Hydraulic warming system for use in low ambient temperature applications

Abstract

A hydraulic warming system for low ambient temperature (0° to −65° F.) operation includes a hydraulic motor integrated in a valve manifold and driven by a two-stage jet pipe flow control electro-hydraulic servovalve mounted on the valve manifold in proximity thereof via a multi-port lapped spool-sleeve bypass-shutoff valve having a pre-loaded return spring. The spool is driven by a solenoid valve mounted on the valve manifold and coupled to the bypass-shutoff valve thereto between a first position and a second position. The first position utilizes the warmed low flow rate hydraulic leakage fluid from the servovalve to provide continuous warming of the internal rotating components of the hydraulic motor when the hydraulic motor is not operational. The second position includes diverting the warmed low flow rate hydraulic leakage fluid from the servovalve directly to hydraulic system return bypassing the internal rotating components of the hydraulic motor when the hydraulic motor is operational. In both positions, the servovalve is constantly pressurized from a hydraulic system supply source. The hydraulic motor is provided with a warming fluid inlet port in the ball bearing region of the motor which continuously receives warmed low flow rate leakage fluid from the servovalve when the bypass-shutoff valve is in first position. The warming fluid is returned to hydraulic system return via the case drain return port of the motor.