaft; linear-to-rotary transmission means disposed within the body and operable to provide relative rotational movement between the shaft and the body, the transmission means including a piston for application of fluid pressure to one or another side thereof to produce linear movement of the piston within the body, and means for translating linear movement of the piston into relative rotational movement between the shaft and the body; an elongated lever arm having a head end portion for rotatably supporting and selectively engaging the body, and a handle end portion for holding the lever arm stationary; a ratchet operative between the lever arm and the body for preventing rotational movement of sai

Abstract: A fluid-powered, rotary actuated support, including an elongated cylindrical body having ports for introducing pressurized fluid therein; a platform concentric with the cylindrical body and rotatable relative thereto; a radially extending bearing support joined to the cylindrical body and confronting the platform; bearings disposed between the bearing support and the platform for allowing relative rotational movement between the platform and the bearing support, with one of the platform or bearing support being subjected to bending loads disposed in a generally vertical plane from the weight of a crane or other device and its load; a longitudinally splined output shaft rotatably disposed within the body and having a drive end for providing rotational drive between the body and the platform, the splines being loosely fitted to the platform for substantially isolating the shaft from non-rotational movement of the platform, the shaft being bearingless and radially floating within the body for transferring rotati