Position sensing cylinder cap for ease of service and assembly

A trunnion mounted cylinder arrangement comprising:

• a body;
• at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly, the assembly being slideably disposed in the body;
• a sensor arrangement comprising:
• a sensor, a sensor electronics module positioned in a sensor body, and an interactive element, the interactive element being moveable relative the sensor, wherein a position of the interactive element indicative of a position of the at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly is communicated to the sensor electronics module through the sensor;
• and
• a housing attached to an end of the body and including a sensor pilot portion, the sensor pilot portion in the housing being structured and arranged to sealably receive the sensor electronics module therein, wherein the sensor electronics module is encased within the sensor body and having a seal being disposed between the sensor body and the sensor pilot portion of the housing.

A method of operating a fluid cylinder including at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly, the assembly being slideably disposed in a body, and a position sensor assembly adapted to be encased within and removably receivable within the fluid cylinder, the method comprising:

• moving the at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly along an axial reference within the body;
• sensing a position of the at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly within a sensor portion of the position sensor assembly through communication between the sensor portion and an interactive element connected to the at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly;
• telescopically receiving the sensor portion within a rod connected to the at least one of a piston assembly and a rod assembly;
• transmitting the sensed position to an encased sensor electronics module positioned in a sensor body which is piloted along the reference axis and within a pilot portion of a housing assembly attached to the body;
• and
• allowing substantially no leakage of working fluid between a piston chamber and an area external thereto through a sealed engagement between the sensor pilot portion of the housing assembly and the sensor body of the sensor assembly by a seal disposed therebetween.