High output hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement

1. A method of reciprocally moving an output rod coupled to a force transfer member of a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement, the method comprising:

coupling an output component to the output rod by threading a plurality of fasteners through apertures defined in an end flange of the output rod;

applying hydraulic pressure to a first piston and cylinder device to operate the first piston and cylinder device in compression to move the force transfer member in a first direction;

applying hydraulic pressure to a second piston and cylinder device to operate the second piston and cylinder device in compression to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction;

refraining from applying tension to the second piston and cylinder device while applying hydraulic pressure to the first piston and cylinder device; and

refraining from applying tension to the first piston and cylinder device while applying hydraulic pressure to the second piston and cylinder device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein applying hydraulic pressure to each piston and cylinder device comprises applying hydraulic pressure to only a first end of the piston and cylinder device and refraining from applying hydraulic pressure to an opposite second end of the piston and cylinder device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising sliding the output rod along a first axis as the force transfer member is moved in the first and second directions, the first axis being parallel to longitudinal axes of the first and second piston and cylinder devices.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the force transfer member is slid along portions of a frame as the force transfer member is moved in the first and second directions, wherein the output rod extends outwardly from the frame.

5. A hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement comprising:

a force transfer member;

a first output rod coupled to a first side of the force transfer member to move with the force transfer member;

a second output rod coupled to a second side of the force transfer member to move with the force transfer member, the second side being opposite the first side;

a first piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the first piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in a first direction when the first piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the first and second output rods move with the force transfer member; and

a second piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the second piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction when the second piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the first and second output rods move with the force transfer member.

6. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first output rod includes a main shaft and at least one end flange that is unitary with the main shaft, the end flange defining a plurality of fastener openings configured to receive a plurality of threaded fasteners to couple the end flange to an output component.

7. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the main shaft includes a second end flange that is unitary with the main shaft at an opposite end of the main shaft from the end flange, the second end flange being configured to couple to the force transfer member.

8. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first piston and cylinder device is part of a first set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the force transfer member and configured to move the force transfer member in the first direction when the piston and cylinder devices of the first set are operated in compression; and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is part of a second set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the force transfer member and configured to move the force transfer member in the second direction when the piston and cylinder devices of the second set are operated in compression.

9. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first piston and cylinder device includes a first cylinder body and a first piston, wherein the first piston mounts to a first side of the force transfer member; and wherein the second piston and cylinder device includes a second cylinder body and a second piston, wherein the second piston mounts to a second side of the force transfer member.

10. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first side of the force transfer member faces away from the second side of the force transfer member.

11. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first side of the force transfer member faces towards the second side of the force transfer member.

12. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , wherein each piston and cylinder device is configured to receive hydraulic pressure at only a cap end of the respective cylinder body.

13. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a frame to which cap ends of the first and second cylinder bodies are coupled, wherein the force transfer member is configured to move relative to the frame.

14. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the frame includes two spaced apart frame members coupled together by cross-members, wherein the force transfer member is disposed between the frame members and configured to slide along at least one of the cross-members, wherein the first piston and cylinder device is disposed between the force transfer member and a first of the frame members, and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is disposed between the force transfer member and a second of the frame members.

15. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the first piston and cylinder device is part of a first set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the force transfer member and the first frame member, the first set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the first direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the first set are operated in compression; and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is part of a second set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the force transfer member and to the second frame member, the second set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the second direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the second set are operated in compression.

16. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the force transfer member includes two spaced apart flanges coupled together by cross-members, wherein the frame is disposed between the flanges of the force transfer member, wherein the first piston and cylinder device is disposed between the frame and a first of the flanges of the force transfer member, and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is disposed between the frame and a second of the flanges of the force transfer member.

17. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the first piston and cylinder device is part of a first set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the frame and the first flange of the force transfer member, the first set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the first direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the first set are operated in compression; and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is part of a second set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the frame and the second flange of the force transfer member, the second set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the second direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the second set are operated in compression.

18. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first and second piston and cylinder devices are aligned along an axis extending parallel to a slide axis along which the first output rod moves with the force transfer member.

19. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the second output rod extending coaxially with the first output rod in an opposite direction to the first output rod.

