Abstract: A sanitary valve system (10) comprising an actuator arrangement (20) in an actuator housing (32) comprising a first piston chamber (30I) with a first piston (32I) separating the first piston chamber in a first upper cavity (341U) and a first lower cavity (341L) and having a first piston shaft (36I) configured to operate outside of the actuator housing. The valve system is configured to operate in multiple states. The operation of each state and transitions amongst states including identical states are controlled by regulating the liquid pressure or flow in each respective first and second upper and lower cavities. The regulation of liquid may be via a common distribution plate arrangement (90). The distribution arrangement may be with least one common distribution plate (92) with a set of canals (94) configured to connect at least one set of upper and lower regulation lines (82IU, 82IL,82IIU, 82IIL) with the respective first and second upper and communication lines (50IU, 50IL, 50IIU, 50I IL).

Abstract: A fluid-powered cylinder for displacing an object with respect to a support surface is disclosed. The fluid-power cylinder includes a fabric enclosure having ends fastened to two end caps and forming an expandable and contractible chamber therein. The chamber has a port for selectively disposing an incompressible fluid in the chamber. The chamber is adapted to displace the object to a first position with respect to the support surface and to displace the object to a second position with respect to the support surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of inventive multipositioner technology relating to multipositioner apparatus having discrete positioning capability and, relative to each discrete position, incremental positioning capability. As compared with prior art apparatus, embodiments of the inventive technology may afford: operational resolution for larger positional ranges, reduced cylinder length to achieve positioning as desired, enhanced positioning capability and/or robustness of design.

Abstract: A brake booster for use in a hydraulic braking system having a brake pedal, a master cylinder, and a hydraulic control unit includes a housing, a screw drive arrangement positioned at least partially in the housing, a motor coupled to the housing for actuating the screw drive arrangement, and a piston assembly positioned in the housing. The piston assembly and the housing together at least partially define a first fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the master cylinder, and a second fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the hydraulic control unit. The screw drive arrangement is operable to move a piston of the piston assembly for varying the volume of the second fluid chamber, and movement of the piston does not vary the volume of the first fluid chamber.

Abstract: A brake booster for use in a hydraulic braking system having a brake pedal, a master cylinder, and a hydraulic control unit includes a housing, a screw drive arrangement positioned at least partially in the housing, a motor coupled to the housing for actuating the screw drive arrangement, and a piston assembly positioned in the housing. The piston assembly and the housing together at least partially define a first fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the master cylinder, and a second fluid chamber having an opening for providing fluid communication with the hydraulic control unit. The screw drive arrangement is movable relative to a piston of the piston assembly between an engaged position, in which the first fluid chamber is isolated from the second fluid chamber, and a disengaged position in which the first fluid chamber is not isolated from the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: A pumping system comprising a motor, wherein the motor has an operating speed, a pump coupled to the motor, wherein the pump has a volumetric displacement, a fluid end coupled to the pump, wherein the fluid end is operable to draw fluid from an input and provide fluid to an output, and a control system operable to regulate the motor and the pump in order to provide fluid to the output at a selected pressure and flow rate within a continuous range of pressures and flow rates between the peak horsepower output and peak torque output of the motor.

Abstract: A variable stroke assembly enables the piston stroke length of a positive displacement pump to be varied while maintaining a substantially constant unswept volume in the piston cylinder. Alternatively, a variable stroke assembly enables the piston stroke length of a pump or an engine to be varied while maintaining a substantially constant compression ratio. In an embodiment, the variable stroke assembly comprises an automated system that varies the stroke length of the pump or engine piston via an actuator that may be actuated remotely. The automated system may further comprise a linkage assembly that is positioned by the actuator. In an embodiment, the linkage assembly comprises a crankshaft throw, a connecting rod connected to the crankshaft throw, a variable stroke component connected to the connecting rod, and a slider that traverses the variable stroke component to vary the stroke length of the piston.

