With Flexible Transmission Element Secured To Working Member Patents (Class 92/137)
  • Patent number: 5560275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive of the fluid or electric type having a device for controlling an element for transmitting a driving force to a reciprocating or otherwise moveable or displaceable element and an arrangement for damping the driving force at at least one end of the element's travel. The driving force element is at least single-acting, and the drive may also include mechanical shock absorbers and sensors arranged in the area of the ends of travel. In order to achieve an especially soft striking or contact at the end of travel position of the driving force element, the control device includes a counter-pulse module which, via a pre-positioning sensor associated with at least one movement direction, causes a chronologically settable changeover from a previously flowed-through or activated first switching element associated with a first end of travel position to a previously unactivated second switching element associated with a second end of travel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Bauspiess, Jorg Niederstadt, Horst Rothele
  • Patent number: 5553872
    Abstract: A seal for a reciprocally moving body that has at least one essentially flat boundary surface extending parallel to its longitudinal axis includes a sealing member that has a first sealing lip formed of polymer material. The first sealing lip extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and abuts the boundary surface. The first sealing lip also has a larger cross-section near a middle portion of the flat boundary surface than in an area of its lateral edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Anita Gies, Wolfgang Lipphardt, Ulrich W ustenhagen
  • Patent number: 5483868
    Abstract: A rodless piston assembly has a carriage or trolley which is reciprocated on support structure through a band or cable connection between both ends of the rodless piston and the carriage Braking of the assembly is obtained by the use of braking cylinders carried in the carriage acting against a braking surface on the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Greenco Mfg. Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph H. Green
  • Patent number: 5473971
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rodless cylinder having a cylinder barrel with a slit formed axially therein. A piston is movably housed in the cylinder barrel. A mounting table is disposed movably along the external surface of the cylinder barrel and connected to the piston through the slit. An external actuator is mounted on the mounting table and designed to be driven by a pressure fluid. A passage, through which a pressure fluid can pass, is defined in the cylinder barrel. An inlet is provided in the cylinder barrel so as to introduce the pressure fluid in the passage to the mounting table side. An outlet is provided on the mounting table so as to supply the pressure fluid introduced from the inlet to the external actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: CDK Corporation
    Inventors: Terumasa Takeuchi, Yoshinori Nozawa, Daiju Maki, Masatoshi Shiino
  • Patent number: 5467685
    Abstract: A linear actuator, adapted especially for picking up and transporting workpieces, comprises a pneumatic, rodless cylinder having a pair of driven elements mounted on opposite sides of its body. The first driven element is directly connected to the piston of the cylinder via a sealed, longitudinal slot formed in the cylinder body and the second driven element is drivably connected to the piston or first driven element by a flexible drive band that passes around rollers mounted at opposite ends of the cylinder body. The driven elements therefore move linearly in opposite directions to one other upon actuation of the rodless cylinder. The second driven element may be fixedly secured to a stationary structure so that, upon actuation of the cylinder, the cylinder body itself and the first element will simultaneously execute linear motion in the same direction whereby the first element, which may have a work piece--gripping device mounted on it, will in effect execute double its normal stroke length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Norgren Martonair GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Hubl
  • Patent number: 5443134
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuating device for brakes and gearshifts on bicycles or the like comprises an actuating lever (1b), a transmitting cylinder (1a), a flexible pressure line (9) and a receiving cylinder (1). The receiving cylinder (1) is connected with a first component (A) of a device to be actuated, and the piston (20) in the receiving cylinder (1) is mechanically connected with a second component (B) of the device by a traction cable (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
    Inventors: Joachim Gajek, Hannsjorg Stumpf
  • Patent number: 5429484
    Abstract: A metallic diaphragm is provided within a pump chamber. This diaphragm is oscillated by a stem to Feed liquid medicine. The stem is provided with a plate and a movement of this plate, i.e., a stroke of the stem is limited by a pair of stoppers. Relative position of the paired stoppers at which they limit the stroke is adjusted by providing the paired stoppers with threads which are handed reversely to each other so that the paired stoppers are moved by amounts equal to each other during a change of the relative position. The stem carries thereon a piston which is, in turn, vertically movable within a cylinder chamber into which compressed air is introduced to oscillate the stem. A plurality of such pumps are successively connected one to another, stop valves are connected upstream as well as downstream off the respective pumps and a suck-back pump of the same construction as the liquid feed pump is connected immediately before a liquid filling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Eisai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Washiro Honda, Masahiko Nakazawa, Hisayoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5429217
    Abstract: A hydraulic positioner of the type having a piston movable in a hydraulic cylinder and a valve actuatable for releasing the piston for movement in the chamber is provided with a continuously adjustable mechanism for limiting the stroke of the piston. The cylinder and the stroke limiter share a common tubular housing which is partitioned to define the hydraulic chamber, thereby simplifying the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: P. L. Porter Co.
