Abstract:
A power unit that can periodically determine a leakage of a compressed gas to early discover a defect, such as a crack, and a vehicle in which the power unit is used are provided. A vehicle that runs with an air engine including a gas machinery includes a control device. The control device includes an adjuster that controls an output of the gas machinery such that a target output is obtained, a pressure measuring unit that measures the pressure of the compressed gas at the piping unit of the air engine, and a determination unit that determines a leakage state of the compressed gas based on a change in pressure, which is measured by the pressure measuring unit every time the target output of the gas machinery becomes substantial zero. The control device suspends the determination of the leakage state when the target output of the gas machinery changes from substantial zero during the determination.
Abstract:
A fluid-powered actuator comprises a cylindrical body having a base proximate one extremity and a head proximate another extremity, a piston-rod assembly and a sensor module made of a removable cover and a position sensor. The piston-rod assembly is slidably mounted inside the cylindrical body. The base is provided with an opening adapted to accommodate the sensor therethrough. In operation, the cover seals the opening. The position sensor is mounted to an internal face of the cover so that the position sensor is operatively located inside the cylindrical body when the cover is in place. The position sensor is operative to measure a position of the piston-rod assembly. A sensor module adapted to sealably close the opening in the base comprises the position sensor mounted to an internal face of a cover structure. In operation, the position sensor is operatively located inside the actuator when the cover structure closes the opening.
Abstract:
A pneumatic starter device for an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder-piston assembly, which can be operated either as a compressor or as a starter motor and which is drive-connected to the internal combustion engine. A pressure accumulator and a valve arrangement are associated with this assembly. The valve arrangement, which is between the assembly and the pressure accumulator, can be activated by a control unit and can be switched between a compressor mode and a starter mode. Before the cylinder-piston assembly is started up, it is set to a crank angle position in a range of positions that produce maximum output torque.
Abstract:
In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for determining an extended length of a hydraulic cylinder is disclosed. A piston and rod are contained within a cylindrical housing of the hydraulic cylinder. A coil is wound about the rod and is attached to the piston and an end of the cylindrical housing. The coil extends and retracts with the reciprocating movement of the piston. An oscillator is coupled to the coil and produces a position signal in response to the inductance of the coil. A circuit receives the position signal, and determines the incremental linear position and velocity of the piston and rod relative to the housing in response to the frequency of the position signal.
Abstract:
A fluid servomechanism has a first actuator driven by fluid, a second actuator, and a pressure generator for generating pressure corresponding to the difference in displacement between output shafts of the first and the second actuators. Therefore, a compact-size finger facilitating angularly free movement and having a highly elaborate human-like function can be attained.
Abstract:
A multiple fluid pumping system uses two or more fluid pumps each driven by a pneumatic piston or plunger and cylinder combination whose piston top stroke and bottom stroke positions are detected by reed switches in combination with a magnet attached to the piston. The top stroke reed switches are connected in series with one side of a two position pneumatic solenoid valve while the bottom stroke reed switches are connected in series with the other side of a two position pneumatic solenoid valve. The circuit is designed to prevent one of the pistons from changing the direction of its stroke prior to the other piston reaching the end of its stroke. A further embodiment utilizes a magnet mounted on one pneumatically driven piston or plunger and a pair of reed switches mounted on the other pneumatically driven piston or plunger to prevent one piston or plunger from moving faster or slower than the other piston or plunger.
Abstract:
Hydraulic fluid pressure moves a piston (22) against a body of incompressible fluid (14), compressing a spring (42). The pressure is released, and the force of the stored energy in the spring (42) is transmitted to the piston (22) by the body of fluid (14) and drives the piston (22) through its power stroke. The fluid (14) is vented to an outlet (8) before the piston (22) reaches the end of its power stroke, removing the force from the piston (22) and allowing it to free travel through the remainder of the stroke. When the motor (2) is operating and the load is removed from the piston (22), the hydraulic fluid inlet (10) is short-circuited to the outlet (8) and the motor (2) automatically shuts off.
Abstract:
For supplying a compressible driving fluid, preferably air, under pressure from a source to a motor of the kind comprising a housing, in which a body is reciprocable between predetermined end positions while dividing the interior of the housing into two chambers alternatingly serving as fluid receiving chambers, a drive system composed of conventional valves and other circuit components is provided, which assures that the driving fluid is supplied to the pressure chamber at a reduced pressure during the finishing phase of each operating stroke of the motor. The source is presupposed to deliver the compressible fluid under a pressure substantially exceeding the fluid pressure required for driving the motor under its anticipated maximum load.