Deere + Company

Kristen Dawn Cadman

Amy K Jones

Steve Gary Fleischmann

Elizabeth H Steenbergen

Richard Pugh

Lance Robert Sherlock

Nathan R Demski

Eric P Hamkins

Kevin W Campbell

Dennis Patrick Reiter

Daniel M Kassen

Lynn A Russell

Jeff Dobchuk

Daryl I Rober

Erik W McWethy

Brent M Hunold

Christopher R Edwards

Jaccob Bruce Eichinger

Mark J McCue

Cory D Wyand

Mark Schultz

Alexander J Nytko

A pilot hydraulic system may include a pilot pressure source, a pilot pressure return tank, a pilot valve, a pilot pressure supply line connecting the pilot pressure source to the pilot valve, and a pilot pressure return line connecting the pilot pressure return tank to the pilot valve. A main control valve may include a pilot chamber. A pilot pressure control line connects the pilot valve to the pilot chamber. A hydraulic sub-system is provided for modifying pilot pressure provided to the pilot chamber of the main control valve. The hydraulic sub-system may include a variable orifice valve disposed in the pilot pressure control line, a pilot pressure bypass line communicating the pilot pressure control line downstream of the variable orifice valve with the pilot pressure return line, and an electrohydraulic pressure reducing valve (EHPRV) disposed in the pilot pressure bypass line.

Manifold for reducing or generating pilot pressure for a pilot operated excavator

A propulsion control system includes a travel motor configured to be actuated to drive the track assembly in the forward and reverse travel directions; a propulsion control device actuated in first and second input directions; and a propulsion switching mechanism. In a first propulsion direction mode, when the control device is actuated in the first input direction, the travel motor is actuated to drive in the forward travel direction, and when the control device is actuated in the second input direction, the travel motor is actuated to drive in the reverse travel direction. In a second propulsion direction mode, when the control device is actuated in the first input direction, the travel motor is actuated to drive in the reverse travel direction, and when the control device is actuated in the second input direction, the travel motor is actuated to drive in the forward travel direction.

Work vehicle with switchable propulsion control system

A work vehicle including a chassis, a ground engaging implement configured to move the chassis along a ground surface, a boom connected to the chassis, an arm connected to the boom, and a bucket connected to the arm. A first actuator rotates the boom with respect to the chassis, second actuator rotates the arm with respect to the boom, and a third actuator rotates the bucket with respect to the arm. A processor calculates a first cycle time of operation of the first actuator, and analyzes if the calculated first cycle time is valid. If the first cycle time is valid, the processor communicates the calculated first cycle time to a user, and if the first cycle time is not valid, the processor repeats the calculation of the first cycle time of operation of the first actuator.

Cycle time calibration

An engine on an excavator provides power to a hydraulic pump that pumps hydraulic fluid under pressure to a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator is controlled to place a load on the engine. Engine response to the load placed on it by the hydraulic actuator is detected and logged. The logged engine response data can be accessed to identify engine response.

Excavator control for load delivery

A hydraulic fluid gage for measuring hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic tank of a work vehicle. The hydraulic fluid gage may include a body, a fluid connection (s), thermometer, and a range indicator. The body is used to receive the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic tank. The fluid connection is coupled between the body and the hydraulic tank to communicate hydraulic fluid. The range indicator includes a plurality of ranges of temperature, each of which aligns vertically relative to one another. The thermometer is positioned relative to the range indicator such that the temperature indicated by the thermometer corresponds to one of the ranges of temperature, each of the ranges of temperature corresponding to a recommended range of the hydraulic fluid volume in the hydraulic tank. As such, the gage allows a user to measure the hydraulic fluid volume in the hydraulic tank without the influence from different temperature.

Thermal adjusted hydraulic fluid gage

A work machine includes a mechanical arm and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the mechanical arm to move the arm between a first position and a second position. A valve is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator for supplying fluid to the hydraulic actuator. A pump is configured to discharge fluid to the valve. An engine is operatively connected to the pump. A coolant system is in thermal communication with the engine and includes a temperature sensor. A controller is in communication with the pump and the temperature sensor. The controller is configured to transmit a control signal to the pump to modify a flowrate of the pump and to adjust the flowrate of the pump in response to a signal from the temperature sensor that a temperature is at or above a set temperature value.

