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US 7,121,185 B2Granted
Hydraulic cylinder having a snubbing valve
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorMahd H. Alrefai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic cylinder has a tube with a first end and a section end. The hydraulic cylinder also has a piston assembly movably disposed within the tube and configured to move between the first and second ends of the tube. The hydraulic cylinder further has a valve plunger connected to the piston assembly and having an axial bore. The hydraulic cylinder additionally has a cap assembly connected to the tube to close off the first end of the tube. The cap assembly has a fluid passageway and the valve plunger is configured to progressively restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway as the piston assembly approaches the first end of the tube.
Claims26
A hydraulic cylinder, comprising:
- a tube having a first end and a second end;
- a piston assembly movably disposed within the tube and configured to move between the first end and the second end of the tube;
- a valve plunger connected to the piston assembly;
- and
- a cap assembly connected to the first end of the tube to close off the first end of the tube, the cap assembly having a fluid passageway, wherein the valve plunger is configured to progressively restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway as the piston assembly approaches the first end of the tube, wherein the cap assembly further includes:
- a cap bore, and
- a sensor disposed within the cap bore;
- and
- a magnet coupled to the piston assembly and configured to interact with the sensor.
6 more elements
A method of operating a hydraulic cylinder, comprising:
- moving a piston assembly within a tube between first and second positions;
- progressively restricting a flow of fluid through a fluid passageway in a cap assembly connected to the tube with a valve plunger as the piston assembly nears the first position, the valve plunger being connected to the piston assembly and having an axial bore;
- and
- moving the valve plunger relative to a sensor member disposed within the axial bore of the valve plunger.
1 more element
A work machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a work implement;
- and
- a hydraulic cylinder operatively connected to the frame and configured to assist in moving the work implement, the hydraulic cylinder including:
- a tube;
- a piston assembly movably disposed within the tube and configured to move between first and second positions;
- a valve plunger connected to the piston assembly and having an axial bore;
- and
- a cap assembly connected to the tube to close off an end of the tube, the cap assembly having a fluid passageway, wherein the valve plunger is configured to progressively restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway as the piston assembly approaches the first position, wherein the cap assembly further includes:
- a cap bore axially aligned with the tube;
- and
- a position sensor disposed within the cap bore, and
- wherein the piston assembly includes:
- a piston;
- a piston rod connected to the piston, the piston rod having an axial bore extending at least a portion of the length of the piston rod and aligned with the axial bore in the valve plunger;
- and
- an annular sensor component coupled to the piston rod and configured to interact with the sensor.
14 more elements
A hydraulic cylinder, comprising:
- a tube having a first end and a second end;
- a piston assembly movably disposed within the tube and configured to move between the first end and the second end of the tube;
- a valve member disposed within the hydraulic cylinder and configured to progressively restrict a fluid flow out of the tube as the piston assembly approaches the first end of the tube;
- a cap assembly connected to the first end of the tube to close off the first end of the tube, the cap assembly including a cap bore;
- and
- a position sensor disposed within the cap bore and configured to determine a position of the piston assembly, the valve member including a valve plunger having an axial bore, and a portion of the position sensor extends within and through the axial bore.
3 more elements
A hydraulic cylinder, comprising:
- a tube having a first end and a second end;
- a piston assembly movably disposed within the tube and configured to move between the first end and the second end of the tube;
- a valve member disposed within the hydraulic cylinder and configured to progressively restrict a fluid flow out of the tube as the piston assembly approaches the first end of the tube;
- a cap assembly connected to the first end of the tube to close off the first end of the tube, the cap assembly including a cap bore;
- and
- a position sensor disposed within the cap bore and configured to determine a position of the piston assembly, wherein the piston assembly includes a magnet coupled to the piston assembly and configured to interact with the position sensor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.