Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve body defining a bore. The valve assembly further includes a pull rod disposed in the bore and defining a bolt cavity. The pull rod is moveable between a first pull rod position and a second pull rod position. The valve assembly further includes a bolt disposed in the bolt cavity and moveable with respect to the pull rod between a first bolt position and a second bolt position. The valve assembly further includes a spool disposed in the bore. The spool is operatively coupled to the pull rod to move between an energized position and a neutral position.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for a parking brake includes a parking lever, a parking lever spring applying a restoring force to the parking lever, a cylinder of which an oil hole is formed thereto, a piston comprising a piston rod connected to the parking lever and a piston main body disposed within the cylinder, and the piston movable along length direction of the cylinder according to supplying or releasing of oil through the oil hole, a solenoid valve and a locking unit disposed within the cylinder for unlocking the piston when the solenoid valve is supplied electric power and for locking the piston when the solenoid valve is not supplied electric power.

Abstract: A locking unit for the locking of the movement of a piston. An electromagnet is provided the armature, respectively the armature bar, of which acts on an operating element. The operating element co-operates with a catching element in such a way that the catching element blocks in a locking position the movement of the piston, respectively the catching element unlocks in an unlocking position the movement of the piston. Catching element and operating element co-operate surface-to-surface.

Abstract: A fluid actuator and retainer assembly, such as a master cylinder assembly for a vehicular braking system, includes a housing having a groove, a cylinder provided within the housing, and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a piston disposed within the cylinder for sliding movement relative thereto and a rod connected to the piston and extending from the cylinder and the housing. A retaining structure includes a rod engagement surface in contact with the rod, a plurality of engagement fingers extending from the rod engagement surface, and a detent extending from each of the plurality of engagement fingers into cooperation with the groove to retain the piston assembly in position relative to the cylinder housing.

Abstract: A system for selectively controlling movement of a piston between first and second positions, the system comprising a controller selectively actuated to enable fluid communication between a device and a source of pressurized fluid, a control valve for enabling fluid communication between a control system and the source of pressurized fluid, a sensing system for identifying the first and second positions, a monitoring valve selectively actuated by the at least one sensing valve for exhausting the flow of pressurized fluid, wherein the monitoring actuator remains actuated until the control valve is deactuated, and a latching mechanism selectively capable of engaging the piston when a loss of pressurized fluid has been identified.

Abstract: An actuating means for a valve that is both opened and closed with a snap-action. The bidirectional, bi-stable snap acting valve has adjustable resistive forces governing the snap action of the valve. The bi-stable snap action mechanism can be incorporated into the operation of the valving element or the valving actuators.

Abstract: A rotary actuator including a housing provided with a fluid actuated drive assembly operatively connected to a rotary plate arranged to effect the drive thereof, wherein the housing and the rotary plate are provided with complementary cooperating stop abutment and groove or track for limiting the angular rotation of the rotary plate in either the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation. An adjustment is provided to adjust the angular rotation of the rotary plate. Also provided is a control or adjustment for independently regulating the speed of rotation of the rotary plate either in the clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.

Abstract: A quick-release cam lock for selectively locking the relative position of a hydraulic cylinder and a piston. The quick-release cam lock permits speedy unlocking and repositioning of the hydraulic cylinder and its accompanying piston and oversleeve, thus allowing for speed in repositioning, assembly or disassembly while also providing a secure positive positioning lock between the hydraulic cylinder, piston and oversleeve while the quick-release cam lock is engaged.

Abstract: A quick-release cam lock for selectively locking the relative position of a hydraulic cylinder and a piston. The quick-release cam lock permits speedy unlocking and repositioning of the hydraulic cylinder and its accompanying piston, thus allowing for speed in repositioning, assembly or disassembly while also providing a secure positive positioning lock between the hydraulic cylinder and the piston while the quick-release cam lock is engaged. A locking pin selectively locks the cam lock in an opened position.

Abstract: A backhoe pivotally supported from a prime mover is disclosed wherein the hydraulic cylinders operably connected to the outrigger stabilizers are provided with a detent to maintain the outrigger stabilizers in an elevated transport position until being pressurized to extend the cylinders and, thereby, rotate the stabilizers into a ground engaging position. The detent is in the form of a projection extending inwardly from the barrel of the outrigger stabilizer cylinder and positioned for engagement with a deformable detent ring when the piston is moved to the fully retracted position. The detent includes a relief to permit the flow of hydraulic fluid past the engagement between the detent ring and the projection so that hydraulic cylinder will not become hydraulically locked.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for releasably locking a bolt in the axial direction relative to a housing element surrounding it, in which the bolt has a circumferential groove tapering radially inward and a locking element inserted into this groove with a cross section adapted to that of the groove. The locking element protrudes radially beyond the cross section of the bolt and is in contact there on both sides with support surfaces, one of which is formed by the housing and the other of which is axially displacable under a compressive force load; at least one of these support surfaces is inclined, to provide a radially outwardly oriented reduction of the cross section formed between the support surfaces.

