A cutting tool includes a chuck, a compressible conical collet and a lock nut for locking the collet. The cutting tool lock nut has a nut portion with a threaded portion for threading with the chuck, and a locking portion with a collet-locking surface formed with angled coolant grooves thereon. The collet-locking surface presses on the collet head, thereby compressing it to grip a tool shank in a collet bore thereof. As the locking portion presses only against a peripheral surface of the collet head, the lock nut is suitable for locking collets with different bore diameters. When the chuck is provided with a coolant fluid, the coolant fluid flows through the chuck and through the collet towards the locking portion, passing through the coolant notches between the locking portion and the collet head, and sprayed towards a location along the tool shank.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning and pressing surgical needle blanks. The apparatus includes a needle blank transferring system which transfers needle blanks between a gripping position and a pressing position. A side press system presses a portion of the needle blank when the blank is in the pressing position, and a gripping member is provided to hold the needle blank at least during the transfer and press operations of the apparatus. The method according to the present invention includes inserting a needle blank into a needle blank gripping member at a gripping position, transferring the needle blank between the gripping position and a pressing position, and pressing a side portion of a body portion of the needle blank with pressing dies.

A suture driver for clamping a suture in the hollow passage and a recessed channel thereof and manipulating the suture to and from a surgical site. The driver includes an outer member tube having a closed and pointed distal end for percutaneous introduction into the body of a patient. The outer tube also includes a recessed channel positioned proximal the closed distal end of the hollow passage extending longitudinally therein and for receiving the suture therein. An inner rod is positioned in the passage of the outer tube and has a clamping surface at the distal end thereof for engaging a suture positioned in the recessed channel. The inner rod is slid through the recessed channel to clamp the suture in the hollow passage of the outer tube against another clamping surface at the distal end of the tube. A handle positioned at the proximal end of the outer tube and inner rod is manipulated to slide the inner rod through the recessed channel and clamp the suture in the hollow passage between the two clamping surfaces. The inner rod positioned through the recessed channel also reinforces the outer tube during percutaneous introduction into the patient.

The present invention relates to a needle curving apparatus for curving one needle or a multiplicity of needles simultaneously. The apparatus includes a curving system for bending the needle and a reciprocating drive system for biasing the needle blanks against the curving system and reciprocally moving the needle blanks to form the curved needle.

An apparatus for curving a needle is provided which comprises at least two generally cylindrical members rotatably connected to a frame. At least one anvil shaft is positioned substantially between the cylindrical members and is rotatably connected to the frame. A needle is positionable between the anvil shaft and the cylindrical members such that the needle is curvable about the anvil shaft. A driving assembly rotates the cylindrical members and the anvil shaft such that the needle is curved about the anvil shaft and expelled from the apparatus.

An apparatus having a frame; a shuttle member, adapted to receive and hold a needle blank, and movably mounted to the frame; a clamp member detachably mounted on the frame for supplying needle blanks to the shuttle member; a transfer mechanism mounted on the frame for facilitating the transfer of the needle blanks from the clamp member to the shuttle member; a press mechanism for imparting first flat surfaces to first opposing sides of the needle blanks held by the shuttle member; a mandrel mounted on the frame for imparting an arcuate profile to the needle blanks; a transport mechanism for transporting the needle blanks from the shuttle member to the mandrel; and a needle side press for imparting second flat surfaces to second opposing sides of the needle blanks. A method of forming a curved, rectangular bodied needle from substantially round-elongated needle blanks is also disclosed and comprises the steps of: transferring needle blanks from a clamp to a holding shuttle having die surfaces on needle engaging faces thereof; flat pressing first opposing sides of the needle blanks between die surfaces; transporting the needle blanks from the shuttle onto a rotatable mandrel; curving the needle blanks between the rotatable mandrel and a reciprocable belt; rotating the needle blanks about the mandrel and adjacent side press dies and depositing the needle blanks therebetween; and side pressing second opposing sides of the needle blanks between side press dies.

An apparatus for preparing drilled needle blanks from a spool of coiled stock wire may include a laser for drilling a bore in the end of the stock wire and a cutting device for cutting the drilled wire into needle blanks.

