Artemis Intelligent Power Limited

Danfoss Power Solutions Aps

Sauer Danfoss Aps

Pierre Joly

Niall James Caldwell

William Hugh Salvin Rampen

Michael Richard Fielding

Stephen Michael Laird

Uwe Bernhard Pascal Stein

Michael D Gandrud

Daniil Sergeevich Dumnov

Onno Kuttler

Luke Wadsley

Uwe Bernhard Pascall Stein

Stephen Hugh Salter

A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets, each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads. A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets connected to one or more of the loads is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.

Fluid power distribution and control system

A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets (), each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads (). A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets () connected to one or more of the loads () is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.

A fluid-working machine has a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, high and low pressure manifolds, and high and low pressure valves for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high and low pressure manifolds respectively. A controller actively controls at least one said valve to determine the net displacement of working fluid of the working chamber on a cycle by cycle basis. At least one said valve is a variable timing valve and the controller causes the valve to open or close at a time determined taking into account one or more properties of the performance of the fluid working machine measured during an earlier cycle of working chamber volume.

Fluid-working machine valve timing

The present invention relates to a method of operating a fluid-working machine wherein the volume of working fluid displaced each cycle is selectable and wherein the volume of working fluid displaced by a first working chamber takes into account the suitability of the working chamber to displace fluid. The invention extends in further aspects to power absorbing structures such as renewable energy devices comprising such fluid working machines. The invention allows the operation of fluid working machines and power absorbing structures which are more long lived.

Fluid-working machine and method of operating a fluid-working machine

In open-circuit hydraulic systems (), the cross-sections of the supply lines () and input valves of the hydraulic pump () have to be large, so that sufficient flow flux can be provided. This hinders a reduction of the size of the pump and the whole hydraulic system. It is suggested that the supply flow () of a hydraulic pump () is charged by a second, charging pump (), to a mid-pressure level (). The cross-sections of the supply flow areas can thus be decreased.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Pierre Joly