Provided is a fluid actuator capable of safely driving a drive target. An air actuator using air as a working fluid includes an X-axis pressure sensor that measures air pressures PX+ and PX− along one drive axis, which drives a drive target in an X direction, a Y-axis pressure sensor that measures air pressures PY1+, PY1−, PY2+, and PY2− along two drive axes, which drive the drive target in a Y direction, and an acceleration detection unit that detects translational acceleration and rotational acceleration generated in the drive target on the basis of the measured air pressures PX+, PX−, PY1+, PY1−, PY2+, and PY2−.

The pneumatic solar tracking system for solar panels adjusts the angular orientation of a solar panel to maximize exposure of an upper surface of the solar panel to incident solar radiation from the sun as the sun moves across the sky. The pneumatic solar tracking system includes a base and a platform supported above the base. The platform has an opening formed therein. A plurality of pneumatic actuators are supported on the base beneath the opening formed in the platform. The solar panel is supported on an upper surface of the platform, and a plurality of pivotal connectors pivotally connect the lower surface of the solar panel to respective pistons of the plurality of pneumatic actuators. Each of the pivotal connectors pivots along at least two orthogonal axes. An optical sensor is provided for detecting and tracking the angular position of the sun.

A hydraulic thruster system for providing an axial force. In one embodiment, the system comprises a pump, a motor for driving the pump, and a hydraulic thruster comprising: a cylinder comprising a plurality of cylinder pistons; a shaft comprising a plurality of shaft pistons; a plurality of first pressure chambers; and a plurality of second pressure chambers, wherein the plurality of shaft pistons are positioned inside the cylinder, between the cylinder pistons to form the plurality of first and a second pressure chambers, wherein the shaft further comprises a first fluid passage connected to the pump and to the first pressure chambers, and a second fluid passage connected to the pump and to the second pressure chambers, and wherein the pump may pump fluid into the first pressure chambers and suction fluid from the second pressure chambers providing an axial force between the shaft and the cylinder.

A stiffening device for a base frame is disclosed. The disclosed stiffening device comprises hydraulic jacks fitted with structural members of the base frame; strain gauges coupled to the structural members of the base frame, the strain gauges configured to detect deformation in the structural members of the base frame and generate first signals based on the detected deformation in the structural members; at least one signal conditioner unit coupled to the strain gauges to receive the first signals and generate second signals by performing any or a combination of amplification, filtering and conversion of the received first signals; and a hydraulic console configured to actuate at least one of the hydraulic jacks when value of received second signals is above a predefined threshold value. Upon actuation, the actuated at least one of the jacks stiffens at least one of the structural members of the base frame.

One object is to reduce a weight of a fluid actuator. The fluid actuator includes: a cylinder having an inner space and a first mounting portion, the inner space being partitioned into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, the first mounting portion being disposed on an end portion of the cylinder on an axial direction A side; and a piston rod configured to reciprocate in accordance with pressures in the fluid chambers. A wall portion defining the first fluid chamber in the cylinder is made of an iron-based alloy. A wall portion defining the second fluid chamber in the cylinder is made of an aluminum alloy. The piston rod is made of an iron-based alloy.

A fluid pressure cylinder includes a first cylinder portion and a second cylinder portion disposed in parallel, and a supply-and-discharge port. The first cylinder portion is partitioned by a first piston into a head-side first accumulation chamber and a rod-side second accumulation chamber. The second cylinder portion is partitioned by a second piston into a head-side release chamber and a rod-side drive chamber. Pressurized fluid is supplied to and discharged from the second accumulation chamber and the drive chamber through the supply-and-discharge port. An end of a first piston rod connected to the first piston and an end of a second piston rod connected to the second piston are connected to each other. The first piston includes a communication switching valve switching communication between the first accumulation chamber and the second accumulation chamber, between enabled and disabled.

The inventive technology, in certain of its many embodiments, may present a y-number of physically biased, pressurized positioner assemblies, in a single positioner zone, where each assembly includes, inter alia, a plurality of n number of non-precision springs configured in a bimodal or trimodal configuration, and wherein an average of the absolute values of individual deviations, from a design effective spring rate, of the measured, effective spring rates of said positioner assemblies of said zone is less than an average of the absolute values of individual deviations, from said design effective spring rate, of y-number of non-precision springs manufactured to have said design effective spring rate. Spring configurations may be, e.g.: single/double/triple cylinder; single/double pressure cylinder; unimodal/bimodal/trimodal parallel, series and/or nested; internal/external; and/or symmetric/asymmetric. Certain embodiments may include an anti-buckling disc established between series configured springs. Additional aspects of the inventive technology may relate to, e.g., ability to use shorter springs to achieve an intended rate, inter alia.

Hydraulic displacement mechanisms, and methods of using hydraulic displacement mechanisms to remove cables jammed or stuck in a conduit or other passageways, are disclosed.

An actuator includes first and second ends defining an axis there between, and at least four inflatable chambers. Each inflatable chamber is resiliently deformable, elongate, and extends axially between the first and second ends and circumferentially about a central core defined between the ends and by the inflatable chambers. A first pair of the four inflatable chambers is contra rotatory about the core to a second pair of the four inflatable chambers. A pressure change in one or more of the inflatable chambers causes motion of the first end relative to the second end. The actuators can be employed in robots or robotic arms.

In a linear actuator, a slide table is attached to a cylinder body via a guide mechanism so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder body. The slide table includes a table body arranged above the cylinder body and extending in the longitudinal direction, and an end plate joined to an end of the table body in the longitudinal direction so as to be substantially orthogonal to the table body. The end plate includes a storage chamber provided on one surface thereof in the longitudinal direction facing a guide mechanism and depressed from the one surface in a direction away from the guide mechanism. For example, when the linear actuator is used in an environment where powder dust and the like is scattered, the storage chamber stores therein a solidified matter made up of the powder dust and the like.