An apparatus for forming at least one curved, rectangular bodied surgical needle which comprises frame means, flat press means associated with said frame means for imparting first flat surfaces to opposite sides of at least a portion of at least one needle blank, curving means associated with said frame means for imparting an arcuate profile to at least a portion of the at least one needle blank and side press means mounted on said frame portion for imparting second flat surfaces to opposite sides of the needle blank, wherein said second flat surfaces are imparted substantially perpendicular to said first flat surfaces. There is also disclosed a method of forming a curved rectangular bodied needle from a substantially round-elongated needle blank comprising the steps of flat pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between a pair of flat press dies, drawing the needle blanks from at least one of said flat press dies onto a rotatable mandrel, curving the needle blanks between said rotatable mandrel and a reciprocable belt, rotating the needle blanks adjacent side press dies and depositing the needle blanks therebetween and side pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between said side press dies, on sides of the needle blanks substantially perpendicular to the flat pressed sides. A surgical needle is also disclosed having a tapered distal portion, a rectangular central portion and a bored proximal portion formed according to the apparatus and method described above. The tapered distal portion of the needle has a generally circular cross-section, the rectangular central portion is generally square and the bored proximal portion also has a generally circular cross-section.

This invention provides for a novel retractable, telescoping, surgical needle cover and a collapsible needle, such that the sharp tip of the needle is covered after use thereby protecting the user from accidental needle sticks. In one embodiment, the needle cover is hollow and holds the needle at the tip. When the sharp tip is struck on a hard surface, the needle collapses inside of the needle cover. A second embodiment of the invention provides for a cover which slides back and forth along the length of a needle and is held in a forward position by a lever which is movably disposed within a groove at the base of the needle. In the third embodiment, the needle cover only partially the covers the outer surface of the needle, and when the needle is held by a needle holder such that the needle holder contacts both the cover and the needle, then the needle tip is exposed. When the needle is gripped by the needle holder such that only the needle cover is held, the tip of the needle is struck on a hard surface and the needle cover slides forward to cover the tip.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming a surgical incision member comprising which includes a first die associated with a base and having a first groove therein for receipt of at least a portion of a needle blank. A second die is mounted for movement on the base between a position remote from the first die and a position adjacent the first die. The second die includes a second groove alignable with the first groove to hold a needle blank therebetween, the first and second dies each having spaced apart channels intersecting the first and second grooves. A notching die is provided and is mounted for movement within at the channels so as to engage and notch an edge of the needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. The apparatus also includes structure for curving a needle blank contained within the first and second grooves. A method of forming a surgical incision member is also disclosed, and a surgical incision member blank.

An apparatus for forming at least one curved, rectangular bodied surgical needle which comprises frame means, flat press means associated with said frame means for imparting first flat surfaces to opposite sides of at least a portion of at least one needle blank, curving means associated with said frame means for imparting an arcuate profile to at least a portion of the at least one needle blank and side press means mounted on said frame portion for imparting second flat surfaces to opposite sides of the needle blank, wherein said second flat surfaces are imparted substantially perpendicular to said first flat surfaces. There is also disclosed a method of forming a curved rectangular bodied needle from a substantially round-elongated needle blank comprising the steps of flat pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between a pair of flat press dies, drawing the needle blanks from at least one of said flat press dies onto a rotatable mandrel, curving the needle blanks between said rotatable mandrel and a reciprocable belt, rotating the needle blanks adjacent side press dies and depositing the needle blanks therebetween and side pressing opposite sides of the needle blanks between said side press dies, on sides of the needle blanks substantially perpendicular to the flat pressed sides. A surgical needle is also disclosed having a tapered distal portion, a rectangular central portion and a bored proximal portion formed according to the apparatus and method described above. The tapered distal portion of the needle has a generally circular cross-section, the rectangular central portion is generally square and the bored proximal portion also has a generally circular cross-section.

