HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

• US 20090165450A1
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Cherney, Mark J., Dobchuk, Jeffery W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,827,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/413
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2203 Arrangements for controlling the attitude of actuators, e.g. speed, floating function
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2221 Control of flow rate; Load sensing arrangements E02F9/2203 take precedence over E02F9/2221
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20515 Electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20538 constant capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20546 variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20569 capable of working as pump and motor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20576 with multiple pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30575 in a Wheatstone Bridge arrangement (also half bridges)
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3144 the positions being continuously variable, e.g. as realised by proportional valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/615 Filtering means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/62 Cooling or heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6313 the pressure being a load pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6336 representing a state of the output member, e.g. position, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/88 Control measures for saving energy

Abstract

A ground engaging vehicle including a movable member, a hydraulically driven actuator, a hydraulic pump, a plurality of valves and at least one hydraulic conduit. The hydraulically driven actuator is coupled to the movable member and the actuator has a first chamber and a second chamber. The plurality of non-proportional valves include a first valve, a second valve, a third valve and a fourth valve. The at least one hydraulic conduit couples the pump with the first valve and the second valve. The first valve is in direct fluid communication with the first chamber. The second valve is in direct fluid communication with the second chamber. The third valve is in direct fluid communication with the first chamber and the fourth valve is in direct fluid communication with the second chamber. The first valve and the second valve each include an open position and a closed position.

Claims

1. A ground engaging vehicle, comprising:

a movable member;

a hydraulically driven actuator coupled to said movable member, said actuator including a first chamber and a second chamber;

a hydraulic pump;

a plurality of non-proportional valves including a first valve, a second valve, a third valve and a fourth valve; and

at least one hydraulic conduit coupling said pump with said first valve and said second valve, said first valve being in direct fluid communication with said first chamber, said second valve being in direct fluid communication with said second chamber, said third valve being in direct fluid communication with said first chamber, said fourth valve being in direct fluid communication with said second chamber, said first valve and said second valve each including an open position and a closed position.

2. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 1, wherein said hydraulic pump is driven at a selected speed to provide a metered fluid flow in said at least one hydraulic conduit.

3. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 2, wherein every said valve in said fluid flow is a digital non-proportional valve.

4. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 1, wherein every valve in fluid communication with said pump and said actuator is a digital non-proportional valve.

5. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device, said hydraulic pump being driven by said fluid flow to thereby store energy in said energy storage device.

6. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 5, wherein said energy storage device includes an electrical energy storage device.

7. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 5, wherein said energy storage device includes a hydraulic accumulator.

8. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a reservoir tank, said third valve being fluidly coupled to said first chamber and to said reservoir tank, said fourth valve being fluidly coupled to said second chamber and to said reservoir tank.

9. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 8, wherein said plurality of non-proportional valves further includes a fifth valve and a sixth valve, said fifth valve being directly fluidly coupled to said hydraulic pump and to said reservoir tank, said sixth valve being directly fluidly coupled to said second chamber and said hydraulic pump.

10. The ground engaging vehicle of claim 9, wherein said fifth valve includes a check valve position and an open position.

11. A hydraulic system for use on a ground engaging vehicle, the hydraulic system comprising:

a hydraulically driven actuator including a first chamber and a second chamber;

a hydraulic pump;

a plurality of non-proportional valves including a first valve, a second valve, a third valve and a fourth valve; and

at least one hydraulic conduit coupling said pump with said first valve and said second valve, said first valve being in direct fluid communication with said first chamber, said second valve being in direct fluid communication with said second chamber, said third valve being in direct fluid communication with said first chamber, said fourth valve being in direct fluid communication with said second chamber, said first valve and said second valve each including an open position and a closed position.

12. The hydraulic system of claim 11, wherein said hydraulic pump is driven at a selected speed to provide a metered fluid flow in said at least one hydraulic conduit.

13. The hydraulic system of claim 12, wherein every said valve in said fluid flow is a digital non-proportional valve.

14. The hydraulic system of claim 11, wherein every valve in fluid communication with said pump and said actuator is a digital non-proportional valve.

15. The hydraulic system of claim 11, further comprising an energy storage device, said hydraulic pump being driven by said fluid flow to thereby store energy in said energy storage device.

16. The hydraulic system of claim 15, wherein said energy storage device includes a battery.

17. The hydraulic system of claim 15, wherein said energy storage device includes a hydraulic accumulator.

18. The hydraulic system of claim 17, further comprising a reservoir tank, said third valve being fluidly coupled to said first chamber and to said reservoir tank, said fourth valve being fluidly coupled to said second chamber and to said reservoir tank.

19. The hydraulic system of claim 18, wherein said plurality of non-proportional valves further includes a fifth valve and a sixth valve, said fifth valve being directly fluidly coupled to said hydraulic pump and to said reservoir tank, said sixth valve being directly fluidly coupled to said second chamber and said hydraulic pump.

20. The hydraulic system of claim 19, wherein said fifth valve includes a check valve position and an open position.

21. The hydraulic system of claim 11, further comprising an other hydraulically driven actuator fluidly coupled to said hydraulically driven actuator such that pressurized fluid from one of said first chamber and said second chamber is transferred to said other hydraulically driven actuator.

22. The hydraulic system of claim 11, wherein said hydraulic pump has a fluid flow therethrough, said hydraulic pump being configured to vary said fluid flow by varying one of a speed of said pump and said displacement of said pump.