Temperature responsive hydraulic derate

A fluid power system includes an electro-hydraulic variable displacement fluid pump driving fluid at a first displacement value. The system further includes a directional control valve, a sensor, and a controller. The directional control valve includes a valve member movable between a neutral position and at least one actuated position. The directional control valve diverts at least some fluid to an actuator while the valve member is in an actuated position, and the directional control valve exhausts fluid at an exhaust pressure through an outlet port to the fluid reservoir while the valve member is in the neutral position. The sensor measures a difference between the exhaust pressure and a nominal pressure and generates a signal based on the measured difference. The controller generates a flow command at least partially based on the pressure signal to modify the operation of the pump to drive fluid at a second displacement value.

Electro-hydraulic system with negative flow control

A vehicle comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a hydraulic fluid pump, a hydraulic filter, a sensor, and a vehicle control unit. The hydraulic fluid reservoir may have a bottom portion filled with hydraulic fluid and a top portion filled with air. The hydraulic fluid pump may be hydraulically coupled to the hydraulic fluid reservoir so as to draw hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid reservoir. The hydraulic filter may be hydraulically coupled to the hydraulic fluid reservoir so as to filter debris from the hydraulic fluid entering the hydraulic fluid reservoir. The sensor may be in communication with the vehicle control unit where the sensor is configured to measure a variable indicative of a failure status of the hydraulic filter and communicate the variable to the vehicle control unit. The vehicle control unit may be configured to derate the hydraulic fluid pump to a first degree when the variable indicative of the failure status of the hydraulic filter is above a first threshold and configured to derate the hydraulic fluid pump to a second degree when the variable indicative of the failure status of the hydraulic filter is above a second threshold.

Apparatus and method for a hydraulic system

A hydraulic system is adapted to provide at least one of a fluid flow at a variable fluid pressure or a fluid flow at a variable fluid displacement. A pressure sensor measures a fluid pressure. A controller is in communication with the engine and the pressure sensor. Wherein, the controller sends an engine speed signal to operate the engine in an open state and controls the fluid displacement or the fluid pressure of the hydraulic system to a first load condition. Further wherein, the controller detects an engine speed and a fluid pressure of the hydraulic system with the pressure sensor when the engine is in the open state and the hydraulic system is in the first load condition. Further wherein, the controller operably calculates a total engine torque as a function of the detected engine speed and fluid pressure when the hydraulic system is in the first load condition.

In-vehicle dynometer

A ground engaging vehicle including a frame, an engine, a controller, an accelerator, a position sensor and an interpreter. The engine is supported by the frame and the engine includes a throttle. The controller is in communication with the engine. The position sensor is associated with the accelerator. The position sensor generates a first signal corresponding to a position of the accelerator. The interpreter receives the first signal from the position sensor and generates a second signal dependent upon the first signal. The interpreter communicates the second signal to the controller.

Engine control system

A hydraulic management system and method are provided that account for auxiliary work tool usage. The hydraulic management system automatically calculates an effective use time of a hydraulic element, such as a hydraulic fluid or hydraulic filters, by multiplying work tool usage by a desired gain factor, where the gain factor may exceed 1 for auxiliary work tools.

Hydraulic management system and method based on auxiliary work tool usage

A ground engaging vehicle including a frame, an engine connected to the frame, a controller, and a hydraulic system powered by the engine. The hydraulic system includes a plurality of actuators, a plurality of valves, and at least one sensor. The plurality of valves include a first valve associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of actuators. Each of the plurality of valves is operatively connected to the controller. The at least one sensor is adapted to send a signal to the controller indicating a hydraulic connectivity through the first valve. The controller is adapted to open the first valve allowing hydraulic fluid to pressurize a first actuator until the first actuator is driven to an end of its stroke. The controller is further adapted to close the valve and send an increasing current to the valve. The at least one sensor detects a hydraulic connectivity through the valve and the controller is adapted to establish a threshold current value as the value of the increasing current when the at least one sensor detects the hydraulic connectivity through the valve.

Hydraulic system calibration method and apparatus

A vehicle with a load sensing hydraulic control system is disclosed.

Differential pressure control

A method for controlling a hydraulic system includes receiving an operator command signal via an operator command input device; receiving a throttle position signal from a throttle; retrieving from a memory a first predetermined correlation between the operator command signal and a corresponding command flow rate; retrieving from the memory a second predetermined correlation between the throttle position signal and a corresponding available flow rate from a hydraulic pump; determining the command flow rate based on the first predetermined correlation and the operator command signal; determining the available flow rate based on the second predetermined correlation and the throttle position signal; and providing a control signal based on the available flow rate and the command flow rate.

Growing community of inventors

Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Kristen Dawn Cadman