Bi-fluid actuator

A rodless piston bi-fluid actuator for precise bi-directional movement and positioning of a load, comprising:

• a. a pneumatic fluid container defining a first pneumatic fluid chamber and an opposed second pneumatic fluid chamber, the pneumatic fluid chambers containing a compressible, pneumatic fluid;
• b. a hydraulic fluid container defining a first hydraulic fluid chamber and an opposed second hydraulic fluid chamber, the hydraulic fluid chambers containing a non-compressible, hydraulic fluid;
• c. a first mechanical object positioned between the first and opposed second pneumatic fluid chambers so that the first mechanical object may be impacted and moved by the pneumatic fluid within the first or second pneumatic chambers;
• d. a second mechanical object linked to the first mechanical object and positioned between the first and opposed second hydraulic fluid chambers so that the second mechanical object may be impacted and positioned by the hydraulic fluid;
• e. a pneumatic fluid controller that selectively directs the pneumatic fluid into either the first or second pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic fluid container to expand the volume of the pneumatic fluid chamber that receives the pneumatic fluid;
• and,
• f. a hydraulic fluid controller that selectively permits, controls a rate of, or terminates passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and the opposed second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container, so that the pneumatic fluid controller selectively powers the first and linked second mechanical objects to move in either a first or opposed second direction, and the hydraulic fluid controller selectively permits movement and controls a rate of movement and position of the second and linked first mechanical objects in the first or opposed second direction by selectively permitting, controlling a rate of, or terminating passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container and;
• g. rodless piston bi-fluid actuator, having the pneumatic fluid container in coaxial relationship with the hydraulic fluid container, having the first mechanical object coaxial with the hydraulic fluid container, and having a load carriage linked to the first mechanical object and secured adjacent to the pneumatic fluid container so that movement of the first and second mechanical objects moves the load carriage.

A rotary bi-fluid actuator for precise bi-directional movement and positioning of a load, comprising:

• a. a pneumatic fluid container defining a first pneumatic fluid chamber and an opposed second pneumatic fluid chamber, the pneumatic fluid chambers containing a compressible, pneumatic fluid;
• b. a hydraulic fluid container defining a first hydraulic fluid chamber and an opposed second hydraulic fluid chamber, the hydraulic fluid chambers containing a non-compressible, hydraulic fluid;
• c. a first mechanical object positioned between the first and opposed second pneumatic fluid chambers so that the first mechanical object may be impacted and moved by the pneumatic fluid within the first or second pneumatic chambers;
• d. a second mechanical object linked to the first mechanical object and positioned between the first and opposed second hydraulic fluid chambers so that the second mechanical object may be impacted and positioned by the hydraulic fluid;
• e. a pneumatic fluid controller that selectively directs the pneumatic fluid into either the first or second pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic fluid container to expand the volume of the pneumatic fluid chamber that receives the pneumatic fluid;
• and,
• f. a hydraulic fluid controller that selectively permits, controls a rate of, or terminates passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and the opposed second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container, so that the pneumatic fluid controller selectively powers the first and linked second mechanical objects to move in either a first or opposed second direction, and the hydraulic fluid controller selectively permits movement and controls a rate of movement and position of the second and linked first mechanical objects in the first or opposed second direction by selectively permitting, controlling a rate of, or terminating passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container and;
• g. wherein the pneumatic fluid container is a first deformable tube, the hydraulic fluid container is a second deformable tube secured adjacent to the first deformable tube, the first and second deformable tubes being secured within an at least partially cylindrical housing so that the first and second deformable tubes define at least a portion of a circle, the first mechanical object is a first pinch roller secured to an armature, the second mechanical object is a second pinch roller secured to the armature, the first pinch roller being secured by the armature against the first deformable tube to deform the tube into defining the first and second pneumatic chambers on opposed sides of the first pinch roller, the second pinch roller being linked to the first pinch roller and being secured by the armature against the second deformable tube to deform the tube into defining the first and second hydraulic chambers on opposed sides of the second pinch roller, so that pneumatic fluid within one of the pneumatic fluid chambers will power the first pinch roller, and movement of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic fluid controller between the hydraulic fluid chambers will permit rotation of the second and linked first pinch rollers and armature.

