Hydraulic control system

• US 5,743,089 A
• Filed: 07/25/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Company Limited (Kobe Steel Limited)
• Original Assignee: Klaus Schmidt
• Inventors: Tohji, Yutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez, F. Daniel
• Application Number:
  US08/686,704
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 60/450, 60/452
• US Class Current: 60/450
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2235 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/05 Pressure after the pump outlet
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2205/173 in a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/08 Regulating by delivery pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/04 for controlling the speed F15B11/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20553 with pilot circuit, e.g. for controlling a swash plate
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/25 Pressure control functions
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30525 Directional control valves, e.g. 4/3-directional control valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3144 the positions being continuously variable, e.g. as realised by proportional valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/329 actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/351 Flow control by regulating means in feed line, i.e. meter-in control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6309 the pressure being a pressure source supply pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6346 representing a state of input means, e.g. joystick position
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6355 having valve means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7053 Double-acting output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/75 Control of speed of the output member

Abstract

A control valve is provided in a line between a variable displacement hydraulic pump and a hydraulic cylinder. The control valve controls flow rate of working fluid supplied to the hydraulic cylinder according to a manipulated variable of a lever. The control increases a discharge of the hydraulic pump in association with the increase in the manipulated variable and also controls to suppress the discharge as the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump increases. A proper response corresponding to the operator'"'"'s feeling can be realized in consideration of an actual pressure loaded on an actuator on the basis of a positive control system.

Claims

1. A hydraulic control system comprising:

a variable displacement hydraulic pump for pumping a working fluid;

a hydraulic actuator;

a line connecting said hydraulic actuator to said hydraulic pump such that said hydraulic actuator receives the working fluid from said hydraulic pump;

a control valve provided in said line for changing a flow rate of the working fluid;

a control element which controls said control valve according to a manipulated variable; and

discharge control means for controlling a working fluid discharge quantity of said hydraulic pump such that;

a) the discharge quantity increases for increases of the manipulated variable beyond a threshold level of the manipulated variable, and

b) a ratio of increase of the discharge quantity to increase of the manipulated variable adjacent the threshold level is smaller for larger discharge pressures in said line at a position between said pump and said control valve and is larger for smaller discharge pressures in said line at said position between said pump and said control valve.

2. A hydraulic control system according to claim 1, wherein said discharge control means decreases the increasing rate of the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump corresponding to the increase in the manipulated variable so as to increase the supply flow rate of the working fluid as the discharge pressure increases at least in the operating range where the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump increases from a minimum discharge quantity level and, increases the increasing rate of the discharge of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump corresponding to the increase in the manipulated variable so as to increase the supply flow rate of the working fluid as the discharge pressure increases in an operating range where the discharge of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump reaches a value just before a maximum discharge quantity level.

3. A hydraulic control system according to claim 1, wherein said discharge control means calculates a desired pump discharge Q on the basis of the following equation according to the discharge pressure where the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump changes from a minimum discharge quantity level to a maximum discharge quantity level, ##EQU4## Qmin:

minimum pump discharge Qmax;

maximum pump discharge

Xi;

present manipulated variable or variable corresponding to the present manipulated variable

Xia;

manipulated variable or variable corresponding to the manipulated variable when the pump discharge is increased from the minimum discharge

Xib;

manipulated variable or variable corresponding to the manipulated variable when the pump discharge reaches the maximum discharge

J;

constant.

4. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said discharge control means further controls the working fluid discharge quantity of said hydraulic pump such that a ratio of increase of the discharge quantity to increase of the manipulated variable adjacent a maximum discharge quantity level is larger for larger discharge pressures in said line at said position between said pump and said control valve and is smaller for smaller discharge pressures in said line at said position between said pump and said control valve.

5. The hydraulic control system of claim 1 wherein said control valve is a pilot pressure operated directional control valve, including means for generating a pilot pressure corresponding to the manipulated variable.

6. A hydraulic control system according to claim 5, further comprising a regulator for changing the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump and a discharge suppressing regulator that receives the discharge pressure and operates the regulator so as to reduce the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump as the quantity pressure increases.

7. A hydraulic control system according to claim 1, further comprising mode selecting means for selecting an optional discharge control mode among a plurality of discharge control modes in which the discharge quantity given to said variable-displacement hydraulic pump corresponding to the manipulated variable are different, wherein said discharge control means controls the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump in the discharge control mode selected by said mode selecting means.

8. A hydraulic control system according to claim 7, wherein said discharge control means calculates a desired pump discharge Q on the basis of the following equation according to the discharge pressure where the discharge quantity of said variable-displacement hydraulic pump changes from a minimum discharge quantity level to a maximum discharge quantity level and

said mode selecting means designates a parameter J of the following equation. ##EQU5## Qmin:

minimum pump discharge Qmax;

maximum pump discharge

Xi;

present manipulated variable or variable corresponding to the present manipulated variable

Xia;

manipulated variable or variable corresponding to the manipulated variable when the pump discharge is increased from the minimum discharge

Xib;

manipulated variable or variable corresponding to the manipulated variable when the pump discharge reaches the maximum discharge.