An electro-hydraulic actuator includes: a motor output rotative power; an external gear pump activated by the motor; a hydraulic actuator operated by a pressurized working fluid supplied by the external gear pump; a manifold block in which a flow channel forming a working fluid circuit of the hydraulic actuator is incorporated; a first portion to store the motor; a second portion to store the external gear pump, the hydraulic actuator, and a reservoir; and a coupling portion to couple the first portion and the second portion in a liquid-tight state. The coupling portion includes a communication hole through which the first portion and the second portion communicate, a rotational shaft of the motor and a driving shaft of the external gear pump are joined to each other, and the external gear pump is attached to the coupling portion while being stored in the manifold block.

The present invention provides a controller for a hydraulic apparatus. The controller is configured to determine (410) that a mode change criteria has been met for the hydraulic apparatus. In response to the determination, the controller is configured to control (420) a valve arrangement to change a first actuator chamber of a hydraulic actuator between being fluidly connected to a hydraulic machine and fluidly isolated from a second chamber of the hydraulic actuator, and being fluidly connected to both the second actuator chamber and the hydraulic machine. Further in response to the determination, the controller is configured to control (430) the hydraulic machine to change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic machine to regulate a movement of the hydraulic actuator during the control of the valve arrangement.

A fail-safe actuation system comprising an actuator having first and second chambers, a working circuit with a motor/pump device configured to actuate the actuator in an operative state, and a safety circuit configured to move the actuator into the safety position in a failure state, the safety circuit having a tank that holds pressurized fluid and that, in the failure state, is automatically connected to the first chamber via a switching valve, and having a drain valve that, in the failure state, is moved into a through-flow position in order to drain fluid out of the second chamber, the safety circuit configured such that, in the operative state, an inflow into the actuator—in a manner that is decoupled from the tank—is established by the working circuit, and, in the failure state, an inflow from the tank into the first chamber—in a manner that is completely decoupled from the working circuit—is created by the safety circuit, whereby a short-circuit fluid connection is provided between the first and second chambers that, in the failure state, is through-connected in order to generate a short-circuit flow between the first and second chambers.

Device for recovering hydraulic energy in a machine comprising at least a first differential cylinder-piston assembly having a differential cylinder with a separate rod and base side, at least a second differential cylinder-piston assembly having a differential cylinder with a separate rod and base side, and at least one hydraulic accumulator that can be hydraulically connected to at least one of the differential cylinder-piston assemblies, wherein the differential cylinder-piston assemblies are mechanically coupled to one another, and wherein the potential energy of at least one of the differential cylinder-piston assemblies retracting under a compressive load can at least partially be stored in the hydraulic accumulator.

An apparatus for recuperating hydraulic energy in a working machine includes at least one first differential cylinder piston device with a differential cylinder and separate rod and bottom sides, and at least one hydraulic accumulator which is hydraulically connectable with the differential cylinder piston device. The potential energy of the differential cylinder piston device retracting under pressing load is at least partly storable in the hydraulic accumulator. The rod and bottom sides are connectable with each other via at least one brake valve for recirculating hydraulic fluid from the bottom side into the rod side.

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.

A hydraulic system including a first cylinder conduit configured to couple to a cylinder, an auxiliary conduit configured to couple to a case drain conduit, and a pressure regulator coupled to the first cylinder conduit and to the auxiliary conduit. The pressure regulator may block fluid flow to the auxiliary conduit if a first fluid pressure is less than or equal to a threshold pressure and enable fluid flow if the first fluid pressure is greater than the threshold pressure. The hydraulic system further includes a supplemental conduit with a check valve that directs fluid from the auxiliary conduit to a reservoir. The check valve blocks fluid flow if a second fluid pressure is less than or equal to a third fluid pressure, and enables fluid flow if the second fluid pressure greater than the third fluid pressure.

A valve body defines a work passage, a high-pressure channel fluidly connected to the work passage, a tank passage, and a cavity disposed between the high-pressure channel and the tank passage. The cavity fluidly connects the high-pressure channel and the tank passage. The cavity is defined at least in part by a first portion within which a relief valve threadedly engages, a second portion disposed adjacent to the high-pressure channel, and an annulus interposed between the first portion and the second portion. The annulus fluidly connects to the tank passage. A surface area of the relief valve exposed to the annulus is greater than a cross-sectional area of the high-pressure channel.

A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g., a solenoid) to shift one or more valve positions to change the flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator.

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.