A piston expander and transfer valve for the controlled metering of a pressurised working fluid into an expansion chamber as part of an energy conversion device, and in particular as part of a heat to power conversion device employing a rankine thermodynamic cycle. The piston expander comprising a cylinder having an inlet manifold connected to an aperture in the cylinder's inlet aperture, a piston movable within the cylinder, and a transfer valve assembly movable under the action of changing gas pressure in the main chamber of the piston expander.

A piston expander and transfer valve for the controlled metering of a pressurised working fluid into an expansion chamber as part of an energy conversion device, and in particular as part of a heat to power conversion device employing a rankine thermodynamic cycle. The piston expander comprising a cylinder having an inlet manifold connected to an aperture in the cylinder's inlet aperture, a piston movable within the cylinder, and a transfer valve assembly movable under the action of changing gas pressure in the main chamber of the piston expander.

A pump assembly for generating pressure in a brake circuit of a controllable power brake system of a motor vehicle. The pump assembly has, as a pressure generator, a piston-cylinder unit in which a piston is actuated with the aid of a piston drive. The piston drive converts a rotational movement, with which a nut of this piston drive is driven, into a translatory movement of a spindle, which is in turn connected to the piston in a rotationally fixed manner. The piston is a steel component in which a plastic deformation at a piston head forms a device for connecting the spindle to the piston in a rotationally fixed manner.

A pump assembly for generating pressure in a brake circuit of a controllable power brake system of a motor vehicle. The pump assembly has, as a pressure generator, a piston-cylinder unit in which a piston is actuated with the aid of a piston drive. The piston drive converts a rotational movement, with which a nut of this piston drive is driven, into a translatory movement of a spindle, which is in turn connected to the piston in a rotationally fixed manner. The piston is a steel component in which a plastic deformation at a piston head forms a device for connecting the spindle to the piston in a rotationally fixed manner.

A piston member for a high-pressure pump for pumping fluid in a sample separation apparatus, wherein the piston member comprises a piston configured for being mountable to reciprocate in a piston chamber for displacing fluid, and a sealing for sealing between the piston member and the piston chamber when the piston member is mounted in the piston chamber to reciprocate, wherein the sealing is mounted on the piston so as to reciprocate together with the piston.

A piston member for a high-pressure pump for pumping fluid in a sample separation apparatus, wherein the piston member comprises a piston configured for being mountable to reciprocate in a piston chamber for displacing fluid, and a sealing for sealing between the piston member and the piston chamber when the piston member is mounted in the piston chamber to reciprocate, wherein the sealing is mounted on the piston so as to reciprocate together with the piston.

A pump assembly for generating pressure in a brake circuit of a controllable power brake system of a motor vehicle. The pump assembly has, as a pressure generator, a piston-cylinder unit in which a piston is actuated with the aid of a piston drive. The piston drive converts a rotational movement, with which a nut of this piston drive is driven, into a translatory movement of a spindle, which is in turn connected to the piston in a rotationally fixed manner. The piston is a steel component in which a plastic deformation at a piston head forms a device for connecting the spindle to the piston in a rotationally fixed manner.

An element is provided to maintain a clearance gap between a piston and a cylinder wall. In some embodiments, an element is included that is capable of spatial change. In some embodiments, the element is a component such as a clearance ring, a surface bearing, or a segment of a clearance ring or surface bearing. A clearance gap may be maintained by inward and outward motion of the component with respect to a piston assembly and a cylinder wall, where the motion is determined by a balance of forces acting on the component. In some embodiments, an inward force generated by an external gas pressure source is balanced by an outward preload force generated by, for example, a pneumatic piston. In some embodiments, a clearance gap is maintained based on in part on the ratio of inner to outer surface areas of a clearance ring.

An element is provided to maintain a clearance gap between a piston and a cylinder wall. In some embodiments, an element is included that is capable of spatial change. In some embodiments, the element is a component such as a clearance ring, a surface bearing, or a segment of a clearance ring or surface bearing. A clearance gap may be maintained by inward and outward motion of the component with respect to a piston assembly and a cylinder wall, where the motion is determined by a balance of forces acting on the component. In some embodiments, an inward force generated by an external gas pressure source is balanced by an outward preload force generated by, for example, a pneumatic piston. In some embodiments, a clearance gap is maintained based on in part on the ratio of inner to outer surface areas of a clearance ring.

A piston member for a high-pressure pump for pumping fluid in a sample separation apparatus, wherein the piston member comprises a piston configured for being mountable to reciprocate in a piston chamber for displacing fluid, and a sealing for sealing between the piston member and the piston chamber when the piston member is mounted in the piston chamber to reciprocate, wherein the sealing is mounted on the piston so as to reciprocate together with the piston.