SPLIT VALVE PUMP CONTROLLED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM

• US 20120216871A1
• Filed: 02/28/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Hindman, Jahmy J., Dobchuk, Jeffrey W., Anderson, Eric Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,783,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/17 using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20553 with pilot circuit, e.g. for controlling a swash plate
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20576 with multiple pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3059 having multiple valves for multiple output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3116 the pump port being open in the centre position, e.g. so-called open centre
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/329 actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6313 the pressure being a load pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87153 Plural noncommunicating flow paths

Abstract

A hydraulic system that includes a controller controlling multiple hydraulic pumps to power multiple hydraulic functions. Any ratio of flow can be directed from each of the pumps to each of the functions, including having a pump dedicated to each function, or having one pump dedicated to one function and another pump supplying multiple functions including the one function. The controller can receive machine feedback and failure data indicating regions of the system with functional disruptions, and can direct flow from the pumps to the functions along routes that avoid the functional disruptions. The system can include operator input devices that provide operator inputs to the controller for controlling the system. The system can operate the hydraulic system in different modes, including modes to improve fuel efficiency and to improve productivity. The system can include a mode switch for operator selection of a desired mode.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system comprising:

a first hydraulic source;

a second hydraulic source;

a first function actuator for performing a first function;

a second function actuator for performing a second function;

a first valve stack comprising a first valve for controlling flow from the first hydraulic source to the first function actuator, and a second valve for controlling flow from the first hydraulic source to the second function actuator;

a second valve stack comprising a first valve for controlling flow from the second hydraulic source to the first function actuator, and a second valve for controlling flow from the second hydraulic source to the second function actuator;

a controller for controlling flow from the first hydraulic source to the first function actuator through the first valve of the first valve stack, and for controlling flow from the first hydraulic source to the second function actuator through the second valve of the first valve stack, and for controlling flow from the second hydraulic source to the first function actuator through the first valve of the second valve stack, and for controlling flow from the second hydraulic source to the second function actuator through the second valve of the second valve stack.

2. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the controller can direct any ratio of flow from the first and second hydraulic sources to the first and second function actuators, including having the first hydraulic source providing flow to only one of the first and second function actuator and having the second hydraulic source providing flow to only the other of the first and second function actuator.

3. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the controller can direct all flow from the first hydraulic source to the first function actuator and any ratio of flow from the second hydraulic source to the first and second function actuators.

4. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives failure data indicating regions of the system with functional disruptions, and the controller uses the failure data to direct flow from the first and second hydraulic sources to the first and second function actuators along a route that avoids the regions of the system with functional disruptions.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising a first operator input device for providing operator inputs to the controller for controlling the first function actuator in performing the first function;

and a second operator input device for providing operator inputs to the controller for controlling the second function actuator in performing the second function.

6. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising an operator input device for providing operator inputs to the controller for controlling the first function actuator in performing the first function, and for controlling the second function actuator in performing the second function.

7. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising a first valve actuator for positioning the first valve of the first valve stack, a second valve actuator for positioning the second valve of the first valve stack, a third valve actuator for positioning the first valve of the second valve stack, and a fourth valve actuator for positioning the second valve of the second valve stack.

8. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first and second valves of the first valve stack and the first and second valves of the second valve stack are spool valves.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 8, further comprising a first set of spool actuators for positioning the first spool valve of the first valve stack, a second set of spool actuators for positioning the second spool valve of the first valve stack, a third set of spool actuators for positioning the first spool valve of the second valve stack, and a fourth set of spool actuators for positioning the second spool valve of the second valve stack.

10. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising a mode switch for operator selection of a desired mode for the hydraulic system;

the controller using the selected desired mode in determining flow from the first hydraulic source to the first and second function actuators and from the second hydraulic source to the first and second function actuators.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the controller receives machine physical feedback;

the controller using the machine feedback in determining flow from the first hydraulic source to the first and second function actuators and from the second hydraulic source to the first and second function actuators.

12. A control method for a hydraulic system of a machine, the hydraulic system comprising first and second hydraulic pumps to power first and second hydraulic functions of the machine, the hydraulic system being able to direct any ratio of flow from the first hydraulic pump to the first and second functions and from the second hydraulic pump to the first and second functions, the control method comprising:

receiving operator input for performing the hydraulic functions;

receiving physical feedback from the machine;

determining a determined operating mode for the machine using the operator input and the machine physical feedback;

determining power availability of the hydraulic system using the determined operating mode and the machine physical feedback;

detecting fault modes of the machine using the machine physical feedback;

determining a flow map for the hydraulic system using the power availability and the detected fault modes, the flow map defining an amount of flow from the first hydraulic pump to the first hydraulic function, an amount of flow from the first hydraulic pump to the second hydraulic function, an amount of flow from the second hydraulic pump to the first hydraulic function, and an amount of flow from the second hydraulic pump to the second hydraulic function;

sending pump control commands to the first and second pumps to implement the flow map; and

sending valve control commands to valves and actuators of the hydraulic system to implement the flow map.

13. The control method of claim 12, wherein the detected fault modes indicate regions of the hydraulic system with functional disruptions, and the flow map is determined to direct flow from the first and second hydraulic pumps to the first and second hydraulic functions along a route that avoids the regions of the hydraulic system with functional disruptions.

14. The control method of claim 12, wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a first valve stack comprising a first valve for controlling flow from the first hydraulic pump to the first function actuator, and a second valve for controlling flow from the first hydraulic pump to the second function actuator;

a second valve stack comprising a first valve for controlling flow from the second hydraulic pump to the first function actuator, and a second valve for controlling flow from the second hydraulic pump to the second function actuator;

wherein the valve control commands are sent to control the first and second valves of the first valve stack and the first and second valves of the second valve stack.

15. The control method of claim 14, wherein the hydraulic system further comprises:

a first valve actuator for positioning the first valve of the first valve stack, a second valve actuator for positioning the second valve of the first valve stack, a third valve actuator for positioning the first valve of the second valve stack, and a fourth valve actuator for positioning the second valve of the second valve stack;

wherein the valve control commands are sent to control the first, second, third and fourth valve actuators.

16. The control method of claim 12, wherein the operator input is received from a first operator input device for providing operator inputs for controlling the first hydraulic function, and a second operator input device for providing operator inputs for controlling the second hydraulic function.

17. The control method of claim 16, wherein the operator input is further received from a desired mode switch for operator selection of a desired mode for the hydraulic system;

the operator selected desired mode being used in determining the determined operating mode.

18. The control method of claim 12, wherein the determined operating mode is selected from an economy mode designed to utilize the hydraulic system focusing on fuel efficiency, a productivity mode designed to utilize the hydraulic system focusing on productivity, and a normal mode designed to utilize the hydraulic system balancing fuel efficiency with productivity.

19. The control method of claim 18, wherein in economy mode the first pump is dedicated to powering the first hydraulic function, and the second pump is dedicated to powering the second hydraulic function.

20. The control method of claim 18, wherein in normal mode both the first and second pumps are used to power both the first and second hydraulic functions, unless the machine physical feedback indicates a difference in flow requirements that exceeds a threshold in which case the first pump is dedicated to supplying the first hydraulic function and the second pump supplies any remaining flow requirements.