Hydraulic rotary actuator vane seal

Claim 1

IN A ROTARY HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR INCLUDING A HOUSING DEFINING A WORKING CHAMBER THEREIN WITH A FIXED ABUTMENT AND A WING SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING AND HAVING A RADIAL VANE OPERTIVE IN SAID WORKING CHAMBER IN COOPERATION WITH THE ABUTMENT TO EFFECT RELATIVE ROTARY OSCILLATIONS OF THE WING SHAFT AND HOUSING IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FLUID LOADINGS IN THE CHAMBER, SAID VANE HAVING A RADIAL SLOT OPENING THROUGH ALL EDGES OF THE VANE, AND AN ELASTOMERIC SOLID PANEL SEAL MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIAL STIFFNESS IN SAID SLOT TO SUBSTANTIALLY FILL SAID SLOT AND HAVING EDGES EXTENDING FROM ALL OF THE EDGES OF THE VANE INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSING SURFACES OF THE HOUSING FOR SUBSTANTIALLY PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF HYDRAULIC FLUID FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE OF THE VANE, SAID PANEL SEAL MEMBER BEING SLIGHTLY THINNER THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SLOT AT LEAST ADJACENT TO ITS EDGES OF AFFORD A FREE SEATING GENERALLY FLOATING RELATION BETWEEN THE SIDES DEFINING THE SLOT AND THEREBY IMPROVE THE SEALING ACATION OF THE PANEL SEAL MEMBER AND ACCOMMODATE ANY SLIGHT HEAT EXPANSION THEREOF.