    Inventors: Calvin R. Stringer, Clyde R. Porter
  • Patent number: 5415379
    Abstract: A winch includes a cylinder containing a movable piston to which are respectively mounted a fixed and a movable pulley assembly around which a line to be pulled is entrained. The pulley assemblies are located within the working chamber and the line enters the cylinder through one end formed remote from the chamber and through a one way brake mounted to that remote end. The brake permits line to enter the cylinder as the working chamber is pressurized to move the piston and thereby the movable assembly towards the remote end. The one way brake prevents line from exiting the cylinder at this location. The line extends slidingly through the piston and may exit the cylinder at the opposite end thereof which is also equipped with a one way brake which prevents line from entering the cylinder but allows the line to exit the cylinder. End of stroke positions of the piston are sensed by means of Hall Effect Sensors to control pressurization and venting of the working chamber through a three way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Inventors: Reed W. Hoyt, John F. Lanza
  • Patent number: 5400696
    Abstract: The invention relates to a drive, particularly a push and pull drive, which has a cylinder with a cylinder inner chamber (Z) and a cylinder axis (F) and a piston movably arranged in the cylinder and to which is fixed a flexible force transfer means (U). For a double-action drive the cylinder inner chamber (Z) or the piston must have a larger cross-sectional surface than the force transfer means (U). In order that, despite this, the cylinder wall can serve as a guidance means for the flexible force transfer means, either the cylinder inner chamber or the force transfer means has a non-circular cross-section, so that on a cross-section there are at least two points (A1 to A3), on which the cylinder inner wall can guide the force transfer means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Feramatic AG
    Inventor: Bruno Weber
  • Patent number: 5394761
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a linkage actuator for effecting all rectilinear or rotative movements, acting on the elements (1 and 2) constituting the linkage, characterized in that it acts directly on the linkage axle (3) and in that it is preferably constituted by at least one jack (4) and by chains or cables (5) guided on the one hand on the linkage axle (3) and on the other hand on the pinions or pulleys or grooved wheels (6), the jack (4) coacting with the chains or cables (5) and if desired with the linkage axle (3), which is integral at its ends with one of the elements (1 or 2), the other element (2 or 1) housing the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Remy Diebolt
  • Patent number: 5383714
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with a dump bed which can be pivoted from a horizontal orientation to a fully upright position to facilitate loading of material onto the dump bed and unloading material therefrom. A hydraulic or other type cylinder is used to raise and lower the dump bed. The cylinder is oriented at an acute angle from the horizontal and is attached at one end to a rear portion of the dump bed. The other end of the cylinder is attached to a crossbeam at a forward location. The dump bed includes downward extending arms and extensions that carry pivot pins about which the dump bed rotates. The location of the pivot axis in this manner creates a crank arm that provides the cylinder with the leverage necessary to raise the dump bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Inventor: H. Victor Hunter
  • Patent number: 5347914
    Abstract: The traverse apparatus of the subject invention is provided at the end of the main base 24 with a control box 38 having electromagnetic valves 57, 58, relief valves 59, 60, and manifold 61; and, one or more connectors 54 affixed at one end to sliding base 28 and at the other end to a separate sliding base 70. By these elements, the main body having cylinder 32 is separated from the rail guides 22, 23, the work of replacing a worn cylinder 32 is made easy, conveyance can be expedited, and the head mounting bases for attaching working heads can be increased readily.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Kinoshita, Youichi Nakamura, Kiyoshi Sawamura, Tsutomu Yanagimoto
  • Patent number: 5335583
    Abstract: In a rodless cylinder, a moving member which is moved along a cylinder body is reduced in height for the sake of compactness and stability. A stopper is mounted on a stopper support base, which is also reduced in height to preclude the possibilities of obstructing movement of the moving member, and includes a stopper lock mechanism with an adjusting screw suitable for use with the stopper support base of low height. More specifically, in a rodless cylinder having a stopper support base mounted on top of a cylinder body, the stopper support base is provided with inclined surfaces at the opposite ends thereof symmetrically in face to face relation with downwardly-facing inclined surfaces formed on opposite lateral side portions of the cylinder body, and firmly fastened to the cylinder body by setting bolts and clamp members having inclined surfaces face to face with the inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Kaneko, Hitoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5303638
