A hydraulic cylinder assembly for operating a weight lifting bench and other equipment. The hydraulic cylinder assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid, an accumulator containing a pressurized compressible fluid, and a flow control valve assembly interposed in a flow path
A hydraulic cylinder assembly for operating a weight lifting bench and other equipment. The hydraulic cylinder assembly comprises a hydraulic cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid, an accumulator containing a pressurized compressible fluid, and a flow control valve assembly interposed in a flow path therebetween. The flow control valve includes an axially reciprocating piston defining a flow control orifice and an axially movable plunger received in the orifice. Movement of the plunger operates to engage and open a ball check valve which in turn opens the flow path allowing hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic cylinder to the accumulator. The working end may be stepped and positionable between first and second axial positions relative to the orifice to define first and second flow areas via movement of the plunger. Reciprocating movement of the piston opens and closes the flow path.
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1. A hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising: a hydraulic cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid;an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder, the accumulator containing a pressurized compressible fluid; anda flow control valve assembly interposed in a flow path between the hydrau
1. A hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising: a hydraulic cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid;an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder, the accumulator containing a pressurized compressible fluid; anda flow control valve assembly interposed in a flow path between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator, the flow control valve configured and operable to control flow of the hydraulic fluid exchanged between the hydraulic cylinder and accumulator;the flow control valve including an axially reciprocating piston defining a flow control orifice and an axially movable plunger having an operating end and an opposing working end, the working end being received in the flow control orifice and positionable between a first axial position and a second axial position relative to the flow control orifice;wherein the working end of the plunger defines a first flow area when the plunger is in the first axial position and a second flow area smaller than the first flow area when the plunger is in the second axial position. 2. The cylinder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the working end of the plunger comprises a terminal end segment having a first diameter and an intermediate segment adjoining the terminal end segment and having a second diameter larger than the terminal end segment, wherein the first flow area is defined when the terminal end segment is positioned in the flow control orifice and the second flow area is defined when the terminal end segment is positioned in the flow control orifice. 3. The cylinder assembly according to claim 2, wherein the piston is axially movable between: (i) a first axial position which forms the first axial position of the plunger and first flow area, and (ii) a second axial position which forms the second axial position of the plunger and the second flow area. 4. The cylinder assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a spring which biases the piston towards the first position. 5. The cylinder assembly according to claim 1, wherein the piston and the plunger are coaxially aligned and slideably disposed in an elongated axial central bore of the flow control valve. 6. The cylinder assembly according to claim 5, wherein the flow control valve further comprises a hydraulic cylinder port fluidly coupling the axial central bore to the hydraulic cylinder and an accumulator port fluidly coupling the axial central bore to the accumulator. 7. The cylinder assembly according to claim 6, wherein the piston is alternatingly movable to block or unblock the accumulator port when the piston reciprocates. 8. The cylinder assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a ball check valve, the check valve including an annular seat, a ball removably disposed on the seat and coaxially aligned with the plunger, and a spring biasing the ball into engagement with the seat. 9. The cylinder assembly according to claim 7, wherein the plunger is alternatingly movable between (i) a lower unblocking position in which the working end of the plunger engages and unseats the ball from the annular seat to permit flow through the check valve, and (ii) an upper blocking position in which the ball is seated to block flow through the check valve. 