Eaton Corporation

Husco International, Inc.

Deere & Company

Kayaba Industry Company, Ltd.

Eaton Coroporation

Incova Technologies, Inc.

Dwight B Stephenson

Joseph Lawrence Pfaff

Michael J Paik

Kenneth G Rasmussen

Herman P Schutten

Keith A Tabor

Eric P Hamkins

Peter A Jahnke

Timothy A Hjelsand

Oliver W Johnson

William John Novacek

Donald M Haarstad

Xiaolong Yang

Prashant K Rajput

James J Hastreiter

Keith R Carlson

James A Miller

Russell P Schuchmann

Don Rulon Draper

Bernard J Larson

Steven G Brandau

Brian R Bertolasi

Karen J Radford

Randall S Jackson

Bradley James Kramer

Richard Randel Lyman, Jr

Makoto Nagao

Brian Clifton

Joe Pfaff

David L Koehler

Glenn R Wendel

Randy P Schmidt

Randall J Jackson

R Christopher Hughes

Dennis R Marks

Masaki Dohgami

H P Schutten

A system and method for machinery performing work with hydraulic actuators. Radial hydraulic pumps are aligned end-to-end along a common driveshaft axis to form a multi-pump assembly having a plurality of piston/cylinder units extending in a radial direction. Two or more piston/cylinder units are associated with one another to form multiple piston/cylinder groups. A plurality of control valves combines individual output flows from the two or more associated piston/cylinder units into respective common output flows for each respective piston/cylinder group. A plurality of flow control devices varies the common output flow from each respective piston/cylinder group by throttling inlet flow to the two or more associated piston/cylinder units in each respective piston/cylinder group. Each respective common output flow is directed from each respective piston/cylinder group to a hydraulic actuator on the heavy machinery to control its direction of movement.

Radial piston pump assemblies and use thereof in hydraulic circuits

A radial piston pump has a plurality of cylinders within which pistons reciprocally move. Each cylinder is connected to a first port by an inlet passage that has an inlet check valve, and is connected to a second port by an outlet passage that has an outlet check valve. A throttling plate extends across the inlet passages and has a separate aperture associated with each inlet passage. Rotation of the throttling plate varies the degree of alignment of each aperture with the associated inlet passage, thereby forming variable orifices for altering displacement of the pump. Uniquely shaped apertures specifically affect the rate at which the variable orifices close with throttle plate movement, so that the closure rate decreases with increased closure of the variable orifices.

Hydraulic piston pump with a variable displacement throttle mechanism

An apparatus includes a first plurality of cylinders, each coupled to a shared first port by a separate first valve and to a shared second port by a separate second valve. Each first and second valve has a chamber to which pressure from either the associated cylinder or the respective port is dynamically applied to select different operating modes. Each one of a second plurality of cylinders is coupled to the first port by a separate third valve and to a shared third port by a separate fourth valve. Each third and fourth valve has a chamber to which pressure from either the associated cylinder or the respective port is dynamically applied to select different operating modes. Selecting an operating mode enables the apparatus to act as a bidirectional pump or a hydraulic motor. Selectively controller the valves can deactivate an individual cylinder, while other cylinders remain active.

Fluid working machine with cylinders coupled to split exterior ports by electrohydraulic valves

A hydraulic system has a valve assembly with two workports coupled to chambers of first and second cylinders which are connected mechanically in parallel to a machine component. A separation control valve is connected between first chambers of both cylinders, and a shunt control valve is connected between the workports. A recovery control valve couples an accumulator to the first chamber of the second cylinder. Opening and closing the valves in different combinations routes fluid from one or both cylinders into the accumulator where the fluid is stored under pressure, and thereafter enables stored fluid to be used to power one or both cylinders. The shunt control valve is used to route fluid exhausting from one chamber of each cylinder to the other chambers of those cylinders. Thus the hydraulic system recovers and reuses energy in various manners.

Energy recovery and reuse techniques for a hydraulic system

A method provides several modes for recovering hydraulic energy produced by an overrunning load acting on cylinders connected in parallel to a machine component. In one mode, fluid from first chambers in both cylinders is routed into the accumulator, while other fluid is directed into second chambers of those cylinders. In a different mode, fluid is routed from the first chamber of only one cylinder into the accumulator, and fluid from the first chamber of the other cylinder goes into the second chambers of both cylinders. Yet another mode comprises routing fluid from the first chambers of both cylinders into the second chambers of both cylinders. In still another mode, fluid from the first chambers of both cylinders goes into the return conduit while the second chambers of both cylinders receive fluid from a supply conduit. Several modes of reusing the recovered energy are described.

Energy recovery and reuse methods for a hydraulic system

A user input device is provided for a hydraulic system that has a source of pressurized fluid and a tank. The user input device includes a body with a supply passage for receiving the pressurized fluid, a tank passage for connection to the tank, and a first chamber. A handle is pivotally attached to the body and operates one or more valves within the body. In a preferred embodiment, the handle can be pivoted independently about two orthogonal axis with separate pairs of valves operated by movement about each axis. In response to the position of the handle, each valve connects a separate chamber alternately to either the supply passage or the tank passage and different pressure sensor produces an electrical signal indicating a level of pressure in the chamber of each valve. Thus an electrical signal is produced from each valve to indicate motion of the handle.

