An agricultural machine includes a float cylinder interconnecting a header linkage system and a frame. A rod side accumulator is in fluid communication with a rod side fluid port of the float cylinder. A float control valve is selectively controllable between an open position allowing fluid communication between a pressure source and the rod side accumulator, and a closed position blocking fluid communication between the pressure source and the rod side accumulator. A downforce accumulator is in fluid communication with a piston side fluid port of the float cylinder. A downforce control valve controls fluid communication between the pressure source and the downforce accumulator. A downforce return valve controls fluid communication between the downforce accumulator and the tank.

An agricultural machine includes a float cylinder interconnecting a header linkage system and a frame of the machine. A first rod side accumulator and a second rod side accumulator are both in fluid communication with a rod side fluid port of the float cylinder. A first accumulator control valve is positioned to control the first rod side accumulator, and is selectively controllable between an open position allowing fluid communication between the first rod side accumulator and the rod side fluid port of the float cylinder, and closed position blocking fluid communication between the first rod side accumulator and the rod side fluid port of the float cylinder. The system provides a slower first float response with the first accumulator control valve open, and a faster second float response with the first accumulator control valve closed.

A lift arm lifting and lowering mechanism cylinder case provided with a cylinder portion into which oil is fed, a piston slidable inside the cylinder portion to define a hydraulic chamber and receiving hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic chamber on a front surface, a safety valve provided to the piston to discharge the oil inside the hydraulic chamber to the outside when the hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic chamber becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and a lift arm supported by the cylinder case and rotatable in conjunction with movement of the piston, in which the piston includes an oil passage allowing communication between a rear surface of the piston and the front surface, and the oil passage includes a containing portion provided to open on the axially front surface side and capable of containing the safety valve, and a non-containing portion provided on the axially rear surface side relative to the containing portion and incapable of containing the safety valve.

An aircraft assembly having: a first part; a second part, the second part being movably mounted with respect to the first part; an electro-hydraulic actuator coupled between the second part and a first anchor point, the actuator comprising a cylinder defining a bore and a piston and rod assembly slidably mounted within the bore and an active chamber within which an increase in fluid pressure causes the actuator to change during a first phase between first and second extension states to move the second part relative to the first part. The electro-hydraulic actuator further includes a hydraulic fluid supply circuit comprising a piezo-electric pump operable to supply pressurised fluid to the active chamber to change the actuator between first and second extension states.

Universal control circuitry for an electro-hydraulic valve actuator system includes logic gate circuitry to control one or more of a closing solenoid valve, an opening solenoid valve, an emergency shutdown solenoid valve, and a hydraulic fluid pump motor to route hydraulic fluid through a hydraulic circuit to actuate a valve via a hydraulic actuator according to received commands. The universal control circuitry is configured to control operation for multiple different configurations of a hydraulic valve actuator system including double-acting configurations, single-acting spring-to-open configurations, and single-acting spring-to-close configurations, each with or without an emergency shutdown arrangement (which may be configured to trip based on an external shutdown input alone or in combination with a local system power failure), a hydraulic accumulator, and maintained or momentary input commands.

An open center hydraulic system (100) includes a tank configured to hold hydraulic fluid, a pump configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid from the tank, and a shunt valve configured to adapt a first opening area between a first input port and a first output port of the shunt valve dependent on a first control signal. The first input port is coupled to the pump, and the first output port is coupled to the tank. A first actuator valve is coupled to the first input port and configured to adapt a second opening area of the first actuator valve dependent on a second control signal. A hydraulic valve control unit is configured to determine a first opening area value and a second opening area value based on user input data and a predetermined relation dependent on the user input data, sending the first control signal, indicative of the first opening area value and sending the second control signal indicative of the second opening area value.

A logic valve for management of a hydraulic actuator comprising: a valve body with a hollow seat which extends along a work direction and communicates with a first port adapted for receiving a pressurized working fluid, a second port adapted for fluidly coupling with an operating chamber of the hydraulic actuator, and a third port adapted for discharging the working fluid; a slider within the hollow seat movable along the work direction; and a spring between the valve body and the slider and oriented to act on the slider along the work direction in the direction away from said third port, wherein the slider is movable between a first operating configuration fluidly coupling the second and third ports and excluding fluid communication between them and the first port, and a second operating configuration fluidly coupling the first and second ports and excluding fluid communication between them and the third port.

A control unit for pneumatic actuation of a cylinder, in particular an active creel of a textile-processing machine or a cabling machine, having a compressed air inlet for connecting a compressed air supply, a working air outlet for operating the cylinder, which acts at least on one side, a valve unit arranged between the compressed air inlet and the working air outlet, and an operating element for opening the valve unit to trigger a lifting movement of the cylinder. In order to provide a control unit for pneumatic actuation of an active creel, the actuation of the creel being particularly simple by the control unit, so that an operator can use the creel more easily, quickly and safely, and in addition the creel is protected from damage by incorrect operation, the control unit for achieving a self-retaining valve function, in which the lifting movement of the cylinder is fully executed with a single and/or brief actuation of the operating element, and for the control unit is connected to an end position sensor of the cylinder such that, when the end position sensor is activated, the valve unit is closed and/or the cylinder connected to the working air outlet is automatically depressurized when or after an end position is reached.

An automation device for industrial automation, for closed-loop controlling and/or diagnosing a pneumatic actuator with an actuator member. The automation device has a model, in particular a non-linear model, of the pneumatic actuator, which has at least one model parameter by means of which the model can be adapted to different variants of the pneumatic actuator, and wherein the automation device is configured to carry out closed-loop control and/or diagnosis of the pneumatic actuator using the model.

Methods and apparatus for quantifying pneumatic volume usage via valve controllers are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a valve controller operatively couplable to a pneumatic actuator, the pneumatic actuator being operatively coupled to a control valve. In response to an input signal indicating that a flow control member of the control valve is to be moved in a specified direction, the valve controller commands a current-to-pressure (I/P) converter of the valve controller to pulse a relay valve of the valve controller between a closed position and an open position. The pulsing of the relay valve causes the pneumatic actuator to move the flow control member in the specified direction. The valve controller calculates a pneumatic volume usage associated with the moving of the flow control member in the specified direction. The pneumatic volume usage is based on the pulsing of the relay valve.