Applied Power Inc.

Actuant Corporation

Robert A Doll

Terence A Bucheger

Timothy J Abhold

A ram (,) with a hydraulic cylinder (,) and piston (,) has an electronics enclosure compartment (,) integrated within it at one end. The compartment (,) is formed by two clam shells (,) which are bolted to the end of the cylinder (,) so as to create a chamber for housing the electronics (,). The outer clam shell (,) has an axially aligned ram mounting attachment (,) integrally formed on it, and the inner clam shell (,) has an axial opening to which is sealed a hollow tube (,) which extends axially within the ram (,) so as to enclose a sensor (,) which is associated with the electronics (,) in the compartment (,).

Ram with electronics enclosure compartment

A load distribution unit for a hydraulic vehicle suspension system has a pair of cylinders with each cylinder defined by a block which is common to the cylinders and four cylinder sleeves, two sleeves for each cylinder extending from opposite sides of the block. The sleeves are fixed to the block by an end cap for each sleeve, with fasteners extending from the end cap to the block to compress the associated sleeve between the end cap and the block and estalish a seal between the block and the sleeve and the end cap and the sleeve. The LDU is mounted to the vehicle with a three point mounting, and with the cylinder sleeve cantilevered from the block. A clam shell compartment is mounted and sealed to one of the end caps of each cylinder, which is covered so that its interior is accessible without breaking the seal of the clam shell compartment with the end cap.

Load distribution unit for hydraulic vehicle suspension system

A valve bank has a coil pack assembly with multiple solenoid coils bound to one another by a single resin body. An L-shaped magnetic (but not magnetized) bracket is also bound within the body and extends between upper pole pieces of the valves and the manifold in which the valves are mounted. A retainer plate holds the valves in the manifold, and helps complete the magnetic flux path circuit from the manifold end of the bracket to the lower pole pieces of the valves. A spring clip helps position the manifold end of the bracket close to the retainer plate. A circuit board for individually energizing the coils is also potted within the resin body.

Solenoid valve coil pack

A bidirectional on/off spool valve has circumferentially-extending through-slots in a spool which are axially alignable with circumferentially-extending grooves in the main bore. The slots and grooves create a flow path through the valve which minimizes Bernoulli forces that tend to close the valve or create negative Bernoulli forces which help keep the valve open. The spool has a stop wall at its closed end which restricts the open area of the lumen of the spool and a balance tube extends forwardly from the stop wall to equalize the pressure behind the stop wall with the pressure in front of the stop wall, so that the spool is not locked in the open position.

On/off bidirectional valve

A rotary indexing valve has an electromagnetic coil which shuttles a spoil axially. As the spool shuttles axially, it cams on axially opposed surfaces so as to rotatably index the spool. Such rotatable indexing of the spool angularly positions different sized orifices into or out of registration with one of the ports in the housing to change the cross sectional area of the flow passage between the inlet and outlet ports of the housing. One of the cam surfaces is defined by an alternating series of peaks and valleys, and the valleys are at different heights so as to change the spacing between the spool and a pole piece, which varies the inductance of the coil dependent on the angular position of the spool. The inductance of the coil can therefore be measured to provide an electrical signal indicative of the angular position of the spool.

Electromagnetic rotary indexing valve

An electro-magnetically operated bidirectional two-way air valve capable of changing state at high pressure differentials or high flow rates in either direction has a body which defines a main bore in which an armature is slidably received. The body has a first port and a second port with a seat between them formed at the end of the main bore and a plastic valve element is secured to a neck portion of the armature to seat against the seat when the valve is closed. Frusto-conical surfaces are formed on the valve element and on the neck portion and a transversely extending pin across the main bore retains the armature in the main bore. In a second embodiment, an end of the armature tapers so as to reduce drag, a powder metal flow restrictor is provided in an axial bore in the armature to reduce shift speed and an elastomer bumper is provided to reduce operating noise.

Growing community of inventors

Glendale, WI, United States of America

Robert A Doll