Patent ID: 6962103

Claim:
A multi-stroke fluid cylinder comprising: a) a first positioning system comprising a cylindrical housing having a plurality of fluid openings and containing a plurality of moveable pistons for moving a positioning member a preselected distance, each said moveable piston comprising at least one slot extending in the direction of movement of the pistons and a channel along its face for delivering fluid from said fluid openings in said cylindrical housing to between adjacent pistons, and a plurality of fluid channels for delivering a fluid between respective adjacent pistons of said first positioning system; and b) a second positioning system including: i) at least one moveable piston for moving the positioning member a preselected distance, said at least one moveable piston of said second positioning system being independently moveable relative to said pistons of said first positioning system; and ii) at least one fluid supply member for introducing a fluid at a first pressure against said at least one piston of said second positioning system, said at least one fluid supply member of said second positioning system extending through at least one piston of said first positioning system.