Abstract: A gas spring for supporting a cab enclosure pivotably mounted to the body of a skid-steer vehicle. A stop tube is mounted to a piston rod and is telescopically cooperable with a cylinder body. Two parallel slots extend in a transverse direction through the stop tube. A stop slide has a pair of legs which are adapted to slide within the slots of a stop tube. A release portion of the stop slide is sized to permit the cylinder body to pass between the legs, while a stop portion is sized to prevent the cylinder body from passing between the legs. A spring urges the stop slide toward a stop position at which the stop portion of the stop slide is aligned with the cylinder body when the piston rod is extended. The cab enclosure is thereby latched to a tilt-back position.

Abstract: The spindle of a butterfly valve for controlling the supply of compressed air to the starter of a turbine aero-engine is rotated to open and close the valve by the linear movement of a slide in a cylinder in response to the pressure differential between a pair of chambers defined by the slide and the cylinder. A resilient mechanism is provided for holding the slide when the valve is closed and temporarily preventing movement of the slide to open the valve until a predetermined minimum pressure difference exists between the two chambers. The slide is then released and travels initially at high speed and then at a speed limited by a throttle venting the lower pressure chamber to atmosphere. This makes it possible to create a relatively high rate of increase in the pressure of air supplied to the starter at the commencement of opening of the butterfly valve while controlling the final rate of pressure rise. The device can thus be used equally with an inertia starter or a free wheel starter.

Abstract: A shift rod air interlock system provides a mechanical apparatus for insuring a neutral position in a two-speed air shifted compound transmission whenever air to an auxiliary air shift cylinder is interrupted. The apparatus prevents the transmission from being shifted into gear whenever an associated vehicle is stationary and when a power take-off unit is operative. In addition, a two-position air interlock plunger assembly provides a locking plunger which interfaces with a pair of detents in the shift rod, thus insuring that the auxiliary transmission is prevented from being shifted into neutral whenever the air system is interrupted while the vehicle is moving. In a preferred form, the invention utilizes a shift rod selectively movable between at least three positions, including an intermediate neutral position.

Abstract: A pneumatic or gas spring includes a cylinder filled with gas under pressure and a piston which is slidably movable in the cylinder, the piston being fitted at the end of a rod which is gastightly and slidably guided through a closure bottom of the cylinder. The piston rod is lockable in its extreme extension position out of the cylinder by means of a snap ring fitted on the piston rod which cooperates with a localized constriction or step protruding inwardly from the cylinder wall adjacent its rod guide bottom, the snap ring having an external diameter intermediate between the inner diameters of the cylinder and the constriction or step.

Abstract: A gas spring comprising a cylinder, a rod slidably extending from the cylinder, and a novel locking mechanism. The mechanism comprises first and second axially contiguous recesses in the circumference of the rod, a locking member normally located in the first recess and snappingly and rockingly movable between two recesses, and axially spaced first and second actuating members cooperating with the locking member. The first actuating member comprises an engaging portion and a releasing portion being circumferentially spaced therefrom. The releasing portion acts to displace the locking member to the second recess. The second actuating member comprises an engaging portion for locking the rod and also for displacing the locking member to the first recess, and axially and circumferentially inclined guide walls for circumferentially displacing the locking member thereby guiding the same between the releasing portion and engaging portions in response to the movement of the rod.

Abstract: A power boost mechanism for converting pilot linear throttle input commands to rotary motion and providing amplification of output torque to an engine fuel control and having an output shaft adapted for connection to an engine power lever assembly. An input member is movable in response to a throttle input command and power boost structure responsive to movement of the input member causes rotation of the output shaft. The mechanism further includes feedback structure associated with the output shaft and responsive to movement thereof for returning said power boost structure to a null position independently of said input member, structure automatically enabling direct operation of the output shaft by said input member when the power boost structure is inoperative, and structure responsive to a malfunction in the engine fuel control causing limited rotation of the output shaft without movement of said input member.

