Hydraulic apparatus return to neutral mechanism
View Patent ↗A return to neutral mechanism to bias the trunnion of a hydraulic apparatus into the neutral position is provided. The trunnion is rotationally coupled to a bracket which is coupled to a glide member that is positioned between, and biased to a predetermined position by, a pair of compression springs.
1. A hydraulic apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a trunnion arm extending from the housing;
a first bracket rotationally coupled to the trunnion arm;
a second bracket fixed to the housing;
a rod member pivotally connected to the second bracket;
a glide member pivotally coupled to the first bracket and translatable along the rod member;
a first biasing member biasing the glide member to move the first bracket toward a neutral position when the first bracket is rotated in a first direction; and
a second biasing member biasing the glide member to move the first bracket toward the neutral position when the first bracket is rotated in a second direction.
2. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second biasing members are compression springs.
3. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second compression springs have the same spring constant.
4. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first and second compression springs are coaxial with the rod.
5. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the glide member is positioned between the first and second biasing members.
6. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second biasing members are compression springs each having a first end positioned in contact with the glide member and a second distal end, wherein each distal spring end is adjacent a pin positioned through the rod, the pin having a length equal to or greater than a diameter of the spring.
7. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the glide member has through hole slightly larger than the diameter of the rod, the through hole also having a cut out portion allowing the glide member to travel over a different pin while compressing one of the springs.
8. A hydraulic apparatus comprising:
a housing;
a trunnion arm extending from the housing;
a first bracket rotationally coupled to the trunnion arm; and
a return to neutral assembly comprising:
a second bracket fixed to the housing;
a rod member pivotally connected to the second bracket;
a glide member pivotally coupled to the first bracket and translatable along the rod member; and
at least one compression spring positioned on the rod member, the spring capable of biasing the glide member to move the bracket toward a neutral position when the bracket is rotated in a first direction.
9. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the return to neutral assembly further comprises a second compression spring positioned on the rod member, the second spring capable of biasing the glide member to move the bracket toward a neutral position when the bracket is rotated in a second direction.
10. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second compression springs each having a first end positioned in contact with the glide member and a second distal end, wherein each distal spring end is adjacent a pin positioned through the rod, the pins having a length equal to or greater than a diameter of the spring.
11. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the glide member has a through hole slightly larger than the diameter of the rod, the through hole also having a slot portion allowing the glide member to travel over a different pin while compressing one of the springs.
12. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second compression springs have the same spring constant.
13. The hydraulic apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first and second compression springs have different spring constants.