Abstract: A double-acting actuator includes a first tubular body made of an elastic material, a first reinforcing braided structure surrounding the first tubular body, a second tubular body made of an elastic material surrounding the first reinforcing braided structure to form a space outwardly thereof, and a second reinforcing braided structure surrounding the second tubular body. The actuator further includes closure members for closing and joining ends of the first and second tubular bodies and reinforcing braided structures, and guiding device for permitting axial movements of the first and second tubular bodies but restraining lateral movements thereof. The first and second reinforcing braided structures are so constructed that initial braided angles thereof permit of the first braided structure elongating and permit of the second braided structure contracting when the pressurized fluid is supplied into the first and second tubular bodies.

Abstract: A pneumatic stepper motor weight actuator captures the advantages of polymeric harmonic gears while occupying less space and eliminating the problems associated with air entrapment in the stator grooves. Air entrapment is eliminated by providing orificed air passages from the bottom of the longitudinal stator grooves to the center stator hole. Advantageously, the actuator includes a rigid gear comprising a toothed polymeric sleeve adhesively bonded inside a metal cup.

Abstract: A fluid actuator including a pair of hingedly interconnected members between which is located a fluid expansible element such as a bellows which may be expanded upon application of fluid pressure to cause pivotal movement of the hingedly interconnected members. The actuator may also include a further pair of hingedly interconnected members which are themselves hinged to the first pair of members and which define with the first pair of members a space for receipt of the fluid expansible element.

Abstract: A hydraulically or pneumatically actuated fluid-dynamic motor has an elongated elastomeric bladder, a braid disposed over the bladder, and a flexible but substantially incompressible spine disposed between the braid and the bladder. The muscle or motor is configured in a helix with the spine arranged on the inside of the helix. Application of fluid under pressure to the bladder causes one end of the helical motor to untwist or rotate relative to the other end. Upon deflation of the bladder, the spine causes the bladder to deflate and rotate the other end in the opposite direction. This fluid dynamic motor provides an azimuthal motion that can be employed for the steering section of an elongated flexible probe, such as a borescope or endoscope.

Abstract: A multi-stage air pressure cylinder is made of superposed components tightly fastened together wherein additional stages can be added by superposing additional components. The two-stage cylinder comprises two end wall members each having a cylindrical recess facing each other and divided by a fixed partition wall having a perforation therethrough. The partition wall and the end wall members are tightly fastened together. The partition wall subdivides two compression chambers. A piston is located in each compression chamber. One piston has a projection extending outside the cylinder and the other is adapted to exert a mechanical pressure on the first one while fluid pressure is exerted on both pistons.

Abstract: Located in a stationary frame is a cylinder-piston unit, the piston of which is adapted to displace the bearing housing of a roll in a paper-making machine at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof. The bearing housing is guided in the frame with the aid of linear guide-elements. The radial play between the piston and the cylinder-bore is greater than the transverse play between the said linear guide-elements. Furthermore, the axial length of the piston is less than the depth of the cylinder-bore. Whenever the cylinder-piston unit is relieved of its load, and the cylinder thus returns to its position of rest, it is centered in the cylinder-bore by means of a centering device.

Abstract: A multistage cylinder actuator comprising a center cylinder unit and annular auxiliary cylinder units which are concentrically located around the center cylinder and which are removably attached to a common plate so as to independently operate.

Abstract: A hydraulic radial piston pump having a plurality of pistons arranged radially around the rotary shaft for sequential reciprocating motion in which working oil is introduced from the inner oil chamber in the pump casing supporting the rotary shaft and pistons passed into the outer oil chambers provided behind the pistons and then, discharged from these outer oil chambers to delivery passages. A eccentric motion element, the outer periphery of which abuts on the head of each piston, is connected to the rotary shaft by connecting means so that the eccentric motion element can perform eccentric movements about the rotary shaft. The eccentric motion element is also prevented by rotation stopper means from rotating about the rotary shaft. The piston has a suction orifice provided in the head thereof which is yieldingly pressed against the outer periphery of the eccentric motion element by spring means.

Abstract: A device designed to actuate the positive clutches of gearbox sliding gears following synchronization of the respective pairs of gears. A cylinder mechanism is provided on each sliding plate of the gearbox, as well as solenoid valves which are controlled by an electronic calculator to select and actuate the cylinders. Each cylinder mechanism includes two oppositely acting pistons, each connected to the sliding plate, and each sliding in its own cylinder which also includes a return spring which operates against each piston and which practically eliminates the clearance above the piston as the piston is about to be acutated.

