Abstract: A multi-stage hydraulic ram assembly for the accumulator drive system of an elevator assembly includes a plurality of piston-cylinder arrangements connected hydraulically in parallel and mechanically in series. The piston-cylinder arrangements are disposed in substantial side-by-side relationship, constituting adjacent or successive stages of the ram assembly. A bracket is fixed to one of the cylinders and is slidably connected to the adjacent cylinder, for interconnecting adjacent cylinders of the piston-cylinder arrangements, and a drive system is provided for operating the ram assembly. Steps are taken to control the direction and speed of movement of adjacent stages of the assembly, and to ensure that all of the stages of the assembly move at substantially the same speed.

Abstract: A transition valve for a hydraulic elevator includes a block, a spool, an actuator, and an end cap. The actuator may be either a solenoid type actuator or an electric motor type actuator. The end cap includes an opening permitting engagement between the actuator and the spool. In a particular embodiment, the actuator is an electric motor engaged with the spool via a crank and arm. This arrangement translates the rotational motion of the motor into linear motion of the spool with a sine curve profile.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the motion of a hydraulic elevator calculates a deceleration distance based upon the elevator velocity and begins the deceleration phase of the elevator motion upon the elevator reaching the calculated distance from the landing. In a particular embodiment, the control system includes a hydraulic valve, a space encoder, and a controller. The space encoder produces velocity and position measurements. The controller uses the velocity inputs to determine the deceleration distance and, upon the elevator car 14 reaching the calculated distance from the landing as measured by the position inputs from the space encoder, commands the hydraulic valve to actuate and begin the deceleration phase. In an alternate embodiment, an interface unit connected between the controller and the hydraulic valve calculates a delay between the deceleration command based upon a predetermined distance and the calculated deceleration distance based upon car velocity.

Abstract: A hydraulic elevator up direction control system is provided that has a circulating valve connected between the supply and the return of a source that normally supplies pressure to the cylinder of an elevator. The circulating valve is controlled by a computer regulated stepless variable solenoid valve that influences the pilot fluid pressure in the operating chamber of the circulation valve to control the size of the opening of the circulating valve and thereby the volume of fluid passing through the circulating valve. This affects inversely the volume of fluid passing through a fluid flow measuring valve, to the cylinder, to provide selectably variable up speeds of travel facilitating a fast, smooth, accurate ride of the elevator car as it approaches a stopping point relative to an upper floor of a building. Such operation is substantially independent of the system pressure and fluid viscosity. A selectably variable speed down direction control system operates on largely the same principle.

Abstract: The invention comprises a lifting apparatus having a mobile housing with three telescoping sleeves slidably mounted in one another and in said housing to slide upward in telescoping relation out of said housing. The housing has a hydraulic piston and cylinder mounted upright in the housing, with the piston fixed to the housing and the cylinder is hydraulically actuatable to telescope upward in the housing relative to the piston. Rollers are mounted to the top of the cylinder and the first two of the sleeves. A first chain has one end mounted below the roller on the cylinder and its other end mounted to the lower end of the first of the sleeves. A second chain is mounted to the housing below the roller on the first sleeve and its other end mounted on the other side of the roller to the lower end of the second sleeve.

Abstract: Procedure for operating an elevator, in which the power for moving the car as well as the accelerating/decelerating power of the whole system is, in all motional states of the elevator, obtained from/returned to a hydraulic pressure accumulator (1) charged by an auxiliary gear (3). The elevator machine comprises a hydraulic pressure accumulator (1), hydraulic actuators (2) for adapting the power taken from/fed into the pressure accumulator to the motional state of the elevator car, and an auxiliary gear (3) for pumping hydraulic energy into the pressure accumulator.

Abstract: Water driven robots are provided which can be used for moving different objects at different controlled directions and frequencies to obtain energy and power from the flow of a liquid, such as water. A container (10) contains a siphonic outlet which is capable of converting relatively low continuous flow of water, entering through its inlet (17), to a relatively high intermittent pulsating flow of water, ejected from its outlet (23). Such flow is used for moving the robot as follows: During each cycle, water fills the container so that its weight increases, causing the container to move down and move a pulley (65) or other object (73). When the container's liquid level reaches the inlet of the siphon, it rapidly drains and becomes lighter, thereby resulting in a return of the weight. Thus a continuous inflow of liquid causes the container to oscillate vertically and provides force, energy, and power for operating such robots, for controlling their motion, and for operating work loads connected to the robots.

Abstract: A control valve device for a hydraulic elevator including a main check valve connected between a hydraulic cylinder adapted to ascend and descend a car of the hydraulic elevator and a hydraulic pump adapted to pump a pressurized oil, a cylinder-side pressure detector disposed between the hydraulic cylinder and the main check valve and adapted to detect a pressure in side of the hydraulic cylinder, a pump-side pressure detector disposed between the main check valve and the hydraulic pump and adapted to detect a pressure in side of the hydraulic pump, an opening solenoid valve connected between the main check valve and the hydraulic pump and adapted to receive a pilot pressure generated only from a pressure generated by the hydraulic pump and open the main check valve in response to the pilot pressure, and a closing solenoid valve connected to the main check valve and adapted to close the main check valve opened by the opening solenoid valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically removing a thin sheet of material, such as food dough, from a stack of such sheets and depositing the sheet on a moving conveyor in a desired orientation so that a food filling may be automatically placed on the sheet of material. The apparatus picks up the thin sheet with suction nozzles, carries the thin sheet to the conveyor where pressurized air is delivered to the nozzles to release the thin sheet from the suction nozzles. A combined hydraulic-pneumatic lifting mechanism is provided to incrementally lift the stack of thin sheets to the pick-off apparatus.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for an hydraulically operated elevator includes separate control valve units for controlling upwards and downwards movements of the elevator. The up valve unit is connected to a pump output and controls connection of the pump output to the elevator cylinder via a check valve. The up valve unit includes an orifice for connecting the pump output to a reservoir, and a valve member for varying the size of the orifice to control the amount of fluid passed to the reservoir, and thus the amount of fluid supplied to the elevator cylinder. The down valve unit has an inlet for connection to the elevator cylinder, a variable orifice connected to a reservoir, and a valve member for controllably varying the size of the orifice to control the rate of descent of the elevator.

Abstract: A drive system for an hydraulic elevator operated at a constant output power for any load during elevator car travel in the upward direction. The maximum nominal speed in the upward direction is selected for a load which typically occurs most frequently and the drive is designed accordingly. The car speed is reduced correspondingly for higher loads and increased correspondingly for lower loads. The variable car speed is achieved either through the use of an adjustable pump of variable displacement volume controlled by a pressure regulating valve or through the use of a positive displacement pump of constant displacement volume which is driven by a frequency regulated electrical motor.