Abstract: The invention relates to a reversible axial piston machine (1) consisting of a cylinder drum (5) which rotates about a rotational axis (7) and in which pistons can be displaced in cylinders (6), said pistons being supported against an inclined surface (8). The angle of adjustment (?1, ?2) of the inclined surface (8) can be adjusted in both pivoting directions by means of a control piston (24) pertaining to the adjusting device (12), said control piston extending essentially parallel to the direction of the rotational axis (7) of the cylinder drum (5). The zero position of the adjustment of the inclined surface (8) can be adjusted without play by means of a zero position adjusting device (32).

Abstract: A multistage stroke cylinder apparatus includes a main cylinder having a main piston and a main rod, an intermediate stop position setting mechanism for setting an intermediate stop position of the main piston, and a return position setting mechanism for setting a return position of the main piston. The intermediate stop position setting mechanism includes a stop position setting piston for coming in contact with the main piston, an auxiliary rod extending from the setting piston, a stopper mounted to a tip end of the auxiliary rod such that a mounting position of the stopper can be changed, and a contact portion a position of which can be changed by a contact position adjusting piston. The return position setting mechanism includes a return position setting piston and a position setting rod connected to the return position setting piston and having a tip end projecting behind the stop position setting piston.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the displacement of a fluid pump includes a swashplate supported for pivotal movement about a first axis, and an engine having first and second cylinders. A first piston is located in the first cylinder and secured to the swashplate at a first side of the first axis. A second piston is located in the second cylinder and secured to the swashplate at a second side of the first axis opposite the first side. A plate is secured to the swashplate for pivotal movement about the first axis and is supported for rotary oscillation relative to the swashplate about a second axis. A pump includes a third cylinder and a first plunger located in the third cylinder, secured to the plate for pivotal movement about the first axis and rotary oscillation about the second axis. The plunger displaces fluid from the third cylinder as the plunger reciprocates.

Abstract: A multi-stroke air cylinder providing a precisely directed and controlled stroke in the face of lateral, torsional and tilting loads on a tooling plate. The multi-stroke cylinder utilizes a plurality of mechanically linked pneumatic or hydraulic pistons having different stroke lengths that can be added together in any combination, allowing the user to select any stroke length up to a predetermined, total combined stroke length, in increments equal to the stroke length of the smallest cylinder. The multi-stroke cylinder includes a head assembly having a fluid inlet for introducing fluid to the cylinder at a first pressure. The cylinder also includes a first positioning system having a plurality of pistons capable of moving a piston rod away from the first positioning system, and a second positioning system located between the head assembly and the first positioning system.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an accompanying method for use therein, that utilizes working and stopping servo-controlled hydraulic pistons wherein the stopping piston acts as a controlled mechanical stop for the working piston. Both pistons are spaced apart along and coaxially arranged around a common shaft, with each piston moving in a separate cylinder. The working piston is securely attached to the shaft, while the shaft moves through a central, longitudinal bore of the stopping piston. The stopping piston effectively “floats” in its cylinder and produces a greater force than the working piston. A radially extending stop element, situated on the shaft, has a surface configured to abuttingly engage with a complementary surface on the stopping piston such that the stopping piston, once appropriately positioned, controllably stops continued movement of the working piston in a very short time and over a very short distance with little strain induced in the apparatus.

Abstract: A multi-stroke air cylinder providing a precisely directed and controlled stroke in the face of lateral, torsional and tilting loads on a tooling plate. The multi-stroke cylinder utilizes a plurality of mechanically linked pneumatic or hydraulic pistons having different stroke lengths that can be added together in any combination, allowing the user to select any stroke length up to a predetermined, total combined stroke length, in increments equal to the stroke length of the smallest cylinder. The multi-stroke cylinder includes a head assembly having a fluid inlet for introducing fluid to the cylinder at a first pressure. The cylinder also includes a first positioning system having a plurality of pistons capable of moving a piston rod away from the first positioning system, and a second positioning system located between the head assembly and the first positioning system.

