A flow controller that changes the flow rate of air exhausted from an air cylinder in mid-stroke includes a first switching valve displaced from a first position to a second position under the effect of pilot air, and causing one port of the air cylinder to communicate with a first channel at the first position, exhausting air exhausted from the one port of the air cylinder while reducing the flow rate of the air using a first regulating valve at the second position. Since the pilot air is taken into the first switching valve from a second channel in a system different from the system of the first channel, a second regulating valve can be adjusted without being affected by the degree of opening of the first regulating valve.

A speed controller capable of controlling an action speed of an external cylinder in one stroke in a step-wise manner. The speed controller includes a first flow path and a second flow path that allow a first port and a second port to be in communication with each other. The first flow path is provided with a first check valve for allowing flow from the first port to the second port. The second flow path is provided with a first needle valve, and an opening hole of the first check valve is constituted as a part of a flow path. The first needle valve adjusts the flow rate by changing an opening area of the opening hole with a tip portion fixed on a piston in the cylinder chamber. The speed controller further includes a third flow path allowing the first port and the cylinder chamber to be in communication with each other. The third flow path is provided with a second check valve for allowing flow from the first port to the cylinder chamber.

A main flow path that introduces high-pressure air to an air cylinder, or discharges exhaust air therefrom, includes a sub flow path provided alongside the main flow path; an exhaust flow rate adjustment unit that suppresses the operation speed of the air cylinder by adjusting the flow rate of the exhaust air flowing through the sub flow path; and a switching valve that is connected between the air cylinder, the main flow path and the sub flow path, and that connects the main flow path and the sub flow path to the air cylinder in a switching manner. The switching valve is constituted by a spool valve.

A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may include a hydrostatic pump to provide, at a flow rate, a fluid to a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydrostatic pump has a displacement, and wherein the hydraulic motor drives a swinging element; a swing circuit pressure sensor to sense a circuit pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a pilot pressure actuator to control, based on a supply pressure, the displacement of the hydrostatic pump; a pilot pressure override valve to control the supply pressure; and a controller configured to adjust, based on sensed signals and with the pilot pressure override valve, the supply pressure, wherein the sensed signals include: a circuit pressure signal based on the circuit pressure sensed by the swing circuit pressure sensor; and a sensed swing speed signal based on a swing speed of the swinging element sensed by one or more machine sensors.

A power drive for a passenger and/or cargo elevator—or any conveyance-using stored high pressure compressed air as a primary source, producing high pressure hydraulic fluid energy to move a servo-controlled hydraulic motor, mechanically connected to the hoisting mechanism of the elevator, is disclosed. The electric power driving the air compressor is not affected by the load of the elevator (e.g. number of passengers). The electric current is consumed to charge a high pressure air tank. The compressor is operated only when the elevator is in in a parked position, thus electric power consumption level is by no means correlated to the operational mode of the elevator motion.

A flow controller that changes the flow rate of air exhausted from an air cylinder in mid-stroke includes a first switching valve displaced from a first position to a second position under the effect of pilot air, and causing one port of the air cylinder to communicate with a first channel at the first position, exhausting air exhausted from the one port of the air cylinder while reducing the flow rate of the air using a first regulating valve at the second position. Since the pilot air is taken into the first switching valve from a second channel in a system different from the system of the first channel, a second regulating valve can be adjusted without being affected by the degree of opening of the first regulating valve.

A flow controller that changes the flow rate of air exhausted from an air cylinder in mid-stroke includes a first switching valve displaced from a first position to a second position under the effect of pilot air, and causing one port of the air cylinder to communicate with a first channel at the first position, exhausting air exhausted from the one port of the air cylinder while reducing the flow rate of the air using a first regulating valve at the second position. Since the pilot air is taken into the first switching valve from a second channel in a system different from the system of the first channel, a second regulating valve can be adjusted without being affected by the degree of opening of the first regulating valve.

Provided is a driving apparatus capable of effectively preventing impact at the stroke end in the hydraulic cylinder. The driving apparatus includes a hydraulic pump, a cylinder control valve, an operation member, a drive command input unit inputting a cylinder drive command corresponding to a cylinder operation applied to the operation member to the cylinder control valve, a cylinder stroke detection unit, a cylinder drive command restriction unit restricting the cylinder drive command in response to the cylinder stroke to stop a piston of a hydraulic cylinder before the stroke end.

Provided is a driving apparatus capable of effectively preventing impact at the stroke end in the hydraulic cylinder. The driving apparatus includes a hydraulic pump, a cylinder control valve, an operation member, a drive command input unit inputting a cylinder drive command corresponding to a cylinder operation applied to the operation member to the cylinder control valve, a cylinder stroke detection unit, a cylinder drive command restriction unit restricting the cylinder drive command in response to the cylinder stroke to stop a piston of a hydraulic cylinder before the stroke end.

Provided is a driving apparatus capable of effectively preventing impact at the stroke end in the hydraulic cylinder. The driving apparatus includes a hydraulic pump, a cylinder control valve, an operation member, a drive command input unit inputting a cylinder drive command corresponding to a cylinder operation applied to the operation member to the cylinder control valve, a cylinder stroke detection unit, a cylinder drive command restriction unit restricting the cylinder drive command in response to the cylinder stroke to stop a piston of a hydraulic cylinder before the stroke end.