Meterless hydraulic system having multi-actuator circuit

• US 9,057,389 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Opdenbosch, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): LESLIE, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/250,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20130081385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 604/23, 604/45, 604/72, 604/73, 604/76, 604/89, 604/90
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2235 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 11/16 with two or more servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/06 for use with two or more servomotors
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20546 variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20561 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/27 Directional control by means of the pressure source
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/3133 Regenerative position connecting the working ports or connecting the working ports to the pump, e.g. for high-speed approach stroke
• 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

Abstract

A hydraulic system is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a pump, a rotary actuator, a linear actuator, and a closed-loop circuit fluidly connecting the pump to the rotary and linear actuators. The hydraulic system may also have at least one valve configured to switch fluid flow direction from the pump through the linear actuator during fluid flow in a single direction through the rotary actuator.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system, comprising:

a pump;

a rotary actuator;

a linear actuator;

a closed-loop circuit fluidly connecting the pump to the rotary and linear actuators, wherein the closed loop circuit includes;

a first pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a second pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a first actuator passage fluidly connected to a first chamber of the linear actuator; and

a second actuator passage fluidly connected to a second chamber of the linear actuator; and

at least one valve configured to switch fluid flow direction from the pump through the linear actuator during fluid flow in a single direction through the rotary actuator, wherein the at least one valve includes;

a first valve disposed between the first pump passage and the first actuator passage;

a second valve disposed between the first pump passage and the second actuator passage;

a third valve disposed between the second pump passage and the first actuator passage; and

a fourth valve disposed between the second pump passage and the second actuator passage.

2. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein:

the pump is a variable displacement, over-center pump; and

operation of the rotary and linear actuators is reversed when fluid flow through the pump is reversed.

3. The hydraulic system of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is a variable displacement motor.

4. The hydraulic system of claim 3, wherein the rotary actuator is an over-center type motor.

5. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further including at least one isolation valve configured to isolate the rotary actuator from the linear actuator and from the pump.

6. The hydraulic system of claim 5, wherein the at least one isolation valve includes:

a first isolation valve disposed within the first pump passage; and

a second isolation valve disposed within the second pump passage.

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

a charge circuit; and

at least one makeup valve fluidly connecting the charge circuit to the first and second pump passages.

8. The hydraulic system of claim 7, wherein the at least one makeup valve has a first position at which fluid may flow between the charge circuit and the first and second pump passages substantially unrestricted, and a second position at which fluid may flow from only the charge circuit to the first and second passages and only when a pressure of the fluid is above a threshold pressure.

9. The hydraulic system of claim 8, further including at least one relief valve configured to selectively allow fluid to flow from the first and second pump passages and the first and second actuator passages to the charge circuit based on a pressure of the fluid.

10. The hydraulic system of claim 9, further including at least one resolver configured to fluidly connect a higher one of the first and second pump passages and the first and second actuator passages with the charge circuit.

11. The hydraulic system of claim 1, further including:

an operator interface device configured to receive operator input indicative of a desired movements of the rotary and linear actuators; and

a controller in communication with the operator interface device, the pump, and the rotary actuator, the controller being configured to;

adjust operation of the pump based on only desired movement of the rotary actuator when movement of the linear actuator is not desired;

adjust operation of the pump based on only desired movement of the linear actuator anytime movement of the linear actuator is desired; and

adjust operation of the rotary actuator based on desired movement of the rotary actuator when movement of both the rotary and linear actuators is desired.

12. A hydraulic system, comprising:

a pump;

a rotary actuator;

a linear actuator;

a closed-loop circuit fluidly connecting the pump to the rotary and linear actuators;

at least one valve configured to switch fluid flow direction from the pump through the linear actuator during fluid flow in a single direction through the rotary actuator;

the closed loop circuit includes;

a first pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a second pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a first actuator passage fluidly connected to a first chamber of the linear actuator; and

a second actuator passage fluidly connected to a second chamber of the linear actuator; and

the at least one valve includes a single spool valve configured to selectively connect the first pump passage to the first or second actuator passages and the second pump passage to the first or second actuator passages, wherein the single spool valve includes a tool float position at which first and second chambers of the linear actuator are fluidly connected to each other and simultaneously fluidly connected to the first pump passage.

13. The hydraulic system of claim 12, wherein:

the tool float position is a first tool float position at which the first and second chambers are fluidly connected to each other and simultaneously fluidly connected to the first pump passage; and

the single spool valve includes a second tool float position at which the first and second chambers are fluidly connected to each other and simultaneously fluidly connected to the second pump passage.

14. A hydraulic system, comprising:

a variable displacement, over-center pump;

a variable displacement, over-center motor;

a linear actuator;

a closed-loop circuit fluidly connecting the pump to the motor and the linear actuator;

at least one isolation valve configured to isolate the motor from the linear actuator and from the pump;

at least one valve configured to switch fluid flow direction from the pump through the linear actuator during fluid flow in a single direction through the motor;

an operator interface device configured to receive operator input indicative of a desired movements of the motor and the linear actuator; and

a controller in communication with the operator interface device, the pump, and the motor, the controller being configured to;

adjust operation of the pump based on only desired movement of the motor when movement of the linear actuator is not desired;

adjust operation of the pump based on only desired movement of the linear actuator anytime movement of the linear actuator is desired; and

adjust operation of the motor based on desired movement of the motor when movement of both the motor and the linear actuator is desired.

15. The hydraulic system of claim 14, wherein:

the closed loop includes;

a first pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a second pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a first actuator passage fluidly connected to a first chamber of the linear actuator; and

a second actuator passage fluidly connected to a second chamber of the linear actuator; and

the at least one valve includes;

a first valve disposed between the first pump passage and the first actuator passage;

a second valve disposed between the first pump passage and the second actuator passage;

a third valve disposed between the second pump passage and the first actuator passage; and

a fourth valve disposed between the second pump passage and the second actuator passage.

16. The hydraulic system of claim 14, wherein:

the closed loop includes;

a first pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a second pump passage fluidly connected between the pump and the rotary actuator;

a first actuator passage fluidly connected to a first chamber of the linear actuator; and

a second actuator passage fluidly connected to a second chamber of the linear actuator; and

the at least one valve includes a single spool valve configured to selectively connect the first pump passage to the first or second actuator passages and the second pump passage to the first or second actuator passages.

17. A method of operating a hydraulic system, comprising:

pressurizing fluid with a pump;

directing fluid pressurized by the pump to a motor and a linear actuator and returning fluid from the motor and linear actuator to the pump via a closed-loop circuit;

receiving an indication of operator desired movement of the motor and linear actuator; and

adjusting operation of the pump based on the indication, wherein adjusting operation includes;

adjusting operation of the pump based on only desired movement of the motor when movement of the linear actuator is not desired;

adjusting operation of the pump based on only desired movement of the linear actuator anytime movement of the linear actuator is desired; and

adjusting operation of the motor based on desired movement of the motor when movement of both the motor and the linear actuator is desired.

18. The method of claim 17, further including isolating the motor from the pump and linear actuator when movement of only the linear actuator is desired.