Hydraulic control circuit of boom cylinder in work machine

• US 6,820,355 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shimada, Yoshiyuki, Yoshino, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US10/276,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 373/48, 374/14, 374/66, 379/02, 604/43--45, 604/52, 705/50, 913/92, 914/18, 914/19, 914/46
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2203 Arrangements for controlling the attitude of actuators, e.g. speed, floating function
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2228 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2282 Systems using center bypass type changeover valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/024 by means of differential connection of the servomotor lines, e.g. regenerative circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30525 Directional control valves, e.g. 4/3-directional control valve
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3058 having additional valves for interconnecting the fluid chambers of a double-acting actuator, e.g. for regeneration mode or for floating mode
• 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 2211/31576 having a single pressure source and a single output member
• 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: F15B 2211/6316 the pressure being a pilot 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 2211/6654 Flow rate control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/78 Control of multiple output members

Abstract

A hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine, which, when controlling the supply and discharge of pressurized oil with respect to a boom cylinder, improves fuel efficiency, work efficiency in combined operations, and work efficiency and operationality in work of difficult boom operations, such as debris raking-up work and bumping work, etc. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder is provided with a first change valve for holding the boom control valve in the neutral position, a communication line for causing the head side oil chamber and the rod side oil chamber to communicate with each other, an opening and closing valve for opening and closing the communication line, and a pilot operation check valve that is changed to an unidirectional state where, although an oil flow from the head side oil chamber to the rod side oil chamber is permitted, a reverse flow is hindered, and a bi-directional state is permitted where the oil flows in both directions.

Claims

1. A hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine, which is provided with a boom cylinder extending and contracting to move a boom upward and downward, and a control valve that is changed to an operation position where pressurized oil is supplied to and discharged from respective oil chambers at the head side and rod side of the boom cylinder on the basis of operations of an operating member, and to a neutral position where no pressurized oil is supplied thereto and discharged therefrom, the hydraulic control circuit comprising:

neutral holding means by which the control valve is held in the neutral position regardless of a descent operation of the operating member; and

a communication line by which the head side oil chamber and rod side oil chamber of the boom cylinder are caused to communicate with each other, the communication line is provided with opening and closing valve means that open and close the communication line, and direction valve means that is changed to an unidirectional state in which, although an oil flow from a weight holding side oil chamber, for holding the weight of the boom, to the other oil chamber of the respective oil chambers of the boom cylinder is permitted, a reverse oil flow is hindered, and a bi-directional state in which oil flows in both directions between the respective oil chambers are permitted.

2. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic control circuit further includes discharge means for flowing surplus oil, which is discharged from the weight-holding side oil chamber of the boom cylinder and supplied into the other oil chamber when the control valve is held in the neutral position by the neutral holding means, into an oil reservoir.

3. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure detector that detects the pressure of the other oil chamber, and when the pressure, of the other oil chamber which is detected by said pressure detector, is lower than or equal to a predetermined pressure, the neutral holding means operates so that the control valve is held in the neutral position.

4. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 1, wherein the neutral holding means comprises valve means that can interrupt a pilot pressure outputted so as to change the control valve to the operation position on the basis of operations of the operating member.

5. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure detector that detects the pressure of the other oil chamber, and when the pressure, of the other oil chamber which is detected by said pressure detector, exceeds a predetermined pressure, the direction valve means is set so as not to change from the unidirectional state to the bi-directional state.

6. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 2, further comprising a pressure detector that detects the pressure of the other oil chamber, and when the pressure, of the other oil chamber which is detected by said pressure detector, is lower than or equal to a predetermined pressure, the neutral holding means operates so that the control valve is held in the neutral position.

7. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 2, wherein the neutral holding means comprises valve means that can interrupt a pilot pressure outputted so as to change the control valve to the operation position on the basis of operations of the operating member.

8. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 3, wherein the neutral holding means comprises valve means that can interrupt a pilot pressure outputted so as to change the control valve to the operation position on the basis of operations of the operating member.

9. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 6, wherein the neutral holding means comprises valve means that can interrupt a pilot pressure outputted so as to change the control valve to the operation position on the basis of operations of the operating member.

10. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 2, further comprising a pressure detector that detects the pressure of the other oil chamber, and when the pressure, of the other oil chamber which is detected by said pressure detector, exceeds a predetermined pressure, the direction valve means is set so as not to change from the unidirectional state to the bi-directional state.

11. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 3, wherein when the pressure detector detects the pressure of the other oil chamber exceeds the predetermined pressure, the direction value means is set so as not to change from the unidirection state to the bi-directional state.

12. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 6, wherein when the pressure detector detects the pressure of the other oil chamber exceeds the predetermined pressure, the direction value means is set so as not to change from the unidirection state to the bi-directional state.

13. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 4, further comprising a pressure detector that detects the pressure of the other oil chamber, and when the pressure, of the other oil chamber which is detected by said pressure detector, exceeds a predetermined pressure, the direction valve means is set so as not to change from the unidirectional state to the bi-directional state.

14. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 7, further comprising a pressure detector that detects the pressure of the other oil chamber, and when the pressure, of the other oil chamber which is detected by said pressure detector, exceeds a predetermined pressure, the direction valve means is set so as not to change from the unidirectional state to the bi-directional state.

15. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 8, wherein when the pressure detector detects the pressure of the other oil chamber exceeds the predetermined pressure, the direction value means is set so as not to change from the unidirection state to the bi-directional state.

16. The hydraulic control circuit of a boom cylinder for a work machine according to claim 9, wherein when the pressure detector detects the pressure of the other oil chamber exceeds the predetermined pressure, the direction value means is set so as not to change from the unidirection state to the bi-directional state.