    Abstract: A rodless piston and cylinder assembly having an improved cable connection between the ends of the piston and the working unit in the form of a band of plastic and coated stainless steel strip. The exterior surface of the band is curvilinear and cooperates with the curvilinear slot shape of piston and cylinder plastic sealing grommets. Braking of the working unit is accomplished by pistons in the carriage acting against the carriage slide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph H. Green
  • Patent number: 5293811
    Abstract: A control fin actuator (28) for a guided missile (20) includes a pressure actuator (40) having a slidable piston (44) inside a housing (42). Rolling diaphragm seals (50, 56) of the top piston face (46) and the bottom piston face (48) to the inside wall of the housing (42) divide the interior of the housing (42) into at least two chambers (54, 58). The rolling diaphragm seals (50, 56) eliminate sliding friction as the piston (44) moves within the housing. The two chambers (54, 58) are controllably pressurized to slide the piston (44) within the housing (42), thereby moving a push rod (78) attached to the piston (44) and extending out of the housing (42). The push rod (78) is connected to a missile control fin output shaft (24) by a taut band connector (80) that avoids backlash. A magnet (86) may be positioned adjacent to the push rod (78) to induce eddy currents in the push rod (78), thereby providing a damping force that increases with increasing rate of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Charles M. DeLair, Russell B. Cline
  • Patent number: 5261320
    Abstract: A pneumatic rotary drive includes a housing and at least one cover sealingly closing the housing. A rotatable shaft extends out of the housing through the at least one cover. At least one guide member is mounted in the housing. A belt mounted in the housing is in engagement with the shaft. A pressing member presses two portions of the belt together so that two expandable pressure chambers are formed. When pressure is admitted to one of the pressure chambers, the pressure chamber expands and the shaft is rotated. The belt has two ends which are located adjacent each other in a common plane and form one of the belt portions which are pressed together. The housing has an internal wall with a toothing which is in engagement with an external toothing of the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jorg Niederstadt, Ralf Huber
  • Patent number: 5246237
    Abstract: A seal for a work cylinder operated with pressure fluid, through which cylinder an axially displaceable coupling element connected with the work cylinder, particularly a pull means, is extended in a fluid-tight manner from the inside of the cylinder. To obtain a better sealing of the inside of the cylinder under all possible operating conditions, particularly when using coupling elements developed as pull means of a cross-sectional shape other than circular, the seal is comprised of a single cup-shaped piece, the bottom surface of the seal being provided with a cuff which tapers conically in axial direction towards the cup-shaped inside of the seal. The cuff is provided with a sealing opening which permits the passage of the coupling element therethrough. The seal is provided with a sealing ring on the outer periphery in the region of the open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Gottling, Rudolf Moller, Gerhard Scharnowski, Norbert Fortmann
  • Patent number: 5245912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a profiled tube for working cylinders without a piston rod having a cylinder chamber which extends in longitudinal direction and a piston guided movably therein and connected to pull means, and a carriage connected to the pull means and guided in a slide guide arranged on the profiled tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Muller, Helmut Gottling, Rudolf Moller, Gerhard Scharnowski, Ralf Kook
  • Patent number: 5233884
    Abstract: A connection between a drive member and a driven member comprises a first nickel titanium alloy wire interconnecting the drive member and a rigid link and a second nickel titanium alloy wire connecting the rigid link and the drive member. Such a wire, when properly heat treated, has a high tensile and also a high compressive strength while at the same time the wire will bend readily if there is misalignment between the longitudinal movements of the drive and driven members. Thus the assembly functions as a two-ball joint drive line similar to that used in automobiles. A preferred usage is in driving the plunger of a syringe in a dosage metering system from a moving machine element where the syringe bore and direction of movement of the machine element may be slightly out of alignment. Wear of the syringe seals is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventor: Jerry E. Rochte
