Abstract: A valve member having a supply pressure and a method of controlling the supply pressure in the valve member includes a valve body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a controlled port. The valve member includes a spool moveable within the valve body to fluidly connect at least one of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet with the controlled port. The spool includes an end in fluid communication with a control pressure port and a pin received within the end of the spool that is moveable relative to the spool. Fluid flow through the control pressure port acts against a cross-sectional area of the pin and an annular area of the spool to modulate the supply pressure through the valve member.

Abstract: A valve member having a supply pressure and a method of controlling the supply pressure in the valve member includes a valve body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a controlled port. The valve member includes a spool moveable within the valve body to fluidly connect at least one of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet with the controlled port. The spool includes an end in fluid communication with a control pressure port and a pin received within the end of the spool that is moveable relative to the spool. Fluid flow through the control pressure port acts against a cross-sectional area of the pin and an annular area of the spool to modulate the supply pressure through the valve member.

Abstract: A smart flow sharing system, useful in hydraulic systems having more than one hydraulically demanding equipment function wherein more than one of the hydraulically demanding functions are sometimes activated at the same time, has modified hydraulic passages and at least two fixed displacement pumps. The system automatically prioritizes hydraulic fluid flow so that when only one of two hydraulically demanding functions is activated by an operator, it receives the hydraulic fluid flow from both fixed displacement pumps, but when both hydraulically demanding functions are activated, one of the functions receives hydraulic fluid flow from the first fixed displacement pump, and the other function separately receives hydraulic fluid flow from the second fixed displacement pump. The smart flow sharing system accomplishes the foregoing without resorting to complex hydraulics or expensive additional components.

Abstract: A fixed/variable hybrid system has modified constant flow open center hydraulic valves (“fixed/variable valves”), including an open center core, spools, a power core, and a tank galley. A small fixed displacement pump provides fluid at a constant rate to the open center core. A variable displacement piston pump provides fluid directly to the power core as needed. Activation of spools partially restricts the open center core causing an increase in fluid pressure that is communicated to the variable displacement piston pump's load sense signal port, causing the pump to increase fluid flow and pressure to the power core. Activated spools direct pressurized fluid from the power core to the applications through selected hydraulic ports. Activated spools also direct fluid flow from selected hydraulic ports via the tank galley to a hydraulic tank. Pumping the majority of fluid only on an as-needed basis results in significant efficiencies.

Abstract: A fixed/variable hybrid system has modified constant flow open center hydraulic valves (“fixed/variable valves”), including an open center core, spools, a power core, and a tank galley. A small fixed displacement pump provides fluid at a constant rate to the open center core. A variable displacement piston pump provides fluid directly to the power core as needed. Activation of spools partially restricts the open center core causing an increase in fluid pressure that is communicated to the variable displacement piston pump's load sense signal port, causing the pump to increase fluid flow and pressure to the power core. Activated spools direct pressurized fluid from the power core to the applications through selected hydraulic ports. Activated spools also direct fluid flow from selected hydraulic ports via the tank galley to a hydraulic tank. Pumping the majority of fluid only on an as-needed basis results in significant efficiencies.

Abstract: A smart flow sharing system, useful in hydraulic systems having more than one hydraulically demanding equipment function wherein more than one of the hydraulically demanding functions are sometimes activated at the same time, has modified hydraulic passages and at least two fixed displacement pumps. The system automatically prioritizes hydraulic fluid flow so that when only one of two hydraulically demanding functions is activated by an operator, it receives the hydraulic fluid flow from both fixed displacement pumps, but when both hydraulically demanding functions are activated, one of the functions receives hydraulic fluid flow from the first fixed displacement pump, and the other function separately receives hydraulic fluid flow from the second fixed displacement pump. The smart flow sharing system accomplishes the foregoing without resorting to complex hydraulics or expensive additional components.