Fluid control system for power shovel

• US 5,083,428 A
• Filed: 02/14/1990
• Issued: 01/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Kubomoto, Wataru, Doi, Kazuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mattingly, Todd
• Application Number:
  US07/460,108
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 60/421, 60/422, 60/427, 60/428, 60/429, 60/430, 60/486, 91/436, 91/461, 91/513, 91/518
• US Class Current: 60/421
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2239 using two or more pumps with cross-assistance
• 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: 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 2211/30595 with additional valves between the groups of 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 2211/355 Pilot pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/36 Pilot pressure sensing
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/40515 with variable throttles or orifices
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/41554 being connected to a return line and a directional control valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/428 actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/46 Control of flow in the return line, i.e. meter-out control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/67 Methods for controlling pilot pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7142 the output members being arranged in multiple groups
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/78 Control of multiple output members

Abstract

A control system having a flow-dividing selector valve mechanism (52) for changing the channels for causing a pressure fluid to flow from two main pumps (40), (50) into two control valve groups (60), (70) therethrough, and confluent selector valve mechanisms (80), (90) for causing the pressure fluid flowing into each group to flow into a working device control valve of the other group. The confluent selector valve mechanism (80) of the group wherein the working device control valve (62) has a need to compensate for the flow of fluid thereinto cancels the confluence function. The system has a mechanism for restricting the stroke of the spool of a working device control valve (160) to be subjected to varying loads to cause the fluid discharged from the actuator connected thereto to flow into the actuator again when the load is small. A sequence valve (170) operates the spool stroke restricting mechanism (190) by a pilot primary pressure.

Claims

1. A fluid control system for a power shovel comprising two main pumps, two control valve groups each having a running control valve at the upstream side thereof and working device control valves arranged downstream from the respective running control valve, one of said working device control valves having a need to compensate for the amount of flow of the fluid thereinto, said fluid control system further comprising a flow-dividing selector valve mechanisms respectively connected to the main pumps via main channels and being selectively operable to a first position wherein the main channels individually communicate with upstream sides of the respective running control valves and to a second position wherein one of the main channels is allowed to communicate with both of the running control valves and another of the main channels is allowed to communicate downstream from the two running control valves and upstream of the working device control valves, confluent selector valve mechanisms each connected to an intermediate portion of a channel extending from a downstream side of the running control valve of one control valve group to an upstream side of a working device control valve of the other control valve group, each of said confluent selector valve mechanisms being selectively opened to permit fluid passage by a signal for operating the working device control valve of the other control valve group to selectively perform a confluence function or blocking function, a reservoir, and shutoff valve mechanisms each connected to an intermediate portion of a fluid return channel extending from a downstream side of a downstream one of the working device control valves in each group to the reservoir, whereby the confluent selector valve mechanism of the group having a working device control valve which has a need to compensate for the amount of flow of the fluid thereinto receives a signal for closing the fluid passage working device control valve.

2. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the control valves of the control valve groups, the flow-dividing selector valve mechanism, the confluent selector valve mechanisms and the shutoff valve mechanisms are joined together in the form of a valve unit.

3. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the flow-dividing selector valve is provided with a receiving portion for changing over the flow-dividing selector valve to the second position in response to a signal for operating the two running control valves and at least one working device-control valve at the same time and for otherwise holding the flow dividing selector valve in the first position.

4. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the flow-dividing selector valve mechanism has a flow-dividing selector valve provided with a restrictor for maintaining, when the flow dividing selector valve is in the second position, communication between an internal passage communicating with one of the main pumps and an internal passage communicating with the other main pump.

5. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the flow-dividing selector valve mechanism includes a pilot-operated two-position directional control valve which is changed over to the second position when a pilot pressure input is given to a receiving portion thereof and is otherwise held in the first position.

6. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the confluent selector valve mechanism of each control valve group has a confluent selector valve performing the confluence function when receiving a signal for operating the working device control valve of the other group and having a need for an increased amount of flow of the fluid therein.

7. A fluid control system as defined in claim 5 wherein each of the confluent selector valve mechanism is a valve selectively operable and having a second position for opening an internal passage to perform the confluence function and a first position for closing the internal passage to perform the blocking function.

8. A fluid control system as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the confluent selector valve mechanisms is a pilot-operated two-position blocking valve which is changed over to the second position when a pilot pressure input is given to a receiving portion thereof and is otherwise held in the first position.

9. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein each said is changed over to a second position for closing an internal passage thereof when a receiving portion thereof receives a signal for operating the working device control valve of the other group and having a need for an increased amount of flow of the fluid thereinto and is otherwise held in a first position for opening the internal passage.

10. A fluid control system as defined in claim 9 wherein the shutoff valve is a pilot-operated two-position valve which is changed over to the second position to open the internal passage when a pilot pressure input is given to the receiving portion and is otherwise held in the first position to close the internal passage.

11. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valves comprise a boom control valve communicating with a boom cylinder, a bucket control valve communicating with a bucket cylinder, an arm control valve communicating with an arm cylinder, and a swivel control valve communicating with a swivel motor unit.

12. A fluid control system as defined in claim 11 wherein one of the control valve groups comprises one of the running control valves, the boom control valve and the bucket control valve, and the other control valve group comprises the other running control valve, the arm control valve and the swivel control valve.

13. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valve having a need for an increased amount of flow of the fluid thereinto is a boom control valve communicating with a boom cylinder.

14. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valve having a need for an increased amount of flow of the fluid thereinto is a boom control valve communicating with a boom cylinder, and the confluent selector valve mechanism connected thereto performs the confluence function in response to a control signal to be sent to the boom control valve for a change-over to the position to stretch the boom cylinder.

15. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valve having a need for an increased amount of flow of the fluid thereinto is an arm control valve communicating with an arm cylinder.

16. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valve having a need for an increased amount of flow of the fluid thereinto is an arm control valve communicating with an arm cylinder, and the confluent selector valve mechanism connected thereto performs the confluence function in response to a control signal to be sent to the arm control valve for a change-over to the position to contract the arm cylinder.

17. A fluid control systems as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the working device control valves is a three-position directional control valve operable by a pilot pressure.

18. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valve having a need to compensate for the amount of flow of the fluid thereinto is a boom control valve communicating with a boom cylinder.

19. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the working device control valve having a need to compensate for the amount of flow of the fluid thereinto is a boom control valve communicating with a boom cylinder, and the confluent selector valve mechanism of the control valve group including the boom control valve has a receiving portion for cancelling the confluence function in response to a signal thereto.

20. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein the main pumps are each a variable capacity pump to be driven by an engine.

21. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 which further has a pilot pump, pilot channels communicating with the pilot pump through resistors respectively, pilot operated directional control valves operatively connected to the respective running control valves, and pilot operated directional control valves operatively connected to the working device control valves respectively, each of the directional control valves operatively connected to the respective running control valves being a valve selectively operable, having an internal passage thereof closed when neutral and having the internal passage thereof opened when in a changed-over position, each of the directional control valves operatively connected to the respective working device control valves being a valve selectively operable, having an internal passage thereof opened when neutral and having the internal passage thereof closed when in a changed-over position, the directional control valves being connected to the respective pilot channels in tandem, the system further having pilot channels for delivering from the downstream side of the directional control valves operatively connected to the respective running control valves a pilot pressure for changing over the flow-dividing selector valve mechanism to the second position.

22. A fluid control system as defined in claim 1 wherein a working device control valve communicating with an actuator to be subjected to varying loads has a control valve spool selectively shiftable to one of a neutral position, one work position and another work position, and receiving portions for shifting the spool from the neutral position to either of the work positions, the control valve having a first work position provided with an internal passage for the discharged fluid from the actuator to flow therethrough into the actuator again, and a second work position provided with an internal passage for the discharged fluid to return therethrough to the reservoir.

23. A fluid control system as defined in claim 22 wherein the working device control valve has a spool stroke restricting mechanism for restricting the shift of the spool to the first work position.

24. A fluid control system as defined in claim 22 wherein the working device control valve is a pilot-operated control valve wherein the spool is shiftable by a pilot pressure input given to each of the receiving portions and has a pilot channel connected to a receiving portion of a spool stroke restricting mechanism for restricting the shift of the spool toward said one work position side to the first work position, a pilot pump in communication with the pilot channel through a restrictor, and a sequence valve connected between the pilot channel and the reservoir and switchable between a first position for permitting a pilot channel downstream from the restrictor to communicate with the reservoir and a second position for blocking the communication, the sequence valve having a receiving portion for holding the sequence valve in the first position when the pressure of the main channel is not lower than a predetermined pressure and for switching the sequence valve to the second position when the channel pressure is lower than the predetermined pressure, the receiving portion being connected to a pilot channel branching from a channel communicating with the main pumps at the upstream side of the control valve for deriving the pressure of the main channel.