Control circuit and control method for boom energy regeneration

• US 10,174,484 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2014
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HD Hyundai Infracore Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Doosan Infracore Company Limited
• Inventors: Joo, Choon Shik
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US15/103,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20160312444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/20 for non-electric drives transmitting control pulses B66C13/40
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/435 for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/027 having accumulator charging devices
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/04 Accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/024 by means of differential connection of the servomotor lines, e.g. regenerative circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/08 with only one servomotor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/044 operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/2053 Type of pump
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3058 having additional valves for interconnecting the fluid chambers of a double-acting actuator, e.g. for regeneration mode or for floating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/70 Output members, e.g. hydraulic motors or cylinders or control therefor

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a control circuit and a control method for boom energy regeneration, and the control circuit for boom energy regeneration includes: a control unit which controls a discharge amount control valve, such that the amount of oil, which is discharged from a head of a boom cylinder, is supplied to a regeneration device or a rod of the boom cylinder through a hydraulic regeneration line, and when the regeneration device has an abnormality, the amount of oil, which is discharged from the head of the boom cylinder, is supplied to the main control valve through a hydraulic discharge line.

Claims

1. A control circuit for boom energy regeneration, comprising:

a boom cylinder configured to operate a boom of a construction machine;

a regeneration device configured to regenerate energy of the boom cylinder;

a hydraulic regeneration line configured to connect the boom cylinder and the regeneration device;

a discharge amount control valve provided on the hydraulic regeneration line;

a hydraulic discharge line branching off from the hydraulic regeneration line at a front of the discharge amount control valve and is connected to a main control valve; and

a control unit configured to control the discharge amount control valve, such that an amount of oil discharged from a head of the boom cylinder is supplied to the regeneration device or a rod of the boom cylinder through the hydraulic regeneration line, and when the regeneration device has an abnormality, the amount of oil discharged from the head of the boom cylinder is supplied to the main control valve through the hydraulic discharge line,

wherein the regeneration device includes;

a hydraulic motor connected to a driving shaft of an engine, wherein the hydraulic motor is configured to provide a rotational force to a hydraulic pump; and

an accumulator configured to accumulate the amount of oil discharged from the head of the boom cylinder or an amount of oil discharged from the hydraulic motor,

wherein one end of the hydraulic regeneration line is connected to the head of the boom cylinder, and the other end of the hydraulic regeneration line is diverged to be connected to the hydraulic motor and the accumulator, respectively.

2. The control circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a first EPPR valve configured to control an opening degree of the discharge amount control valve by producing pressure in accordance with a magnitude of voltage applied from the control unit.

3. The control circuit of claim 2, further comprising:

a check valve provided on the hydraulic regeneration line so as to be disposed at a front of a branching point of the hydraulic discharge line.

4. The control circuit of claim 3, wherein an opening degree of the check valve is controlled by the first EPPR valve which produces pressure in accordance with a magnitude of voltage applied from the control unit.

5. The control circuit of claim 4, wherein the first EPPR valve is configured to:

open both of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve when pressure of a pressure value or higher which is predetermined by the control unit is produced; and

open only the check valve when pressure below the predetermined pressure value is produced.

6. The control circuit of claim 3, further comprising:

a second EPPR valve provided between the check valve and the control unit, wherein the second EPPR valve is configured to control an opening degree of the check valve by producing pressure in accordance with a magnitude of voltage applied from the control unit.

7. The control circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a bypass valve provided between the main control valve and an operating unit for manipulating the boom,

wherein the bypass valve blocks control pressure generated by the operating unit, and when the regeneration device has an abnormality, the bypass valve transmits control pressure generated by the operating unit to the main control valve.

8. The control circuit of claim 7, wherein the control unit controls whether to shut off the bypass valve.

9. A control method for boom energy regeneration, comprising:

determining whether an accumulator and a hydraulic motor, which regenerate energy of a boom cylinder for operating a boom of a construction machine, are normally operated, wherein the hydraulic motor is connected to a driving shaft of an engine and is configured to provide a rotational force to a hydraulic pump, and the accumulator is connected to a head of the boom cylinder and the hydraulic motor through a hydraulic regeneration line to accumulate an amount of oil discharged from the head of the boom cylinder or an amount of oil discharged from the hydraulic motor; and

controlling a bypass valve provided between a main control valve and an operating unit for manipulating the boom so as to transmit control pressure generated by the operating unit to the main control valve, and to supply the main control valve with the amount of oil discharged from the head of the boom cylinder at the same time as an operation of lowering the boom, when it is determined that at least one of the accumulator and the hydraulic motor is erroneously operated.

10. The control method of claim 9, wherein when it is determined that both of the accumulator and the hydraulic motor are normally operated, the bypass valve blocks control pressure generated by the operating unit and supplies the accumulator and the hydraulic motor with the amount of oil discharged from the head of the boom cylinder.

11. The control method of claim 10, wherein when the amount of oil, which is discharged from the head of the boom cylinder, is supplied to the accumulator and the hydraulic motor, a discharge amount control valve, which is provided on a hydraulic regeneration line that connects the accumulator and the hydraulic motor with the boom cylinder, is opened, such that the amount of oil is supplied to the accumulator and the hydraulic motor through the hydraulic regeneration line.

12. The control method of claim 10, wherein when the amount of oil, which is discharged from the head of the boom cylinder, is supplied to the accumulator and the hydraulic motor, both of a check valve and a discharge amount control valve, which are provided on a hydraulic regeneration line that connects the accumulator and the hydraulic motor with the boom cylinder, are opened, such that the amount of oil is supplied to the accumulator and the hydraulic motor through the hydraulic regeneration line.

13. The control method of claim 12, wherein opening degrees of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve are controlled by a first EPPR valve, and the first EPPR valve opens both of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve when pressure of a predetermined pressure value or higher is produced, and opens only the check valve when pressure below the predetermined pressure value is produced.

14. The control method of claim 12, wherein opening degrees of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve are controlled by a first EPPR valve and a second EPPR valve, respectively.

15. The control method of claim 9, wherein when the amount of oil, which is discharged from the head of the boom cylinder, is supplied to the main control valve, a discharge amount control valve, which is provided on a hydraulic regeneration line that connects the accumulator and the hydraulic motor with the boom cylinder, is closed, such that the amount of oil is supplied to the main control valve through a hydraulic discharge line that branches off from the hydraulic regeneration line.

16. The control method of claim 9, wherein when the amount of oil, which is discharged from the head of the boom cylinder, is supplied to the main control valve, only a discharge amount control valve provided on a hydraulic regeneration line that connects the accumulator and the hydraulic motor with the boom cylinder, is closed while a check valve is open, such that the amount of oil is supplied to the main control valve through a hydraulic discharge line that branches off from the hydraulic regeneration line.

17. The control method of claim 16, wherein opening degrees of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve are controlled by a first EPPR valve, and the first EPPR valve opens both of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve when pressure of a predetermined pressure value or higher is produced, and opens only the check valve when pressure below the predetermined pressure value is produced.

18. The control method of claim 16, wherein opening degrees of the discharge amount control valve and the check valve are controlled by a first EPPR valve and a second EPPR valve, respectively.