TECHNIQUE FOR CONTROLLING PUMPS IN A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for controlling use of a plurality of pumps in a hydraulic system that includes a hydraulic actuator, said method comprising:
- measuring how much each of the plurality of pumps has been used;
determining a demand for fluid to operate the hydraulic actuator;
selectively activating each of the plurality of pumps to supply sufficient fluid to satisfy the demand for fluid, wherein the plurality of pumps are activated in sequential order from the pump with a least amount of use to the pump with a greatest amounts of use.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydraulic system includes a plurality of pumps that provide pressurized fluid to a plurality of hydraulic actuators some of which work more that others. That system is controlled by producing a usage value for each of the plurality of pumps which indicates an amount that the respective pump has worked. One of the pumps is assigned to each hydraulic actuator in response to the usage values. The pumps with lower usage values are assigned to hydraulic actuators which work more, so as to equalize the use of each pump. The assignment of pumps to hydraulic actuators changes with changes in the usage values for the plurality of pumps. When a given one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators is to operate, hydraulic fluid is routed from the assigned pump to that given one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators.
123 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for controlling use of a plurality of pumps in a hydraulic system that includes a hydraulic actuator, said method comprising:
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measuring how much each of the plurality of pumps has been used; determining a demand for fluid to operate the hydraulic actuator; selectively activating each of the plurality of pumps to supply sufficient fluid to satisfy the demand for fluid, wherein the plurality of pumps are activated in sequential order from the pump with a least amount of use to the pump with a greatest amounts of use. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for controlling use of a plurality of pumps in a hydraulic system that includes a plurality of hydraulic actuators, said method comprising:
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for each of the plurality of pumps, producing a usage value which indicates an amount that the respective pump has been used; for each of the plurality of hydraulic actuators, specifying an assigned pump selected from the plurality of pumps in response to the usage values for the plurality of pumps; and when a given one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators is to operate, routing hydraulic fluid from the assigned pump to that given one of the plurality of hydraulic actuators. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification