Caterpillar Inc.

Gang Victor Wen

Pengfei Ma

Jiao Zhang

Tonglin Shang

Dayao Chen

Moses Imo Akpan

Bryan Edward Nelson

Steven Edward Johnson

Bryan Jacob Hillman

Sudarshan Maiyur

Travis Neale Richards

Dwanz Mwalimu Mwasi

Vickram Murugesan

Nathanael Garnet McRostie

Matthew David Roley

A hydraulic system is provided for a steering system of a vehicle. The hydraulic system includes a pump that supplies pressurized fluid during an operation of the steering system. The hydraulic system also includes an accumulator that is in independent and selective communication with each of the pump and the steering system. When the pump is in the operational state to support the operation of the steering system, some of the fluid may be routed into the accumulator and stored in the accumulator for later use. In the event of failure of the pump when the steering system is in operation, the accumulator provides the required amount of fluid to continue operation of the steering system until charge in the accumulator depletes to a value that is no longer sufficient to support operation of the steering system.

Hydraulic system for a steering system of a vehicle

A hydraulic circuit includes: a priority valve including a first position and a second position where: the first position includes a first fluid passage and a fixed bypass orifice connected to the first fluid passage; the second position includes a second fluid passage and a variable bypass orifice connected to the second fluid passage. The hydraulic circuit further includes: a first fluid line fluidly connecting the priority valve and a first machine component; a second fluid line fluidly connecting the priority valve and a second machine component; a check valve placed between the priority valve and the second machine component and fluidly connecting the priority valve and the second machine component; an oil passage on the priority valve fluidly connected to one or more machine components other than the first and second machine components; one or more actuators connected to the priority valve; and a control valve communicatively connected to the one or more actuators connected to the priority valve.

Brake charge valve with set minimum fixed hydro-mechanical pressure by-pass function

A main valve and method assembling for use on a machine is disclosed. The main valve may comprise a body, a free wheeling valve, a bypass valve, a flow divider valve, a free wheeling pilot valve, and a flow divider bypass pilot control valve. Each valve may be disposed inside the body. The body may define a plurality of ports and channels between the valves. The free wheeling valve may be operable between a free wheeling mode and a drive assist mode. The bypass valve may have a flow dividing mode that permits fluid communication between the free wheeling valve and the flow divider valve, and a bypass mode that permits fluid communication between the free wheeling valve and first and second bypass channels.

Flow divider free wheeling valve

An energy recovery system is disclosed for use with a hydraulic machine. The energy recovery system may have a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, an actuator, and an actuator control valve movable to direct pressurized fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator. The energy recovery system may also have a motor mechanically connected to a rotary device and configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the actuator, and at least one valve movable to selectively redirect fluid exiting the motor back to the actuator.

Energy recovery system for hydraulic machine

An energy recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The energy recovery system may have a boom circuit with at least a one linear actuator configured to move a work tool, and a boom accumulator configured to selectively collect pressurized fluid from the at least one linear actuator and to discharge pressurized fluid back to the at least one linear actuator. The energy recovery system may also have a swing circuit with a swing motor configured to move the work tool, and a swing accumulator configured to selectively collect pressurized fluid from the swing motor and discharge pressurized fluid back to the swing motor. The energy recovery system may further have a common accumulator passage fluidly connecting the boom accumulator and the swing accumulator.

Energy recovery system having integrated boom/swing circuits

A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator, a pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator. The first accumulator is configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system also includes a motor drivingly connected to the pump and fluidly connected to the first accumulator. The motor is configured to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the pump. The hydraulic system further includes a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator. The first discharge valve is configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the pump.

Electro-hydraulic system for recovering and reusing potential energy

A method and system for accumulating and using recovered hydraulic energy that includes a hydraulic actuator and a pump configured to supply pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator. An energy recovery system includes a hydraulic motor, a charge valve and an accumulator configured to store fluid from the hydraulic actuator. The charge valve is operatively connected between the hydraulic actuator and the accumulator and between the accumulator and the hydraulic motor and is configured to place the hydraulic actuator in fluid communication with the accumulator and to place the accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor. A directional valve is operatively connected between the pump and the hydraulic actuator. The directional valve is configured to place the pump in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator and to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid exiting the hydraulic actuator to the charge valve in an energy recovery mode.

Energy recovery hydraulic system

Hydraulic unit adapted for connection to master and slave actuator system includes three valves, the first configured for selective fluid passage between the cap ends, the second configured for selective fluid passage between the slave cap end and an accumulator, and the third fluidly coupled for selective fluid passage between each of a single pump and the accumulator, and the slave cap end. During actuator retraction, the valves permit pressurized fluid in the slave cap end to be delivered to accumulator for storage; during extension, the valves permit pressurized fluid from pump and accumulator to be delivered to the slave cap end.

Hydraulic system and control logic for collection and recovery of energy in a double actuator arrangement

A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a pump, a tank, and an actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have at least a first valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the tank, a first chamber of the actuator, and a second chamber of the actuator; a second valve fluidly disposed between the second chamber and the tank; and a third valve fluidly disposed between the first and second chambers. The hydraulic control system may further have a controller configured to selectively cause the second valve to block fluid flow from the second chamber of the actuator to the tank, and to selectively cause the third valve to fluidly communicate the first and second chambers of the actuator when the second valve blocks fluid flow from the second chamber of the actuator to the tank.

Growing community of inventors

Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Gang Victor Wen