Abstract: A connecting rod for an internal-combustion, steam or the like, engine, having hydraulic means for converting the reciprocating motion of engine piston to the rotating motion of crankshaft. While producing the same torque on crankshaft, the hydraulic connecting rod enables the crankshaft throw to be shorter and, therefore, enables a decrease of the centrifugal force and inertia load produced by crankshaft rotating motion. Futhermore, the present invention enables a significant decrease of piston-ring friction and significantly reduces total engine friction. The present invention also yields significant decreases of centrifugal, inertia and friction loads resulting in a significant increase of total engine efficiency and power output.

Abstract: An actuator driving system for driving a plurality of actuators operable by a fluid under pressure includes a plurality of tube joints connected respectively to the actuators for being coupled with a plurality of double-walled tubes each having a plurality of passages. Each of the tube joints includes a base member having passages communicating with respective fluid ports of one of the actuators and mounted on said one actuator, and a body member having a first cylindrical body mounted on the base member and a second cylindrical body having a hole for insertion of one of the double-walled tubes therein, to allow the passages of said one double-walled tube to communicate respectively with the passages of the base member, the first cylindrical body being angularly movable with respect to the base member.

Abstract: An integrated manual brake device on a brake actuation unit, particularly for rail vehicles, and it includes a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. The brake actuation unit contains a linkage setter including two parts displaceable relative to each other in a telescopic fashion. One of the parts is formed as a threaded spindle and the other tubular part is firmly connected with a nut which is screwed on the spindle with a nonselflocking thread. A stop is provided on the tubular part fixed in an axial direction but easily turnable. An actuating spring is clamped between the piston and the output part.

Abstract: The device has primary and secondary frame members interconnected by extensible and retractable positioning members connected by fluid circuits that cause extension of the member at either end of a circuit in response to retraction of the member at the other end of the circuit. Relative movements of the positioning members occur in response to the imposition of forces and moments at the projected center of compliance upon a pin or the like supported by the secondary frame member, and so adjust the position of the secondary frame member as to cause translatory and rotative movement of the supported pin.

Abstract: A tire carcass transfer device (111) having a hollow housing (112) for receiving a tire carcass (160), a plurality of flexible cups (21) arranged in a circular band around the housing, vacuum means connected to the cups (21) and fluid powered actuators (10) for radial movement of the cups. The actuators (10) each have a return spring (24) therein to move piston (14) of the actuator (10) radially outwards by a predetermined amount on cessation of operation of the fluid powered actuator. Since all the pistons (14) are moved the same distance outwards by their respective springs (24), distortions to the carcass from its circular shape are minimized. An actuator (10) having a return spring (24) operating on a rod (15) operably connected to a piston (14) to return the actuator piston to a mid stroke position is also described.

Abstract: Table couplings for coupling hydraulic actuators to large shaking tables, such as earthquake simulator tables are preloaded under gaseous pressure to permit the couplings to be nontension carrying couplings, which in turn permits use of hydrostatic slip bearings between the side surfaces and the bottom surface of the table and the actuators. The hydrostatic bearings in turn reduce the need for swivels, links and yokes that carry both tension and compression. The use of compression only loading such as that permitted with the present device, also reduces the problem of making a satisfactory table foundation, because only compression loads are carried to the foundation rather than alternating tension-compression loads.

Abstract: A hydraulic manifold is provided on a primary mast section which maximizes the commonalty of hydraulic components used in the hydraulic lift control systems of two and three stage mast assemblies used in lift trucks. Two and three stage mast assemblies are illustrated using primary mast sections which are identical and using secondary mast sections which are nearly the same.

Abstract: A lift truck upright having a fixed upright section, a telescopic upright section, and a load carrier mounted on the telescopic section. A pair of main lift cylinder assemblies are located adjacent opposite sides of the upright, and a second pair of relatively short free-lift cylinder assemblies are located inwardly adjacent the main lift cylinders, the pairs of lift cylinders are mounted from the fixed upright section and are hydraulically connected in parallel, and of such relative size that the free-lift cylinders and main cylinders always actuate in the proper sequence to first elevate the load carrier in free-lift and then the load carrier with the telescopic section.

Abstract: A porting and ducting arrangement for a pair of adjacent hollow cylinders includes respective pluralities of passages extending longitudinally in the walls of the cylinders. Each passage is provided with a port in communication with the interior of the associated cylinder. Plural recesses in the end of the cylinders or in a cover are each in communication with a separate passage or group of passages when the cover is applied to the cylinders. There are a pair of such recesses thereby associated with each cylinder and at least one recess of each pair is in communication with a recess of the other pair via duct means in the cover. Gasket means is retained between the cylinders and the cover to seal each recess of each pair of recesses with respect to the other recess of the pair.

Abstract: The assembly includes a plurality of linear actuator modules or units capable of being readily interconnected in various transversely extending orientations relative to each other. The units are so constructed as to effect internal conduction of electrical and fluid energy sequentially between each other and to an energy consumer affixed to the terminal one of them. Each unit includes a pair of elongate and reciprocatorially moveable support members having energy conducting passageways extending therethrough and alignable with desired ones of a plurality of energy receiving openings provided within the frame of the next unit.

Abstract: A multi-axis robot wrist assembly having three hydraulically operated rotary actuators which are mechanically connected in series such that the output of each actuator drivingly positions the body of the succeeding actuator located outboard thereof. The hydraulic connection to any wrist actuator, except the innermost actuator, includes a series-connection of (a) internal passage(s) through actuator(s) which are located inboard of the actuator in question and (b) external line(s) between the actuator in question and actuator(s) located inboard thereof. By connecting all but the innermost wrist actuator through hydraulic paths which are at least partially internal to actuators positioned inwardly thereof, the overall envelop of the wrist assembly is reduced.

Abstract: A friction-welding machine of the type in which a cylinder arrangement applies pressure to urge two workpieces together upon the rotation of one of the workpieces against the other to prepare the interface for bonding. The cylinder arrangement which applies the welding pressure comprises a main cylinder whose piston acts upon the workpiece through a head formed with an auxiliary cylinder and piston arrangement greatly increasing the working range of the cylinder arrangement.

Abstract: A rotary actuator apparatus provides compound rotation at its output in two planes perpendicular to one another. This compound rotation is utilized in positioning a workpiece or in positioning a rock drill on the boom of a vehicle. A rotary rack and pinion actuator has an output pinion shaft rotatably mounted in an external housing and a piston driven rack in a cylinder at right angles to the output shaft housing. This cylinder is welded to the output shaft housing so that the cylinder can transmit rotational torque to the output shaft housing.

Abstract: An automotive diesel engine is provided with pistons which carry two compression rings and an oil control ring in the conventional manner, the cold end clearance of the second compression ring being greatly exaggerated compared to the cold end clearance of the top compression ring and the annulus defined by the second land of the piston, the two compression rings and the engine cylinder wall having an empirically determined volume, preferably in the range of about 0.12 cubic inches to about 0.35 cubic inches. The top land of the piston is preferably set back to provide exaggerated diametrical clearance with the cylinder wall.

Abstract: A load-lifting mechanism at the front of a lift truck carries an upright boom with a pair of parallel spaced-apart forwardly cantilevered boom portions rotatably supporting a horizontal pivot tube between their forward ends. A vertical pivot shaft rotatably carried by the pivot tube suspends a grapple beneath the cantilevered boom portions. The grapple includes a yoke mounting and a pair of grapple arms opened and closed by single or dual hydraulic cylinders. A mechanical link interconnects the grapple arms so that they open and close together and to the same extent. A pair of fluid cylinders on the cantilever boom portions pivot the pivot tube to swing the shaft and grapple fore and aft. A rotation mechanism between the cantilever boom portions and their cylinders rotates the pivot shaft and connected grapple about the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A fluid control unit comprising a drive piston having first and second faces and a drive rod. The drive piston has first and second fluid responsive faces exposable to fluid under pressure. The fluid under pressure acting on the first face urges the drive piston in a first direction and the fluid under pressure acting on the second face urges the drive piston in a second direction. First and second overridable detents drivingly couple the drive piston and the drive rod for movement in first and second directions, respectively. The coupling force provided by the first detent varies with the pressure of the fluid to which the first face of the drive piston is exposed, and the coupling force provided by the second detent varies with the pressure of the fluid to which the second face of the drive piston is exposed.

Abstract: An apparatus having an alternately expanding and contracting chamber comprises at least one pair of cylindrical rollers each having an exterior surface in continuous rolling engagement with the surface of the other roller of the pair, the rollers being rotatable along parallel axes, and two parallel side walls, with each one of the rollers also being in continuous rolling engagement with one of the side walls. A third wall is opposite the rollers and joins the two side walls wherein the chamber is defined between these walls and the pair of rollers, and is enclosed.

Abstract: A working cylinder for pneumatic or hydraulic pressure media has a piston reciprocable in a cylinder chamber closed at one end. The cylinder and the piston have polygonal cross-sections. The end of the cylinder may be closed by a cylinder cap secured in place by bolts passing through it and threaded in the ends of the cylinder. Polygonal seals are provided between the cylinder caps and the piston and the interior walls of the cylinder. Two opposed walls of the cylinder may be thicker than the outer walls, and provided with through holes for attachment means.

Abstract: 6.