US 2012/0067035 A1 · UNIVERSAL ORIENTATION ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR

Abstract

An orientation-independent electro-hydraulic actuator that includes a housing having an interior space forming a fluid reservoir, a pump connected to the housing, an electric motor drivingly coupled to the pump; and a piston-cylinder assembly having a piston axially movable within a cylinder. The cylinder is in fluid communication with the pump to effect movement of the piston in response to fluid flow between the cylinder and the fluid reservoir. The pump has one or more inlet/outlet ports communicating with a volumetric centroid region of the fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir includes a volume of hydraulic fluid such that when the piston is fully extended, the volume of fluid in the reservoir is at a minimum and at least one of the inlet/outlet ports is submerged in hydraulic fluid.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electro-hydraulic actuator comprising:

a housing having an interior space forming a fluid reservoir;
a pump connected to the housing, the pump having one or more inlet/outlet ports communicating with a volumetric centroid region of the fluid reservoir;
an electric motor drivingly coupled to the pump;
and
a piston-cylinder assembly having a piston axially movable within a cylinder that is in fluid communication with the pump to effect movement of the piston in response to fluid flow between the cylinder and the reservoir.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Universal orientation electro-hydraulic actuator

Life of this patent

Universal orientation electro-hydraulic actuator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20