Hydraulic cylinder with cushioned stroke

Claim 2

In a fluid actuator, the combination comprising: a. a cylinder having a head with a port for the discharge of a fluid from the cylinder; b. a piston slidably movable in the cylinder toward the head for discharging fluid through the port; and c. a valve carried with the piston so as to be telescopically received into the port toward a closed position as the piston is moved toward the head, the valve being formed with a flat surface inclined at a predetermined angular relationship relative to the direction of the valve''s reception into the port to progressively restrict fluid discharge through the port as the valve is received therein toward its closed position so that the piston''s velocity is progressively decelerated as it is moved toward the head, said valve having a cross section complementary to the cross section of said port to block fluid flow through the port when said valve is in its closed position.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which the cylinder has a second head longitudinally spaced with respect to the first mentioned head, and a port in the second head for the discharge of a fluid from the cylinder, the piston being movably disposed between the two heads to discharge fluid through the port in the second head as the piston is moved toward the second head, and including a second valve carried with the piston to be telescopically received into the port on the second head as the piston is moved toward the second head, the second valve having a flat surface formed so as to progressively reduce fluid discharge through the port in the second head as the piston is moved toward the second head whereby the piston''s velocity is progressively decelerated as it approaches either end of its stroke, said second valve having a cross section complementary to the cross section of said port on said second head to block fluid flow through said last mentioned port when said second valve is in its closed position.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 in which one of said valves is removably attached to said piston.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 3 including a piston rod, said piston rod carrying said piston and extending from one side of said piston through one of said cylinder heads in a sliding engagement, said one of said valves being carried by said piston rod adjacent said one side of said piston.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1, in which the cylinder is adapted to receive a hydraulic fluid.

Claim 7

In a hydraulic actuator, the combination comprising: a. a cylinder having a head at each end thereof, each head having a port disposed on the axis of the cylinder for either introducing hydraulic fluid into or discharging hydraulic fluid from the cylinder; b. a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder between the heads for motion therebetween, the piston being operable to discharge fluid through the port of the head toward which the piston is moved; and c. a pair of valves carried on opposite sides of said piston, each valve being telescopically receivable toward a closed valves in the port of a head toward which the piston is being moved, and a flat formed on each valve at a predetermined inclination relative to the axis of the cylinder to progressively restrict fluid discharge through the port in which the valve is being received whereby the piston''s velocity is decelerated at a predetermined rate as it approaches either of the heads, each of said valves having a cross section complementary to the cross section of its associated port to block fluid flow through its associated port when said valves are in their closed position.

Claim 8

In a hydraulic actuator, the combination comprising: a. a cylinder having a head at each end thereof, each head having a port disposed on the axis of the cylinder for either introducing hydraulic fluid into or discharging hydraulic fluid from the cylinder; b. a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder between the heads for motion therebetween, the piston being operable to discharge fluid through the port of the head toward which the piston is moved; and c. a pair of valves carried on opposite sides of said piston, each valve being telescopically receivable toward a closed valves in the port of a head toward which the piston is being moved, and a flat formed on each valve at a predetermined inclination relative to the axis of the cylinder to progressively restrict fluid discharge through the port in which the valve is being received whereby the piston''s velocity is decelerated at a predetermined rate as it approaches either of the heads, each of said valves having a cross section complementary to the cross section of its associated port to block fluid flow through its associated port when said valves are in their closed position.