Abstract: A three-position stop type swing actuator has a main piston freely moving in forward and backward directions in an axial direction within a casing, an output shaft placed at a coaxial position with the main piston in such a manner as to be fixed in an axial direction and freely rotate around an axis, a conversion and transmission mechanism converting a forward and backward motion of the main piston into a rotating and swinging motion of the output shaft, and a sub piston having a stroke smaller than that of the main piston a fluid pressure operating force larger than that of the main piston and arranged within the casing in such a manner as to freely move in the forward and backward directions and be capable of being brought into contact with the main piston so as to restrict a middle stop position of the main piston.

Abstract: A three position cylinder assembly having an outer cylinder connected between two bases defining a cap end and a head end. A stationary tubular member is secured to the cap end of the outer cylinder at a port to provide fluid access into the outer cylinder. A first and second piston are disposed within the outer cylinder and have reciprocal movement therein. Each piston is connected to a rod which is concentric with the tubular member. The head end has an aperture for receiving the rods for extension beyond the outer cylinder. The tubular member has a stop at an end and the first piston and rod have reciprocal movement along the tubular member, wherein the stop defines a stable mid-position of the cylinder assembly. The second piston and rod have reciprocal movement along the first rod between the first piston and head end, wherein the head end defines a stable fully extended position of the cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A three position cylinder assembly having an outer cylinder connected between two bases defining a cap end and a head end. A stationary tubular member is secured to the cap end of the outer cylinder at a port to provide fluid access into the outer cylinder. A first and second piston are disposed within the outer cylinder and have reciprocal movement therein. Each piston is connected to a rod which is concentric with the tubular member. The head end has an aperture for receiving the rods for extension beyond the outer cylinder, the tubular member has a stop at an end and the first piston and rod have reciprocal movement along the tubular member, wherein the stop defines a stable mid-position of the cylinder assembly. The second piston and rod have reciprocal movement along the first rod between the first piston and head end, wherein the head end defines a stable fully extended position of the cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A brake cylinder device with a built-in automatic shoe clearance adjustment device which prevents a chance of misassembly, loosing, or omitting the spacer. The brake cylinder device includes an adjustment bolt screwed into a pair of pistons symmetrically slidably positioned inside a cylinder body. A locator spring is positioned between both adjustment bolts. A locator is positioned at the end of the locator spring, and a spacer engages the top end of the locator and has a supporting portion to support the top end on the axis of the adjustment bolt. The supporting portion of the spacer has the front and back surfaces of the same shape.

Abstract: A piston 14 for sliding in a cylinder 12, a rod 16 of the piston 14, and a sleeve 15 fitted over the rod 16 and passing through a rod hole 13 of the cylinder are provided. A lock portion 18 is provided to an outer periphery of a tip end portion of the rod 16. The sleeve 15 having an outer peripheral face for airtightly sliding in the rod hole 13 in the cylinder 12 and an inner peripheral face for airtightly sliding on an outer peripheral face of the rod 16 is provided with an engaging portion 22 on an inner end side to be engaged with an inside of the rod hole 13 of the cylinder and an engaging portion 23 at an outer end side to be engaged with the lock portion 18 of the rod 16. Supply/discharge ports 18A and 19A for supplying and discharging pressure fluid to and from pressure chambers 18 and 19 on opposite sides of the piston 14 in the cylinder are provided and intermediate stop is possible by supplying and discharging pressure fluid to and from the ports.

Abstract: A three-position stop type swing actuator has a main piston freely moving in forward and backward directions in an axial direction within a casing, an output shaft placed at a coaxial position with the main piston in such a manner as to be fixed in an axial direction and freely rotate around an axis, a conversion and transmission mechanism converting a forward and backward motion of the main piston into a rotating and swinging motion of the output shaft, and a sub piston having a stroke smaller than that of the main piston a fluid pressure operating force larger than that of the main piston and arranged within the casing in such a manner as to freely move in the forward and backward directions and be capable of being brought into contact with the main piston so as to restrict a middle stop position of the main piston.