20. A method of reciprocally moving an output rod coupled to a force transfer member of a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement, the method comprising:

applying hydraulic pressure to a first piston and cylinder device to operate the first piston and cylinder device in compression to move the force transfer member in a first direction;

applying hydraulic pressure to a second piston and cylinder device to operate the second piston and cylinder device in compression to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction;

refraining from applying tension to the second piston and cylinder device while applying hydraulic pressure to the first piston and cylinder device; and

refraining from applying tension to the first piston and cylinder device while applying hydraulic pressure to the second piston and cylinder device;

sliding the output rod along a first axis as the force transfer member is moved in the first and second directions, the first axis being parallel to longitudinal axes of the first and second piston and cylinder devices, wherein the force transfer member is slid along portions of a frame as the force transfer member is moved in the first and second directions, wherein the output rod extends outwardly from the frame.

21. A hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement comprising:

a force transfer member;

an output rod coupled to the force transfer member to move with the force transfer member, the output rod including a main shaft and at least one end flange that is unitary with the main shaft, the end flange defining a plurality of fastener openings configured to receive a plurality of threaded fasteners to couple the end flange to an output component;

a first piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the first piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in a first direction when the first piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member; and

a second piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the second piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction when the second piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member.

22. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the main shaft includes a second end flange that is unitary with the main shaft at an opposite end of the main shaft from the end flange, the second end flange being configured to couple to the force transfer member.

23. A hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement comprising:

a force transfer member;

an output rod coupled to the force transfer member to move with the force transfer member;

a first piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device including a first cylinder body and a first piston, wherein the first piston mounts to a first side of the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the first piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in a first direction when the first piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member; and

a second piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device including a second cylinder body and a second piston, wherein the second piston mounts to a second side of the force transfer member, wherein the first side of the force transfer member faces away from the second side of the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the second piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction when the second piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member.

24. A hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement comprising:

a force transfer member;

an output rod coupled to the force transfer member to move with the force transfer member;

a first piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device including a first cylinder body and a first piston, wherein the first piston mounts to a first side of the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the first piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in a first direction when the first piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member; and

a second piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device including a second cylinder body and a second piston, wherein the second piston mounts to a second side of the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the second piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction when the second piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member;

a frame to which cap ends of the first and second cylinder bodies are coupled, wherein the force transfer member is configured to move relative to the frame, the frame including two spaced apart frame members coupled together by cross-members, wherein the force transfer member is disposed between the frame members and configured to slide along at least one of the cross-members, wherein the first piston and cylinder device is disposed between the force transfer member and a first of the frame members, and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is disposed between the force transfer member and a second of the frame members.

25. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the first piston and cylinder device is part of a first set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the force transfer member and the first frame member, the first set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the first direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the first set are operated in compression; and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is part of a second set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the force transfer member and to the second frame member, the second set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the second direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the second set are operated in compression.

26. A hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement comprising:

a force transfer member including two spaced apart flanges coupled together by cross-members;

an output rod coupled to the force transfer member to move with the force transfer member;

a first piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device including a first cylinder body and a first piston, wherein the first piston mounts to a first side of the force transfer member, the first piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the first piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in a first direction when the first piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member; and

a second piston and cylinder device coupled to the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device including a second cylinder body and a second piston, wherein the second piston mounts to a second side of the force transfer member, the second piston and cylinder device being configured to be operated only in compression, and the second piston and cylinder device being configured to move the force transfer member in an opposite second direction when the second piston and cylinder device is operated in compression, wherein the output rod moves with the force transfer member;

a frame to which cap ends of the first and second cylinder bodies are coupled, wherein the force transfer member is configured to move relative to the frame, the frame being disposed between the flanges of the force transfer member, wherein the first piston and cylinder device is disposed between the frame and a first of the flanges of the force transfer member, and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is disposed between the frame and a second of the flanges of the force transfer member.

27. The hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement as claimed in claim 26 , wherein the first piston and cylinder device is part of a first set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the frame and the first flange of the force transfer member, the first set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the first direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the first set are operated in compression; and wherein the second piston and cylinder device is part of a second set of piston and cylinder devices coupled to the frame and the second flange of the force transfer member, the second set of piston and cylinder devices being configured to move the force transfer member in the second direction relative to the frame when the piston and cylinder devices of the second set are operated in compression.