Abstract: A fluid actuated shift bar housing assembly for a change gear transmission wherein the shift bars are biased to an axially centered neutral position by constant fluid pressure in a constantly pressurized chamber and are selectively axially moved to an axially displaced gear engaged position by selective pressurization of a selectively pressurized chamber. A detent mechanism is provided for retaining the shift bars in the displaced positions thereof, said detent providing a resistance to axial movement of the shift bars having a smaller axial magnitude than the axial centering bias of the constant fluid pressure.

Abstract: A servomotor which actuates the throw-out device of a clutch, particularly in an automotive vehicle, has a piston which is reciprocable in a housing and is adapted to be coupled to a reciprocable motion transmitting rod for the throw-out device by a compensating device having cylindrical rollers which establish a motion transmitting connection between the piston and the rod as soon as the piston leaves its starting position in response to evacuation of air from the housing at one side of the piston. The rollers are automatically disengaged from the rod when the piston returns to its starting position so that the rod can be moved by the clutch in a first direction to compensate for wear upon the parts of the clutch or in a second direction to compensate for expansion of one or more friction discs in the clutch.

Abstract: The plate valve has a housing forming an inlet spigot and an outlet spigot. A movable valve member provided with a closure plate and an orifice plate is movable radially of the spigots via servo-pistons which are rigidly connected to the valve member. The pistons are guided in cylinders disposed diametrically opposite one another on the spigots. The cylinders may be integrally formed with the plate valve housing or may be separably formed as cylinder heads.

Abstract: A piston anti-knock back assembly in a disc brake assembly having a brake actuator comprising a piston slidably mounted within a cylinder bore and operable to urge a fricton surface into contact with a rotary disc surface upon supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure to said cylinder bore, comprises an expanded resilient split ring in frictional contact with a main portion of the cylinder bore and loosely axially located in an annular piston groove adjacent a conical head of said piston.

Abstract: A lubricator valve apparatus adapted for use when running wireline tools into an offshore well during a production test of the well. The valve includes a valve body having a central flow passage and a ball valve element for opening and closing the passage, hydraulically operable means responsive to surface-controlled pressure for opening and closing the ball valve, latch means for releasably holding the ball valve in both the open and the closed positions, and bypass valve means for equalizing pressures across the ball valve prior to opening thereof and arranged in response to pressure applied at the surface to the production pipe to be opened to provide a flow path for well control fluids.

Abstract: A power boost mechanism for converting pilot linear throttle input commands to rotary motion and providing amplification of output torque to an engine fuel control and having an output shaft adapted for connection to an engine power lever assembly. An input member is movable in response to a throttle input command and power boost structure responsive to movement of the input member causes rotation of the output shaft. The mechanism further includes feedback structure associated with the output shaft and responsive to movement thereof for returning said power boost structure to a null position independently of said input member, structure automatically enabling direct operation of the output shaft by said input member when the power boost structure is inoperative, and structure responsive to a malfunction in the engine fuel control causing limited rotation of the output shaft without movement of said input member.

Abstract: An assembly comprising an inner and an outer cylindrical members, the inner member being displaceable within the outer member and provided with an annular recess, a locking ring being housed in the recess to allow displacement of the inner member in a first direction but locking the members relative one another upon attempt to displace the inner member in a second direction.

Abstract: An assembly comprising an inner and an outer cylindrical members, the inner member being displaceable within the outer member and provided with an annular recess, a locking ring being housed in the recess to allow displacement of the inner member in a first direction but locking the members relative one another upon attempt to displace the inner member in a second direction.

Abstract: Shock absorber effectively absorbs shock to bumper of automobile by compressive deformation of cushion, regardless of direction from which shock comes. Shock absorber comprises hollow tubular cushion placed within cylinder having one end closed. Plunger fits within open end of cylinder to compress and deform hollow tubular cushion. Shock applied to plunger is mitigated by resistance provided by hollow tubular cushion. Particular structure between cylinder and plunger inhibits sudden return of plunger to original position while providing little resistance on downstroke of plunger.

Abstract: Shock absorber characterized in that a hollow tubular cushion is placed within a cylinder with one end closed. A plunger fits within the open end of the cylinder to compress and deform the cushion. Shock applied to the plunger is mitigated by the resistance provided by the cushion. Resistance means between the cylinder and the plunger inhibits sudden return of the plunger to its original position while providing little resistance on the down stroke of the plunger.

