Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130000094 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING ENERGY RECOVERY KIT - An energy recovery retrofit kit for a hydraulic control system is disclosed. The energy recover retrofit kit may have a first accumulator and a second accumulator. The energy recover retrofit kit may also have a recovery valve block fluidly connectable between an existing pump and an existing motor of the hydraulic system. The recovery valve block may be configured to selectively fluidly communicate the first and second accumulators with the existing motor. | 01-03-2013 |
20130000290 | ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM HAVING ACCUMULATOR AND VARIABLE RELIEF - A swing energy recovery system for a machine is disclosed. The swing energy recovery system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a motor driven by a flow of pressurized fluid from the pump, and an energy recovery arrangement configured to receive pressurized fluid discharged from the motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the motor. The swing energy recovery system may also have a pressure relief valve associated with the motor, and a controller in communication with the energy recovery arrangement and the pressure relief valve. The controller may be configured to selectively adjust a setting of the pressure relief valve based on an operating condition of the energy recovery arrangement. | 01-03-2013 |
20130004278 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING SWING ENERGY RECOVERY - A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, and a motor driven by a flow of pressurized fluid from the pump. The hydraulic control system may also have a first accumulator configured to receive pressurized fluid discharged from the motor and to selectively supply pressurized fluid to the motor, and a second accumulator configured to receive pressurized fluid discharged from the motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the motor. | 01-03-2013 |
20130025271 | Method and arrangement for active make-up in an overrunning actuator - A hydraulic system having an actuator having a piston and associated rod forming head and rod chambers and being adapted to move between retracted and extended positions within a cylinder, and first and second sources of fluid. A first pump provides fluid from the first source to the head chamber at a first pressure. At least one valve provides fluid from the second source at a second pressure to supplement fluid provided to the head chamber from the first pump when the second pressure is greater than the first pressure. | 01-31-2013 |
20130247999 | HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR PRE-CHARGE PRESSURE DETECTION - A system including a hydraulic accumulator, a pressure sensor, a fluid source and a data processor to detect a pre-charge pressure is provided. The hydraulic accumulator includes first and second fluid chambers and a separator therebetween. The hydraulic accumulator has an associated pre-charge pressure. The pressure sensor is connected to the first fluid chamber. The data processor is connected to the pressure sensor. The data processor is configured to determine a first and second rate of pressure changes, and a transition pressure between the first and second rates. The approximate pre-charge pressure is determined based on the transition pressure. | 09-26-2013 |
20130253854 | HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR HEALTH DIAGNOSIS - A system to diagnose a health of a hydraulic accumulator is provided. The hydraulic accumulator includes a first fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber, and a separator. The hydraulic accumulator has an associated pre-charge pressure. The system further includes a pressure sensor, a fluid source, a data processor, and a comparator. The pressure sensor and the fluid source are connected to the first fluid chamber. The data processor is configured to determine a first and second rate of pressure changes, and a transition pressure between the first and second rates. The approximate pre-charge pressure is determined based on the transition pressure. The comparator is configured to compare at least one of the determined pre charge pressure and the frictional forces with a pre-determined threshold range of pre-charge pressure and the frictional forces associated with the hydraulic accumulator to diagnose the health of the hydraulic accumulator. | 09-26-2013 |
20130318955 | ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FOR RECOVERING AND REUSING POTENTIAL ENERGY - 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. | 12-05-2013 |
20140060018 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM - A hydraulic control system includes an implement movable to perform an excavation cycle having a plurality of segments, a variable displacement motor configured to swing the implement at a desired speed during the excavation cycle, and a pump configured to pressurize fluid directed to drive the motor. The system further includes an accumulator configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the motor via a charge valve, and to discharge fluid to the motor via a discharge valve. The system includes a selector valve fluidly connected to the charge valve and the discharge valve. The system also includes a controller configured to vary displacement of the motor, resulting in the desired speed. | 03-06-2014 |
20140060023 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING SWING MOTOR ENERGY RECOVERY - A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use in a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a work tool, a motor configured to swing the work tool, a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, and a control valve operable to control fluid flow from the pump to the motor and from the motor to the tank via first and second chamber passages to affect motion of the motor. The hydraulic control system may also have an accumulator, and an accumulator circuit configured to selectively direct fluid discharged from the motor to the accumulator for storage and to direct stored fluid from the accumulator to the motor to assist the motor. The hydraulic control system may further have a selector valve configured to selectively connect a higher pressure one of the first and second chamber passages with the accumulator, and a single pressure relief valve disposed within the accumulator circuit and configured to relief pressure from opposing sides of the motor. | 03-06-2014 |
