A fluid control system for supplying fluid to a fluid consumer, having a valve module including a channel body to which a fluid switching valve, a fluid pressure regulator and a vacuum switching valve are attached, the channel body having a first fluid channel extending from a fluid input port to an input port of the fluid pressure regulator and having a second fluid channel extending from an output port of the fluid pressure regulator to an input port of the fluid switching valve, and having a third fluid channel extending from an output port of the fluid switching valve to a fluid consumer port, and having a first vacuum channel extending from a vacuum input port to an input port of the vacuum switching valve, and having a second vacuum channel extending from an output port of the vacuum switching valve to the fluid consumer port.

A pneumatic lift retraction assistance apparatus is provided to improve withdrawal of a lift. The pneumatic lift retraction assistance apparatus may include a chassis, chamber, vacuum component, vacuum connections, flow regulation component, control component and power component. A method to operate an apparatus to improve withdrawal of a lift using the pneumatic lift retraction assistance apparatus is also provided.

A method for filling a hydraulic circuit of an electro-hydrostatic system includes connecting first and third shut-off valves to a discharge valve, and connecting a second shut-off valve to a filling valve, while the second and third shut-off valves are closed, opening the filling valve, the discharge valve and the first shut-off valve and operating a vacuum generator, once a vacuum has been established in the hydraulic circuit, opening the second shut-off valve in order to fill the hydraulic circuit with pressurized hydraulic fluid while the vacuum generator is still in operation, once the hydraulic circuit has been filled with fluid, closing the first shut-off valve and then opening the third shut-off valve in order to bypass the vacuum generator and circulate the fluid through the electro-hydrostatic system until the fluid contained in the hydraulic circuit reaches a predetermined pressure, and closing the discharge valve and the filling valve.

In some implementations, bending or other shape changes of a device are actuated by inflating or deflating a bladder in the device. Then, once the desired new shape is achieved by this actuation, another bladder in the device is layer-jammed, to make the device rigid in the new shape. In some cases, sheets in the layer-jamming bladder are coated with abrasive particles. In some cases, layer jamming bladders are interwoven to form a woven device. The rigidity of the woven device can be anisotropically controlled. Layer jamming some, but not all, of the bladders in the woven device causes the woven device to have a rigidity that varies by direction. In some cases, a layer-jamming bladder includes a solid layer with a crease in it. As a result, the bladder can easily bend at the crease.

The invention relates to an system for supplying a hydraulic circuit with hydraulic fluid. The system includes a working reservoir and an auxiliary reservoir connected to the working reservoir by a hydraulic line. An air pump has an inlet connected to a suction line that opens into a liquid-free portion of the auxiliary reservoir so that a negative pressure can be built up in the auxiliary reservoir relative to the atmospheric ambient pressure. The air pump inlet is also connected to a control line, which comprises a control opening which is covered by the hydraulic fluid in the working reservoir, at least before the air pump is started up.

A vacuum powered system for moving a movable component, such as for raising and lowering a stowage container, includes a vacuum actuator connected between a fixed structure and a movable component. The vacuum actuator includes one or more intake ports that are configured to connect with a source of vacuum for moving the movable component in a first direction to a first position, and one or more bleed valve ports for venting the vacuum actuator to move the movable component in a second direction to a second position. The vacuum actuator may be an air bellows, a single acting linear vacuum actuator, or a dual acting linear vacuum actuator. A guiding system is further provided that includes elongated tracks in a stationary stowage container housing that houses the movable component, and corresponding guide elements on the movable component that slidably engage with the elongated tracks for moving the movable component.

A method is provided for the simultaneous detection, localization, and quantification of leaks and obstructions in a gas network under pressure or vacuum. The gas network includes: one or more sources of compressed gas or vacuum; one or more consumers or consumer areas of compressed gas or vacuum applications; pipelines or a network of pipelines to transport the compressed gas or vacuum from the sources to the consumers, consumer areas or applications; a plurality of sensors providing one or more physical parameters of the gas at different times and locations within the gas network. The gas network is further provided with controllable or adjustable relief valves, controllable or adjustable throttle valves and possibly one or a plurality of sensors capable of monitoring the status or state of the relief valves and/or throttle valves.

A control device of a pneumatic element includes a supply circuit supplying compressed air to an inlet of the pneumatic element. The control device includes a normally closed monostable valve having an inlet connected to a compressed air source and an outlet connected to the inlet of the pneumatic element. A bistable valve has an inlet connected to the compressed air source and an outlet connected to a first control port of the normally closed monostable valve. A normally open monostable valve has a first inlet connected to the compressed air source and an outlet connected to a second control port of the normally closed monostable valve. The first and second control ports controls the opening and closing of the normally closed monostable valve. The valves are operable control the flow of compressed air.