Hydraulic positioning system for high-impact applications

Claim 2

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising: (a) hydraulic motor means having a chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said chamber; (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said chamber, said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid including shock absorbing means containing pressurized hydraulic fluid; (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said chamber for conducting said fluid to said chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said chamber through said first fluid conduit means; (d) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said chamber in parallel relationship with said first fluid conduit means and bypassing said control valve means; (e) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid toward said chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said chamber and at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said chamber toward said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said chamber exceeds the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid by a predetermined amount.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said shock absorbing means includes accumulator means for storing a variable volume of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid includes relief means for permitting escape of hydraulic fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid while maintaining the pressure of fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid within a predetermined range.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic motor means includes a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber, further including third fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said second chamber for conducting said fluid to said second chamber, said third fluid conduit means having said fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said second chamber through said third fluid conduit means, and fourth fluid conduit means interconnecting said source or pressurized hydraulic fluid with said second chamber in parallel relationship with said third fluid conduit means and bypassing said control valve means, said fourth fluid conduit means having second one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said fourth fluid conduit means from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid toward said second chamber, said second one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said second chamber and at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said fourth fluid conduit means from said second chamber toward said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said second chamber exceeds the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid by a predetermined amount.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said hydraulic motor means includes a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber, and third fluid conduit means interconnecting said second chamber with said second fluid conduit means and with said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for conducting a portion of said flow of fluid through said one-way valve means into said second chamber.

Claim 7

The system of claim 1, further including means automatically responsive to the movable position of said member for actuating said fluid-control valve means so as to cause said hydraulic motor means to place said member in a predetermined position.

Claim 8

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising: (a) hydraulic motor means having a first chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said first chamber, and a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber; (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said first chamber; (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said first chamber for conducting said fluid to said first chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said first chamber through said first fluid conduit means; (d) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said first chamber in parallel relationship with said first fluid conduit means and bypassing said control valve means; (e) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid toward said first chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said first chamber and at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said first chamber toward said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said first chamber exceeds the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid by a predetermined amount; and (f) third fluid conduit means interconnecting said second chamber with said second fluid conduit means and with said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for conducting a portion of said flow of fluid through said one-way valve means into said second chamber.

Claim 9

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising: (a) hydraulic motor means having a first chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said first chamber, and a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber; (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said first chamber; (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said first chamber for conducting said fluid to said first chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said first chamber through said first fluid conduit means; (d) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said first chamber in parallel relationship with said first fluid conduit means and bypassing said control valve means; (e) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid toward said first chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said first chamber and at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said first chamber toward said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said first chamber exceeds the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid by a predetermined amount; and (f) third fluid conduit means interconnecting said second chamber with said second fluid conduit means and with said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for conducting a portion of said flow of fluid through said one-way valve means into said second chamber.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7 wherein said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid includes accumulator means for storing a variable volume of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

Claim 11

The system of claim 7 wherein said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid includes relief means for permitting escape of hydraulic fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid while maintaining the pressure of fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid within a predetermined range.

Claim 12

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising: (a) hydraulic motor means having a chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said chamber; (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said chamber; (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said chamber for conducting said fluid to said chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said chamber through said first fluid conduit means; (d) shock-absorbing means containing pressurized hydraulic fluid at a pressure at least as great as the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; (e) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said chamber with said shock-absorbing means independently of said control valve means; (f) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said shock-absorbing means toward said chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said chamber and in said shock-absorbing means respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said chamber toward said shock-absorbing means when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said chamber exceeds the pressure in said shock-absorbing means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 13

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising: (a) hydraulic motor means having a chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said chamber; (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said chamber; (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said chamber for conducting said fluid to said chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said chamber through said first fluid conduit means; (d) shock-absorbing means containing pressurized hydraulic fluid at a pressure at least as great as the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; (e) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said chamber with said shock-absorbing means independently of said control valve means; (f) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said shock-absorbing means toward said chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said chamber and in said shock-absorbing means respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said chamber toward said shock-absorbing means when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said chamber exceeds the pressure in said shock-absorbing means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 14

The system of claim 10 wherein said shock-absorbing means includes accumulator means for storing a variable volume of hydraulic fluid under pressure.

Claim 15

The system of claim 10 wherein said shock-absorbing means includes relief means for permitting escape of hydraulic fluid from said shock-absorbing means while maintaining the pressure of hydraulic fluid therein within a predetermined range.

Claim 16

The system of claim 10 wherein said hydraulic motor means includes a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber, further including third fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said second chamber for conducting said fluid to said second chamber, said third fluid conduit means having said fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said second chamber through said third fluid conduit means, and fourth fluid conduit means interconnecting said second chamber with said shock-absorbing means independently of said control valve means, said fourth fluid conduit means having second one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said fourth fluid conduit means from said shock-absorbing means toward said second chamber, said second one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said second chamber and in said shock-absorbing means respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said fourth fluid conduit means from said second chamber toward said shock-absorbing means when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said second chamber exceeds the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said shock-absorbing means by a predetermined amount.

Claim 17

The system of claim 10 wherein said hydraulic motor means includes a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber, and third fluid conduit means interconnecting said second chamber with said second fluid conduit means and also with said shock-absorbing means respectively for conducting a portion of said flow of fluid through said one-way valve means into said second chamber.

Claim 18

The system of claim 10, further including means automatically responsive to the movable position of said member for actuating said fluid-control valve means so as to cause said hydraulic motor means to place said member in a predetermined position.