Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
An hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder, a sleeve slidable within the cylinder and forming a seal with the inner surface of the cylinder at one end thereof, a piston slidable in and forming a seal with the sleeve at said one end and having an impacting end extending out the other end of the cylinder, a first chamber in the cylinder at said other end defined in part by said other end of the cylinder and the other end of the sleeve and surrounding the impacting end of said piston, a sealed gas filled second chamber at said one end of the cylinder and defined in part by the adjacent ends of the sleeve and piston, a collar carried on the piston and having a face which is exposed to the first chamber, means connected to the first chamber for increasing the pressure therein to retract the sleeve and piston in unison in the direction of the sealed chamber to develop stored energy in the sealed chamber by the compression of the gas therein, a second face on the collar of the piston opposed to the first recited face and a third chamber defined in part by the second face, said third chamber being constantly open to the atmosphere, and means for equalizing the pressures on the opposite faces of the collar as the piston and sleeve move toward the sealed second chamber to cause the pressure in the sealed chamber to drive the piston rapidly in a power stroke in the direction of the impacting end of said piston, said last-mentioned means causing the pressure in the first chamber to drop sharply and thereby permitting the pressure in the sealed chamber to drive the sleeve in the direction of said first chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
An hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder, a sleeve slidable within the cylinder and forming a seal with the inner surface of the cylinder at one end thereof, a piston slidable in and forming a seal with the sleeve at said one end and having an impacting end extending out the other end of the cylinder, a first chamber in the cylinder at said other end defined in part by said other end of the cylinder and the other end of the sleeve and surrounding the impacting end of said piston, a sealed gas filled second chamber at said one end of the cylinder and defined in part by the adjacent ends of the sleeve and piston, a collar carried on the piston and having a face which is exposed to the first chamber, means connected to the first chamber for increasing the pressure therein to retract the sleeve and piston in unison in the direction of the sealed chamber to develop stored energy in the sealed chamber by the compression of the gas therein, a second face on the collar of the piston opposed to the first recited face and a third chamber defined in part by the second face, said third chamber being constantly open to the atmosphere, and means for equalizing the pressures on the opposite faces of the collar as the piston and sleeve move toward the sealed second chamber to cause the pressure in the sealed chamber to drive the piston rapidly in a power stroke in the direction of the impacting end of said piston, said last-mentioned means causing the pressure in the first chamber to drop sharply and thereby permitting the pressure in the sealed chamber to drive the sleeve in the direction of said first chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 1 further characterized by said means for equalizing the pressure in the second chamber being a fluid duct bypassing the collar when the piston and sleeve are retracted beyond a predetermined position within the houing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 1 further characterized by said means for equalizing the pressure in the second chamber being a stop provided in the housing for physically limiting the extent the piston may be retracted in the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 2 further characterized by said fluid duct being formed in the inner surface of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 1 further characterized by the inner diameter of the cylinder at said one end which defines the sealed chamber being smaller than the diameter of the other end of the cylinder which defines the first chamber, the end of the sleeve in part defining the first chamber forming a sliding seal with the inner surface of said other end of said cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 1 further characterized by said sleeve in part defining said third chamber and forming a valve with the collar separating the third chamber from the first chamber as the sleeve and piston retract in unison in the housing, said valve opening to connect the first and third chambers when the sleeve and piston move relative to one another.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 6 further characterized by a relatively large constantly open port in the sleeve communicating with the third chamber and connecting the third chamber to the atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 5 further characterized by said sleeve in part defining said third chamber and forming a valve with the collar separating the third chamber from the first chamber as the sleeve and piston retract in unison in the housing, said valve opening to connect the first and third chambers when the sleeve and piston move relative to one another.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 8 further characterized by a relatively constantly open port in the sleeve communicating with the third chamber and connecting the third chamber to the atmosphere.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 6 further characterized by the area of the end of the piston exposed in the sealed chamber being substantially equal to the area of the impact end of the piston extending out of the chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 6 further characterized by the area of the end of the piston exposed to the sealed chamber being greater than the area of the impact end of the piston extending out of the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 6 further characterized by the area of the end of the piston exposed to the sealed chamber being smaller than the area of the impact end of the piston extending out of the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
223 words
An hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder, a sleeve slidable within the cylinder, a piston slidable in the sleeve and having an impacting end extending out of the cylinder, a first chamber in the cylinder defined in part by said cylinder and sleeve and surrounding the impacting end of said piston, energy storage means in the housing associated with the remote end of the piston, a collar carried on the piston and having a face which is exposed to the first chamber, means connected to the first chamber for increasing the pressure therein to retract the sleeve and piston in unison in the direction of the energy storage means to develope stored energy in said means, a second face on the collar of the piston opposed to the first recited face and another chamber defined in part by the second face, said other chamber being constantly open to the atmosphere, and means for equalizing the pressures on the opposite faces of the collar as the piston and sleeve retract to permit the stored energy to drive the piston rapidly in a power stroke in the direction of the impacting end of said piston, said last mentioned means causing the pressure in the first chamber to drop sharply and thereby permitting the stored energy to drive the sleeve in the direction of said first chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
223 words
An hydraulic actuator comprising a cylinder, a sleeve slidable within the cylinder, a piston slidable in the sleeve and having an impacting end extending out of the cylinder, a first chamber in the cylinder defined in part by said cylinder and sleeve and surrounding the impacting end of said piston, energy storage means in the housing associated with the remote end of the piston, a collar carried on the piston and having a face which is exposed to the first chamber, means connected to the first chamber for increasing the pressure therein to retract the sleeve and piston in unison in the direction of the energy storage means to develope stored energy in said means, a second face on the collar of the piston opposed to the first recited face and another chamber defined in part by the second face, said other chamber being constantly open to the atmosphere, and means for equalizing the pressures on the opposite faces of the collar as the piston and sleeve retract to permit the stored energy to drive the piston rapidly in a power stroke in the direction of the impacting end of said piston, said last mentioned means causing the pressure in the first chamber to drop sharply and thereby permitting the stored energy to drive the sleeve in the direction of said first chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 13 further characterized by said sleeve in part defining said other chamber and forming a valve with the collar separating the other chamber from the first chamber as the sleeve and piston retract in unison in the housing, said valve opening to connect the first and other chambers when the sleeve and piston move relative to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An hydraulic actuator as described in claim 14 further characterized by a relatively large constantly open port in the sleeve communicating with the other chamber and connecting the other chamber to the atmosphere.