Apparatus for coupling force-activated actuators
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated actuators, said first actuator comprising a first fluid displacer and force receiving means coupled to said first fluid displacer,said second actuator comprising a second fluid displacer and a second force receiving means coupled to said second fluid displacers,a conduit for transporting fluid between said first and second fluid displacers in response to motion of a said fluid displacer to cause motion of the other said fluid displacer, anda force controller responsive to the pressure of said fluid for controlling a force opposing displacement of a fluid displacer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus comprises first (3) and second (5) force-activated actuators, each having a fluid displacer (7, 9) and force control lever (19, 21) coupled to the fluid displacer, a conduit (15) for transporting fluid between the fluid displacers to couple motion of the fluid displacers, and a force controller (17) responsive to the pressure of the fluid for controlling a force opposing displacement of a fluid displacer.
19 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated actuators, said first actuator comprising a first fluid displacer and force receiving means coupled to said first fluid displacer,
said second actuator comprising a second fluid displacer and a second force receiving means coupled to said second fluid displacers, a conduit for transporting fluid between said first and second fluid displacers in response to motion of a said fluid displacer to cause motion of the other said fluid displacer, and a force controller responsive to the pressure of said fluid for controlling a force opposing displacement of a fluid displacer.
- 23. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated controllers, a coupling for coupling motion of said controllers, and a force controller responsive to a parameter indicative of the direction of force applied to a controller for controlling a force opposing displacement of said controllers and comprising a fluid displacer coupled to a controller, resistance means for receiving fluid and value means responsive to said parameter for causing fluid to be introduced to said resistance means by said fluid displacer.
- 34. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated actuators, said first actuator having a first movable controller and said second actuator having a second movable controller, a first fluid coupling coupling said first and second controllers, a first fluid accumulator and a first pressure responsive means responsive to the pressure of fluid of said fluid coupling for permitting fluid from said coupling to flow into said first accumulator when the pressure of fluid in said coupling exceeds a predetermined value, and further comprising a second fluid coupling coupling said first and second controller, a second accumulator and a second pressure responsive means responsive to the pressure of fluid in said second fluid coupling for permitting fluid to flow from said second fluid coupling into said second accumulator when the pressure of fluid in said second fluid coupling exceeds a predetermined value.
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37. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated actuators, said first actuator having a first movable controller and said second actuator having a second movable controller, first and second fluid coupling systems coupling said first and second controllers and an electrically operated valve for switchably coupling and de-coupling said first fluid coupling system to said second fluid coupling system, wherein said valve is adapted to permit fluid to flow between first and second fluid coupling systems in the absence of electrical power thereto.
- 38. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated actuators, said first actuator having a first movable controller and said second actuator having a second movable controller, first arid second fluid coupling systems coupling said controllers and a volume compensator comprising an accumulator chamber, valve means having first and second inlet/outlet ports, said first inlet/outlet port being connected for fluid communication with said first fluid coupling system and said second inlet/outlet port being coupled for fluid communication with said second fluid coupling system, said valve means being responsive to a differential pressure between the fluid in said first and second fluid coupling systems such that when said differential pressure is below a predetermined value, said valve means permits fluid communication between at least one of said fluid coupling systems and said accumulator chamber.
- 52. An apparatus comprising first and second force-activated actuators, said first actuator having a first movable controller and said second actuator having a second movable controller, first and second fluid coupling systems coupling said first and second controllers, and coupling means for permitting fluid to flow between said first and second systems at least one of (1) when said first and second controllers are in a predetermined position and (2) when substantially no external force is applied to said controllers, and (3) when any difference in the pressure of fluid between said first and second coupling systems falls below a predetermined value.
Specification