  • Patent number: 5222428
    Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit for pressure fluids includes a housing bounded by a head piece at each end thereof; a cylinder disposed within the housing; a piston reciprocatingly movable within the cylinder; a pulley having a circumferential outer surface is mounted for rotation about an axis within each of the head pieces; a pull belt is secured to the piston and looped around the outer surface of the pulleys; a power pick-up is attached to the pull belt; a braking device for the pull belt is disposed within the head piece and juxtaposed with at least one of the pulleys and has a shape which is complementary to at least a portion of the circumferential surface of the pulley; and a feed conduit connected to the head piece for feeding the pressure fluid to the braking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Horst Janetzko, Helmut Gottling
  • Patent number: 5222424
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a two dimensional drive system driven by fluid pressure. The drive system of the present invention comprises: a pair of X-guides; a pair of Y-guides; an X-rod whose each end is slidably attached to each Y-guide; a Y-rod whose each end is slidably attached to each X-guide; an X-piston section being provided at the midway of the X-rod; a Y-piston section being provided at the midway of the Y-rod; and a moving body having an X-chamber through which the X-rod is pierced and a Y-chamber through which the Y-rod is pierced, the X-chamber being divided into two subchambers by the X-piston section, the Y-chamber being divided into two subchambers by the Y-piston section. With this structure, the moving body is capable of moving in a plane by selectively supplying fluid to each subchamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Inventor: Ken Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 5207145
    Abstract: This invention relates to a work cylinder having damping stops for limiting movement of the piston within the cylinder, the cylinder having cylinder covers for closing the ends of the cylinder, whereby the damping stops are positioned and retained substantially between the cylinder covers and the cylinder walls when the cylinder covers are fastened to the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Axel Kemner
  • Patent number: 5207146
    Abstract: A working cylinder which operates without a piston rod, comprising a cylinder tube, a piston which is displaceable therein and is provided with a pulling means, and a force transmission element which is connected with the pulling means and guided in axial displacement on the cylinder tube. In order to minimize the mounting work for the external attachment of the pulling means and at the same time increase the dependability of operation, the pulling means (1) is provided on the ends thereof connected to the force transmission element (2) with clamping pieces (3) which are provided with a toothed surface (5) on at least one outer side (4) and the force transmission element (2) is provided with a correspondingly toothed surface (6) against which the side (4) of the corresponding clamping piece (3) having the toothed surface (5) can be pressed via a pressing element (7). The corresponding toothed surface of the force transmission element (2) is longer than the clamping pieces (3) to allow for adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Norbert Fortmann, Helmut Gottling, Rudolf Moller, Gerhard Scharnowski, Hans F. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5193430
    Abstract: Presented is an air cylinder apparatus including a control mechanism that is operable to interject mechanical dead-stops to control the linear translation of the piston of the air cylinder to predetermined increments of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Adolf M. Ilgovsky
  • Patent number: 5191808
    Abstract: The arrangement comprises a stop bar (1) formed from a cylindrical rod having a lengthwise slot therein. The stop bar (1) is secured to a fixed support within an actuator casing (7). A stop plate (15) is slidably secured in the slot and presents upper and lower stop edge portions (16, 17) for engagement with spaced limbs (23) of arm means for converting linear motion into angular motion. The position of the stop edge portions (16, 17) relative to the stop bar (1) is adjustable by means of replaceable shims (21) in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Prime Actuator Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Michael A. Calvert
  • Patent number: 5190263
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for an actuator prevents the unauthorized operation of the actuator and also permits a viewer to determine whether the actuator is in a locked open, locked closed or unlocked position. The invention utilizes a clear cover guard which is positioned and locked on an actuator body which is attached to a housing. The actuator body comprises threaded bores which permit a bolt to be inserted into the actuator body until it contacts an integral locking cam and driver arm rotatably disposed within the actuator body. The bolt contacts the locking cam in order to selectively lock the integral locking cam and driver arm in a desired position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Neles-Jamesbury, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5178056
    Abstract: A fluid-driven working cylinder without a piston rod is provided with a cylinder housing (4) which in cross-section is fully closed, and along which a force takeaway (1) is guided without turning. The force takeaway (1) is connected with a band (7) that extends respectively from each of the ends of the cylinder housing (4) and is fastened to the piston. The band (7) is externally guided over two reversing wheels. To avoid leaks of the cylinder housing (4) during pressurization the interior of the cylinder housing (4) is divided into a piston space (8), in which the working piston is moved back and forth, and a band space (9), which is separated from piston space (8), but which is connected with the piston space (8) by means of a longitudional slit (10) which is sealed off by a sealing strip (5). Band (7) runs in the band space (9) and is connected to the piston by means of linkage (6) which projects through the longitudinal slit (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Airtec Pneumatik GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Mai
  • Patent number: 5144878
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator (1) with automatic wear take-up, is formed with a first piston (17) sliding in a blind bore (13), a second piston (33) in a bore made in the first piston, and an output rod (3) bearing on the second piston. A first chamber (27) is formed between the blind bore and the first piston and a second chamber (37) is formed between the bore and the second piston. A piece (19) having a shoulder (23) is fixed, on its side of smaller diameter, to an end (21) of the first piston confronting the first chamber, forming an annular space. The annular space contains an annular gasket (39) and stop (41), so as to divide the first chamber into two volumes (43, 45), one (45) connected to a pressure generator (7) and the other (43) communicating with the second chamber through a duct (47) made in the end of the first piston. The two volumes communicate with one another, at rest, via a passage provided between the gasket, the stop and the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Leonardo Cadeddu
  • Patent number: 5144883
    Abstract: A cylinder without a piston rod comprising a cylinder, a piston for moving along the axial direction within the cylinder, and tension belt means for directing the piston witnin the cylinder. The piston comprises two piston halves which are interconnected by bayonet connection elements. A holding element is held within the piston halves for holding the ends of the tension belt means in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Rudolf Muller, Peter Muller, Norbert Fortmann
  • Patent number: 5133245
    Abstract: The stroke length in a positioner of the type having a piston rod movable through a cylinder can be preset through a continuous range of adjustment. A first detent element provided at the end of the cylinder engages another detent element positionable along the rod to limit stroke length. Spacing between the two detents is continuously adjustable by rotation of a threaded sleeve coaxial with the rod. Once installed in a recliner seat or the like, the device is secure against accidental changes in the stroke setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: P. L. Porter Company
    Inventors: Jimmy C. Lee, Calvin R. Stringer
  • Patent number: 5133244
    Abstract: In a radial piston hydraulic motor of the "star-shaped" type the variation of the cylinder capacity is achieved by the fact that the motor crankshaft is provided with a mechanism which varies the eccentricity, this mechanism being powered by hydraulic actuators carried by the shaft and controlled by a circuit external to the frame of the motor, comprising a rotating coupling and stop valves, while stability of the cylinder capacity may be obtained by means of locking mechanisms carried on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Inventor: Bruno Giamello
  • Patent number: 5127315
    Abstract: A brake motor subassembly comprises a control piston (10) having an internal cavity delimited by a base wall (18) and, at the periphery, by a stepped bore (20, 22, 24) and having a mechanical actuating device acting on the control piston via an automatic compensation device formed by a screw-nut device (34) stressed towards the base wall, via a washer (26) and an axial thrust ball bearing (32), by a resilient member (28) supported on a ring (30) fixed at the end of the control piston axially opposite the base wall, and a pilot piston (44) having a first cylindrical peripheral surface of larger diameter (46) sealingly slideably cooperating with an end of reduced diameter (20) of the stepped bore and, in the vicinity of its end (50) axially opposite to the first peripheral surface (46) and cooperating with the washer (26), a second peripheral surface of reduced diameter (54) sealingly slideably cooperating with an annular seal (38) associated with a retaining washer (40) resting axially against a shoulder (42)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1992
    Assignee: Bendix Europe Services Techniques
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Gerard, Gerard Le Deit
  • Patent number: 5088382
    Abstract: A linear unit (10) is provided with a cylinder (50) and a pressure-fluid actuated piston (52). The piston (52) runs in a borehole (51) of the cylinder (50). A slider (55) runs at the cylinder (50). A band (53) connects the piston (52) to the slider (55) and leads via deflection structure (54a, 54b) at the heads (11a, 11b) of the cylinder (50). Valves (15a, 15b) are screwed into the cylinder heads (11a, 11b) for feeding a pressure fluid to and discharging a pressure fluid from the borehole on two sides of the piston (52). The linear unit (10) provides an increased liberty of direction in a position-mounting of the linear cylinder heads (11a, 11b) and of the linear unit with valves (15a, 15b) as well as in the positioning of the connection terminal pieces. The linear unit (10) is flexible and is of modular construction and allows different types of device components to be flanged in the same position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolf-Dieter Goedecke, Victor Cohanciuc
  • Patent number: 5080011
    Abstract: A trash compactor or other materials loading assembly wherein a flexible memory containing ramrod and associated platen may be flexibly driven against a trash load in such a manner as to assume its general contour and provide good trash compacting efficiency. In a preferred embodiment, the ramrod is made of relatively low cost polyvinylchloride (PVC), thereby avoiding the high costs associated with metal components. In addition, the ramrod is flexibly driven by slidable engagement with a PVC piston driver in a seal tight arrangement so as to maintain good liquid tight hydraulic fluid sealing at the side walls of the piston driver. This assembly may be used either in a trash compacting operation or in the high density compacting of new and recyclable materials. The present invention is also directed to a new and improved method of compacting materials in a high density, low cost and efficient mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Inventors: Gerald R. Paxton, Norman W. Seid
  • Patent number: 5079873
    Abstract: A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adapted for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port of fixed or variable size located at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jack E. Smith
  • Patent number: 5074763
    Abstract: Moving equipment for applying reciprocating drive to the diaphragm of a mechanically actuated diaphragm pump of adjustable stroke, the moving equipment comprising a slider slidably mounted in a fixed guide co-operating at one of its ends with an eccentric drive device whose eccentricity defines the maximum amplitude of the stroke of the slider in the guide, and coupled at its other end to the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Dosapro Milton Roy
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Degremont
  • Patent number: 5058768
    Abstract: A fluid-driven proportioning pump for dispensing precise volumes of at least three different fluids includes a drive cylinder housing a correspondingly formed drive piston which divides the drive cylinder into first and second drive fluid chambers and is propelled in a reciprocating motion by a pressurized drive fluid. Each face of the drive piston is provided with projecting porportioning pistons which extend into proportioning cylinders that open into each drive fluid chamber and being directed toward the drive piston. An over-center mechanis triggered by movement of the drive piston at the extremes of the strokes for its reciprocating motion operates valving which admits the pressurized drive fluid into alternate of the drive fluid chambers. The over-center mechanism is activated by loop springs or preferably by pairs of C-shaped springs, and is housed entirely within the drive cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Fountain Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William H. Lichfield
  • Patent number: 5035171
    Abstract: A working cylinder is described which features a cylinder of compact construction. The openings provided for the tension member can be very well sealed by simple means. The tension element features a cross-section having a continuous circumferential line. The size of the cylinder is also reduced through the use of a generally elliptical piston. The tension element is preferably comprised of several plastic tension strands encased in a jacket of plastic material which also has a generally elliptical cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Steuerungstechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Helmut Gottling, Rudolf Moller, Peter Muller, Gerhard Scharnowski
