EP0258712B1 - Lightweight linear hydraulic actuator - Google Patents
Lightweight linear hydraulic actuator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0258712B1 EP0258712B1 EP19870111802 EP87111802A EP0258712B1 EP 0258712 B1 EP0258712 B1 EP 0258712B1 EP 19870111802 EP19870111802 EP 19870111802 EP 87111802 A EP87111802 A EP 87111802A EP 0258712 B1 EP0258712 B1 EP 0258712B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- barrel
- hydraulic actuator
- members
- linear hydraulic
- fitting
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
- F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F15B15/00—Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
- F15B15/08—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit
- F15B15/14—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit of the straight-cylinder type
- F15B15/149—Fluid interconnections, e.g. fluid connectors, passages
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
- F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F15B15/00—Fluid-actuated devices for displacing a member from one position to another; Gearing associated therewith
- F15B15/08—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit
- F15B15/14—Characterised by the construction of the motor unit of the straight-cylinder type
- F15B15/1423—Component parts; Constructional details
- F15B15/1438—Cylinder to end cap assemblies
Definitions
- the present invention relates to lightweight linear hydraulic actuators and more particularly to such an actuator which is comparatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.
- Usual linear actuators as disclosed, for example, in DE-A-2846027 particularly for operating aircraft control surfaces include a cylindrical barrel which may be cast or forged to include a head end with a structure for fastening the actuator to a stationary part of the aircraft or other vehicle.
- the head end may include a separate structure fastened to the barrel, but in either case the end structure usually will include a passage to allow hydraulic fluid to flow into and out of the cylinder.
- a piston attached to a rod is moveable in the cylinder.
- a separate rod end gland is fastened to the barrel and this gland includes one or more seals surrounding the rod which passes through the barrel and usually also will include a passage to allow hydraulic fluid to flow into and out of the cylinder.
- Such passages may also be cast into the barrel if the barrel is cast.
- the piston and rod may be cast or forged in one piece, or formed of separate pieces which are then secured together. Actuators incorporating such cast or forged components are usually quite expensive both because of the cost of castings and forgings but also of the required machining. These casts are further escalated by whatever losses or scrap are caused by the machining operations.
- the port fittings can sometimes be welded or brazed in place. On comparatively thin wall tubing, this sometimes results in high scrap and rework, at least partially because of distorting of the barrel.
- Another known possibility is to add separate outer glands surrounding the barrel. This technique leaves much to be desired because the extra glands must be capable of withstanding pressure hoop stress and must seal on two extra and rather large diameter seals which adversely affects size, weight and reliability.
- a lightweight linear hydraulic actuator including a cylindrical barrel, head end and rod end gland members on opposite ends of said barrel, a piston in said barrel dividing said barrel into first and second chambers, a rod attached to said piston and extending through said rod end gland member, and means connecting a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to said actuator on opposite sides of said piston
- said means including a first port in the sidewall of said barrel communicating with said first chamber, a second port in the sidewall of said barrel communicating with said second chamber, a first fitting member having a passageway communicating with said first port, and a second fitting member having a passageway communicating with said second port, characterised by grooves and seals in said grooves surrounding said first and second ports; said fitting members each having hoop supports surrounding said barrel and arcuate surfaces mating with the surface of said barrel in contact with said seals, and fastening means fastening said fitting members to said barrel.
- the pre-characterising clause of the subject invention is based upon DE-A-2846027.
- a cast or forged fitting including a thin hoop support structure surrounds the barrel and provides a channel with a threaded connection to a fluid source which channel registers with a port in the barrel.
- a small circular groove in the surface of the cylinder surrounds the port and receives an O-ring seal which seals against a curved surface of the fitting which mates with the curvature of the barrel.
- a suitable threaded fastener maintains the fitting securely in place.
- the present inventor has found, however, that the localised force and resultant strain on the fitting is less than the barrel hoop strain (at the same pressure) if the fitting is designed properly. Therefore, the initial face seal annular gap will tend to decrease with pressure rather than the reverse.
- the fitting can be lightweight, has only one seal (potential leak path) and is readily removeable and replaceable even with the actuator assembled.
- the single figure is a cross sectional drawing of an actuator according to this invention.
