Abstract: A system and method for determining a health status of a hydraulic system is disclosed. The system may comprise a controller configured to receive a request to determine a health status and in response to the request, automatically conduct a health test and determine the health status. The health test may include: move a member or the upper frame; receive information indicative of measurements associated with movement; determine one or more parameters; compare each parameter to a check range or value; and if the pump status, the main control valve leakage status, the in-line relief valve leakage status, the cylinder drift status or the cylinder seal leak status associated with the component is currently failing, predicted to fail or out of specification, identify the component as a service-needed on a display or log and activate an alarm.

Abstract: A hydraulic system may include a first actuator to control a first linkage member, a second actuator to control a second linkage member, a first primary hydraulic circuit and a first secondary hydraulic circuit that include the first actuator, a second primary hydraulic circuit and a second secondary hydraulic circuit that include the second actuator, a first pump to cause fluid to flow through the first primary hydraulic circuit and the second secondary hydraulic circuit, a second pump to cause fluid to flow through the second primary hydraulic circuit and the first secondary hydraulic circuit, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine that an operator assistance mode is enabled, and cause closing of a first valve that controls fluid flow through the first secondary hydraulic circuit and a second valve that controls fluid flow through the second secondary hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A swing motion control system for an earth-moving machine may include a closed loop hydraulic circuit including a hydrostatic swing pump fluidly coupled to at least one hydraulic swing motor configured to control a swing mechanism of the earth-moving machine, a pressure control device configured to control the pressure of fluid supplied to the hydrostatic swing pump for control of the pressure output by the pump, and a controller.

Abstract: A hydraulic system may include a first actuator to control a first linkage member, a second actuator to control a second linkage member, a first primary hydraulic circuit and a first secondary hydraulic circuit that include the first actuator, a second primary hydraulic circuit and a second secondary hydraulic circuit that include the second actuator, a first pump to cause fluid to flow through the first primary hydraulic circuit and the second secondary hydraulic circuit, a second pump to cause fluid to flow through the second primary hydraulic circuit and the first secondary hydraulic circuit, and a controller. The controller may be configured to determine that an operator assistance mode is enabled, and cause closing of a first valve that controls fluid flow through the first secondary hydraulic circuit and a second valve that controls fluid flow through the second secondary hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A hydraulic system controller is disclosed. The hydraulic system controller may determine a maximum active circuit pressure of a set of active hydraulic circuits of the hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump to cause fluid to flow throughout the set of active hydraulic circuits; determine a circuit pressure of a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system; determine, based on a hydraulic flow command for the hydraulic circuit and the circuit pressure, a desired circuit delta-pressure for the hydraulic circuit; determine, based on the desired circuit delta-pressure and a pressure difference between the maximum active circuit pressure and the circuit pressure, a circuit valve setting for a circuit valve of the hydraulic circuit; and cause a control device to set a position of the circuit valve according to the circuit valve setting.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may include a hydrostatic pump to provide, at a flow rate, a fluid to a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydrostatic pump has a displacement, and wherein the hydraulic motor drives a swinging element; a swing circuit pressure sensor to sense a circuit pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a pilot pressure actuator to control, based on a supply pressure, the displacement of the hydrostatic pump; a pilot pressure override valve to control the supply pressure; and a controller configured to adjust, based on sensed signals and with the pilot pressure override valve, the supply pressure, wherein the sensed signals include: a circuit pressure signal based on the circuit pressure sensed by the swing circuit pressure sensor; and a sensed swing speed signal based on a swing speed of the swinging element sensed by one or more machine sensors.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit is disclosed. The hydraulic circuit may include a hydrostatic pump to provide, at a flow rate, a fluid to a hydraulic motor, wherein the hydrostatic pump has a displacement, and wherein the hydraulic motor drives a swinging element; a swing circuit pressure sensor to sense a circuit pressure of the hydraulic circuit; a pilot pressure actuator to control, based on a supply pressure, the displacement of the hydrostatic pump; a pilot pressure override valve to control the supply pressure; and a controller configured to adjust, based on sensed signals and with the pilot pressure override valve, the supply pressure, wherein the sensed signals include: a circuit pressure signal based on the circuit pressure sensed by the swing circuit pressure sensor; and a sensed swing speed signal based on a swing speed of the swinging element sensed by one or more machine sensors.