  • Patent number: 5033518
    Abstract: A filling machine wherein a lost motion mechanism is provided with a counteracting element to counteract forces between the driver and the filling unit to assure that the lost motion mechanism operates with lost motion. The counteracting element is provided between the lost motion mechanism and the driver and is operable during the suction stroke and inoperable during the discharge stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: National Instrument Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Ruhl
  • Patent number: 5022311
    Abstract: A compact fluid actuated working cylinder is disclosed having a cam driven by a piston via a flexible tension member. At the ends of the cylinder housing there are deflection pulleys for providing continuous tension for the tension member. The pulleys are each mounted on pulley supports which extend from secondary bores in the main cylinder housing. The pulley supports are spring loaded and urge the two pulleys away from the cylinder housing and each other. The pulley supports are preferably rectangular in cross-section to protect against torsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: WABCO Westinghouse Steuerungstechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Norbert Fortmann, Helmut Gottling, Hans F. Meyer, Rudolf Moller, Gerhard Scharnowski
  • Patent number: 5020421
    Abstract: A working cylinder without piston rod in the form of a band cylinder. The band (3) in the cylinder covers (8) penetrates a receiving chamber (10) for a sealing and a guide member. Each sealing member comprises a strip-like sealing element on both sides of the band, made of elastic material and, on the piston side, in the form of a lip seal. The sealing elements (12, 13) are installed in the receiving chamber (10) with elastic pre-stressing relative to the band (3). Each guide member facing the sealing member has on both sides of the band (3) a rib-like guide element (23, 24), which is also elastically forced against the band (3) by pre-stressing the sealing elements (12, 13). The guide elements (23, 24) terminate in stop faces (28) with clearance (29) in front of the wall (15) of the receiving chamber (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse AG
    Inventor: Heinz Podlesak
  • Patent number: 5018350
    Abstract: A long stroke deep well pumping unit which employs a fluid motor connected with a polish rod by using a plurality of belts, fixed at either end, to reciprocate the sucker rod through repeated long strokes with a minimum of stress and shock to the sucker rod during directional change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Inventor: E. A. Bender
  • Patent number: 5016519
    Abstract: A modular handling system is assembled from a plurality of linear drive, rotary drive, or tool modules. The linear drive used as a cylinder block with a cylindrical bore therein and cylinder heads sealing off the cylindrical bore. A pneumatically actuated piston travels within the cylindrical bore. A carriage runs on the cylinder block and is connected with the piston by means of a flexible belt attached to both the piston and the carriage and deflected by deflection rollers mounted on the cylinder heads. Cartridge-type valves are integrated into both cylinder heads for controlling displacement of the piston. One of the cartridge valves is made as a pressure-servo-valve allowing linear control of valve output pressure vs. valve operating current. The cartridge valve integrated into the opposite cylinder head may be either another pressure-servo-valve or a displacement-servo-valve allowing linear control of valve spool displacement vs. valve operating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventors: Wolf-Dieter Goedecke, Reinhard Schwenzer, Ralf Huber
  • Patent number: 5007330
    Abstract: A rotary actuator comprising a housing which defines an arcuate chamber, the housing including a first monolithic portion in which the arcuate chamber is completely contained, a piston disposed in the housing for reciprocable movement in the arcuate chamber, a shaft journaled in the housing and connected to the piston and being rotated in response to movement of the piston, a floating seal assembly carried by one of the piston or the housing for effecting sealing between the piston and the housing, a fluid pressure port to introduce fluid into the housing to effect movement of the piston in the first direction and a means such as fluid pressure or a spring return to effect movement of the piston in an opposite second direction, the actuator in one preferred embodiment employing a spring return which provides a substantially constant torque acting upon the shaft as the spring moves from a compressed first position to an uncompressed second position such that the torque acting upon the shaft in both rotational
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Keystone International Holdings Corp.
