Eaton Corporation

Other

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Wade Leo Gehlhoff

QingHui Yuan

Chris William Schottler

Michael Berne Rannow

Vishal Vijay Mahulkar

Hong Yang Singhania

Robin Francis Ireton

Nathan Harold French

Christy William Schottler

John Michael Cadman

Leif Pedersen

Christian Fagerlund

Kyle William Schroeder

Christopher William Schottler

Jerry Faye Carlin

Kishore Balasubramanian

Vishal Mahulkar

Christoph William Schottler

Chris M Schottler

Christ W Schottler

The present disclosure relates to fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration schemes, architectures and methods for use in electrohydraulic actuation systems for construction equipment. In one embodiment, a supervisory controller adapted to interface with a main controller of the construction vehicle is provided. A plurality of control nodes that interface with the supervisory controller are also disclosed, each of which includes pressure and position sensors. The nodes also include a first actuator control node for controlling operation of a first hydraulic actuator, a second actuator control node for controlling operation of a second hydraulic actuator, and a pump control node. The control system has an architecture in which faults are detected and isolated at the supervisory controller level and, where possible, within each of the control nodes at a sensor level, a component level, and a subsystem level.

Fault detection, isolation and reconfiguration systems and methods for controlling electrohydraulic systems used in construction equipment

A hydraulic system is adapted to recover potential and kinetic energy of a work attachment of a work machine. A valve arrangement may configure the hydraulic system in various modes. The hydraulic system may provide suspension and/or actuation for the work attachment. The energy of the work attachment may move a rod of a first cylinder. The rod may pressurize fluid within the first cylinder. The pressurized fluid may flow from the first cylinder through a valve and into an accumulator. The first cylinder may amplify pressure of the fluid. The pressurized fluid in the accumulator may actuate the first cylinder. The movement of the rod of the first cylinder may cause simultaneous actuation of a second cylinder. A controller may monitor pressures and positions of components of the hydraulic system and control the valve arrangement.

Hydraulic system for energy regeneration in a work machine such as a wheel loader

A hydraulic circuit for lifting and lowering a load is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may include a hydraulic pump, a fluid reservoir, a load-sense valve, and a hydraulic actuator having a first chamber and a second chamber. The hydraulic circuit may also include a first control valve assembly having first and second lowering positions, the valve being disposed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic actuator. A second control valve assembly may also be provided that is disposed between the first control valve assembly and the first chamber of the hydraulic actuator. In one embodiment, the second control valve assembly has a first position and a second position. In one embodiment, the load can be selectively lowered by the hydraulic circuit without use of the hydraulic pump when the first control valve assembly is in the first lowering position and the second control valve assembly is in the second position.

Load energy assist and horsepower management system

A flow control valve includes a housing that includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a first work port and a second work port. The housing defines a spool bore and a pilot spool bore. A main stage spool is disposed in the spool bore. A pilot stage spool is disposed in the pilot spool bore. The pilot stage spool is in selective fluid communication with the main stage spool. A microprocessor includes a controller having a restricted structured controller and a compensation controller. Outputs of the restricted structured controller and the compensation controller are summed to form an electrical signal that is communicated to the pilot stage spool.

Auto-tuning electro-hydraulic valve

A steering system includes a fluid pump and an electro-hydraulic steering circuit in selective fluid communication with the fluid pump. The electro-hydraulic steering circuit defines a first flow path having a first proportional valve and a first load-sense passage in selective communication with the first proportional valve. The first proportional valve includes a closed position. A hydrostatic steering circuit is in selective fluid communication with the fluid pump and defines a second flow path having a second proportional valve and a second load-sense passage in selective fluid communication with the second proportional valve. The second flow path is in a parallel flow configuration with the first flow path. An isolation valve is disposed in the first flow path in series with the first proportional valve. The isolation valve includes a closed position and is piloted to the closed position by fluid communicated through the second load-sense passage.

Control valve assembly for electro-hydraulic steering system

A method for operating a hydraulic actuation system during a pressure sensor malfunction is provided. The hydraulic actuation system includes a pump, a reservoir, a first work-port and a second work-port, a valve system with individual orifices, a pressure sensor system, and a controller for regulating the hydraulic actuation system based on fluid flow demand and on determined pressure differences. The method includes detecting a malfunction of a pressure sensor for the first work-port, closing second and third orifices, and regulating the pump to generate fluid flow corresponding to maximum pressure generated by the pump. The method also includes assigning a value for the difference between pump pressure and the pressure of the subject work-port that is equivalent to a value within an attainable range for difference between the two pressures. Furthermore, the method includes regulating a first orifice and a fourth orifice in response to the fluid flow demand.

Method for operating a hydraulic actuation power system experiencing pressure sensor faults

A valve assembly includes a valve housing defining a service passage, a first bore in fluid communication with the service passage, a first passage, a second bore in communication with the service passage and a second passage. The first bore has an inlet portion, a first service portion in communication with the service passage, and a first load holding portion. The first passage is in communication with the first load holding portion and the service passage. The second bore has a return portion, a second service portion in fluid communication with the first service passage, and a second load holding portion. The second passage is in selective communication with the second load holding portion of the second bore and the return passage. A valve is disposed in the second passage. The valve allows fluid to flow only in a direction from the second load holding portion to the return passage.

Proportional valve assembly

A method of limiting jerk in a hydraulic system of a machine includes defining a maximum pressure rate. An output pressure of a hydraulic fluid is continuously measured over time from a work port of a hydraulic valve to determine an output pressure rate. The measured output pressure rate is compared to the maximum pressure rate. A requested flow rate is adjusted when the measured output pressure rate is greater than the maximum pressure rate to decrease the pressure differential generated in response to changing the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid through the valve, which thereby limits a change in acceleration or deceleration of the hydraulic system to limit felt jerk in the machine.

Configurable active jerk control

A steering system includes a fluid actuator, a first steering circuit in selective fluid communication with the fluid actuator, and a second steering circuit in selective fluid communication with the fluid actuator and disposed in parallel to the first steering circuit. The second steering circuit includes a load-reaction feature and an isolation valve with the isolation valve being adapted to enable and disable the load-reaction feature.

Isolation valve for a load-reaction steering system

A method for resetting a calibration of a sensor operating out-of-range in a hydraulic actuation system is provided. The hydraulic actuation system includes a pump, a reservoir, a plurality of work-ports, a plurality of sensors, and a valve system, and a controller for regulating the hydraulic actuation system based on fluid flow demand and sensed pressures. The method includes detecting the sensor operating out-of-range, opening all work-ports to the reservoir, resetting all sensors to reservoir pressure, supplying all sensors with fluid at maximum pump pressure, and sensing the maximum pump pressure at each sensor. Additionally, the method includes determining an average pressure value across all sensors, assigning the determined average pressure value to the sensor that is operating out-of-range, and resetting the calibration of the sensor that is operating out-of-range based on the reservoir pressure and the average pressure values.

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Shakopee, MN, United States of America

Wade Leo Gehlhoff