- the hydraulic actuator is shown generally at numeral 10, including a barrel section 12 which typically is formed of steel tubing material.
- the barrel is closed at its head end by means of a head end gland 14 which is securely fastened to the barrel member 10 by means of a feedthrough wire 16.
- a conventional seal 18 is located in the surface of the head end gland and seals against the inside wall of the barrel 12.
- a clevis member 20 which may be a part of gland member 14 is provided for attachment of the actuator to a stationary member, not shown.
- the opposite end of the actuator 10 is closed by means of a rod end gland 22 having an opening 24 through which passes an actuating rod 26 driven by a piston 28, which separates the interior of barrel 12 into chambers 29 and 30.
- Rod end gland 22 is secured to the inside surface of barrel 12 by means of a feedthrough wire 31 and piston 28 is similarly secured to rod 26 by means of a feedthrough wire 32.
- Conventional seals 34 and 36 which may be O-ring seals, prevent communication across the piston between the piston 28 and rod 26 and piston 28 and the inside surface of the barrel 12, respectively.
- Similar seals 38 and 40 prevent high pressure fluid within chamber 30 from leaking along the surface of rod 26 to the exterior of rod end gland 22.
- Chambers 29 and 30 are each supplied with hydraulic fluid under high pressure from an external source not shown. Chamber 29 communicates with a port 46 through the sidewall of barrel 12 which in turn communicates with the interior channel 48 of a fitting member 50.
- Chamber 30 communicates with a port 52 which communicates with a channel 54 in a fitting member 56 which is similar to fitting member 50.
- Members 50 and 56 are forged or cast as ring-shaped members which surround the barrel 12 and include bosses 58 and 60, respectively, which receive screws 62 and 64, respectively, which are threadedly engaged with the sidewall of barrel 12, and as shown may also penetrate into the head and rod end glands 14 and 22.
- a pair of face seal grooves 66 and 68 are formed in the sidewall of barrel 12 by electrical discharge machining, multi-axis conventional machining, or other suitable method such that they surround the ports 46 and 52.
- the fitting members 50 and 56 have internal diameters such that they afford approximately 0.05-0.13mm (0.002 to 0.005 inch) clearance around the barrel 12 and grooves 66 and 68 may contain conventional O-type ring seals for preventing the high pressure fluid in chambers 29 and 30 from leaking laterally along the outside surface of the barrel 12.
- the fitting can be lightweight, has only one seal or potential leak path and is a removable and replaceable part even with the actuator assembled.
- the seals 66 and 68 would normally be of the type utilizing an O-ring of elastomeric material having an outer diameter backup ring of polytetraflorethylene (Teflon) or similar material.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Actuator (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to lightweight linear hydraulic actuators and more particularly to such an actuator which is comparatively simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.
- Usual linear actuators as disclosed, for example, in DE-A-2846027 particularly for operating aircraft control surfaces, include a cylindrical barrel which may be cast or forged to include a head end with a structure for fastening the actuator to a stationary part of the aircraft or other vehicle. Alternatively, the head end may include a separate structure fastened to the barrel, but in either case the end structure usually will include a passage to allow hydraulic fluid to flow into and out of the cylinder. A piston attached to a rod is moveable in the cylinder. At the opposite, or rod end of the barrel, a separate rod end gland is fastened to the barrel and this gland includes one or more seals surrounding the rod which passes through the barrel and usually also will include a passage to allow hydraulic fluid to flow into and out of the cylinder. Such passages may also be cast into the barrel if the barrel is cast. Similarly, the piston and rod may be cast or forged in one piece, or formed of separate pieces which are then secured together. Actuators incorporating such cast or forged components are usually quite expensive both because of the cost of castings and forgings but also of the required machining. These casts are further escalated by whatever losses or scrap are caused by the machining operations.
- There is a need for a lightweight linear actuator which will perform essentially as well as the expensive actuators described above but which is substantially less expensive to manufacture. It is known to make the cylinder barrel of metal tubing, to make the rod of conventional bar stock and to form the piston separately in any desired manner for attachment to the rod. These techniques reduce costs. There have been problem areas in the placement of the fluid ports, however, except in the cases where the geometry of the installation will permit installation of the ports in the rod end or head end glands.
