A spool valve device includes: a housing with channels; a spool moving to change channel connection statuses; an electric actuator including an electric motor and linear-motion conversion mechanism, the motor rotating an output shaft by torque corresponding to a drive current supplied to the motor, the mechanism converting rotational output shaft movement into straight movement and applying thrust corresponding to the torque to the spool to change position; a biasing member applying biasing force to the spool against the actuator thrust; an angle detector detecting an motor output shaft angular position; a driving portion driving the motor by controlling drive current flow supplied to the motor based on a position command input and the angular position detected by the angle detector; and an abnormality determining portion calculating the spool position based on the detected angular position and determine presence or absence of operation spool abnormality.

A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.

This invention relates to hydraulic energy storage and management systems. In particular, this invention relates to a hydraulic energy management system that has a reconfigurable energy storage and release capability that adjusts to varying available energy input and power demand output requirements. The hydraulic energy management system can be resized by a hydraulic bridge circuit to permit hydraulic power units to be added or removed, both physically and operationally, to capture available energy over time, adjust to peak demand cycles, and maintain power output in the event of a failure of a portion of the system.

An exemplary valve bank and/or modular control valve having a valve body, a valve member movable in a fluid flow of the valve body to control flow of fluid, and an onboard electronic controller that is operably mounted to the valve bank or valve body. The onboard controller is operably connected to at least one actuator of the valve, which is configured to control movement of the valve member in response to commands from the onboard controller. The onboard controller may provide diagnostics, feedback and/or control of the control valve, such as via inputs from one or more sensors that may be included in the valve. The modular control valve may be used with conventional non-intelligent valve banks to thereby impart smart diagnostics and/or feedback into the valve bank in a plug-and-play manner. A communications interface may be provided in the control valve to interface and communicate with an upper-level PLC controller.

A fluid leakage detection system has a detection space to which working oil leaked out through a rod seal is guided; the rod seal being configured to seal an annular gap between a piston rod and a cylinder head; a sensor unit configured to detect pressure in the detection space; and a controller configured to acquire detected result from the sensor unit, wherein the controller has: a calculation unit configured to calculate a pressure parameter representing a pressure fluctuation in the detection space; a determination unit configured to determine occurrence of leakage of the working oil based on the pressure parameter; and the pressure parameter includes an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the pressure fluctuation obtained from the detected result detected by the sensor unit within a predetermined detection period.

A hydraulic tool with a protective box assembly including a control circuit and hydraulic pressure sensors is used to operate a prime mover. The control circuit and the hydraulic pressure sensors are used to monitor performance of the hydraulic tool. Systems and methods implemented in a cloud monitor the performance of the hydraulic tool. The systems and methods utilize data collected by the hydraulic pressure sensors, processed by the control circuit, and transmitted via an antenna from the hydraulic tool to the cloud. A first set of systems and methods detect and predict a jam condition in blades associated with the hydraulic tool using statistical analysis of the data. A second set of systems and methods detect faults associated with the hydraulic tool including hydraulic leakage, mechanical wear, and friction.

Provided is a pneumatic actuator control device including detectors that are disposed in an air supply passage leading from an air supply source to a solenoid valve or in an air exhaust passage leading from the solenoid valve, and that detect the flow volume or the pressure of the air in the air supply passage, or detect the flow volume or the pressure of the air in the air exhaust passage; and an operational state determination unit that, on the basis of data representing a change in the flow volume or the pressure of the air in the air supply passage, or in the flow volume or the pressure of the air in the air exhaust passage, as detected by the detectors, determines the operational state of a pneumatic actuator connected to the solenoid valve.

A method is provided for detecting a reciprocal position between a cylinder and a piston of a piston-cylinder unit of a vehicle. The method includes measuring, by means of an optical sensor, a value of an indicative parameter of a color of a reference mark positioned on a portion of the piston. The method also includes comparing the measured value with at least a predetermined threshold value thereof different to a minimum detected threshold of the indicative parameter by the optical sensor; and

emitting an alarm signal perceptible by a driver of a vehicle if the measured value is comprised between the threshold value and the minimum value.

A stability and control augmentation system (SCAS) actuator is operable for actuating a flight control surface of an aircraft. The SCAS actuator includes an actuator housing having a first aperture, a second aperture and a hydraulic chamber therebetween. A piston extends through the actuator housing. Fluid inlets are in fluid communication with regions of the hydraulic chamber. A first end portion of the piston is arranged to slide through the first aperture without a seal between the first end portion and the first aperture. A second end portion of the piston is arranged to slide through the second aperture without a seal between the second end portion and the second aperture. An intermediate portion of the piston is arranged to slide in the hydraulic chamber without a seal between the intermediate portion and the hydraulic chamber.

A method is provided for detecting and quantifying leaks in a gas network under pressure or vacuum. The gas network may have a sensor(s) capable of recording the status of a source(s), consumers, consumer areas or applications. The method includes: a start-up phase; a training or estimation phase; and an operational phase. The operational phase includes: reading out the first group of sensors; calculating or determining the value of a second group of sensors from the readings from the first group of sensors; comparing the calculated or determined values of the second group of sensors with the read values of the second group of sensors and determining the difference between them; determining, on the basis of a residual value analysis, whether there is a leak in the gas network; generating an alarm and/or generating a leakage rate and/or generating the corresponding leakage cost if a leak is detected.