Hydraulic actuator having an auxiliary valve

Abstract

A hydraulic actuator for a hydraulic servomotor 4 is disclosed. The hydraulic servomotor 4 has a first chamber 5 and a second chamber 6 associated therewith. The hydraulic actuator is connected to a fluid source 2 and a fluid drain 3, and it comprises a valve assembly arranged between the fluid source 2 and the fluid drain 3 to control fluid pressures in the chambers 5, 6. At least one auxiliary valve 11 is fluidly connected between the valve assembly and the fluid drain 3, said auxiliary valve(s) 11 being of a kind which is normally closed in a de-energized state. In the case of a power cut off the auxiliary valve(s) 11 will close, thereby preventing fluid flow from the valve assembly towards the fluid drain 3. This causes a servomotor piston member 12 to be hydraulically locked in its instantaneous position, thereby locking the hydraulic servomotor 4. The valve assembly may be designed without taking the locking function into consideration.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.