There is disclosed an apparatus and a method for progressively forming high strength surgical needles from bulk needle stock material. The apparatus generally includes a series of progressive needle processing stations. A first series of needle processing stations removes material from needle stock material to rough form needle blanks attached to a carrier strip while a second series of processing stations refine the rough formed needle blanks attached to the strip into the desired surgical needles. The disclosed method generally includes the steps of gutting needle stock material to rough form needle blanks attached to a carrier strip and progressively coining the rough formed blanks into surgical needles. Finally, there is disclosed a high bend strength surgical needle formed on the disclosed apparatus or by the disclosed method. Preferably, the surgical needle is a surgical incision member having a predetermined radius of curvature and an optimized conical radius at the tips.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming curved and rectangular bodied needle blanks from a length of needle stock which includes a generally cylindrical inner mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed in an outer surface thereof, the mandrel being dimensioned and configured for insertion within the length of needle stock. The apparatus also includes a plurality of broaches insertable into the longitudinal channels such that an edge of each broach projects radially outwardly of the mandrel to form a plurality of inner grooves on an inner surface of the length of needle stock. There is also provided structure for forming outer grooves in an outer surface of the length of needle stock to form a substantially grooved length of needle stock, cutters for cutting the grooved length of needle stock to form rings of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks interconnected by web portions and structure for dividing the rings at the web portions to form a plurality of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks. There is also disclosed a method of forming needle blanks from a length of needle stock having a longitudinal cavity therethrough and defining a longitudinal axis by forming at least two inner grooves in an inner surface of the length of needle stock and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, forming a number of outer grooves, equal to the number of inner grooves, in an outer surface of the length of needle stock and in substantial radial alignment with the at least two inner grooves to form a grooved length of needle stock and sectioning the grooved length of needle stock to form individual needle blanks.

There is disclosed an apparatus for forming curved and rectangular bodied needle blanks from a length of needle stock which includes a generally cylindrical inner mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed in an outer surface thereof, the mandrel being dimensioned and configured for insertion within the length of needle stock. The apparatus also includes a plurality of broaches insertable into the longitudinal channels such that an edge of each broach projects radially outwardly of the mandrel to form a plurality of inner grooves on an inner surface of the length of needle stock. There is also provided structure for forming outer grooves in an outer surface of the length of the needle stock to form a substantially grooved length of needle stock, cutters for cutting the grooved length of needle stock to form rings of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks interconnected by web portions and structure for dividing the rings at the web portions to form a plurality of curved rectangular bodied needle blanks. There is also disclosed a method of forming needle blanks from a length of needle stock having a longitudinal cavity therethrough and defining a longitudinal axis by forming at least two inner grooves in an inner surface of the length of needle stock and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, forming a number of outer grooves, equal to the number of inner grooves, in an outer surface of the length of needle stock and in substantial radial alignment with the at least two inner grooves to form a grooved length of needle stock and sectioning the grooved length of needle stock to form individual needle blanks.

A curved surgical needle and a method for producing the same from a solid sheet of material rather than from coiled wire including the steps of drilling a bore in one edge of the material, grinding an edge opposite the drilled edge to form a sharpened point, curving the material and cutting the material at a point of equal distance between each drilled bored to provide a surgical needle. A suture is then attached to the surgical needle, optionally lubricated, sterilized, and packaged by suitable means known in the art.

A hypodermic needle featuring a multi-beveled point geometry is disclosed. In one embodiment, the multi-beveled point features a primary bevel, a pair of tip bevels, and a pair of middle bevels each intermediate the primary bevel and a respective one of the tip bevels. The primary and middle bevels are provided at angles of inclination, measured between the central axis and a reference plane that are substantially identical. The tip bevels are formed at an angle of inclination respective to the central axis which is not equal to the angle of inclination at which the primary and middle bevels are formed. The resulting five-beveled point geometry contributes to a more continuous bevel face free of abrupt intercepts or transitions between the respective bevel faces, lessening the penetration force required to urge the needle point through skin, flesh, or other material.

A new machine for and method of manufacturing fluted pin fasteners and the pins produced thereby are disclosed which utilize a circular grinding arrangement of a plurality of grinders which grind flutes into a threaded pin. An internally threaded collar threads onto the pin. When the collar engages a surface of a work piece, resistance to further threading increases. When sufficient resistance to threading occurs, the driver deforms the lobes of the collar radially inward toward the axis of the collar. Material of the collar positioned internally from the lobes responds to deformation of the lobes and flows radially inward into the flutes of the pin to lock the collar, pin, and work piece together. The driver then rotates freely, and a joint has been made with a predetermined axial load thereby locking the component parts together. The apparatus grinding the flutes into the pins comprises a vibratory feed bowl loading threaded pins into a four station rotary drum assembly rotationally driven by a drive mechanism through a plurality of stations. There is a feed station to receive pins into drum assembly, a grind station to grind the pins, and an eject station to eject the ground pins. The circular arrangement of grinders is mounted on a table which is translated up and down by an air spring against a cam wheel to grind the pins located at the grinding station.

