Disclosure herein are hydraulic systems and method of use thereof. The hydraulic systems can include a hydraulic cylinder and a manifold. The hydraulic cylinder can have a first end and a second end. The hydraulic cylinder can include a first port, a second port, and a third port. The first port can be located proximate the first end. The second port cane be located proximate the second end. The third port can be located in between the first port and the second port. The manifold can include a first valve and a second valve. The first valve can be in fluid communication with the first port and the third port. The second valve can be in fluid communication with the second port and the third port.

An aircraft hydraulic actuation system for retracting an aircraft landing gear. The actuation system includes a supply line arranged to carry hydraulic fluid pressurized by a pump, a return line arranged to return hydraulic fluid to a reservoir, and a hydraulic actuator 128. In a first mode of operation, a first chamber 130 of the actuator 128 is supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid from the supply line such that a piston 134 is moved in a first direction so as to move a load such as a landing gear. In a second mode of operation, the first chamber 130 is taken out of fluid communication with the supply line and a second chamber 132 is in fluid communication with the return line, such that the piston 134 is able to be moved under the influence of the load, for example when the landing gear extends under gravity.

Passenger restraint systems are provided. The restraint systems can include: a passenger seat supported by a frame; a restraint bar pivotably attached to the frame; and at least one piston operably engaged between the restraint bar and the frame. Restraint system pistons are provided. The pistons can include: a central chamber housing a piston head and rod; a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the central chamber; and at least one electromechanical valve operable between an open and a closed position. Methods for restraining a passenger within a seat are also provided.

An abnormality detecting system and an abnormality detecting method acquires a stroke of a piston as input from outside, calculates a travel time of the piston based on the results of sensing obtained by a first sensor and a second sensor, calculates a total travel distance of the piston using the number of operations and the stroke of the piston, and detects an abnormality of the actuator based on the travel time and the number of operations or the total travel distance of the piston.

A system for detecting and controlling the position of a spoiler of an aircraft wing is described herein comprising: a hydraulic actuator having a piston rod operably connected to the spoiler, the piston rod being moveable between a retracted position, a neutral position and an extended position; and means for providing power to said hydraulic actuator; and a mechanical device for detecting whether the piston rod is in the retracted position, the neutral position or the extended position; and means, operatively connected to the mechanical device, that is configured to provide a change in a load applied to said hydraulic actuator, wherein said means is configured to change said load based on whether said piston rod is detected as being in said retracted position or said extended position.

A hydraulic control circuit operable to selectively hydraulically link first and second hydraulic actuators and to bypass that hydraulic link.

A method of facilitating switching of a quasi-passive elastic actuator of a tunable actuator joint module of a robotic system between an inelastic state and an elastic state comprising configuring a quasi-passive elastic actuator to be operable with a primary actuator of the tunable actuator joint module to selectively apply an augmented torque to assist the primary actuator in rotation of a joint of the tunable actuator joint module. The method further comprises configuring an elastic component of the quasi-passive actuator to comprise a first vane device and second vane device rotatable relative to each other within a housing, supporting a valve assembly about the axis of rotation of the joint through the first vane device, and configuring a shunt circuit to facilitate fluid flow between compression and expansion chambers through the valve assembly. The method can further comprise configuring the valve assembly with a valve device disposed in an opening of a shaft of the first vane device, the valve device being actuatable between an open position to open the shunt circuit and a closed position to close the shunt circuit.

A lift arm lifting and lowering mechanism cylinder case provided with a cylinder portion into which oil is fed, a piston slidable inside the cylinder portion to define a hydraulic chamber and receiving hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic chamber on a front surface, a safety valve provided to the piston to discharge the oil inside the hydraulic chamber to the outside when the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic chamber becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and a lift arm supported by the cylinder case and rotatable in conjunction with movement of the piston, in which the piston includes an oil passage allowing communication between a rear surface of the piston and the front surface, and the oil passage includes a containing portion provided to open on the axially front surface side and capable of containing the safety valve, and a non-containing portion provided on the axially rear surface side relative to the containing portion and incapable of containing the safety valve.

A hydraulic actuator includes two or more cylinder parts that nest inside each other, each cylinder part including a piston and piston rod forming an operating element and a cylindrical component, inside which the operating element is arranged, the piston of the inner cylinder part being inside the piston rod of the outer cylinder part, chambers formed for each cylinder part, a pressure-medium feed arrangement creating work-movement in the operating element by the pressure medium led to the chambers, a pressure-difference-controlled valve controlling operation of the hydraulic actuator between a first ducting and a second ducting, controlling the feed of the pressure medium among the chambers and a pressure-difference-controlled spool valve including a housing, connecting chambers and a spool arranged to move backwards and forwards in the housing to open and close the connections creating a work movement alternately by the operating element of the inner or outer cylinder part.

An unloading valve includes a valve body, a valve trim, a return spring, a damping hole, and an unloading groove. A combined valve includes the unloading valve and a throttling valve. The throttling valve includes a buffer stopper and a buffer chamber. A piston rod assembly of the combined valve type buffer cylinder is provided in a cylinder body. The cylinder body includes a cylinder head flange, a cylinder bottom, and a cylinder barrel. The piston rod assembly includes a guide sleeve, a piston, and a piston rod. The combined valve is provided on the cylinder. The system is located in an unloading state in a buffering process to reduce the energy loss and heat buildup of the system, prevent the pressure impact of buffering on the system, make the system more reliable, and lower the difficulty of the original buffer valve in performance matching, installation and debugging.