Abstract: A mechanism for generating a high impact force for hammering, pounding, stamping, forging or similar operations. A piston is slidably mounted in a fluid pressure chamber, and has a larger cross sectional area at one end of the chamber than at the other end thereof. A fluid is introduced into the chamber under pressure, and exerts a net axial force on the large cross section end of the piston. One end of the piston outside the chamber forms a cam, which is engaged by a spring loaded cam follower to prevent axial movement of the piston until the force thereon exceeds a predetermined value. When the force on the piston exceeds said value, the cam is suddenly disengaged from its follower, permitting rapid movement of the piston under the fluid pressure. When the piston reaches the end of its travel, fluid is permitted to leave the chamber so that the pressure on the piston rapidly decreases, and the spring loaded cam follower acts on the cam to return the piston to its initial position.

Abstract: A hydraulic jack comprising a cylinder, a piston slidable relative to the cylinder, pump means to supply pressurized fluid to the base of the piston, a seal between the piston and the cylinder, means for limiting the stroke of the piston in the cylinder, said means comprising a ring carried by the piston and arranged to expand into a groove in the cylinder wall when the piston reaches the end of its permitted travel, and means for selectively de-activating said stroke limiting means, in order to allow removal of the piston from the cylinder to renew the seal.

Abstract: An actuating and bracing jack comprising a cylinder and a rod which are pivotably connected at their free ends to a fixed member and to a moveable member respectively. The cylinder has at least at one of its extremities, an internal resilient catch member, and the rod carries a projection capable of coming into engagement behind the catch member. The cylinder has an enlarged cylindrical chamber housing a displaceable locking device capable of being driven by the rod upon retraction movement thereof, to a first position to which the catch member is firmly applied against the projection. The locking device is displaceable in the opposite direction in the cylinder under the action of an actuating fluid to a second position to which the catch member is freed. The rod is provided with a device for taking up play between the rod and cylinder, such device including a displaceable draw member which acts upon a member urging a slotted portion of the rod outwardly into close proximity to the cylinder.

Abstract: An actuator for a spring brake used for parking and emergency has a spring operating on the brake push rod which will apply braking unless fluid pressure in the braking system applied to a piston overcomes spring pressure. To disable the spring brake the rod is retracted by a mechanism coupling the piston to the rod so that the brake is automatically restored into service when the piston is operated by the fluid pressure. The mechanism has a one-way clutch engaging a threaded push rod by means of a nut in non-self-locking engagement on the push rod threads.

Abstract: A fixed displacement fluid motor or pump of the ball or roller piston type in which a plurality of axially or radially extending reciprocating pistons coact with a cam track to produce output motion or to generate pressure fluid output, respectively. A mechanical locking device, preferably in the form of an expansible retaining ring, is secured to each piston, being adapted to lock the piston in a fixed retracted position and out of contact with the cam in a tapered portion of the cylinder bore in modes of operation during which no motor or pump output is required.

Abstract: A spring-loaded brake cylinder has a piston therein one side of which is loaded by a spring and the other side of which is subjected to a pressure medium introduced into the cylinder. The cylinder is provided with an auxiliary release device comprising a screw coupling having a first coupling member which is rotatable but not axially displaceable and a second coupling member threadedly engaged with the first coupling member and acting upon the brake cylinder through an abutment coupling against the force of the load spring. The first coupling member is provided with a reversible thread and a second coupling means is provided to retain the second coupling member against rotation when the pressure acting upon the cylinder falls below a predetermined level.

Abstract: An impact drive tool is provided with a percussive piston arranged in a cylinder. A rod on the piston is mounted to drive a nail or other object into a workpiece. A valve arrangement is provided to apply compressed air to the upper surface of the piston, and a storage chamber communicating with the space below the piston is provided for returning the piston to a rest position. A plurality of sequentially arranged latching devices are provided for locking the piston in its rest position, the latching device effective at a given time being dependent on such factors as friction in the device and the amount of compressed air stored for the return stroke. A buffer surface is provided to effect the absorption of energy if the piston passes all of the latching devices, and to rebound the piston to the nearest latching device.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel spring brake actuator has a service braking piston and cylinder assembly and an auxiliary parking or emergency braking piston and cylinder assembly, the emergency braking piston being spring biassed towards a brake-applying position and normally held off by an opposing fluid pressure, upon release of which the spring force is transferred through the emergency braking piston and a force transferring member to the service braking piston to apply the brake. A quick release device is movable through a small distance to permit relative movement between the force transferring member to release the applied brake, the release device and the force transferring member extending through the emergency braking piston freely and with clearance.