A method of mechanically treating alloy metal surgical needles to improve bending strength is disclosed. The needles are curved and reverse-curved in this method to improve bending strength.

A radial piston pump has a plurality of cylinders within which pistons reciprocally move. Each cylinder is connected to a first port by an inlet passage that has an inlet check valve, and is connected to a second port by an outlet passage that has an outlet check valve. A throttling plate extends across the inlet passages and has a separate aperture associated with each inlet passage. Rotation of the throttling plate varies the degree of alignment of each aperture with the associated inlet passage, thereby forming variable orifices for altering displacement of the pump. Uniquely shaped apertures specifically affect the rate at which the variable orifices close with throttle plate movement, so that the closure rate decreases with increased closure of the variable orifices.

A liquid flow rate control valve is provided in which since a total area of overlapping sections of a communication hole group (38c, 38d) of a distributor (38) and an outlet opening (37a, 37b) of a sleeve (37) changes when the distributor (38) is rotated by a first electric motor (46), if a rotor (42) is rotated by means of a second electric motor (47), an input port (31e) communicates with an output port (31f) through an inlet opening (42c, 42d) of the rotor (42), the communication hole group (38c, 38d) of the distributor (38), and the outlet opening (37a, 37b) of the sleeve (37) when the inlet opening (42c, 42d) of the rotor (42) passes through the overlapping sections, thereby making it possible to carry out PWM control of a flow rate of liquid. Since a thrust load in an axis (L) direction does not act on the distributor (38) and the rotor (42), supporting the distributor (38) and the rotor (42) becomes easy, thereby enabling the cost and weight to be cut.

A method of actuating an assembly of a transmission, with which are associated a plurality of actuators with whose help the assembly can in principle be actuated, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuation, a control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation and activates the selected actuator with an output signal in such manner that a status parameter of the actuated assembly corresponds to or follows a control-side nominal value, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly, the control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation of the assembly in such manner that, for all the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly over the operating life of the transmission, the extent of their utilization is approximately uniform.

The present invention relates to an implement, in particular an excavator or machine for material handling, with an element movable via at least one working drive, wherein at least one energy recovery cylinder is provided for energy recovery from the movement of the movable element, which includes a chamber filled with gas, wherein the actuation of the implement is effected in dependence on the directly or indirectly determined temperature of the gas in the chamber filled with gas.

Method of indicating the position of a hydraulically actuated armature, comprising an adjust cylinder for actuating the armature, connected by at least one pressure medium line to an adjustment valve through which the pressure medium line can be switched between pressure-causing forward flow and pressure-less backward flow, wherein the flow through the pressure medium line is converted into a number of electric pulses and the number of pulses reflecting the flow is processed in a program in an indicator unit such that the number of pulses occurring in a predetermined adjustment travel when the flow in the pressure medium line is pressure-less is calculated as being the same adjustment travel as when the pressure medium line is switched to be the pressure line.

A system comprises a first piston comprising a first piston shaft and a first drive pin. A first piston cylinder comprises a first body and a first groove, wherein the first groove defines a first aperture, the first aperture oriented axially along the first body and configured to receive the first drive pin. The first body encloses the first piston and allows the first piston to travel axially within the first piston cylinder. A drive shaft comprises an axis, a drive groove, and a surface, wherein the drive groove forms a continuous channel along the surface and receives the first drive pin. In one embodiment, a first distribution wheel comprises a first face, a second face, a first inlet aperture, and a first outlet aperture. The first distribution wheel couples to the first piston cylinder and to the drive shaft at a first end of the drive shaft, and rotates axially with the drive shaft along the axis of the drive shaft. The first inlet aperture allows hydraulic fluid to pass through the first face and the second face and the first outlet aperture defines a groove on the second face.

The present invention relates to devices and systems that alter intracranial compliance, cerebral blood flow and/or intracranial pressure pulsatility/waveform by oscillating the contraction and expansion of a compressible composition within the cranial or spinal cavities such that they increase intracranial capacity. The contraction and expansion of the compressible composition in the oscillating compliance devices can be due to an individual's intracranial pressure, the result of the expansion and compression of a reservoir which is mediated by the contractility of the heart or driven by a pump gaited to a biorhythm. The invention also relates to methods for protecting an individual's brain from abnormal arterial pulsations and for altering an individual's cerebral blood flow using the devices and systems of the invention. The oscillating compliance devices can be used to treat several diseases and/or conditions characterized by altered/abnormal intracranial compliance, cerebral blood flow and/or intracranial pressure pulsatility/waveform, including hydrocephalus, stroke, dementia and migraine headaches, vasospasms, congestive heart failure, cardiopulmonary bypass or carotid endarterectomy.

