Apparatus and method for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, in particular a hydraulic excavator

• US 6,314,726 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Mining Germany GmbH (Komatsu)
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Mining Germany GmbH (Komatsu)
• Inventors: Meyer, Joachim, Ehrich, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryznic, John E.
• Application Number:
  US09/519,835
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 604/21, 604/22, 604/24, 604/26, 604/86, 603/94
• US Class Current: 60/394
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2221 Control of flow rate; Load sensing arrangements E02F9/2203 take precedence over E02F9/2221
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, in particular a hydraulic excavator, having a plurality of control blocks which are fed via at least one pump each and each drive a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators of the construction machine. At least two control blocks are designed to drive the same actuator. The delivery capacity of the pump of the second control block can be connected up to the actuator via a delay element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, comprising:

a plurality of control blocks which are fed via at least one pump each and are each operative to drive a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators of the construction machine, at least two of the control blocks being designed to drive a common actuator; and

delay means for connecting delivery capacity of the pump of a second of the two control blocks to the common actuator after a delay, the delay means including a sensor element which registers actuator speed and outputs corresponding data to an electronic processor unit which connects the pump of the second control block when a final speed of the actuator is reached.

2. A method of driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine having a plurality of control blocks, comprising the steps of:

feeding pressure medium via a respective pump to each control block, a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators being driven via each control block;

driving at least one actuator via two of the control blocks; and

connecting the pressure medium delivery capacity of the pump of a second of the control blocks driving the one actuator to the one actuator with a delay, including measuring actuator speed and connecting the pump of the second control block to the actuator with a delay so that the pump of the second control block is connected to the actuator only when a final speed of the actuator is reached.

3. An apparatus for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, comprising:

a plurality of control blocks which are fed via at least one pump each and are each operative to drive a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators of the construction machine, at least two of the control blocks being designed to drive a common actuator; and

delay means for connecting delivery capacity of the pump of a second of the two control blocks to the common actuator after a delay, the delay means including a sensor element which determines pressure in a hydraulic circuit of the actuator and outputs corresponding data to an electronic processor unit which connects the pump of the second control block at a pressure drop which occurs after an acceleration phase of the actuator.

4. An apparatus for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, comprising:

a plurality of control blocks which are fed via at least one pump each and are each operative to drive a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators of the construction machine, at least two of the control blocks being designed to drive a common actuator; and

delay means for connecting delivery capacity of the pump of a second of the two control blocks to the common actuator after a delay, the actuator being a hydraulic slewing mechanism motor.

5. An apparatus for driving a hydraulic system of a construction machine, comprising:

a plurality of control blocks which are fed via at least one pump each and are each operative to drive a plurality of hydraulically operated actuators of the construction machine, at least two of the control blocks being designed to drive a common actuator; and

delay means for connecting delivery capacity of the pump of a second of the two control blocks to the common actuator after a delay, the plurality of control blocks including at least four control blocks having a pump each, a first of the control blocks being operative to drive working equipment and a right-hand side of a running gear of the machine, a second of the control blocks being operative to drive the working equipment and a left-hand side of the running gear, a third of the control blocks being operative to drive the working equipment and a slewing mechanism of the machine, and a fourth of the control blocks being operative to drive the working equipment and the slewing mechanism, one of the pumps assigned to the third and fourth control blocks being connectable to the stewing mechanism via the delay means.