A hydraulic axle includes a reversible hydraulic pump. The hydraulic axle has a multi-surface cylinder with two retraction surfaces and two deployment surfaces. A first deployment surface and a first retraction surface are configured to interconnect with each other and separate from other surface during a rapid-traverse stroke. A pressure medium is configured to act on the second deployment surface to enable deployment.

A hydraulic axle includes a reversible hydraulic pump. The hydraulic axle has a multi-surface cylinder with two retraction surfaces and two deployment surfaces. A first deployment surface and a first retraction surface are configured to interconnect with each other and separate from other surface during a rapid-traverse stroke. A pressure medium is configured to act on the second deployment surface to enable deployment.

A hydraulic drive, preferably for a hydraulic press, having a first synchronized cylinder that comprises a piston between first and second pressure chambers; at least one hydraulic pump whereby the pump outlet is hydraulically connected with the first pressure chamber of the first synchronized cylinder and the pump inlet is hydraulically connected with the second pressure chamber of the first synchronized cylinder; at least a second synchronized cylinder that comprises a piston between first and a second pressure chambers; whereby the piston of the first synchronized cylinder is mechanically movably coupled with the piston of the second synchronized cylinder; whereby the first pressure chamber of the second synchronized cylinder is hydraulically connected with the pump outlet; and whereby the second pressure chamber of the second synchronized cylinder can be connected with the pump inlet when a pressure limit in the second pressure chamber of the second synchronized cylinder is exceeded.

The invention relates to a hydraulic cylinder, for example for use with a hydraulic tool, which hydraulic tool is provided with a frame and an element which is movable with respect to the frame by means of the hydraulic cylinder.

A hydraulic tool which is operated by means of a hydraulic cylinder as described above is known from, for example, European patent no. 0641618. This patent discloses a frame which is coupleable to a jib of an excavator or the like and to which an assembly of two jaws can be coupled. One of the jaws is pivotable with respect to the other jaw by means of a hydraulic adjusting cylinder (a double-acting piston/cylinder combination).

A compressed air provision device (2) for aerating a first pressure chamber (10) of a pneumatic actuator in order to actuate an actuator element (11) of the pneumatic actuator (3) in accordance with an actuation specification, in particular a position, movement, pressure and/or force specification. The compressed air provision device (2) is configured to calculate an aeration period (bd) and to aerate the first pressure chamber (10) in accordance with the calculated aeration period (bd) in order to bring about actuation of the actuator element (11) in accordance with the actuation specification.

A compressed air provision device (2) for aerating a first pressure chamber (10) of a pneumatic actuator in order to actuate an actuator element (11) of the pneumatic actuator (3) in accordance with an actuation specification, in particular a position, movement, pressure and/or force specification. The compressed air provision device (2) is configured to calculate an aeration period (bd) and to aerate the first pressure chamber (10) in accordance with the calculated aeration period (bd) in order to bring about actuation of the actuator element (11) in accordance with the actuation specification.

The disclosure discloses an electro-hydraulic servo actuator capable of implementing long-stroke and high-frequency loading and a control method. The actuator includes: a long hydraulic cylinder with a piston, a short hydraulic cylinder with a piston, a fixed-end rod, low frequency and high frequency electro-hydraulic servo valves, a left rod chamber, a right rod chamber, a force applying end head, and a force applying end rod. With this structure, the displacement of the piston of the short hydraulic cylinder is a combination of small-displacement and high-frequency movement and large-displacement and low-frequency movement, so as to realize the generation of large-displacement and high-frequency movement. Therefore, a target large-displacement and high-frequency excitation is applied to the specimen under load test. The actuator can output high-frequency and large-displacement target excitation of 0.1 Hz to 200 Hz and 0 mm to 1500 mm, and has a simple mechanical structure, advanced control process, and good practicability.

An artificial muscle stack that includes a plurality of artificial muscle layers. Each artificial muscle layer includes one or more artificial muscles having a housing with an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair having a first and second electrode positioned in the electrode region. The first and second electrodes each include two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. The two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions. At least one of the first and second electrode includes a central opening positioned between the tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. The plurality of artificial muscle layers are arranged such that the expandable fluid region of the artificial muscles of each artificial muscle layer overlaps at least one tab portion of one or more artificial muscles of an adjacent artificial muscle layer.

An artificial muscle stack that includes a plurality of artificial muscle layers. Each artificial muscle layer includes one or more artificial muscles having a housing with an electrode region and an expandable fluid region, a dielectric fluid housed within the housing, and an electrode pair having a first and second electrode positioned in the electrode region. The first and second electrodes each include two or more tab portions and two or more bridge portions. The two or more bridge portions interconnects adjacent tab portions. At least one of the first and second electrode includes a central opening positioned between the tab portions and encircling the expandable fluid region. The plurality of artificial muscle layers are arranged such that the expandable fluid region of the artificial muscles of each artificial muscle layer overlaps at least one tab portion of one or more artificial muscles of an adjacent artificial muscle layer.

The present disclosure relates to variable recruitment actuator systems and related methods. In one embodiment, a variable recruitment actuator system may include a high-pressure fluid connection and a plurality of actuators. A variable recruitment actuator mechanism may selectively recruit a subset of the plurality of actuators based on a position of the variable recruitment actuator mechanism by selectively placing the subset of the plurality of actuators in fluid communication with the high-pressure fluid connection. A control system to control the position of the variable recruitment actuator mechanism may operate based on an input from a user.