Meterless hydraulic system having flow sharing and combining functionality

• US 8,978,374 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Opdenbosch, Patrick, Tognetti, Lawrence J., Hillman, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E
• Application Number:
  US13/279,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/21, 604/22, 604/84, 604/86
• US Class Current: 60/421
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2242 including an electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2289 Closed circuit
• 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 2211/20546 variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20569 capable of working as pump and motor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20576 with multiple pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/27 Directional control by means of the pressure source
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/30575 in a Wheatstone Bridge arrangement (also half bridges)
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/613 Feeding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7053 Double-acting output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7058 Rotary output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 7/006 Rotary pump input
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 7/008 with rotary output
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier

Abstract

A hydraulic system includes a variable-displacement first pump and a variable-displacement second pump. The hydraulic system also includes a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system further includes a second actuator and a variable-displacement rotary actuator that are each selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system comprising:

a variable-displacement first pump;

a variable-displacement second pump;

a first actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner;

a second actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner; and

a variable-displacement rotary actuator selectively connected either to the first pump in a closed loop manner and not the second pump, to the second pump in a closed loop manner and not the first pump, or to the first and second pumps in a closed loop manner.

2. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first combiner valve arrangement configured to selectively allow the first pump to connect in a closed loop manner either to;

the first actuator, and not the second actuator or the rotary actuator, or

the first actuator simultaneously with at least one of the second actuator or the rotary actuator; and

a second combiner valve arrangement configured to selectively allow the second pump to connect in a closed loop manner either to;

the second actuator, and not the first actuator or the rotary actuator, or

the second actuator simultaneously with at least one of the first actuator or the rotary actuator.

3. The hydraulic system of claim 2, wherein the first and second combiner valve arrangements are configured to be actuated to allow both the first pump and the second pump to fluidly connect to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator simultaneously in a closed loop manner.

4. The hydraulic system of claim 2, wherein:

each of the first and second combiner valve arrangements includes four independent metering valves; and

when the four valves are in flow-blocking positions, the first pump is fluidly connected in a closed loop manner to the first actuator, and not the second actuator or the rotary actuator, and the second pump is fluidly connected in a closed loop manner to the second actuator, and not first second actuator or the rotary actuator.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pumps are over-center pumps.

6. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is a linear actuator.

7. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is a second rotary actuator.

8. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one switching valve fluidly connected to at least one of the first actuator, the second actuator, or the rotary actuator;

wherein the at least one switching valve is configured to control an amount of fluid through a first passage and a second passage connected to the at least one of the first actuator, the second actuator, or the rotary actuator.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 8, wherein the at least one switching valve includes a spool switching valve configured to control the amount of fluid passing through the first passage and the second passage connected to the first actuator, the first actuator being a linear actuator.

10. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising:

a switching valve arrangement fluidly connected to at least one of the first actuator or the rotary actuator, the switching valve arrangement including four independent metering valves configured to control a direction of movement of the at least one of the first actuator or the rotary actuator.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first and second actuators are linear actuators, the hydraulic system further comprising:

at least one first switching valve fluidly connected to the first actuator; and

at least one second switching valve fluidly connected to the second actuator;

wherein, when the first and second pumps are simultaneously connected to at least one of the first and second actuators in a closed-loop manner, the at least one first switching valve is configured to meter flow to the first actuator and the at least one second switching valve is configured to meter flow to the second actuator to adjust directions of flow of the first and second actuators independently.

12. The hydraulic system of claim 11, wherein displacement of the rotary actuator is adjustable to control torque output of the rotary actuator while the directions of flow of the first and second actuators are independently adjustable via the at least one first switching valve and the at least one second switching valve.

13. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator is a linear actuator, and displacements of the first and second pumps are adjustable to control a speed of the first actuator.

14. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to determine a pressure associated with at least one of the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator;

the controller being further configured to adjust displacements of the first and second pumps based on a highest pressure associated with the at least one of the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator.

15. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator are configured to simultaneously receive fluid from at least one of the first pump or the second pump so that the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator move simultaneously.

16. The hydraulic system of claim 15, wherein, when the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator simultaneously receive fluid from at least one of the first pump or the second pump, at least one of the first actuator, the second actuator, and the rotary actuator is configured to be connected in a closed loop manner to the first pump and the second pump to receive a combined flow from the first pump and the second pump.

17. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic system is provided in a machine including a body, an implement system, and a drive system, the drive system including a left traction device driven by a left travel motor and a right traction device driven by a right travel motor;

the first actuator is a hydraulic cylinder configured to move the at least one of a stick of the implement system or a work tool of the machine;

the second actuator is a hydraulic cylinder configured to move a boom of the implement system; and

the rotary actuator is the right travel motor.

18. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic system is provided in a machine including a body, an implement system, and a drive system, the drive system including a left traction device driven by a left travel motor and a right traction device driven by a right travel motor;

the first actuator is a hydraulic cylinder configured to move the at least one of a stick of the implement system or a work tool of the machine;

the second actuator is a swing motor configured to move the body; and

the rotary actuator is the left travel motor.

19. A hydraulic system comprising:

a variable-displacement first pump;

a variable-displacement second pump;

a first actuator configured to connect to at least one of the first pump or the second pump in a closed loop manner;

a linear actuator configured to connect to at least one of the first pump or the second pump in a closed loop manner;

a variable-displacement rotary actuator configured to connect to at least one of the first pump or the second pump in a closed loop manner;

at least one combiner valve arrangement configured to combine fluid pressurized by the first pump and the second pump to form a combined flow, the combined flow being communicated in a closed loop manner to at least one of the first actuator, the linear actuator, or the rotary actuator; and

at least one first switching valve connected to the linear actuator, the at least one switching valve being configured to control an amount of fluid directed to the linear actuator from at least one of the first pump or the second pump;

wherein the first and second pumps are capable of simultaneously supplying pressurized fluid to the first actuator, the linear actuator, and the rotary actuator.

20. The hydraulic system of claim 19, further comprising at least one second switching valve fluidly connected to the first actuator, the at least one second switching valve being configured to control an amount of fluid directed to the first actuator.

21. The hydraulic system of claim 19, further comprising at least one third switching valve fluidly connected to the rotary actuator, the at least one third switching valve being configured to control movement of the rotary actuator.

22. A method of operating a hydraulic system, the method comprising:

pressurizing fluid with a first variable-displacement pump;

pressurizing fluid with a second variable-displacement pump, the first and second pumps being capable of simultaneously supplying pressurized fluid to at least three actuators, the at least three actuators including a variable-displacement rotary actuator, a linear actuator, and a third actuator;

combining fluid pressurized by the first pump and the second pump;

communicating the combined fluid to at least one of the at least three actuators in a closed loop manner;

communicating fluid pressurized by at least one of the first pump or the second pump to the linear actuator in a closed loop manner;

communicating fluid pressurized by at least one of the first pump or the second pump to the rotary actuator in a closed loop manner;

adjusting displacement of the rotary actuator to control torque output of the rotary actuator; and

metering the flow passing between the first and second pumps and the linear actuator to control movement of the linear actuator.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating the combined fluid to at least two of the at least three actuators in a closed loop manner.