Patent ID: 7351288

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an actuator having a first component with at least one opening and a passageway therein connected to the at least one opening and a second component housed within the passageway being movable between first and second positions within the passageway, the second component dividing the passageway into first and second portions and sealing the first portion from the second portion; at least one sensor to detect a position of the second component within the passageway; and a pump system having at least one pump and a controller, the at least one pump being connected to the at least one opening supplying a fluid to the first portion of the passageway, the fluid applying a first force onto the second component, moving the second component between the first and second positions at a first speed, the controller being connected to the at least one pump and the at least one sensor, the controller controlling the at least one pump to change the supply of fluid to the first portion of the passageway to apply a second force onto the second component, moving the second component between the first and second positions at a second speed, wherein the first component of the actuator has first and second openings, the passageway interconnects the first and second openings, and wherein the at least one pump is connected to the first and second openings and further comprising a switch interconnecting the at least one pump and the first component, the controller being connected to the switch, and wherein the controller controls the switch to change the supply of fluid between the first opening and the second opening when the piston is in the second position.