Abstract: A pilot control system for maintaining a constant operating hydraulic fluid pressure in a hydraulic system throughout a range of hydraulic fluid flow and temperature conditions. The pilot control system has a pilot pump and a pilot relief valve in fluid communication with the pilot pump. A first pressure reducing valve is in fluid communication with the pilot pump and the pilot relief valve so as to reduce the pressure to components downstream of the pressure reducing valve.

Abstract: Oil coolers are commonly used in hydraulic systems for maintaining oil below a preselected temperature under normal operating conditions. The subject oil cooler circuit includes a pilot operated valve disposed in a conduit connecting the hydraulic system to the cooler and an electromagnetic pilot valve connected to one end of the pilot operated valve. The pilot valve is spring biased to its closed position when the temperature of the oil is above a predetermined temperature and is moved to an open position when the oil temperature is at or below the predetermined temperature. The end is vented to a tank at the open position of the pilot valve so that the pilot operated valve is maintained at the closed position to prevent cold viscous oil from being transmitted to the oil cooler when the oil temperature is below the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system is designed to permit the use of a plurality of small substantially identical existing valve assemblies in place of a lesser number of larger valve assemblies. In one embodiment, a first pair of variable displacement load sensing hydraulic pumps communicate with a manifold connected to a first valve assembly and another pair of variable displacement load sensing hydraulic pump communicate with a second manifold connected to second and third valve assemblies. A crossover conduit interconnects the manifolds so that fluid from all four pumps can be used by any one of the valve assemblies or shared by two or all three of the valve assemblies. In another embodiment, a third pair of variable displacement load sensing hydraulic pumps communicate with the first manifold 12 which also has another valve assembly connected thereto.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system has first and second actuators that can be selectively moved to a second operating position dependant upon the pressure of hydraulic fluid being simultaneously transmitted thereto through a common conduit. The force of the springs of the first and second actuators is selected so that when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is at a preselected low pressure, only one of the actuators is moved to its second position and both of the actuators is moved to their second positions when the fluid is at a preselected high pressure. The use of a common conduit for carrying fluid to the actuators eliminates the expense and complexity of providing another flow path between rotatable parts of a vehicle.

Abstract: Load sensing hydraulic systems are useful for distributing fluid from a variable displacement pump to the individual work circuits in accordance with the demand of each work circuit. Preventing load pressure from being drained from the motors of the work circuits during some operating functions heretofore required the use of a pair of pressure compensating valves and a pair of shuttle valves at each of the directional control valves. The subject load pressure duplicating circuit includes a single load pressure duplicating valve having an end subjected to the load pressure in a signal network and reduces pump pressure entering the valve to a pressure level at the output thereof equal to the load pressure. This duplicated pressure is then utilized as the control fluid for the pressure compensating valves and a displacement controller of the pump. The system is greatly simplified by the use of only a single duplicating valve for a hydraulic system having a plurality of work circuits.

Abstract: The use of a pair of small variable displacement hydraulic pumps in a hydraulic system offers some advantages. The output of the two pumps of the known systems is normally not combined, but is selectively combined under a majority of the operating conditions. The subject load sensing hydraulic control system has first and second hydraulic circuits with each circuit having a plurality of pilot operated control valves operatively connected to a variable displacement pump. The output flow of both pumps is normally made available to both hydraulic circuits through a combiner valve so that the output capability of both pumps can be used to satisfy the demand for fluid by a single control valve or by one or more of the control valves from each circuit. A valve arrangement connects the highest load pressure of the control system to both pumps when the output flow thereof is being combined.

Abstract: A fan drive system (10) controls the start-up of a fluid driven fan motor (16) in response to an engine being started. Since the fan motor (16) is many times located remote from the engine, it is important to start the fan motor (16) turning simultaneously when the engine is started. A control mechanism (32) changes the displacement of a pump (12) to operate at an operative position for a predetermined time period from initial start-up to ensure that the motor (16) starts to turn the fan (22). The control mechanism (32) automatically reduces the pump displacement to a standby position at the expiration of the predetermined time period to conserve energy.

Abstract: A load check valve is normally employed in association with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, such as the type used to raise and lower the boom of a construction vehicle. Conventional check valves of the poppet type are difficult to modulate whereas check valves of the spool type generally do not insure leakage control at an acceptable rate during normal operation. The spool-type load check valve (20) of this invention, used in conjunction with additional check valves (60,61), overcomes the latter problem by providing a series of interconnecting passages and chambers (36) for communicating equalized fluid pressure from a cylinder (11) to either end of the spool (27) thereof to provide for minimal leakage.

Abstract: A fluid motor control system (11) assures that automatic changes of motor displacement, which are initiated by occurrence of a predetermined operational condition in the system (11), result in a change of motor speed of the desired magnitude. Flow adjustment elements (76) respond to a displacement increase by reducing the flow of working fluid available to the motor or motors (12, 13) and respond to a motor displacement reduction by increasing the available flow. In one specific form, the system (11) controls a pair of right and left side vehicle drive motors (12, 13) and automatically increases motor displacements while reducing the fluid flow supplied to the motors (12, 13) to reduce travel speed during a turn of travel direction.

