A hydraulic actuator is disclosed that comprises a first, fixed portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion. The second portion comprises a hydraulic actuating device for actuating a component, and the actuator further comprises an intermediate member configured to interconnect the first portion with the second portion and permit movement of the second portion relative to the first portion. The intermediate member is configured to convey hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuating device of the second portion through a body of the intermediate member.

A hydraulic system for a rear gate of a baler implement includes a fluid circuit having a first portion connected to and disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid port of a hydraulic cylinder. A flow bypass assembly is disposed in the first portion of the fluid circuit. The flow bypass assembly includes a flow rate control valve selectively moveable between a first position allowing fluid communication therethrough at a first flow rate, and a second position blocking fluid communication therethrough. The flow bypass assembly further includes a bypass passageway for circulating the fluid when the flow rate control valve is closed. A flow restriction is disposed within the bypass passageway to provide a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.

A hydraulic system for a rear gate of a baler implement includes a fluid circuit having a first portion connected to and disposed in fluid communication with a first fluid port of a hydraulic cylinder. A flow bypass assembly is disposed in the first portion of the fluid circuit. The flow bypass assembly includes a flow rate control valve selectively moveable between a first position allowing fluid communication therethrough at a first flow rate, and a second position blocking fluid communication therethrough. The flow bypass assembly further includes a bypass passageway for circulating the fluid when the flow rate control valve is closed. A flow restriction is disposed within the bypass passageway to provide a second flow rate that is less than the first flow rate.

A system for adjusting actuator pressure on an agricultural implement includes a fluid-driven actuator configured to adjust a position of a tool of the implement relative to the implement frame, with the fluid-driven actuator defining a fluid chamber. Furthermore, the system includes a valve configured to control a flow of a fluid to the fluid-driven actuator. In addition, the system includes a fluid conduit fluidly coupled between the valve and the fluid chamber. Moreover, the system includes a computing system is configured to determine the current position of the tool relative to the implement frame based on the data captured by a position sensor. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine a current volume of the fluid chamber and the fluid conduit based on the determined current position. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to control the operation of the valve based on the determined current volume.

An actuator system includes a piston-cylinder arrangement including a piston that is movable with respect to a cylinder. A first flow path is in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder arrangement and a second flow path is in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder arrangement. A control system is operable to fluidly connect the first flow path to a source of high-pressure fluid and to connect the second flow path to a drain to move the piston in a first direction. A pressure sensor is fluidly connected to the first flow path and is operable to measure sufficient pressure data during the movement of the piston to generate a pressure versus time curve. The control system is operable to compare the generated pressure versus time curve to a known standard pressure versus time curve stored in the control system to determine the condition of the piston-cylinder arrangement.

An actuator system includes a piston-cylinder arrangement including a piston that is movable with respect to a cylinder. A first flow path is in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder arrangement and a second flow path is in fluid communication with the piston-cylinder arrangement. A control system is operable to fluidly connect the first flow path to a source of high-pressure fluid and to connect the second flow path to a drain to move the piston in a first direction. A pressure sensor is fluidly connected to the first flow path and is operable to measure sufficient pressure data during the movement of the piston to generate a pressure versus time curve. The control system is operable to compare the generated pressure versus time curve to a known standard pressure versus time curve stored in the control system to determine the condition of the piston-cylinder arrangement.

A three-rotational-degree-of-freedom connection mechanism required for a robot that can make motion similar to a human has a simple structure, and there is no restriction on motion within a movable range. The three-rotational-degree-of-freedom connection mechanism includes a joint connecting a second member rotatably to a first member with three rotational degrees of freedom including rotation around a torsion axis, three actuators each including variable length links having a variable length, and power sources for generating force changing the lengths of variable length links and three first-member-side link attaching units provided in first member and the second-member-side link attaching units provided on the second member such that variable length links having a twisted relationship with respect to a torsion axis exist in each state within a movable range of joint.

A three-rotational-degree-of-freedom connection mechanism required for a robot that can make motion similar to a human has a simple structure, and there is no restriction on motion within a movable range. The three-rotational-degree-of-freedom connection mechanism includes a joint connecting a second member rotatably to a first member with three rotational degrees of freedom including rotation around a torsion axis, three actuators each including variable length links having a variable length, and power sources for generating force changing the lengths of variable length links and three first-member-side link attaching units provided in first member and the second-member-side link attaching units provided on the second member such that variable length links having a twisted relationship with respect to a torsion axis exist in each state within a movable range of joint.

A coupler cylinder is driven between a locked state and an unlocked state of a bucket by being supplied with hydraulic oil. A main pump supplies the hydraulic oil to the coupler cylinder. A pressure increasing valve controls the supply of the hydraulic oil to the coupler cylinder. A controller controls drive of the pressure increasing valve. The controller instructs the pressure increasing valve to stop the supply of the hydraulic oil to the coupler cylinder based on pressure in an oil passage between the main pump and the coupler cylinder.

A safety module for a process valve and a system comprising a safety module and a process valve are provided. The safety module comprises at least a first interface complementary to a first connection interface of a drive module of the process valve and a second interface complementary to a second connection interface of a process valve actuator of the process valve, such that the safety module can be retrofitted in the process valve. The safety module further comprises at least one safety valve and fluid lines provided for fluidically coupling the safety valve to the drive module and the process valve actuator of the process valve. The at least one safety valve of the safety module is configured for forced venting of the process valve in a safety case.