There is often a desire to have the ports parallel to the actuator axis to keep the actuator short and to keep the tube connection close to the actuator (to save space) without the potential of unthreading the port fitting during actuator use. Also, on a tandem actuator installation it is difficult to place all of the porting in head ends or rod end glands since these usually require transfer tube or quill type connections to a mating valve manifold. - Given the above described cost saving construction, the port fittings can sometimes be welded or brazed in place. On comparatively thin wall tubing, this sometimes results in high scrap and rework, at least partially because of distorting of the barrel.
- Another known possibility is to add separate outer glands surrounding the barrel. This technique leaves much to be desired because the extra glands must be capable of withstanding pressure hoop stress and must seal on two extra and rather large diameter seals which adversely affects size, weight and reliability.
- According to this invention there is provided a lightweight linear hydraulic actuator including a cylindrical barrel, head end and rod end gland members on opposite ends of said barrel, a piston in said barrel dividing said barrel into first and second chambers, a rod attached to said piston and extending through said rod end gland member, and means connecting a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to said actuator on opposite sides of said piston
said means including a first port in the sidewall of said barrel communicating with said first chamber, a second port in the sidewall of said barrel communicating with said second chamber, a first fitting member having a passageway communicating with said first port, and a second fitting member having a passageway communicating with said second port, characterised by grooves and seals in said grooves surrounding said first and second ports; said fitting members each having hoop supports surrounding said barrel and arcuate surfaces mating with the surface of said barrel in contact with said seals, and fastening means fastening said fitting members to said barrel. - The pre-characterising clause of the subject invention is based upon DE-A-2846027.
- This invention discloses a way of adding port fittings to an actuator of the type described which avoids the above problems and limitations. A cast or forged fitting including a thin hoop support structure surrounds the barrel and provides a channel with a threaded connection to a fluid source which channel registers with a port in the barrel. A small circular groove in the surface of the cylinder surrounds the port and receives an O-ring seal which seals against a curved surface of the fitting which mates with the curvature of the barrel. A suitable threaded fastener maintains the fitting securely in place. A superficial consideration of applicants's structure might cause one to think that the localised pressure generated force in the seal area would tend to increase the gap between the barrel outer diameter and the fitting such that the seal would fail.
- The present inventor has found, however, that the localised force and resultant strain on the fitting is less than the barrel hoop strain (at the same pressure) if the fitting is designed properly. Therefore, the initial face seal annular gap will tend to decrease with pressure rather than the reverse. Thus the fitting can be lightweight, has only one seal (potential leak path) and is readily removeable and replaceable even with the actuator assembled.
- The single figure is a cross sectional drawing of an actuator according to this invention.
- The hydraulic actuator, according to the invention, is shown generally at
numeral 10, including abarrel section 12 which typically is formed of steel tubing material. The barrel is closed at its head end by means of ahead end gland 14 which is securely fastened to thebarrel member 10 by means of afeedthrough wire 16. Aconventional seal 18 is located in the surface of the head end gland and seals against the inside wall of thebarrel 12. Aclevis member 20 which may be a part ofgland member 14 is provided for attachment of the actuator to a stationary member, not shown. The opposite end of theactuator 10 is closed by means of arod end gland 22 having an opening 24 through which passes an actuatingrod 26 driven by apiston 28, which separates the interior ofbarrel 12 intochambers Rod end gland 22 is secured to the inside surface ofbarrel 12 by means of afeedthrough wire 31 andpiston 28 is similarly secured torod 26 by means of afeedthrough wire 32.Conventional seals piston 28 androd 26 andpiston 28 and the inside surface of thebarrel 12, respectively.Similar seals chamber 30 from leaking along the surface ofrod 26 to the exterior ofrod end gland 22.Chambers Chamber 29 communicates with aport 46 through the sidewall ofbarrel 12 which in turn communicates with theinterior channel 48 of afitting member 50.Chamber 30 communicates with aport 52 which communicates with achannel 54 in afitting member 56 which is similar to fittingmember 50.Members barrel 12 and includebosses screws barrel 12, and as shown may also penetrate into the head androd end glands face seal grooves 66 and 68 are formed in the sidewall ofbarrel 12 by electrical discharge machining, multi-axis conventional machining, or other suitable method such that they surround theports fitting members barrel 12 andgrooves 66 and 68 may contain conventional O-type ring seals for preventing the high pressure fluid inchambers barrel 12. - As indicated above, it has been determined that the localized force and the strain on the
fitting members seals 66 and 68 would normally be of the type utilizing an O-ring of elastomeric material having an outer diameter backup ring of polytetraflorethylene (Teflon) or similar material.
