Abstract: A hydraulic drive apparatus includes a first hydraulic pump, a drive motor connected to the first hydraulic pump, a hydraulic line system connecting the first hydraulic pump to the consumer, and a closed-loop control unit. The closed-loop control unit has a first switching element to change a displacement volume of the first hydraulic pump between a predetermined minimum value and a maximum value. A second hydraulic pump is connected to the drive motor, and the hydraulic line system connects the second hydraulic pump to a consumer and has a first branch line connected to the first hydraulic pump, a second branch line connected to a second hydraulic pump, and a main line. The two branch lines open into the main line, and the closed-loop control unit has a second switching element for changing a displacement volume of the second hydraulic pump between a predetermined minimum value and a maximum value.

Abstract: There is provided a press machine which can apply a large compression force to a mold as well as impart smooth vibration only in a rectilinear advancing direction to the mold, and thereby can improve the press-formability. A main slide and a sub-slide constitute a slide and at the same time a cylinder-piston mechanism. During press-forming, a compression force is transmitted to the sub-slide (an upper mold) through hydraulic pressure applied interlockingly with driving of the main slide, and the sub-slide is vibrated with the hydraulic pressure being periodically changed. Favorable press-forming can be performed even under relatively difficult press-forming conditions, by controlling the vibration such that a vibration frequency of the sub-slide (the upper mold) becomes 9 Hz or higher but 33.3 Hz or lower and a vibration amplitude of the sub-slide becomes 0.05 mm or larger but 0.5 mm or smaller.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder is provided which allows for a mount plate, or the like, to be moved between three positions. The mount plate can be positively positioned in any one of three different positions by appropriately supplying or removing pressurized hydraulic fluid to hydraulic fluid ports on the cylinder. The provision of appropriate positive stops corresponding to each desired position avoids the necessity for complex and/or expensive hydraulic control mechanisms. The cylinder is believed to be particularly suited for performing piercing operations, involving a negative pierce, in hydro-forming operations.