A control valve comprises a first spool 22, a second spool 24 encircling at least part of the first spool 22 and angularly moveable relative thereto, and a sleeve 32 encircling at least part of the second spool 24, the second spool 24 being angularly moveable relative to the sleeve 32, the first and second spools 22, 24 having first and second series of ports 28, 30 registrable with one another, depending upon the relative angular positions of the first and second spools 22, 24, to control communication between at least a pressure line 16, a return line 18 and a control line 50 provided in or connected to the sleeve 32, the second spool 24 and the sleeve 32 having third and fourth series of ports 66, 68, axially spaced from the first and second series of ports 28, 30 and registrable with one another, depending upon the relative angular positions of the second spool 24 and the sleeve 32, to control communication between at least the control line 50 and the return line 18, and latch means 56 operable to resist movement of the second spool 24 relative to the sleeve 32.

The invention relates to an energy-efficient apparatus driven by compressed air and equipped with a dual piston function for tensioning, or clamping, or centering, or punching, or welding, or clinching, for use in body construction in the automotive industry. The apparatus is driven by a pressurized fluid, in particular by compressed air. It is shown how a significant amount of operating costs can be saved while, at the same time, conserving the environment and consuming a low amount of pressurized fluid, in particular compressed air. In addition, the pivoting angle of a toggle joint assembly and thus of an apparatus connected thereto, for example, a tensioning arm of a toggle tensioning apparatus, can be continuously adjusted in both directions while, at the same time, adjusting a sampling device using sensors, for example, microswitches, or inductive switches, or pneumatic switches, or limit switches.

A work vehicle includes an engine, an idling stop execution portion, a determination portion, a counting portion, and an idling stop time period adjustment portion. The engine can rotate in a first idling state and a second idling state in which the engine rotates at the number of rotations higher than a prescribed number of rotations. The idling stop execution portion performs an idling stop operation for stopping the engine. The determination portion determines whether or not stop has been made from the second idling state. The counting portion counts the number of times of stop of the engine from the second idling state. An idling stop time period adjustment portion makes a prescribed time period of the second idling state longer than a current time period, when the number of times of stop of the engine is equal to or greater than the prescribed number of times.

An energy-saving valve includes a spool-driving unit which changes the position of a spool to a position at which compressed air is discharged from a first output port without pressure control and includes a pressure control unit which changes the position of the spool to a position at which compressed air is discharged from a second output port in a predetermined pressure level due to pressure control. The pressure control unit includes a pressure control piston, a pressure-receiving surface which enables air pressure in the second output port to act on the pressure control piston, a cylinder chamber, a pressure control channel, and an elastic member which applies biasing force to the pressure control piston in a direction opposite to the action of air pressure on the pressure-receiving surface to determine pressure.

An electronic controller for a variable ratio transmission and an electronically controllable variable ratio transmission including a variator or other CVT are described herein. The electronic controller can be configured to receive input signals indicative of parameters associated with an engine coupled to the transmission. The electronic controller can also receive one or more control inputs. The electronic controller can determine an active range and an active variator mode based on the input signals and control inputs. The electronic controller can control a final drive ratio of the variable ratio transmission by controlling one or more electronic solenoids that control the ratios of one or more portions of the variable ratio transmission.

An apparatus can include a pressure vessel that defines an interior region that can contain a liquid and/or a gas. A piston is movably disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel. A divider is fixedly disposed within the interior region of the pressure vessel and divides the interior region into a first interior region on a first side of the divider and a second interior region on a second, opposite side of the divider. The piston is movable between a first position in which fluid having a first pressure is disposed within the first interior region and the first interior region has a volume less than a volume of the second interior region, and a second position in which fluid having a second pressure is disposed within the second interior region and the second interior region has a volume less than a volume of the first interior region.

A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a pump, a tank, and an actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have at least a first valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the tank, a first chamber of the actuator, and a second chamber of the actuator; a second valve fluidly disposed between the second chamber and the tank; and a third valve fluidly disposed between the first and second chambers. The hydraulic control system may further have a controller configured to selectively cause the second valve to block fluid flow from the second chamber of the actuator to the tank, and to selectively cause the third valve to fluidly communicate the first and second chambers of the actuator when the second valve blocks fluid flow from the second chamber of the actuator to the tank.

