A flow rate controller and a drive device are provided with a first flow passage connected between an operation switching valve and an air cylinder, and that supplies air to and discharges air from a cylinder chamber of the air cylinder; a first flow rate adjustment part provided in the first flow passage; a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage; a pilot check valve provided at a point along the second flow passage; a second flow rate adjustment part connected in series to the pilot check valve at a point along the second flow passage; a pilot air flow passage, one end of which communicates with the operation switching valve and the other end of which is connected to a pilot port of the pilot check valve; and a third flow rate adjustment part provided in the pilot air flow passage.

In a flow rate controller and a drive device, a housing is provided therein with a first flow passage, a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage, a first throttle valve provided to the first flow passage, and a second throttle valve provided to the second flow passage. A pilot check valve is provided to the second flow passage and is connected in series to the second throttle valve. A pilot air flow passage communicates with a pilot port of the pilot check valve for supplying and discharging pilot air, and a third throttle valve is provided to the pilot air flow passage. In response to the pressure of the pilot air, the pilot check valve switches between a state in which the passage of exhaust air discharged from an air cylinder is permitted and a state in which passage of the exhaust air is prevented.

A wheelchair lift with low energy consumption includes a platform assembly to receive a wheelchair. The wheelchair lift includes a hydraulic drive system to move the platform assembly between an entry level position and a ground level position. The wheelchair lift includes a fluid circuit being embodied to transport a hydraulic fluid from a tank using a pump driven by an electric motor to the hydraulic drive system to raise the platform assembly from the ground level position to the entry level position. The fluid circuit is further embodied to transport the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic drive system via the pump to the tank, when lowering the platform assembly from the entry level position to the ground level position.

A wheelchair lift with low energy consumption includes a platform assembly to receive a wheelchair. The wheelchair lift includes a hydraulic drive system to move the platform assembly between an entry level position and a ground level position. The wheelchair lift includes a fluid circuit being embodied to transport a hydraulic fluid from a tank using a pump driven by an electric motor to the hydraulic drive system to raise the platform assembly from the ground level position to the entry level position. The fluid circuit is further embodied to transport the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic drive system via the pump to the tank, when lowering the platform assembly from the entry level position to the ground level position.

A telescopic actuator includes a first segment having a first hollow cavity, a second segment having a second hollow cavity, a third segment having a third hollow cavity, and a first port and a second port. The second segment is slidably connected to the first segment through the first hollow cavity, and the third segment is slidably connected to the second segment through the second hollow cavity, the second hollow cavity being insulated from the first hollow cavity and communicating with the third hollow cavity. The first port is configured to flow fluid into and out of the first hollow cavity, and the second port is configured to flow fluid into and out of the second hollow cavity and the third hollow cavity. Embodiments described herein also include a motion simulating apparatus and an actuating system incorporating the telescopic actuator.

A hydrostatic drive includes at least one hydrostatic pump configured to supply at least one hydrostatic consumer and an apparatus for an energy recovery procedure of at least a part of the energy that is output by the consumer. An electronic control unit or at least one software component is further included, with which the energy recovery procedure is controlled in a variable manner and depends upon detected influencing variables.

A hydrostatic drive includes at least one hydrostatic pump configured to supply at least one hydrostatic consumer and an apparatus for an energy recovery procedure of at least a part of the energy that is output by the consumer. An electronic control unit or at least one software component is further included, with which the energy recovery procedure is controlled in a variable manner and depends upon detected influencing variables.

A hydraulic cylinder retarder includes a hydraulic cylinder mechanism, a hydraulic oil conveying mechanism and a hydraulic oil valve mechanism. A piston component of the hydraulic cylinder mechanism is connected to a transmission device. Resistance to the piston movement of the hydraulic cylinder mechanism is generated by the hydraulic oil conveying mechanism and the hydraulic oil valve mechanism, so as to reduce the operation speed of the transmission device.

A hydraulic assembly includes a barrel having a head port disposed proximate an end of the barrel, a piston assembly disposed within the barrel and movable relative thereto, the piston assembly including a bore terminating at a back wall, the bore defining a longitudinal axis, and a plunger at least partially received within the bore and translatable along the longitudinal axis. The plunger includes a main body having an end facing the head port, a shoulder extending radially-outwardly from the main body, and a passageway extending through the main body. A spring is disposed in a first region defined between the shoulder and the back wall, the spring configured to exert a biasing force on the shoulder.

An apparatus for damping an actuator includes an inerter. The inerter includes a first terminal and a second terminal movable relative to one another along an inerter axis and configured to be mutually exclusively coupled to a support structure and a movable device actuated by an actuator. The inerter further includes a rod coupled to and movable with the first terminal and a threaded shaft coupled to and movable with the second terminal. The inerter further includes a flywheel having a flywheel annulus coupled to one of the rod and the threaded shaft. The flywheel is configured to rotate in proportion to axial acceleration of the rod relative to the threaded shaft in correspondence with actuation of the movable device by the actuator.