Abstract: A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g.

Abstract: A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g.

Abstract: A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g.

Abstract: A hydraulic machine can include one or movable loads and one or more control units associated with actuators operating the movable loads. The control units can include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer, the accelerometer being adapted to detect an orientation of the control unit relative to a gravity force vector, the magnetometer being adapted to detect an orientation of the control unit relative to a fixed magnetic field, and the gyroscope being adapted to detect yaw, pitch and roll, rates of the control unit. The magnetometer can be used to align the data from the control units such that the position, orientation, and velocity of the movable loads, including an end effector of the hydraulic machine, can be determined and controlled.

Abstract: A mobile hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator coupled to a load, and a control unit coupled to the load and/or to the hydraulic actuator. The control unit is adapted to anticipate an over-center transition of the load relative to a gravity vector prior to the over-center transition through the use of sensors configured with accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers. In some examples, the over-center transition is from an overrunning driving of the load to a passive driving of the load. In some examples, the over-center transition is from a passive driving of the load to an overrunning driving of the load. In some examples, the control unit is adapted to control change in a metered flow through one or more ports of the associated actuator to minimize and/or prevent one or more hydraulic effects of the anticipated over-center transition. In some examples, the control unit controls the metered flow by causing one or more actuators (e.g.

Abstract: A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply, and an orifice disposed in a flow path between the hydraulic load and the digital valve. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target pressure drop across the orifice and is configured to determine an actual pressure drop across the orifice and formulate a control signal based on the target pressure drop and the actual pressure drop. The controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target value of a hydraulic system operating parameter and is configured to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the target value. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a first digital valve fluidly connectable to a first hydraulic load and a pump. The first valve is operable to fluidly connect the first hydraulic load to the pump. A second digital valve is fluidly connectable to a second hydraulic load and the pump. The second valve is operable to fluidly connect the second hydraulic load to the pump. The system includes a first sensor for detecting a pump discharge pressure and a second sensor for detecting an inlet pressure of the first hydraulic load. A controller is configured to determine a time delay based on the pump discharge pressure and the first hydraulic load inlet pressure and to send a control signal instructing the second valve to commence opening at a time substantially equal to the time delay after commencing closing the first valve.

Abstract: A valve is provided including a first valve member and a second valve member. The first valve member includes a first step and a first orifice adjacent the first step. The second valve member includes a second step and a second orifice adjacent the second step. The second valve member is movable relative to the first valve member between an open position, in which the first orifice is fluidly connected the second orifice, and a closed position, in which the first orifice is substantially fluidly disconnected from the second orifice. The first and second steps are fluidly connected to the second orifice and substantially fluidly disconnected from the first orifice when the second valve member is in the closed position, and the first and second steps are fluidly connected to the first and second orifices when the second valve member is in the open position.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply, and an orifice disposed in a flow path between the hydraulic load and the digital valve. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target pressure drop across the orifice and is configured to determine an actual pressure drop across the orifice and formulate a control signal based on the target pressure drop and the actual pressure drop. The controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a digital valve operable to fluidly connect a hydraulic load to a pressure supply. A digital controller is operably connected to the digital valve. The digital controller stores a target value of a hydraulic system operating parameter and is configured to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the target value. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the digital valve for controlling the operation of the valve.

Abstract: An exemplary hydraulic system includes a first digital valve fluidly connectable to a first hydraulic load and a pump. The first valve is operable to fluidly connect the first hydraulic load to the pump. A second digital valve is fluidly connectable to a second hydraulic load and the pump. The second valve is operable to fluidly connect the second hydraulic load to the pump. The system includes a first sensor for detecting a pump discharge pressure and a second sensor for detecting an inlet pressure of the first hydraulic load. A controller is configured to determine a time delay based on the pump discharge pressure and the first hydraulic load inlet pressure and to send a control signal instructing the second valve to commence opening at a time substantially equal to the time delay after commencing closing the first valve.