A servomechanism has a jet pipe mounted by a flexure pivot driven by an electromagnet to control the position of the jet pipe. A fixed seal tube surrounds the armature and keeps the coil isolated and dry. The flexure pivot has two parts that can move with respect to one another. The jet pipe can be fixed with respect to one part and movable with respect to the other such that when the electromagnet armature moves pivotal motion is imparted to the jet pipe. A multi-port jet receiver receives media from the jet pipe in different orifices dependent upon armature position. That in turn can extend or retract an actuator, such as a piston, depending upon which receiver orifice receives greater pressure. A feedback mechanism can link the actuator to the jet pipe to provide feedback input used to improve the accuracy of the device.

A manual release valve is provided for a electro-hydraulic actuator of the type including a piston movable in a cylinder and defining a piston side chamber and a rod side chamber, the valve threadedly attached to the housing of the actuator and extending at least partially within the fluid housing conduits, the valve moveable from a closed position fully seated in the housing to an open position for fluidly connecting both the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber to the reservoir, the valve further including a pressure relief portion that is operable when the valve is in the closed position for relieving pressure from at least one of the piston side chamber or the rod side chamber.

A radial thermal engine with an improved valve system is disclosed herein comprising intake and exhaust port valve assemblies fluidly connected to respective intake and exhaust ports contained within a cylinder head assembly. Each intake and each exhaust port valve assembly comprises at least one rotatable port cover having spaced apart openings which are periodically alignable to the intake and exhaust ports, respectively.

A cup for an air valve assembly in a positive displacement pneumatic motor includes a cup body, a gas cavity, and a first pilot slot. The cup body is rectilinear and has a sliding face as one side, and the gas cavity is concave and extends into the cup body through the sliding face and terminates within the cup body. The first pilot slot extends from the gas cavity and into the cup body through the sliding face and terminates within the cup body.

A pump assembly having an air motor includes a valve connected to a motive fluid inlet of the air motor. The valve shifts between a first position, in which a flow of motive fluid is directed into a pilot port, through a two way pilot conduit and into a pilot chamber portion, and a second position, in which the flow of motive fluid is inhibited from flowing into the pilot port through the two way pilot conduit and into the pilot chamber portion, and in which fluid in the pilot chamber portion flows out through the two way pilot conduit and is directed by the valve to exhaust. The valve is connected to a programmable logic controller, so that the valve is shifted between the first position and the second position in response to the programmable logic controller.

Valve control device includes a body with a longitudinal axis, a control member housed at least partially in the body in a bottom portion along the longitudinal axis, a piston movable along the longitudinal axis and housed in a portion of the body forming with the piston a control chamber of the piston, an element movable in rotation with respect to the longitudinal axis on a top portion of the body, and sealing means between the movable element and the control chamber in the area of the connection port and/or of the passage.

A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume.

In a swash plate type variable capacity compressor that changes a stroke of a piston by controlling the pressure of a crank chamber (6), lubrication oil contained in refrigerant gas is maximally prevented from being circulated outside the compressor. Some of discharged refrigerant gas in a discharge chamber (22) flows into the crank chamber (6) through a communication passage (25) (25a and 25b) and a control valve (27), while some of the discharged refrigerant gas flows out to a suction chamber (21) from the crank chamber (6) through a second communication passage (26) and an orifice (28), and the pressure of the crank chamber (6) is controlled through a balance between an inflow amount and an outflow amount. Oil storage chamber (30) extends downstream of the control valve (27) on the first communication passage (25) to separate oil and store the separated oil. Oil return passage (31) returns the oil stored in the oil storage chamber (30) to the crank chamber (6).

A brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type having a brake booster. In order to provide a brake actuating unit for actuating a motor vehicle braking system of the “brake-by-wire” type, which on the one hand fulfills the statutory requirements care and which on the other hand is inexpensive to produce, it is proposed according to aspects of the invention, that the brake booster be provided as a travel-controlled brake booster, so that when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode the brake pedal is decoupled from feedback forces of the brake actuating unit, and the return force is simulated by the pedal travel simulator even when not in the “brake-by-wire” operating mode.

