Hydraulic system for synchronizing a plurality of pistons and an associated method

A piston for use in a hydraulic system utilizing a pressurized fluid, said piston comprising:

• a body portion defining an axis with said body portion including;
• a bottom face and a top face spaced from each other;
• an exterior surface disposed between said bottom face and said top face with said exterior surface defining a peripheral groove transverse to said axis;
• and
• said exterior surface of said piston further defining a plurality of flutes spaced axially from each other and intersecting said peripheral groove for guiding the fluid from one of said faces into said peripheral groove;
• wherein said exterior surface further defines a circumferential recess and a sealing ring is disposed within said circumferential recess.

A method of rephasing a hydraulic system utilizing a pressurized fluid and having a first piston presenting an exterior surface defining a peripheral groove and a plurality of flutes axially spaced about the exterior surface and intersecting the peripheral groove, the first piston is disposed within a first cylinder defining a axis and further including a second piston disposed within a second cylinder and a flow path linking the first and second cylinders in fluid communication with one another, said method comprising the steps of:

• moving the first piston along the axis from one of a plurality of operating positions to a rephasing position for aligning the peripheral groove with the flow path;
• flowing the fluid from the first cylinder through the flutes;
• flowing the fluid into and at least partially around the peripheral groove;
• flowing the fluid into and through the flow path linking the first and second cylinders;
• and
• flowing the fluid into the second cylinder to equalize fluid pressure between the first and second cylinders for synchronizing the first and second pistons with one another.

A piston for use in a hydraulic system utilizing a pressurized fluid, said piston comprising:

• a body portion defining an axis with said body portion including;
• a bottom face and a top face spaced from each other;
• an exterior surface disposed between said bottom face and said top face with said exterior surface defining a peripheral groove transverse to said axis;
• said exterior surface of said piston further defining a plurality of flutes spaced axially from each other and intersecting said peripheral groove for guiding the fluid from one of said faces into said peripheral groove;
• and
• a polymeric coating defining said exterior surface having said flutes and said peripheral groove.