Unitary electro-hydraulic rotary actuator for automotive convertible top

In a hydro-electric rotary actuator of the type having a rotary vane actuator having a pair of ports, one of said ports communicating with one side of a vane of said actuator and the other port communicating with an opposite side of said vane, a pump for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure, an electric motor for operating said pump and a hydraulic circuit for directing fluid between said pump and said ports, said hydraulic circuit including a control valve having a normal position in which said ports are placed in communication with one another and an actuated position in which one of said ports is placed in communication with a pressure supply line and the other port is placed in communication with a fluid return line, the improvement wherein:

• said control valve has a hydraulic pilot pressure port for shifting said valve from said normal position to said actuated position when pressure is applied to said port;
• and
• an orifice communicates said pilot pressure port to a pressure relief line such that after said electric motor is stopped, a pressure in said pilot pressure port persists for a period of time so that said control valve delays shifting from said actuated position to said normal position.