Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus has a plurality of pump modules each of which is formed by a plurality of working chambers having a common high pressure manifold. A connecting circuit switchably connects pump modules to first and second hydraulic circuit portions to allocate capacity as first and second demands for hydraulic fluid vary. In an apparatus which may have two or more connecting circuit outputs, valves may be controlled or working chamber pumping cycles made inactive to facilitate the reallocation of a pump module from one output to another, and a control strategy addresses pump module allocation when the demands for hydraulic fluid exceed available capacity.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus including an electronically commutated machine having a plurality of working chambers which are controlled on each cycle of working chamber volume to carry out active or inactive cycles of working chamber volume allows only a plurality of defined fractions of cycles to be active cycles to avoid generating frequencies of active cycles which cause low frequency resonances. The demand signal may be quantised into fractions m/n where n is an integer below a threshold selected to avoid repeating patterns of active cycles of more than a cut-off length.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus comprises first and second manifolds each of which is connected to a plurality of actuators via corresponding actuator valves connected in parallel and operated responsive to inputs to regulate the flow of fluid to the actuators. A plurality of working chambers are connectable to either the first or second manifold and have a net flow which is controlled responsive to a negative feedback signal. The negative feedback signal is determined in response to a calculated pressure or flow rate in virtual fluid flow paths extending from the first and second manifolds.

Abstract: A prime mover and hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft engaged with the prime mover and having a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine having a low-pressure and a high-pressure valve regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine controlling the low-pressure valves of the group of working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the group of working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, the apparatus further having a controller calculating the demand signal responsive to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or an actuator.

Abstract: A prime mover and hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft engaged with the prime mover and having a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine having a low-pressure and a high-pressure valve regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine controlling the low-pressure valves of the group of working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the group of working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, the apparatus further having a controller calculating the demand signal responsive to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or an actuator.

Abstract: A hydraulic apparatus has a plurality of pump modules each of which is formed by a plurality of working chambers having a common high pressure manifold. A connecting circuit switchably connects pump modules to first and second hydraulic circuit portions to allocate capacity as first and second demands for hydraulic fluid vary. In an apparatus which may have two or more connecting circuit outputs, valves may be controlled or working chamber pumping cycles made inactive to facilitate the reallocation of a pump module from one output to another, and a control strategy addresses pump module allocation when the demands for hydraulic fluid exceed available capacity.

Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of one or more working chambers of the hydraulic machine and one or more of the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold.

Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising working chambers, a hydraulic circuit between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure and high-pressure valves regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to calculate the demand signal in response to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or actuators.

Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising a plurality of working chambers, a hydraulic circuit extending between a group of one or more working chambers of the hydraulic machine and one or more of the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure valve which regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a high-pressure manifold.

Abstract: A prime mover and a plurality of hydraulic actuators, a hydraulic machine having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover and comprising working chambers, a hydraulic circuit between working chambers of the hydraulic machine and the hydraulic actuators, each working chamber of the hydraulic machine comprising a low-pressure and high-pressure valves regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid between the working chamber and a corresponding low-pressure manifold and a high-pressure manifold. The hydraulic machine being configured to actively control the low-pressure valves of the working chambers to select the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by each working chamber on each cycle of working chamber volume, and thereby the net displacement of hydraulic fluid by the working chambers, responsive to a demand signal, wherein the apparatus further comprises a controller configured to calculate the demand signal in response to a measured property of the hydraulic circuit or actuators.