# US 10,246,942 B2 · Hyraulic motor circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,942 B2 - Document ID: US10246942B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/021,568 - Filed: 2014-09-15 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-13 - Assignees: Oilpath Hydraulics Pty Ltd - Applicants: Oilpath Hydraulics Pty Ltd - Inventors: Peter John Driver - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246942B2 ## CPC - E21B 7/022: {Control of the drilling operation; Hydraulic or pneumatic means for activation or operation (control circuits for drilling masts E21B15/045)} - E21B 3/02: Surface drives for rotary drilling - E21B 7/027: {Drills for drilling shallow holes, e.g. for taking soil samples or for drilling postholes} - F16H 61/4026: Control of low pressure - F16H 61/448: Control circuits for tandem pumps or motors - E02F 3/06: with digging screws {(earth drilling E21; for digging trenches or ditches E02F5/04)} - E02F 9/2217: {with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels} - F15B 11/024: by means of differential connection of the servomotor lines, e.g. regenerative circuits - F15B 2211/88: Control measures for saving energy - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - F16H: GEARING - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A hydraulic motor circuit for driving an auger is disclosed. The circuit includes a hydraulic motor that receives oil from an oil supply via a supply line and returns oil to the oil supply via a return line. The circuit further includes a main stage pressure relief valve and a first pilot stage relief valve operable if pressure in the return line exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to an allowable inertia load acting on the motor, opening of the first pilot stage relief valve causing the main stage pressure relief valve to open, allowing flow to be diverted from the return line to the supply line and back to the motor. A control valve is configured to block flow to the first pilot stage relief valve when pressure, in the supply line is greater than pressure in the return line. If pressure in the return line exceeds pressure in the supply line, the control valve shifts open and exposes the first pilot stage relief valve to pressure in the return line. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic motor circuit for an auger, including: a hydraulic motor that receives oil from an oil supply via a supply line and returns oil to the oil supply via a return line; a main stage pressure relief valve; a first pilot stage relief valve openable if pressure in the return line exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to an allowable inertia load acting on the motor, opening of the first pilot stage relief valve causing the main stage pressure relief valve to open, allowing flow to be diverted from the return line to the supply line and back to the motor; and a control valve configured to block flow to the first pilot stage relief valve when pressure in the supply line is greater than pressure in the return line; wherein, if pressure in the return line exceeds pressure in the supply line, the control valve shifts open and exposes the first pilot stage relief valve to pressure in the return line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 1 wherein the control valve shifts open due to a pressure differential set up in the return line. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 2 wherein the control valve is a spool valve including an inlet and outlet, a pilot port and a spring chamber having a bias spring, said spring chamber directed to a further port, wherein the spool shifts open to allow flow between the inlet and outlet when pressure at the pilot port exceeds pressure at the further port which includes the bias spring pressure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 3 wherein oil in the return line flows through a spring-biased blocking valve wherein a first flow pressure upstream of the blocking valve is communicated to the pilot port of the spool valve and a second flow pressure downstream of the blocking valve is communicated to the further port of the spool valve, the first flow pressure exceeding the second flow pressure by at least the value of the bias spring pressure of the spool valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 1 wherein the first pilot stage relief valve is set to open at a predetermined value selected from within the range 28 to 235 bar. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 3 further including a second pilot stage relief valve openable if pressure in the supply line exceeds a maximum working pressure, opening of the second pilot stage relief valve causing the main stage pressure relief valve to open, allowing flow to be diverted from the supply line to the return line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 6 further including: a first shuttle valve having a first inlet in fluid communication with the supply line, a second inlet in fluid communication with the return line and an outlet directing flow to the further port of the spool valve; and a second shuttle valve having a first inlet in fluid communication with the supply line, a second inlet in fluid communication with the return line and an outlet directing flow to the pilot port of the spool valve; wherein, when the pressure in the supply line exceeds the pressure in the return line, the first and second shuttle valves are connected to the supply line and the spool valve remains closed whereas when the pressure in the return line exceeds the pressure in the supply line, the first and second shuttle valves connect to the return line thereby causing the spool valve to shift open. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 7 wherein the spool valve allows the circuit to switch between monitoring maximum working pressure in the supply line and inertia resistance pressure in the return line. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 6 wherein the second pilot stage relief valve is set to open at 240 bar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 1 wherein the hydraulic motor is bi-directional. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 1 wherein the circuit is adapted for use with either an open or closed centre hydraulic system associated with equipment that the auger is attached to. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The hydraulic motor circuit according to claim 1 further including: a first solenoid valve having a 12V DC coil; and a second solenoid valve having a 24V DC coil; wherein, the first or second solenoid valves are remotely actuated by applying either 12V DC or 24V DC to the respective coils, the actuation of either valve causing the speed of the hydraulic motor to change from a first speed to a second speed. ### Claim 13 A hydraulic motor circuit for driving an auger, including: a bi-directional hydraulic motor that receives oil from an oil supply via a supply line and returns oil to the oil supply via a return line; a main stage pressure relief valve; a first pilot stage relief valve openable if pressure in the return line exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to an allowable inertia load acting on the motor, opening of the first pilot stage relief valve causing the main stage pressure relief valve to open, allowing flow to be diverted from the return line to the supply line and back to the motor; a second pilot stage relief valve openable if pressure in the supply line exceeds a maximum working pressure, opening of the second pilot stage relief valve causing the main stage pressure relief valve to open, allowing flow to be diverted from the supply line to the return line; and a spool valve configured to block flow to the first pilot stage relief valve when pressure in the supply line is greater than pressure in the return line, wherein, a pressure differential set up in the return line is used to open the spool valve when pressure in the return line exceeds pressure in the supply line thereby exposing the first pilot stage relief valve to pressure in the return line and enabling an inertia load acting on the motor to be absorbed. ### Claim 14 A drilling apparatus, including: an auger for performing a drilling operation; and a hydraulic motor circuit for driving said auger, said circuit adapted for use with either an open or closed centre hydraulic system associated with equipment that the auger is attached to, the hydraulic motor circuit including: a hydraulic motor that receives oil from the hydraulic system via a supply line and returns oil to the hydraulic system via a return line; a main stage pressure relief valve; a first pilot stage relief valve openable if pressure in the return line exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to an allowable inertia load acting on the motor, opening of the first pilot stage relief valve causing the main stage pressure relief valve to open, allowing flow to be diverted from the return line to the supply line and back to the motor; and a control valve configured to block flow to the first pilot stage relief valve when pressure in the supply line is greater than pressure in the return line; wherein, if pressure in the return line exceeds pressure in the supply line, the control valve shifts open and exposes the first pilot stage relief valve to pressure in the return line.