An output member (7) is inserted in a housing (5) so as to be movable in a left-right direction. A lock chamber (20) is provided to the right of the output member (7), as a first actuation chamber. Compressed air is supplied to and discharged from the lock chamber (20) through a first supply and discharge passage (24) provided in the housing (5). A first holding valve (30) provided to an intermediate portion of the first supply and discharge passage (24) is configured to close and open the first supply and discharge passage (24).

A hydraulic drive unit for a stretcher has a hydraulic circuit with a differential cylinder, a pump, a tank and a valve assembly. The differential cylinder includes a rod working chamber and a piston working chamber. The valve assembly is switchable into at least a first state and a second state, wherein the rod working chamber is connected to the tank in the first state and to the pump in the second state, and wherein the piston working chamber is connected to the pump in the first state and to the tank in the second state. The tank is a tank separated from the atmosphere with a variable tank volume, so that the hydraulic circuit is configured as a closed hydraulic circuit. A stretcher having such a hydraulic drive unit is also provided.

A power unit with manual override control for a hydraulic system having an initial state and at least one operational state is provided, comprising: a tank for storing hydraulic fluid that moves between a first chamber and a second chamber of a hydraulic cylinder; a pump that routes the hydraulic fluid in and out of the tank; a first relief valve; a first solenoid valve configured to shift between a plurality of positions based on the at least one operational state of the hydraulic system; a first check valve connected to the first solenoid valve; a manual override control unit comprising: a second check valve; and a second solenoid valve configured to shift between a plurality of positions based on activation of a manual override control, wherein the activation of the manual override control returns the hydraulic system from the at least one operational state to the initial state.

An electrohydraulic system includes an output shaft, a hydraulic piston, and a preload device. The output shaft rotationally drives the valve and extends along a first axis. The hydraulic piston extends along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, is actuated by a pressure medium, and rotates the output shaft. The preload device stores energy via preloading of an elastic element, which extends along a third axis, by a hydraulic cylinder and to transmit the energy to the output shaft in the event of a fault. The hydraulic piston is guided into first and second cylinder housings, and at least one of the cylinder housings is connected to the hydraulic cylinder. A check valve is arranged between the cylinder housing and the hydraulic cylinder, and is configured to decouple the preload device from the hydraulic piston, the blocking direction going from the hydraulic cylinder to the cylinder housing.

A device for holding a hydraulic cylinder stem in position includes a hydraulic block having series-connected primary and secondary check valves. The latter includes a secondary control stem having a secondary valve body and a seal. A first throttle upstream and a second throttle downstream are closed in a secondary control stem closed position where the seal tightly blocks the secondary check valve, each throttle having a tiny throttle closing gap, preferably 0.1 mm or less. The control stem can move axially into an intermediate position where the throttles remain closed, that is, have a tiny closing gap, but valve body and seal are lifted from a secondary valve seat. The control stem can be moved further into an opening position where the throttles are open, each having an opening gap much larger than the closing gap, and the valve body and seal are lifted from the valve seat.

A hydraulic control system includes a first hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic cylinder, a fluid supply apparatus, a first control valve bank, a second control valve bank, a third control valve bank, and a first check valve. The first control valve bank is configured to independently control the first hydraulic cylinder; the second control valve bank is configured to independently control the second hydraulic cylinder; and the third control valve bank is configured to synchronously control the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder. Synchronous volume control is implemented through series connection of the hydraulic cylinders, and has quite high synchronization precision, which is measured to be up to two percent.

A hydraulic cylinder device includes: a pump; a valve body disposed so as to partition an inside of a chamber into chambers; and a non-return valve including a movable member, an elastic member and a support member. The movable member moves to open/close one opening portion that is an opening portion on the one chamber side in a case that forms a flow channel from the one chamber toward an exterior. The elastic member gives force to the movable member in a direction to close the one opening portion, and has one end portion supported by the movable member. The support member is disposed to close an opening portion on the exterior side in the case to support the other end portion of the elastic member, and has a through hole that serves as a throttle of the flow channel from the one chamber toward the exterior.

Submersible hydraulic power units with interchangeable manifolds for hydraulic systems are provided. In one embodiment, submersible hydraulic power unit (“SHPU”) for moving hydraulic fluid between a first chamber and a second chamber of a hydraulic device is provided, the SHPU comprising: a tank for storing hydraulic fluid, wherein the tank houses: a motor submerged in the hydraulic fluid, the motor having a powered on and a powered off configuration based on at least one command signal; and a pump submerged in the hydraulic fluid and connected to the motor, wherein the motor drives the pump to route the hydraulic fluid in and out of the tank; and a lid attached to the tank, wherein the lid comprises at least one opening allowing an interchangeable manifold to connect to the pump.

A power unit with manual override control for a hydraulic system having an initial state and at least one operational state is provided, comprising: a tank for storing hydraulic fluid that moves between a first chamber and a second chamber of a hydraulic cylinder; a pump that routes the hydraulic fluid in and out of the tank; a first relief valve; a first solenoid valve configured to shift between a plurality of positions based on the at least one operational state of the hydraulic system; a first check valve connected to the first solenoid valve; a manual override control unit comprising: a second check valve; and a second solenoid valve configured to shift between a plurality of positions based on activation of a manual override control, wherein the activation of the manual override control returns the hydraulic system from the at least one operational state to the initial state.

A hydraulic system for a mobile rescue stretcher has a hydraulic cylinder, with first and second working chambers, a tank and pump. The first and second chambers are connected to the pump via first and second line arrangements, respectively, and can be pressurized by the pump. Hydraulic fluid flows out of the first chamber via the first line arrangement when pressure is applied to the second chamber. The first line arrangement has a first check valve which opens when pressure is applied to the second line arrangement. Hydraulic fluid flows out of the second chamber via the second line arrangement when pressure is applied to the first chamber. The second line arrangement has a first branch line connected to the pump and a second branch line connected to the tank. A pressure valve in the second branch line opens when pressure is applied to the second line arrangement.