Energy recovery system for hydraulic machine

• US 9,290,911 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ma, Pengfei, Shang, Tonglin, Zhang, Jiao, Chen, Dayao, Wen, Gang Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiehe, Nathaniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Dustin T
• Application Number:
  US13/770,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20140230420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 604/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/123 Drives or control devices specially adapted therefor E02F9/125 and E02F9/128 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/22 Hydraulic or pneumatic drives for dipper or bucket arm position control E02F3/43, for blade position control for graders E02F3/844; for turntables E02F9/121; for fork-lift trucks B66F9/22
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• 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 1/024 used as a supplementary power source, e.g. to store energy in idle periods to balance pump load
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/14 Energy-recuperation means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20507 Type of prime mover
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20546 variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/212 the pressure sources being accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7058 Rotary output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7135 Combinations of output members of different types, e.g. single-acting cylinders with rotary motors

Abstract

An energy recovery system is disclosed for use with a hydraulic machine. The energy recovery system may have a tank, a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid, an actuator, and an actuator control valve movable to direct pressurized fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator. The energy recovery system may also have a motor mechanically connected to a rotary device and configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the actuator, and at least one valve movable to selectively redirect fluid exiting the motor back to the actuator.

Claims

1. An energy recovery system, comprising:

a tank;

a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid;

an actuator;

an actuator control valve movable to direct pressurized fluid from the pump to the actuator and from the actuator to the tank to move the actuator;

a motor mechanically connected to a rotary device and configured to selectively receive fluid discharged from the actuator and transmit power to the rotary device;

at least one valve movable to selectively redirect fluid exiting the motor back to the actuator; and

a plurality of passages connecting a first chamber of the actuator to a second chamber of the actuator via the motor, wherein the at least one valve includes;

a first control valve associated with the first chamber of the actuator′ and

a second control valve associated with the second chamber of the actuator.

2. The energy recovery system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a boom cylinder.

3. The energy recovery system of claim 2, further including an accumulator configured to store fluid discharged from the boom cylinder and to direct stored fluid to the motor to drive the rotary device.

4. The energy recovery system of claim 3, further including:

a first passage connecting a chamber of the actuator to the accumulator; and

a first control valve disposed within the first passage.

5. The energy recovery system of claim 4, further including:

a second passage connecting the accumulator to the motor; and

a second control valve disposed within the second passage.

6. The energy recovery system of claim 5, further including:

a bypass passage extending from the chamber of the actuator to the motor and bypassing the accumulator, the first control valve, and the second control valve; and

a bypass control valve disposed within the bypass passage.

7. The energy recovery system of claim 2, wherein:

the accumulator is a boom accumulator;

the actuator control valve is a boom control valve; and

the energy recovery system further includes;

a swing motor;

a swing control valve movable to direct pressurized fluid from the pump to the swing motor and from the swing motor to the tank to move the swing motor; and

a swing accumulator configured to store fluid discharged from the boom cylinder and to direct stored fluid to the swing motor.

8. The energy recovery system of claim 7, further including a passage connecting the swing accumulator to the motor.

9. The energy recovery system of claim 1, wherein the first and second control valves are disposed downstream of the motor in parallel with each other.

10. The energy recovery system of claim 9, further including a third control valve disposed in parallel with the first and second control valves, the third control valve being moveable to selectively redirect fluid exiting the motor into a low-pressure tank.

11. The energy recovery system of claim 10, wherein the third control valve and at least one of the first and second control valves are simultaneously operable to redirect a first portion of the fluid exiting the motor to back to the actuator and a remaining portion to the tank.

12. The energy recovery system of claim 10, further including a pressure relief valve disposed downstream of the motor and upstream of the first, second, and third control valves.

13. The energy recovery system of claim 1, wherein the rotary device is a shaft connected to the pump.

14. The energy recovery system of claim 1, wherein the rotary device is an engine that drives the pump.

15. A method of recovering energy, comprising:

drawing fluid from a tank;

pressurizing the fluid with a pump;

selectively directing pressurized fluid from the pump into an actuator and directing fluid from the actuator to a tank to move the actuator;

directing fluid discharged from the actuator through a motor to drive the pump; and

redirecting fluid from the motor back to the actuator with a first control valve associated with a first chamber of the actuator and a second control valve associated with a second chamber of the actuator, the first and second chambers of the actuator being connected by a plurality of passages.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

accumulating fluid discharged from the actuator;

selectively directing accumulated fluid through the motor; and

selectively directing fluid discharged from the actuator directly to the motor.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein redirecting fluid from the motor back to the actuator includes selectively directing the fluid to a tank, the first chamber of the actuator, or to the second chamber of the actuator.

18. A machine, comprising;

an undercarriage;

a boom pivotally connected to the undercarriage;

a work tool operatively connected to the boom;

a pair of linear actuators configured to lift the boom and the work tool;

a tank;

a pump configured to draw fluid from the tank and pressurize the fluid;

an actuator control valve movable to selectively direct pressurized fluid from the pump to the pair of linear actuators and from the pair of linear actuators to the tank;

a motor connected to selectively receive fluid discharged from the pair of linear actuators and mechanically connected to the pump;

an accumulator configured to store fluid discharged from the pair of linear actuators and to direct stored fluid to the motor to drive the pump; and

at least one control valve disposed downstream of the motor and movable to selectively direct fluid discharged from the motor into the tank, into a first chamber of the pair of linear actuators, or into a second chamber of the pair of linear actuators, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are connected by a plurality of passages, and wherein the at least one control valve includes;

a first control valve associated with the first chamber of the pair of linear actuators; and

a second control valve associated with the second chamber of the linear actuators.