A rotary vane bi-fluid actuator for precise bi-directional movement and positioning of a load, comprising:

• a. a pneumatic fluid container defining a first pneumatic fluid chamber and an opposed second pneumatic fluid chamber, the pneumatic fluid chambers containing a compressible, pneumatic fluid;
• b. a hydraulic fluid container defining a first hydraulic fluid chamber and an opposed second hydraulic fluid chamber, the hydraulic fluid chambers containing a non-compressible, hydraulic fluid;
• c. a first mechanical object positioned between the first and opposed second pneumatic fluid chambers so that the first mechanical object may be impacted and moved by the pneumatic fluid within the first or second pneumatic chambers;
• d. a second mechanical object linked to the first mechanical object and positioned between the first and opposed second hydraulic fluid chambers so that the second mechanical object may be impacted and positioned by the hydraulic fluid;
• e. a pneumatic fluid controller that selectively directs the pneumatic fluid into either the first or second pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic fluid container to expand the volume of the pneumatic fluid chamber that receives the pneumatic fluid;
• and,
• f. a hydraulic fluid controller that selectively permits, controls a rate of, or terminates passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and the opposed second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container, so that the pneumatic fluid controller selectively powers the first and linked second mechanical objects to move in either a first or opposed second direction, and the hydraulic fluid controller selectively permits movement and controls a rate of movement and position of the second and linked first mechanical objects in the first or opposed second direction by selectively permitting, controlling a rate of, or terminating passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container and;
• g. wherein the pneumatic container is a half cylinder, the hydraulic container is an opposed half cylinder defined within a cylindrical housing, the pneumatic and hydraulic containers are separated by a non-rotating containment wall, the first mechanical object is a first half vane within the pneumatic container that divides the pneumatic container into the opposed first and second pneumatic fluid chambers, the second mechanical object is a second half vane within the hydraulic container that divides the hydraulic container into the opposed first and second hydraulic fluid chambers, and the first and second half vanes are linked to each other so that pressurized pneumatic fluid within one of the pneumatic fluid chambers will power the first half vane, and movement of the hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic fluid controller between the first and second hydraulic chambers permits movement of the first half vane and second half vane.

A mechanically valved bi-fluid actuator for precise bi-directional movement and positioning of a load, comprising:

• a. a pneumatic fluid container defining a first pneumatic fluid chamber and an opposed second pneumatic fluid chamber, the pneumatic fluid chambers containing a compressible, pneumatic fluid;
• b. a first mechanical object positioned between the first and opposed second pneumatic fluid chambers so that the first mechanical object may be impacted and moved by the pneumatic fluid within the pneumatic fluid chambers, the first mechanical object including a piston and hollow rod secured to the piston that passes out of the pneumatic fluid container for securing the hollow rod to the load, and the first mechanical object including a sliding seal adjustably secured adjacent to the piston so the sliding seal may move into and out of a compensating throughbore of the piston as the piston and sliding seal move within the pneumatic container;
• c. a hydraulic fluid container defined within the hollow rod of the first mechanical object and defining a first hydraulic fluid chamber and an opposed second hydraulic chamber, the chambers containing a non-compressible, hydraulic fluid;
• d. a mechanical valve hydraulic fluid controller including a second mechanical object rotational port valve assembly secured by a valve stem within the hydraulic container between the first and second hydraulic chambers, the valve stem also including a valve trigger secured to the valve stem, so that movement of the valve trigger rotates a rotational valve port plate to permit or terminate passage of the hydraulic fluid through the rotational port valve assembly between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers;
• and,
• e. a pneumatic fluid controller that selectively directs the pneumatic fluid into either the first or second pneumatic chamber of the pneumatic fluid container to expand the volume of the pneumatic fluid chamber that receives the pneumatic fluid, so that the pneumatic fluid controller selectively powers the first mechanical object to move in either a first or opposed second direction, and the mechanical valve hydraulic fluid controller selectively permits movement and controls a rate of movement and position of the first mechanical object by selectively permitting, controlling a rate of, and terminating passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers of the hydraulic fluid container.

