US 9,435,359 B2 · Adaptive hydraulic cylinder with floating seal interface

Abstract

In one possible implementation, a misalignment-tolerant hydraulic actuator, e.g., for a submersible hydraulic diaphragm insert pump (HDI), has a floating piston that can reciprocate while decoupled from collinearity with a cylinder barrel and a central feed rod that slides through a central axis of the piston. The floating seal can be integrated or provided by a separate insert and provides a pivotable interface between the piston and center rod, allowing these components freedom of motion to avoid elastic deformation, friction, power loss, and early wear when misalignment or transverse forces on an external end of the piston rod are present. Bearing placement can also be selected to eliminate over-constraint.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A hydraulic cylinder, comprising:

a barrel;
a piston slidably disposed within the barrel, the piston also being slidably disposed on a center rod within the barrel;
a piston rod coupled to the piston, the piston rod having a hollow interior extending axially therethrough, the center rod having a rod stop through which fluid is delivered to the hollow interior of the piston rod, wherein the rod stop does not radially contact an interior surface of the piston rod;
a first seal interface between the piston and the center rod to decouple a displacement axis of the piston from a longitudinal axis of the center rod;
and
a second seal interface between the piston and the barrel to decouple the piston from the barrel.

3 more elements

A misalignment-tolerant hydraulic actuator for a submersible pump, comprising:

a cylinder barrel;
a piston in the cylinder barrel to provide a reciprocating stroke;
a piston rod connected to the piston to transfer the reciprocating stroke from the hydraulic actuator to the submersible pump, the piston rod having an axial passage extending through the piston rod to deliver actuating fluid;
a center rod disposed in a bore through a central axis of the piston, the center rod having a rod stop through which the actuating fluid is delivered to the axial passage of the piston rod, wherein the rod stop does not radially contact an interior surface of the piston rod;
a first interface between the center rod and the piston to decouple a displacement axis of the piston in the cylinder barrel from a longitudinal axis of the center rod;
and
a second interface between the piston and the cylinder barrel to decouple the piston from the cylinder barrel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adaptive hydraulic cylinder with floating seal interface

Life of this patent

Adaptive hydraulic cylinder with floating seal interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14