Meterless hydraulic system having flow sharing and combining functionality

• US 8,984,873 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• 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): LESLIE, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/279,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20130098020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604/21, 604/27, 604/84, 604/86, 604/90
• US Class Current: 60/420
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2228 including an electronic controller
• 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, an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in a closed loop manner, and an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first travel motor in a closed loop manner. The hydraulic system also includes a linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system comprising:

a variable-displacement first pump;

an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in a closed loop manner;

an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first travel motor in a closed loop manner;

a linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner;

at least one first isolation valve configured adjust a flow of the pressurized fluid from the first pump to the first travel motor; and

at least one second isolation valve configured adjust a flow of the pressurized fluid from the first pump to the second travel motor.

2. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the first pump is an over-center pump.

3. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising at least one valve configured to adjust a flow of the pressurized fluid from the first pump to the first travel motor and the second travel motor.

4. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further comprising at least one valve configured to adjust a flow of the pressurized fluid from the first pump to the linear actuator.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein:

rotation directions of the first and second travel motors are configured to be independently adjusted based on the over-center nature of the first and second travel motors; and

displacements of the first and second travel motors are configured to be adjusted to control speed or torque of the first and second travel motors independently.

6. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein a displacement of the first pump is configured to be adjusted based on a combined demand from the first and second travel motors and the linear actuator.

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

a variable-displacement second pump;

a swing motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the second pump in a closed loop manner; and

at least one combiner device configured to selectively connect the linear actuator to receive pressurized fluid from the second pump in a closed loop manner.

8. The hydraulic system of claim 7, wherein the at least one combiner device includes four independent metering valves.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 7, wherein the swing motor is an over-center variable-displacement motor.

10. The hydraulic system of claim 7, further comprising at least one third isolation valve configured to adjust a flow of the pressurized fluid from the second pump to the swing motor.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 7, wherein the first travel motor, the second travel motor, and the linear actuator are configured to be selectively connected in a closed loop manner to the first pump and the second pump via the at least one combiner device so that at least one of the first travel motor, the second travel motor, and the linear actuator are configured to selectively receive a combined flow from the first and second pumps.

12. The hydraulic system of claim 11, wherein the first travel motor, the second travel motor, and the linear actuator are configured to operate simultaneously while the at least one of the first travel motor, the second travel motor, and the linear actuator receive the combined flow from the first and second pumps.

13. The hydraulic system of claim 7, further comprising:

a first switching device configured to selectively disconnect the linear actuator from the first pump while the linear actuator and the third motor are selectively connected to the second pump in a closed loop manner via the at least one combiner device; and

a second switching device configured to selectively connect the first pump to the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner.

14. The hydraulic system of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic system is provided in a machine including a drive system and an implement system, the drive system including left traction device and a right traction device, the first travel motor being configured to drive the left traction device, and the second travel motor being configured to drive the right traction device, and the hydraulic system further comprises:

a variable-displacement third pump;

a variable-displacement fourth pump;

a second linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the third pump in a closed loop manner, the second linear actuator being a hydraulic cylinder configured to move a work tool of the implement system; and

a third linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the fourth pump in a closed loop manner, the third linear actuator being a hydraulic cylinder configured to move a boom of the implement system.

15. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein:

the hydraulic system is provided in a machine including a drive system and an implement system, the drive system including left traction device and a right traction device;

the first travel motor is configured to drive the left traction device, and the second travel motor is configured to drive the right traction device; and

the linear actuator is a hydraulic cylinder configured to move a stick of the implement system.

16. A hydraulic system comprising:

a variable-displacement first pump;

a variable-displacement second pump;

an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in a closed loop manner;

an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first travel motor in a closed loop manner;

a linear actuator selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel with the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner;

a third motor selectively connected to receive fluid pressurized by the second pump in a closed loop manner; and

at least one combiner device configured to selectively allow pressurized fluid from the first pump to combine with pressurized fluid from the second pump so that a combined flow from the first and second pumps is supplied to at least one of the first travel motor, the second travel motor, the third motor, and the linear actuator.

17. The hydraulic system of claim 16, further comprising:

a first switching device configured to selectively disconnect the linear actuator from the first pump while the linear actuator and the third motor are selectively connected to the second pump in a closed loop manner; and

a second switching device configured to selectively connect the first pump to the first and second travel motors in a closed loop manner.

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

pressurizing fluid with a first variable-displacement pump, the first pump being capable of simultaneously supplying pressurized fluid in parallel to an over-center variable-displacement first travel motor, an over-center variable-displacement second travel motor, and a linear actuator;

selectively directing fluid pressurized by the first pump in parallel to at least two of the first travel motor, the second travel motor, or the linear actuator in a closed loop manner;

returning the pressurized fluid to the first pump;

pressurizing fluid with a second variable-displacement pump, the second pump being capable of simultaneously supplying pressurized fluid in parallel to the first travel motor, the second travel motor, the linear actuator, and a variable-displacement third, motor; and

selectively directing fluid pressurized by the second pump in parallel to at least two of the first travel motor, the second travel motor, or the linear actuator in a closed loop manner via at least one combiner device.