A brake booster with regenerative brake force generation comprising a force input element coupled to a brake pedal. A chamber arrangement having a vacuum chamber and a working chamber that are separated from one another by a movable wall. A control valve actuated in accordance with a displacement of the force input element. The working chamber is connectable selectively to the vacuum chamber and the atmosphere to generate and reduce a differential pressure at the movable wall. The control valve has a control valve housing that is connected for joint movement to the movable wall. In a first actuation phase of the brake booster from its rest position, the force input element is displaceable relative to the control valve housing by an idle travel, in which the control valve remains non-actuated to suppress a build-up of a differential pressure at the movable wall.

In a reciprocating piston compressor with delivery rate control, the electromagnetic actuating device (3) of the valve lifter (2) has a separate positioning drive (10) for adjusting the working stroke range of the magnetic actuator (5) used, whereby this can be chosen to be small and highly dynamic and only low power losses occur.

An assembly of valve sections includes an inlet section, an outlet section, a working section, and a working section. The working section is a conventional pressure compensated working section. The working section includes a directional control valve, a pressure compensator valve, and a pressure limiter valve. The valves are of integral construction, such that each is an essential part to complete the other. The pressure compensator valve includes a pressure compensator spool movable between an opened position and a closed position in response to a pressure differential across the spool. The pressure limiter valve includes a pressure limiter spool that moves to an open position to change the pressure differential and close the pressure compensator valve when a selected limit pressure is reached.

An arrangement for providing a throttle cross-section for a fluid flow. The throttle cross-section can be varied depending on a pressure difference present across the throttle cross-section. The arrangement is designed such that the polarity of the pressure difference, by which the throttle cross-section can be varied and/or changed. It is thereby possible to use the arrangement for fluid flows that alternate in the flow direction thereof.

A volume booster for a fluid flow control device comprises a supply path for supplying a fluid boost to facilitate actuation of an actuator in a first direction, and an exhaust path for enabling controlled exhaust to facilitate actuation of the actuator in a second direction. The supply path defines a supply resistance that is set by the geometry of a supply trim component. The exhaust path includes an exhaust resistance that is set by the geometry of an exhaust trim component. The supply and exhaust trim components are independently removable and replaceable with replacement components to customize the exhaust and supply resistances, and therefore, the exhaust and supply capacities for specific applications.

A thin film of a low-thermionic-work-function material is maintained on the cathode of a device for producing a high-current, low-pressure gas discharge by means of sputter deposition from an auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode includes a surface with a low-work-function material, such as thorium, uranium, plutonium or one of the rare earth elements, facing the cathode but at a disposition and electrical potential so as to extract ions from the gas discharge and sputter the low-work-function material onto the cathode. By continuously replenishing the cathode film, high thermionic emissions and ion plasmas can be realized and maintained over extended operating periods.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for efficient endothermic processing of liquids and the precipitation of dissolved elements and chemical compounds. Improvements over prior systems include system layout, components and modes of operation of the system. Applications of the system include destruction of toxic wastes and sewage treatment, precipitation of chemical compounds and elements including metals from solution (brine, sea water, industrial waste), sterilization and water purification, catalytic formation of chemical compounds, and processing of hydrocarbons.

In a method for performing a synchronized superposed operation of two servomotors, controllers for the servomotors perform the control for achieving the synchronized superposed operation by: calculating, for each of the servomotors, the difference, or differences, between the ideal speed and/or position deviations obtained from a control command and the actual speed and/or position deviations obtained from the rotation of the servomotor; calculating a speed correction quantity, or a speed correction quantity and a current correction quantity, from the discrepancy, or discrepancies, between the differences calculated for both of the servomotors; and adding the correction quantity, or quantities, to a speed command, or to a speed command and a current command, given to the subsidiary shaft side. Thus, a synchronized superposed operation of servomotors in which speeds and responses of the main shaft and the subsidiary shaft are well balanced therebetween can be achieved.

A geared motor actuator having a simplified mechanical structure for driving a closing part, such as a vehicle window, moved as far as at least one end position by an electric motor (MO) via a gear (G), preferably a worm gear. Shortly before the end position is reached, switch-off of the electric motor (MO) is performed in accordance with a control device (ST). The gear (G) is drive-connected to an output driver of the closing part without any damping means. The worm wheel (4) of the worm gear, being a solid, integral component that is preferably injection-molded from plastic, is preferably designed to include the output driver as part of the integral component, and provided with a drive pinion (4.1).