Hydraulic positioning system for high-impact applications

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising:

• (a) hydraulic motor means having a first chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said first chamber, and a second chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said second chamber;
• (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said first chamber;
• (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said first chamber for conducting said fluid to said first chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said first chamber through said first fluid conduit means;
• (d) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said first chamber in parallel relationship with said first fluid conduit means and bypassing said control valve means;
• (e) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid toward said first chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said first chamber and at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said first chamber toward said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said first chamber exceeds the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid by a predetermined amount;
• and
• (f) third fluid conduit means interconnecting said second chamber with said second fluid conduit means and with said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid respectively for conducting a portion of said flow of fluid through said one-way valve means into said second chamber.

A hydraulic positioning system for movably positioning a member subject to impact loading, said system comprising:

• (a) hydraulic motor means having a chamber for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure for moving said member in a predetermined direction in response to the introduction of hydraulic fluid under pressure into said chamber;
• (b) a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said chamber;
• (c) first fluid conduit means interconnecting said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid with said chamber for conducting said fluid to said chamber, said first fluid conduit means having fluid control valve means interposed therein for selectively permitting or preventing the flow of said fluid from said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to said chamber through said first fluid conduit means;
• (d) shock-absorbing means containing pressurized hydraulic fluid at a pressure at least as great as the pressure of hydraulic fluid at said source of pressurized hydraulic fluid;
• (e) second fluid conduit means interconnecting said chamber with said shock-absorbing means independently of said control valve means;
• (f) said second fluid conduit means having one-way valve means interposed therein for preventing the flow of hydraulic fluid through said second fluid conduit means from said shock-absorbing means toward said chamber, said one-way valve means having means responsive to differences between the pressures of hydraulic fluid in said chamber and in said shock-absorbing means respectively for permitting the flow of fluid through said one-way valve means and said second fluid conduit means from said chamber toward said shock-absorbing means when the pressure of hydraulic fluid in said chamber exceeds the pressure in said shock-absorbing means by a predetermined amount.