10. A hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising: a hydraulic cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid;an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder, the accumulator containing a pressurized compressible fluid;a block manifold disposed between the hydraulic cylinder and accumulator, the block manifold comprising an axial central bore defining a centerline, a hydraulic cylinder port fluidly coupling the central bore to the hydraulic cylinder, and an accumulator port fluidly coupling the central bore to the accumulator, the bore and ports collectively forming a hydraulic fluid flow path between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator;a check valve disposed in the central bore and comprising an annular valve seat and a check ball biased into removable engagement with the valve seat by a check spring;a reciprocating piston disposed in the central bore and axially movable between a first proximal position nearest the check valve and a second distal position farthest from the check valve, the piston including a flow control orifice and internal flow control cavity in fluid communication with the flow control orifice;a plunger disposed in the central bore and axially movable between first and second axial positions, the plunger having an operating end and an opposing working end inserted through the flow control orifice and engageable with the check ball;wherein moving the plunger from a first axial position to a second axial position causes the working end of the plunger to disengage the check ball from the valve seat to open the flow path from the hydraulic cylinder to the accumulator. 11. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 10, wherein moving the plunger from the second axial position to the first axial position causes the check spring to re-engage the check ball with the valve seat to close the flow path from the hydraulic cylinder to the accumulator. 12. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 10, wherein the piston includes circumferentially spaced apart first lateral flow orifices extending through sidewalls of the piston from the internal flow control cavity, the internal flow control cavity and first lateral flow orifices being in fluid communication with the accumulator port when the piston is in the proximal position and out of fluid communication with the accumulator port when the piston is in the distal position. 13. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 12, wherein the piston is slideably disposed in a tubular outer sleeve fixedly mounted in the central bore and having a central passage extending therethrough. 14. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 13, wherein the outer sleeve includes circumferentially spaced apart second lateral flow orifices extending through sidewalls of the outer sleeve from the central passage, the second lateral flow orifices in fluid communication with the accumulator port. 15. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 14, wherein the second lateral flow orifices are in fluid communication with first lateral flow orifices of the piston when the piston is in the proximal position and the piston blocks the second lateral orifices when the piston is in the distal position. 16. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 15, wherein the first lateral flow orifices are disposed in a circumferential slot formed in an outer surface of the piston. 17. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 16, wherein the circumferential slot is in fluid communication with the accumulator port when the piston is in the proximal position and out of fluid communication with the accumulator port when the piston is in the distal position. 18. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 10, wherein the piston is biased into the proximal position by a flow control spring disposed in the central bore. 19. The hydraulic cylinder according to claim 18, wherein the plunger is biased into the second position by a spring acting in an opposite direction of the flow control spring. 20. A method for operating a hydraulic cylinder assembly, the method comprising: providing a hydraulic cylinder assembly including a hydraulic cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid, an accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder and containing a compressible fluid, and a flow control valve assembly interposed in a hydraulic fluid flow path between the hydraulic cylinder and the accumulator, the flow control valve assembly including a reciprocating piston, a plunger, and a check valve collectively forming an open flow path between the hydraulic cylinder and accumulator;engaging a spring-biased check ball with an annular valve seat of the check valve to form a closed flow path;moving the plunger from a first axial position to a second axial position;displacing and disengaging the check ball from the valve seat with the plunger; andopening the flow path via unseating the check ball wherein hydraulic fluid flows from the hydraulic cylinder to the accumulator. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the hydraulic fluid pressure is greater in hydraulic cylinder than the accumulator. 22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising moving the piston relative to the check valve from a proximal position to a distal position which closes the hydraulic fluid flow path when the check ball is displaced from the valve seat. 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein when the hydraulic fluid pressure in the hydraulic cylinder and accumulator are balanced, a spring forces the piston from the distal position back to the proximal position which re-opens the hydraulic fluid flow path causing hydraulic fluid to flow from the hydraulic cylinder to the accumulator. 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein when compressible fluid pressure in the accumulator is greater than hydraulic fluid pressure in the accumulator and the plunger returns to the first axial position, the check ball disengages the valve seat and hydraulic fluid flows from the accumulator back to the hydraulic cylinder.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Weber Raymond P. (890 W. 100 North Provo UT 84601) Daybell Jesse G. (715 N. 1600 West Mapleton UT 84664) Thornton Gary L. (P.O. Box 231 Pleasant Grove UT 84062) Thornton Lynn L. (P.O. Box 231 Pleasan, Adjustable bench exercise apparatus.
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