A method of moving, controlling a rate of movement, and positioning a load, comprising the steps of:

• a. directing a pneumatic fluid into either a first or second pneumatic fluid chamber of a dual rod bi-fluid actuator, the first or second pneumatic fluid chambers being defined within a pneumatic fluid container of the dual rod bi-fluid actuator, which first and second pneumatic chambers are disposed on opposed sides of a first mechanical object;
• b. controlling passage of a hydraulic fluid between a first hydraulic fluid chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber defined within a hydraulic fluid container of the dual rod bi-fluid actuator to permit or terminate passage of the fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers in order to control movement and positioning of a second mechanical object, which second mechanical object is secured between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers and is also linked to the first mechanical object, and which first mechanical object is secured to the load;
• and,
• c. detecting a position of the load with a positioning controller as the load is moved and communicating the detected position to a hydraulic fluid controller that controls the passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers.

A method of moving, controlling a rate of movement, and positioning a load, comprising the steps of:

• a. directing a pneumatic fluid into either a first or second pneumatic fluid chamber of a single rod bi-fluid actuator, the first or second pneumatic fluid chambers being defined within a pneumatic fluid container of the single rod bi-fluid actuator, which first and second pneumatic chambers are disposed on opposed sides of a first mechanical object;
• b. controlling passage of a hydraulic fluid between a first hydraulic fluid chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber defined within a hydraulic fluid container and through a hydraulic fluid reservoir tube secured adjacent and parallel to the hydraulic fluid container of the single rod bi-fluid actuator to permit or terminate passage of the fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers in order to control movement and positioning of a second mechanical object, which second mechanical object is secured between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers and is also linked to the first mechanical object and which first mechanical object is secured to the load;
• and,
• c. detecting a position of the load with a positioning controller as the load is moved and communicating the detected position to a hydraulic fluid controller that controls the passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers.

A method of moving, controlling a rate of movement, and positioning a load, comprising the steps of:

• a. directing a pneumatic fluid into either a first or second pneumatic fluid chamber of a rodless piston bi-fluid actuator, the first or second pneumatic fluid chambers being defined within a pneumatic fluid container of the rodless piston bi-fluid actuator, which first and second pneumatic chambers are disposed on opposed sides of a first mechanical object;
• b. controlling passage of a hydraulic fluid between a first hydraulic fluid chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber defined within a hydraulic fluid container of the rodless piston bi-fluid actuator to permit or terminate passage of the fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers in order to control movement and positioning of a second mechanical object, which second mechanical object is secured between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers and is also linked to the first mechanical object, and which first mechanical object is secured to the load;
• and,
• c. detecting a position of the load with a positioning controller as the load is moved and communicating the detected position to a hydraulic fluid controller that controls the passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers.

A method of moving, controlling a rate of movement, and positioning a load, comprising the steps of:

• a. directing a pneumatic fluid into either a first or second pneumatic fluid chamber of a rotary bi-fluid actuator, the first or second pneumatic fluid chambers being defined within a deformable tube pneumatic fluid container of the rotary bi-fluid actuator, which first and second pneumatic chambers are disposed on opposed sides of a pinch roller first mechanical object;
• b. controlling passage of a hydraulic fluid between a first hydraulic fluid chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber defined within a deformable tube hydraulic fluid container of the rotary bi-fluid actuator to permit or terminate passage of the fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers in order to control movement and positioning of a second pinch roller mechanical object, which second mechanical object is secured between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers and is also linked to the first mechanical object, and which first mechanical object is secured to the load;
• and,
• c. detecting a position of the load with a positioning controller as the load is moved and communicating the detected position to a hydraulic fluid controller that controls the passage of the hydraulic fluid between the first and second hydraulic fluid chambers.