Hydraulic/pneumatic apparatus

An actuation system for pneumatic systems in a common pneumatic circuit comprising in combination:

• a) a first pneumatic driven component having a bidirectional driven element with at least two mechanical end points limiting, arresting and stopping further mechanical movement for inherently providing an increase in pneumatic pressure in the pneumatic circuit upon being pneumatically against a mechanical end point;
• b) a second pneumatically driven component having a bidirectional driven element with at least two mechanical end points limiting, arresting and stopping further mechanical movement of its bidirectional driven element for inherently providing an increase in pneumatic pressure in the pneumatic circuit upon being pneumatically driven against a mechanical end point;
• c) a source of reversible pneumatic power including a motor driving a pneumatic pump pumping a pneumatic fluid from a containing reservoir for supplying a pneumatic fluid at least at a pre-set pressure (Pa);
• d) a first pneumatic power supply/return line connected between the source of pneumatic power and the first pneumatic driven component between one of the two mechanical end points and its bidirectional driven element;
• e) a first vent sequence valve in a second pneumatic power supply/return line connected between the source of pneumatic power and the second pneumatic driven component between one of the two mechanical end points and its bidirectional driven element;
• f) a third pneumatic power supply/return line connected between the source of pneumatic power and the second pneumatic driven component between the other of the two mechanical end points and its bidirectional driven element, completing a common pneumatic circuit including the first and second pneumatic driven components and the source of pneumatic power;
• g) a pressure switch monitoring pressure from the source of pneumatic power for turning off the source of pneumatic power at a pre-set pressure level (Poff);
• pneumatic power being supplied to the first pneumatic driven component for driving it's bidirectional element to one of its mechanical end points via the first pneumatic power supply/return line generating a first pressure increase (Pb) in the first and second supply/return lines switching the first vent sequence valve to supply pneumatic power to the second pneumatically driven component for driving its bidirectional element to one of its mechanical end points generating a second pressure level Pc in the second supply/return line, where Pa<Pb<Poff≦Pc shutting off the system.

A method for actuating a system of fluidic components, each component having a bidirectional driven element with at least two mechanical end points limiting, arresting and stopping further mechanical movement of the bidirectional element for inherently providing an increase in fluidic pressure in a common fluidic circuit upon being driven against a mechanical end point, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a source of reversible fluidic power including a motor driving a fluidic pump pumping a fluid from a containing reservoir for supplying a fluid at a pre-set pressure (Pa);
• b) supplying a first supply/return line connected between the source of hydraulic power and a first particular fluidic driven component between one of the two mechanical end points and its bidirectional driven element for inherently increasing fluidic pressure to pressure (Pb) in the first supply line and in a second fluidic power supply/return line connected between the source of fluidic power and a particular second fluidic driven component between one of the two mechanical end points and its bidirectional driven element to where Pb>Pa;
• c) providing a third fluidic power supply/return line connected between the source of fluidic power and the second hydraulic driven component between the other of the two mechanical end points and its bidirectional driven element completing a common fluidic circuit of the first and second particular fluidic driven components and the source of fluidic power;
• d) providing a pressure switch monitoring pressure of the fluid from the source of fluidic power for turning off the source of fluidic power at a pre-set pressure level (Poff);
• e) providing first vent sequence valve in the second fluidic power supply/return line connected between the source of fluidic power and the particular second fluidic driven component for switching the first vent sequence valve to supply fluidic power to the second fluidic driven component for driving its bidirectional element to one of its mechanical end points generating a second pressure level (Pc) in the second supply/return line, where Pa<Pb<Poff≦Pc shutting off the system.