20140060024 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING SWING MOTOR RECOVERY - A hydraulic control system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic control system may have a tank, a pump, a swing motor, and at least one control valve configured to control fluid flow between the pump, the swing motor, and the tank. The hydraulic system may also have an accumulator configured to selectively receive pressurized fluid discharged from the swing motor and selectively supply pressurized fluid to the swing motor, at least one accumulator valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive input indicative of a difference between desired and actual speeds of the swing motor, and determine if the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating based on the difference. The controller may also be configured to control the at least one accumulator valve to cause the accumulator to selectively receive or supply pressurized fluid only when the swing motor is accelerating or decelerating. | 03-06-2014 |
20140060030 | HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR HEALTH MONITOR - A system and method to diagnose the operational health of a hydraulic accumulator are provided. The system can include a hydraulic accumulator selectively coupled to a hydraulic actuator, such as a swing motor. The accumulator can be charged by movement of the actuator. A pressure sensor can be associated with the accumulator to determine an accumulator pressure. A controller can be connected to the pressure sensor. The controller can determine a charge curve based on a relationship between an actuator operational parameter associated with the actuator movement and the accumulator pressure. The controller can compare the charge curve to a previously defined charge curve or range to determine an error between the charge curve and the previously defined charge curve or range. The degree of the error can be associated with the operational health of the accumulator, and if too large, the operator may be notified of the status. | 03-06-2014 |
20140150415 | Energy Recovery Hydraulic System - 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. | 06-05-2014 |
20140208728 | Method and Hydraulic Control System Having Swing Motor Energy Recovery - A hydraulic control system includes a swing control valve between a pump and a swing motor to control flow to/from the swing motor, and a selector valve between an accumulator and the swing motor to regulate fluid flow. A controller is configured to receive inputs indicative of the pressure differential between the accumulator and conduit between the pump and swing motor, and a swing motor command, calculate a target swing motor flow based on the swing motor command input, and modulate operation of the swing control valve and the selector valve to regulate a swing speed. | 07-31-2014 |
20140230420 | ENERGY RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR HYDRAULIC MACHINE - 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. | 08-21-2014 |
20140283915 | Hydraulic Control System Having Relief Flow Capture - A hydraulic circuit may be provided. The circuit may include: a pump to supply pressurized fluid to a circuit; a supply passageway coupled between the pump and the circuit; a relief flow passageway coupled between the supply passageway and a fluid reservoir; a relief flow capture circuit coupled to the relief flow passageway, the relief flow capture circuit including: a first valve configured to move from a closed position to an open position when a first pressure is detected; a second valve in fluid communication with the first valve, the second valve configured to move from a closed position to an open position when a second pressure is detected wherein the second pressure is lower than the first pressure; and an accumulator located between the first and second valves and in fluid communication with both the first and second valves, the accumulator configured to store fluid flowing through the first valve when the first pressure valve is in an open position, the accumulator further configured to outflow fluid through the second valve when the second valve is in an open position. | 09-25-2014 |
20140325972 | Hydraulic Hybrid Boom System Hydraulic Transformer - A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator, an accumulator, an accumulator charge valve, and a hydraulic transformer fluidly connected between the accumulator charge valve and the accumulator. The hydraulic transformer includes a transformer motor mechanically coupled to a transformer pump. The accumulator charge valve is fluidly connected between the transformer motor and the hydraulic actuator. The transformer pump is sized to permit a maximum flow therethrough of no more than three-quarters of a flow permitted through the transformer motor. | 11-06-2014 |
20150075147 | HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MACHINE - A hydraulic control system for a machine is disclosed. The hydraulic control system includes a pump configured to pressurize a fluid, and a swing motor selectively driven by pressurized fluid from the pump. The swing motor is configured to move a part of the machine. The hydraulic control system also includes a controller in communication with the pump. The controller is configured to receive an input indicative of a difference between a desired speed and an actual speed of the swing motor, and determine if the swing motor is accelerating, decelerating, or operating at neutral mode. The controller is configured to determine an amount of return fluid from an actuator of the machine that is available as makeup fluid for the swing motor if the swing motor is operating at neutral mode. The controller is configured to control the pump based on at least the amount of return fluid. | 03-19-2015 |