Hybrid hydraulic joystick with an integral pressure sensor and an outlet port

A hydraulic circuit controls flow of fluid between first and second ports of a hydraulic actuator, such as a cylinder/piston arrangement and each of a supply conduit and a tank return conduit. The hydraulic circuit operates in standard powered operating modes as well as powered and unpowered regeneration modes. In a powered operating mode, a conventional pressure compensated spool valve determines the velocity of the hydraulic actuator. A workport blocking valve connects one workport of the spool valve to the first port and the other workport is connected to the second port. A regeneration shunt valve is directly connected between the first and second ports of the hydraulic actuator. In a regeneration operating mode or a mix of powered and regeneration modes, a combination of the spool valve, the workport blocking valve, and the regeneration shunt valve determines the velocity of the hydraulic actuator.

Hydraulic valve assembly with a pressure compensated directional spool valve and a regeneration shunt valve

A hydraulic system provides failure protection by incorporating an isolator adjacent a hydraulic actuator. The isolator has a first port connected to the hydraulic actuator and a second port with an electrically operated isolation valve connected between those ports. A pressure relief valve responds when pressure in the hydraulic actuator exceeds a given level by relieving pressure thereby enabling the isolation valve to open without application of electricity and release the pressure in the hydraulic actuator. A control valve assembly is remote from the hydraulic actuator and connected to the second port for metering flow of fluid between a source and the hydraulic actuator.

Hydraulic system with a cylinder isolation valve

A pilot operated valve has a main poppet that selectively controls flow of fluid between first and second ports in response to pressure in a control chamber on one side of the main poppet. The main poppet has an aperture extending between the control chamber and the first port. A pilot piston slides within the aperture and has the pilot passage with a pilot orifice and a first disk spring biases the pilot piston with respect to the main poppet. A pilot valve element selectively engages the pilot orifice to open and close the pilot passage and thereby controls motion of the main poppet. Forces from the first disk spring and a pressure differential between control and pilot chambers alter a position of the pilot valve seat with respect to the main poppet. The change in position compensates for effects on valve operation due to variation of the pressure at the two ports.

Pilot operated valve with a pressure balanced poppet

A distributed hydraulic system locates a control assembly, that has electrohydraulic valves and a electronic controller, adjacent the respective hydraulically powered actuator controlled by that assembly. The control assembly includes a manifold block with ports to that the pump, tank return and actuator fluid conduits connect. One or more pressure ports are provided on the manifold block at which to sense pressure at different locations therein. A controller housing, in addition to containing an electronic function controller, also contains a separate pressure sensor for each pressure port, and is mounted against the manifold block so that each pressure sensor connects to a pressure port. The manifold block also has a pair of exterior walls that extend on opposites sides of the controller housing to protect the electronic controller. Other features that facilitate distributing the hydraulic control adjacent the actuators are provided.

Integrated valve assembly and computer controller for a distributed hydraulic control system

Hydraulic valve manifold block

Electronic controller and hydraulic valve block assembly

A pair of hydraulic cylinderswhich are coupled to a driven member, placed parallel to each other and extend/contract in synchronization with each other, and a control valvewhich controls hydraulic fluid supplied to or discharged from the hydraulic cylinderare provided. An elastic support mechanismwhich supports the control valveto each hydraulic cylinder between the paired hydraulic cylinders; metallic pipingand the metallic pipingwhich connect the control valvewith the respective hydraulic cylindersand leads the hydraulic fluid controlled by the controlling valve; and curved portionswhich are provided at some midpoints of the piping and flexibly deform in accordance with relative deformation of each hydraulic cylinderare provided. A difference in relative displacement of each hydraulic cylinder with respect to the control valveis absorbed by deformation produced in the elastic support mechanismand the curved portions.

Hydraulic cylinder device

A system for simultaneously operating first and second hydraulic cylinders has an inlet node for connection to a source of pressurized fluid and an outlet node for connection to a tank. A two-position, three-way primary control valve has a first port connected to the inlet node, a second port connected to the outlet node, and a common port. A first electrohydraulic proportional valve connects the common port to a first port of the first cylinder, and a second electrohydraulic proportional valve connects the common port to a first port of the second cylinder. A third electrohydraulic proportional valve connects the inlet node to a second port of the first cylinder and a second port of the second cylinder. Selectively operating the primary control valve and one of the third and fourth electrohydraulic proportional valves determines the direction in which the first and second cylinders move. Operation of the first and second electrohydraulic proportional valves meters hydraulic fluid to or from the first and second cylinders to control the rate of that movement.

Hydraulic control circuit for operating a split actuator mechanical mechanism

When a swinging boom driven by a hydraulic cylinder stops, inertia causes continued motion of the boom which increases pressure in a chamber of the hydraulic cylinder. Eventually that pressure reaches a level which causes the boom to reverse direction. Then pressure in an opposite cylinder chamber increases until reaching a level that causes the boom movement to reverse again. This oscillation continues until the motion is dampened by other forces acting on the boom. As a result, an operator has difficulty in properly positioning the boom. To reduce this oscillating effect, a sensor detects when the cylinder chamber pressure increases above a given magnitude and then a determination is made when the rate of change of that pressure is less than a defined threshold. Upon that occurrence, a control value is opened to relieve the pressure in that cylinder chamber.

Apparatus for controlling bounce of hydraulically powered equipment

Growing community of inventors

Savage, MN, United States of America

Dwight B Stephenson