    Inventors: William B. Scobie, Robert A. Frenzel
  • Patent number: 4995196
    Abstract: A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adpated for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jack E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4989370
    Abstract: A deflatable sealing member forms a weatherstrip to seal a closure opening. The sealing member includes an operative tubular section designed to provide tight interference engagement between the closure and vehicle body when vented to atmosphere and expanded by built-in resilient memory. A bellows pump is connected to the sealing member through a flow control circuit. The bellows pump serves to deflate the sealing member during closing of the closure. The bellows pump is adapted for convenient mounting in a cavity in the closure or vehicle body spaced from the closure hinge area. A flexible cable connects the bellows pump to the closure or vehicle body to provide the necessary actuation for operation of the bellows pump in response to the swinging movement of the closure. As the closure closes, a bleed port of fixed or variable size located at the pump vents the sealing member to ambient pressure, and the sealing member expands by resilient memory to its full cross section so as to provide a tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jack E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4915012
    Abstract: A conveyorized transport apparatus has an overhead rail system for transporting articles on a suspended trolley from one location to another. A moveable rail section in the system has a pivotal connection with an adjacent rail section to pivot the moveable section from a conveying position and a diverted position in which articles are delivered closer to a work station disposed laterally of the rail system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Gerber Garment Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold L. Osthus, John F. de Raismes, Lawrence S. Wolfson
  • Patent number: 4896506
    Abstract: A vehicle includes at least a pair of drive wheels, each wheel being independently controlled by an integrated transmission, each transmission being powered by an input shaft operably driven by a common engine. Each transmission is of a type wherein a pump head with pistons is driven by the input shaft and conveys output fluid to a motor head which is driven thereby and rotates an output shaft. Pump head output is controlled by an operator variable swash plate. The transmission integrally includes a dampening mechanism for the swash plate, a positive neutral structure for the swash plate, an automatic parking brake with override mechanism to allow setting of the brake or release of the brake by the operator, a porting block communicating fluid flow between the pump heads and providing for overpressure relief, and a charge pump for communicating makeup fluid to the pump head and to circulate the fluid so as to cool same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Shivvers, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Shivvers, Steven D. Shivvers, Richard A. Arnold, Edward A. Ryks
  • Patent number: 4889038
    Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder comprising a hollow sleeve, having inserted in it, a hollow piston rod. The hollow sleeve further contains an opening allowing hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough and into the hollow piston rod. At the end remote to the opening, a mounting mechanism is contained. On the end proximate the mounting mechanism, a fluid outlet is contained. In use, hydraulic fluid passes through the opening of the hollow sleeve, into the piston rod, and out of the piston rod proximate the mounting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Tovel Manufacturing Limited
    Inventor: Giovanni Bentivoglio