Hydraulic actuator apparatus for a surgical table

A patient support comprising

• a base,
• a support surface,
• a lift assembly including a plurality of telescoping support tubes defining an interior region, and
• an actuator located in the interior region of the plurality of telescoping support tubes, the actuator including a plurality of pistons, each piston having at least one fluid line positioned therein.

A patient support comprising

• a support surface,
• a base,
• a lift assembly positioned between the support surface and the base to raise and lower the support surface relative to the base, and
• a plurality of telescoping support tubes, the support tubes including telescoping support members and shock absorbers configured to dampen impact between the telescoping support members.

An actuator comprising

• a housing,
• a first piston positioned in the housing,
• a second piston positioned in the housing, and
• a fluid system coupled to each of the first and second pistons to supply pressurized fluid to the housing, the first piston including a first piston head and a first piston rod coupled to the piston head, the first piston rod includes a first fluid passage therein in fluid communication with the fluid system, the second piston includes a second piston head and a second piston rod coupled to the piston head, and the second piston rod includes a second fluid passage therein in fluid communication with the fluid system, fluid flow into the housing through the first fluid passage causing expansion of the first and second pistons and fluid flow into the housing through the second fluid passage causing contraction of the first and second pistons.

An actuator comprising

• a housing,
• a first piston positioned in the housing,
• a second piston positioned in the housing, and
• a fluid system coupled to each of the first and second pistons to supply pressurized fluid to the housing, the first piston acting in series with the second piston to extend and retract the actuator, fluid flow into the housing through a first fluid passage within the first piston causing expansion of the first and second pistons and fluid flow into the housing through a second fluid passage within the second piston causing contraction of the first and second pistons.

An actuator comprising

• a housing,
• a first piston positioned in the housing,
• a second piston positioned in the housing, and
• means for providing pressurized fluid to the housing, the pressurized fluid providing means including a fluid passage in each of the first and second pistons, fluid flow in the fluid passage of the first piston causing fluid flow in the fluid passage of the second piston.

An actuator comprising

• a housing,
• a first piston positioned in the housing,
• a second piston positioned in the housing,
• a first fluid passage positioned in the first piston,
• a second fluid passage positioned in the second piston, and
• a fluid system coupled to the first and second passages to provide pressurized fluid thereto to retract and extend the first and second pistons, fluid provided to the housing via the first fluid passage causing expansion of both the first and second pistons, and fluid provided to the housing via the second fluid passage causing contraction of both the first and second pistons.