Abstract: A swing motion control system for an earth-moving machine may include a closed loop hydraulic circuit including a hydrostatic swing pump fluidly coupled to at least one hydraulic swing motor configured to control a swing mechanism of the earth-moving machine, a pressure control device configured to control the pressure of fluid supplied to the hydrostatic swing pump for control of the pressure output by the pump, and a controller.

Abstract: A hydraulic system controller is disclosed. The hydraulic system controller may determine a maximum active circuit pressure of a set of active hydraulic circuits of the hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump to cause fluid to flow throughout the set of active hydraulic circuits; determine a circuit pressure of a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system; determine, based on a hydraulic flow command for the hydraulic circuit and the circuit pressure, a desired circuit delta-pressure for the hydraulic circuit; determine, based on the desired circuit delta-pressure and a pressure difference between the maximum active circuit pressure and the circuit pressure, a circuit valve setting for a circuit valve of the hydraulic circuit; and cause a control device to set a position of the circuit valve according to the circuit valve setting.

Abstract: A hydraulic system controller is disclosed. The hydraulic system controller may determine a maximum active circuit pressure of a set of active hydraulic circuits of the hydraulic system, wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump to cause fluid to flow throughout the set of active hydraulic circuits; determine a circuit pressure of a hydraulic circuit of the hydraulic system; determine, based on a hydraulic flow command for the hydraulic circuit and the circuit pressure, a desired circuit delta-pressure for the hydraulic circuit; determine, based on the desired circuit delta-pressure and a pressure difference between the maximum active circuit pressure and the circuit pressure, a circuit valve setting for a circuit valve of the hydraulic circuit; and cause a control device to set a position of the circuit valve according to the circuit valve setting.

Abstract: A method of determining the real time state of a machine includes receiving acceleration and angular rate of motion measurements from IMU's mounted on components of a machine. Fusing signals received from the IMU's with separate Kalman filter modules by combining an acceleration measurement and an angular rate of motion measurement from each IMU to estimate an output joint angle for the component on which the IMU is mounted. Estimated and measured values of the output joint angle for each component are combined, a kinematic equation is solved to determine a real time value for at least one of position, velocity, and acceleration of the component at successive timesteps, and the determined real time values are applied to control movement of each component.

Abstract: A method of determining the real time state of a machine includes receiving, with at least one processor, from each of a plurality of Inertial Measurement Units (IMU's) mounted on different components of the machine, a time series of signals indicative of acceleration and angular rate of motion measurements for each of the components of the machine on which one or more of the plurality of IMU's are mounted. For each one of the IMU's on a separate component of the machine, the signals received from the IMU are fused with a separate Kalman filter module by combining an acceleration measurement and an angular rate of motion measurement from the IMU to estimate an output joint angle for the component of the machine on which the IMU is mounted.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for an excavation machine including a tool linkage system. The hydraulic control system may have a first actuator configured to move a first link of the tool linkage system in response to input from an operator of the excavation machine, and a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of the first actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a second actuator configured to move a second link of the tool linkage system in response to input from the operator. In addition, the hydraulic control system may have a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the first actuator, and the second actuator. The controller may be configured to automatically affect operation of the first actuator based on the pressure signal at times when movement of the second actuator is being requested by the operator and movement of the first actuator is being requested by the operator at a level less than a threshold.

Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a first actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump, and an accumulator configured to receive fluid from the first actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a second actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator, and a pilot circuit configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator. The hydraulic system may further have at least one valve movable to provide priority of fluid flow from the accumulator to the pilot circuit over the second actuator when a pressure of the accumulator is less than a low-pressure threshold.

Abstract: A hydraulic system is disclosed for use with a machine. The hydraulic system may have a pump configured to pressurize fluid, a first actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump, and an accumulator configured to receive fluid from the first actuator. The hydraulic system may also have a second actuator configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator, and a pilot circuit configured to receive pressurized fluid from the pump and the accumulator. The hydraulic system may further have at least one valve movable to provide priority of fluid flow from the accumulator to the pilot circuit over the second actuator when a pressure of the accumulator is less than a low-pressure threshold.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system is disclosed for an excavation machine including a tool linkage system. The hydraulic control system may have a first actuator configured to move a first link of the tool linkage system in response to input from an operator of the excavation machine, and a pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure of the first actuator. The hydraulic control system may also have a second actuator configured to move a second link of the tool linkage system in response to input from the operator. In addition, the hydraulic control system may have a controller in communication with the pressure sensor, the first actuator, and the second actuator.