Abstract: An improvement is disclosed in a hydraulic system (10) having a variable displacement pump (12) and being capable of delivering pressurized fluid from the pump (12) to selectively engage at least three work circuits (18) with a first (20) of the circuits (18) being normally operable up to a first pressure and a second (22) of the circuits (18) being normally operable up to a second and lower pressure. The improvement comprises circuitry (80, 92, 94, 98, 108, 120, 122, 124, 126) for selectively operating a third (24) of the circuits (18) at one of the first or second pressures or at an upstaged pressure which exceeds the first pressure and circuitry (128) for reducing the displacement of the pump (12) in response to the third circuit (24) being operated at the upstaged pressure. Such upstaged pressure is available in a controlled manner for working against particularly heavy loads. Thus, a third and higher operating level is added to a system which already operates at at least two pressure levels.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/00859 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 15, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 15, 1979 PCT Filed Oct. 15, 1979 PCT Pub. No. WO81/01034 PCT Pub. Date Apr. 16, 1981In prior art hydraulic systems, and in particular in hydraulic systems having a cylinder means for elevating and lowering a load, there exists the possibility that the hydraulic line from a control valve to the cylinder means could rupture, allowing the load to drop before the operator could react. The present invention solves this problem by providing a blocker valve (100) in the vent line (69) of a check valve (33,34) which check valve is interposed in the main line 27 between a cylinder means (12) and a control valve (21). The blocker valve (100) is responsive to the back pressure in the main line (27) from the check valve (33,34) to the control valve (27).

Abstract: A hydraulic control system having a pump and circuits connecting the pump to a pair of hydraulic motors through first and second circuits is provided with a priority valve system operative to provide a priority of fluid pressure to the first motor up to a predetermined minimum pressure and thereafter to maintain the pressure in the first circuit and simultaneously supply fluid to the second motor of the second circuit. The priority valve system is also responsive to a load on a second motor to split the flow of fluid between the two motors above the predetermined minimum pressure up to a second pressure after which the second predetermined pressure is maintained in the first circuit while fluid is being supplied to the second conduit.

Abstract: A three-circuit fluid system has at least one work element served by a pressurized fluid source and a plurality of work elements connected in interruptible series in each of the second and third circuits. A control system is provided for selectively diverting excess fluid from the pressurized fluid source of the first circuit to the second and third circuits in one mode of the control system and diverting excess fluid from the pressurized fluid source of the first circuit to only preselected work elements of the second and third circuits in a preselected order in another mode of the control system.

Abstract: A pressure control valve is connected to selectively supply a control pressure signal to shift a relief valve from a first low pressure mode to a second higher pressure mode and for simultaneously supplying the control pressure signal to an associated variable displacement pump for reducing the relatively high output of the pump to a relatively lower output.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a hydraulic fluid system of a vehicle which comprises a variable displacement pump; a first work element; and a device for receiving a first load signal from the first work element and controlling the pump discharge responsive thereto. The improvement includes a plurality of second work elements which receive fluid flow from the pump via a common supply line connected to the first work element, said fluid flow not passing via any independent load responsive delivery system, and a load responsive controller having flow restricting means in a signal line which communicates with the common supply line for sensing a load pressure in the common supply line, said load pressure being a maximum load pressure of any of the second work elements and delivering a second load signal representative of the load pressure to combine with the first load signal to control the discharge of the pump to be responsive to the larger of the first and second load signals.

Abstract: A pilot operated directional control valve is provided with pressure controlling means responsive to motor line pressure to control the shifting of the control valve to maintain a precisely controlled variable torque in a motor controlled thereby. The pressure controlling means includes constant force centering means for the valve and a piston at each end of the control valve with means communicating motor line pressure to the piston to operate in opposition to a piston subject to pilot control pressure for shifting the valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a drive and swing control system for an excavator wherein the swing pump may selectively direct fluid to the drive motors of the vehicle when the swing motor of the vehicle is not in use.

Abstract: A synchronized vehicle fluid drive system includes a vehicle, a pair of hydraulic motors operative to drive the opposite sides of the vehicle, a dual source of fluid pressure, a pair of open loop circuits individually communicating with the sources of fluid pressure and individually having a distributor valve for selectively communicating its respective fluid pressure source with one of said motors for operation thereof, and an equalizing line disposed in fluid communication intermediate the open loop circuits for assuring that the input flow to each of the motors is substantially the same when straight line travel of the vehicle is desired. Advantageously, a blocking valve may be disposed in the equalizing line for deactivating it upon receiving a steering signal.

Abstract: A load supporting hydraulic system having a pilot operated main control valve is provided with pilot controlled load check valve operative to permit free flow of fluid from said control valve toward the load supporting means of the system in response to pilot pressure and to block fluid flow from the load supporting means toward the control valve. The system includes vent valve means operative with the main control valve to permit the load check valve to be opened by fluid pressure in the load supporting means to allow fluid flow therefrom to the reservoir.

Abstract: An improved fluid system of a crawler type vehicle has control means for selectively passing fluid in a preselected sequence to a plurality of work elements.