Patent attributes
The invention relates to an actuator for heavy machinery including a cylinder, a piston and a protective sleeve. The cylinder forms a chamber for receiving a fluid, and includes an external flange extending radially and outwardly from the cylinder. The piston is operable to translate axially relative to the cylinder between an open position and a closed position, and includes a first extremity positioned outside the cylinder and a second extremity positioned within the chamber. The second extremity sealingly engages the chamber. The protective sleeve protects the piston in the open position, which is movable with the piston and operable to overlap at least a portion of the cylinder in the closed position. The protective sleeve includes an internal flange extending radially and inwardly from the protective sleeve and is positioned for abutting the external flange when the piston is in the open position. This abutment limits the axial translation of the piston out of the cylinder.
