Fluid operating device

Claim 2

A fluid operating device, which comprises: (a) a cylinder including a cylinder bore; (b) a piston slidably movable in said cylinder bore; (c) a first electromagnet mounted on said piston; (d) a second electromagnet positioned in said cylinder bore in opposed relation to said first electromagnet; (e) mounting means for mounting said second electromagnet in said cylinder bore; (f) said piston being adapted to move from a retracted position to an extended position upon energization of said electromagnets by a magnetic repulsion therebetween; (g) a spring connected to said piston and said mounting means, said spring being adapted for returning said piston to its retracted position upon deenergization of said electromagnets; (h) an inlet valve attached to said cylinder and adapted to admit fluid to said cylinder bore upon a retraction stroke of said piston, said inlet valve including a permanent magnet member adapted for opening said valve upon deenergization of said electromagnets; and (i) an outlet valve attached to said cylinder and adapted to release fluid from said cylinder bore upon an extension stroke of said piston, said outlet valve including a permanent magnet member adapted for opening said valve upon energization of said electromagnets.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1, which includes: (a) said piston having a circular plate slidably engaging said cylinder bore in close-fitting engagement therewith; and (b) said first electromagnet being mounted on said plate.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said cylinder includes a cylinder wall having a pair of longitudinally-extending pockets; and (b) each said valve member is reciprocably positioned in a respective pocket.

Claim 5

The device according to claim 3, which includes: (a) inlet and outlet ports extending through said inlet and outlet valve pockets respectively, said valve members being adapted to selectively close said ports.

Claim 6

The device according to claim 3 wherein: (a) each said valve includes a return spring positioned in said pocket, said inlet valve return spring being adapted to open said inlet valve upon deenergization of said electromagnets and said outlet valve return spring being adapted to close said outlet valve upon de-energization of said electromagnets.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said outlet valve is positioned further from said piston than said inlet valve.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 1 which includes: (a) a dashpot connected to said piston and said second electromagnet mounting means.

Claim 9

The device according to claim 7 wherein said dashpot includes: (a) a plunger mounted on one of said piston and second electromagnet mounting means; (b) a receiver mounted on the other of said piston and said second electromagnet mounting means; (c) one of said piston and said receiver having a longitudinally-extending rib; and (d) the other of said plunger and said receiver having a longitudinally-extending groove slidably receiving said rib.

Claim 10

The device according to claim 8 wherein: (a) said receiver includes a vent aperture.

Claim 11

The device according to claim 1, which includes: (a) an electrical cable extending into said cylinder and having leads connected to said electromagnets.

Claim 12

A fluid operating device, which comprises: (a) a cylinder assembly including: (1) a cylinder wall enclosing a cylinder bore; (2) first and second ends; (3) first and second cylinder heads mounted on said cylinder first and second ends respectively; (b) first and second pistons slidably movable in said cylinder bore; (c) first and second aligned electromagnets mounted on said first and second pistons respectively; (d) said pistons being adapted to move from retracted to extended positions upon energization of said electromagnets by a magnetic repulsion therebetween; (e) return means connected to said pistons and adapted for returning said pistons to their retracted positions upon deenergization of said electromagnets; (f) a pair of inlet valves each mounted in a respective cylinder end and adapted to admit fluid to said cylinder bore upon retraction stroke of a respective piston, said inlet valves including permanent magnet members adapted for closing said valves upon energization of said electromagnets; and (g) a pair of outlet valves each mounted in a respective cylinder end and adapted for releasing fluid from said cylinder bore upon an extension stroke of a respective piston, said outlet valves including permanent magnet members adapted for opening said outlet valves upon energization of said electromagnets.

Claim 13

A fluid operating device, which comprises: (a) a cylinder assembly including: (1) a cylinder wall enclosing a cylinder bore; (2) first and second ends; (3) first and second cylinder heads mounted on said cylinder first and second ends respectively; (b) first and second pistons slidably movable in said cylinder bore; (c) first and second aligned electromagnets mounted on said first and second pistons respectively; (d) said pistons being adapted to move from retracted to extended positions upon energization of said electromagnets by a magnetic repulsion therebetween; (e) return means connected to said pistons and adapted for returning said pistons to their retracted positions upon deenergization of said electromagnets; (f) a pair of inlet valves each mounted in a respective cylinder end and adapted to admit fluid to said cylinder bore upon retraction stroke of a respective piston, said inlet valves including permanent magnet members adapted for closing said valves upon energization of said electromagnets; and (g) a pair of outlet valves each mounted in a respective cylinder end and adapted for releasing fluid from said cylinder bore upon an extension stroke of a respective piston, said outlet valves including permanent magnet members adapted for opening said outlet valves upon energization of said electromagnets.

Claim 14

The device according to claim 11, which includes: (a) each said piston having a circular plate slidably engaging said cylinder bore in close-fitting engagement therewith; and (b) said electromagnets being mounted on said plates.

Claim 15

The device according to claim 11 wherein: (a) each said valve includes a longitudinally-extending pocket; and (b) each said valve member is reciprocably positioned in a respective pocket.

Claim 16

The device according to claim 13, which includes: (a) inlet and outlet ports extending through said inlet and outlet valve pockets respectively, said valve members being adapted to selectively close said ports.

Claim 17

The device according to claim 13 wherein: (a) each said valve includes a return spring positioned in said pocket, said inlet valve return springs being adapted to open said inlet valves upon deenergization of said electromagnets and said outlet valve return springs being adapted to close said outlet valves upon de-energization of said electromagnets.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 11 wherein: (a) said outlet valves are positioned further from said piston than said inlet valves.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 11 which includes: (a) a dashpot connected to said pistons.

Claim 20

The device according to claim 17 wherein said dashpot includes: (a) a plunger mounted on one of said pistons; (b) a receiver mounted on the other of said pistons said second electromagnet mounting means; (c) one of said piston and said receiver having a longitudinally-extending rib; and (d) the other of said plunger and said receiver having a longitudinally-extending groove slidably receiving said rib.

Claim 21

A fluid operating device, which comprises: (a) a cylinder assembly including: (1) a cylinder wall enclosing a cylinder bore; (2) first and second ends; (3) first and second cylinder heads mounted on said cylinder first and second ends respectively; (b) a first piston assembly including: (1) a circular plate positioned in said cylinder bore in close-fitting engagement therewith; (2) a skirt extending coaxially in an inboard direction from said plate and terminating in an annular flange in spaced relation inwardly from said cylinder wall; (c) a second piston assembly including: (1) a circular plate positioned in said cylinder bore in close-fitting engagement therewith; (2) a skirt extending coaxially in an inboard direction from said plate and terminating in an annular threaded portion; (d) an annular stop member positioned inside of and concentric with said threaded portion of said second piston assembly skirt, said stop member having an outwardly-extending flange; (e) an annular sleeve having internal threads adapted for threadably receiving said threaded portion of said second piston assembly skirt and a flange adapted for retaining said stop, said sleeve being slidably received in said cylinder bore; (g) a dashpot including: (1) a plunger mounted on one said piston assembly coaxially therewith; (2) a receiver mounted on the other said piston assembly coaxially therewith, said receiver being adapted to slidably receive said plunger; (3) a rib extending longitudinally along one of said plunger and said receiver; (4) a groove extending longitudinally along the other of said plunger and said receiver, said rib being slidably received in said groove whereby relative rotation between said piston assemblies is prevented; (h) a plurality of electromagnets mounted on each said piston assembly, each said electromagnet including a U-shaped core with poles having opposite polarity and windings on each said pole, said electromagnets on one said piston assembly being mounted with like poles in opposing relation to electromagnets on the other said piston assembly; (i) an electrical cable extending into said cylinder between said piston assemblies, said electrical cable including a plurality of leads each extending to a respective electromagnetic winding; (j) an inlet valve assembly including: (1) a pocket in said cylinder wall and extending longitudinally therewith; (2) an inlet valve member comprising a permanent magnet slidably received in said pocket; (3) an inlet port in said cylinder wall extending through said pocket and adapted for admitting fluid to said cylinder bore, said inlet port being selectively closed by said inlet valve member; (4) a return spring positioned in said pocket and adapted for urging said inlet valve member to an open position with said inlet port uncovered; (k) an outlet valve assembly including: (1) a pocket in said cylinder wall and extending longitudinally therewith; (2) an outlet valve member comprising a permanent magnet slidably received in said pocket; (3) an outlet port in said cylinder wall extending cylinder wall through said pocket and adapted for releasing fluid from said cylinder bore, said outlet port being selectively closed by said valve member; and (4) a return spring positioned in said pocket and adapted for urging said outlet valve member to a closed position with said outlet port covered.

Claim 22

A fluid operating device, which comprises: (a) a cylinder assembly including: (1) a cylinder wall enclosing a cylinder bore; (2) first and second ends; (3) first and second cylinder heads mounted on said cylinder first and second ends respectively; (b) a first piston assembly including: (1) a circular plate positioned in said cylinder bore in close-fitting engagement therewith; (2) a skirt extending coaxially in an inboard direction from said plate and terminating in an annular flange in spaced relation inwardly from said cylinder wall; (c) a second piston assembly including: (1) a circular plate positioned in said cylinder bore in close-fitting engagement therewith; (2) a skirt extending coaxially in an inboard direction from said plate and terminating in an annular threaded portion; (d) an annular stop member positioned inside of and concentric with said threaded portion of said second piston assembly skirt, said stop member having an outwardly-extending flange; (e) an annular sleeve having internal threads adapted for threadably receiving said threaded portion of said second piston assembly skirt and a flange adapted for retaining said stop, said sleeve being slidably received in said cylinder bore; (g) a dashpot including: (1) a plunger mounted on one said piston assembly coaxially therewith; (2) a receiver mounted on the other said piston assembly coaxially therewith, said receiver being adapted to slidably receive said plunger; (3) a rib extending longitudinally along one of said plunger and said receiver; (4) a groove extending longitudinally along the other of said plunger and said receiver, said rib being slidably received in said groove whereby relative rotation between said piston assemblies is prevented; (h) a plurality of electromagnets mounted on each said piston assembly, each said electromagnet including a U-shaped core with poles having opposite polarity and windings on each said pole, said electromagnets on one said piston assembly being mounted with like poles in opposing relation to electromagnets on the other said piston assembly; (i) an electrical cable extending into said cylinder between said piston assemblies, said electrical cable including a plurality of leads each extending to a respective electromagnetic winding; (j) an inlet valve assembly including: (1) a pocket in said cylinder wall and extending longitudinally therewith; (2) an inlet valve member comprising a permanent magnet slidably received in said pocket; (3) an inlet port in said cylinder wall extending through said pocket and adapted for admitting fluid to said cylinder bore, said inlet port being selectively closed by said inlet valve member; (4) a return spring positioned in said pocket and adapted for urging said inlet valve member to an open position with said inlet port uncovered; (k) an outlet valve assembly including: (1) a pocket in said cylinder wall and extending longitudinally therewith; (2) an outlet valve member comprising a permanent magnet slidably received in said pocket; (3) an outlet port in said cylinder wall extending cylinder wall through said pocket and adapted for releasing fluid from said cylinder bore, said outlet port being selectively closed by said valve member; and (4) a return spring positioned in said pocket and adapted for urging said outlet valve member to a closed position with said outlet port covered.