Claims (6)
- A lightweight linear hydraulic actuator (10) including a cylindrical barrel (12), head end and rod end gland members (14, 22) on opposite ends of said barrel, a piston (28) in said barrel (12) dividing said barrel into first and second chambers (29, 30), a rod (26) attached to said piston (28) and extending through said rod end gland member (22), and means (46, 48; 52, 54) connecting a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure to said actuator on opposite sides of said piston (28),
said means (46, 48; 52, 54) including a first port (46) in the sidewall of said barrel (12) communicating with said first chamber (29), a second port (52) in the sidewall of said barrel (12) communicating with said second chamber (30), a first fitting member (50) having a passageway (48) communicating with said first port (46), and a second fitting member (56) having a passageway (54) communicating with said second port (52), characterised by grooves and seals (66, 68) in said grooves surrounding said first and second ports (46, 52); said fitting members (50, 56) each having hoop supports surrounding said barrel (12) and arcuate surfaces mating with the surface of said barrel in contact with said seals (66, 68), and fastening means (62, 64) fastening said fitting members (50, 56) to said barrel (12). - A lightweight linear hydraulic actuator as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fitting members (50, 56) have axially extending extensions and said fastening means includes threaded members (62, 64) threadedly engaged with said barrel (12) and said head end and rod end gland members (14, 22).
- A lightweight linear hydraulic actuator as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein said passageways (48, 54) in said fitting members (50, 56) are each threaded and substantially axially oriented with respect to said barrel (12).
- A lightweight linear hydraulic actuator as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said seals (66, 68) include O-rings and outer diameter backup ring seals of low friction material.
- A lightweight linear hydraulic actuator as claimed in any preceding claim where said barrel (12) is formed of tubing and said head and rod end gland members (14, 22) are retained in said barrel by means of feedthrough wire rings (16,31).
- A lightweight linear hydraulic actuator as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said rod (26) is formed of bar stock attached to said piston (28) by means of a feedthrough wire ring (32).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US90253386A | 1986-09-02 | 1986-09-02 | |
US902533 | 1986-09-02 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0258712A2 EP0258712A2 (en) | 1988-03-09 |
EP0258712A3 EP0258712A3 (en) | 1989-10-04 |
EP0258712B1 true EP0258712B1 (en) | 1992-01-29 |
Family
ID=25415990
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19870111802 Expired EP0258712B1 (en) | 1986-09-02 | 1987-08-14 | Lightweight linear hydraulic actuator |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0258712B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS6362903A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3776465D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2001208001A (en) * | 2000-01-21 | 2001-08-03 | Nippon Accumulator Co Ltd | Accumulator |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2645513A (en) * | 1947-12-31 | 1953-07-14 | Vance C Sterrett | Cylinder construction |
DE6913740U (en) * | 1969-04-05 | 1977-04-14 | Christian Buerkert | WORK CYLINDER. |
DE2158720C2 (en) * | 1971-11-26 | 1982-12-16 | Indramat Gesellschaft für Industrie-Rationalisierung und Automatisierung mbH, 8770 Lohr | Servo controlled piston and cylinder - has labyrinth seal each end with multiple grooved section of leakage oil return chamber |
US4211150A (en) * | 1977-10-26 | 1980-07-08 | Abex Corporation | Air cylinder |
SE439818B (en) * | 1983-06-13 | 1985-07-01 | Osa Ab | Piston Rod Control for Hydraulic Cylinder |
-
1987
- 1987-08-14 EP EP19870111802 patent/EP0258712B1/en not_active Expired
- 1987-08-14 DE DE8787111802T patent/DE3776465D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1987-09-02 JP JP21807887A patent/JPS6362903A/en active Pending
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE3776465D1 (en) | 1992-03-12 |
EP0258712A3 (en) | 1989-10-04 |
JPS6362903A (en) | 1988-03-19 |
EP0258712A2 (en) | 1988-03-09 |
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