Flow divider assembly
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorNathan W. Bonny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow divider assembly for use with a hydraulic pump provides fluid flow to separate drive motors for use in a vehicle or other application. Flow may be provided alternatively to a first fluid side and second fluid side. First and second flow divider motors are in communication with an output of a shuttle valve. A first bypass valve is connected to the first fluid side and a second bypass valve is connected to the second fluid side, and both bypass valves have an open position and a closed position. A multi-position, pilot operated valve is operably connected to both flow divider motors and to both bypass valves. An embodiment permits the output of the system to be driven in either forward or reverse directions.
Claims20
A flow divider assembly for use with a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump capable of providing hydraulic fluid alternatively to a first fluid side and a second fluid side, a first drive motor and a second drive motor, the flow divider assembly comprising:
- a shuttle valve connected to the first fluid side and the second fluid side, wherein the shuttle valve opens in a first direction when the first fluid side is under pressure and the shuttle valve opens in a second direction when the second fluid side is under pressure;
- a first flow divider motor in communication with an output of the shuttle valve and a second flow divider motor in communication with the output of the shuttle valve;
- a first bypass valve connected to the first fluid side and having an open position and a closed position;
- a second bypass valve connected to the second fluid side and having an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a multi-position valve operably connected to both flow divider motors and to both the first bypass valve and the second bypass valve, the multi-position valve having a first position where it is hydraulically connected to both the first bypass valve and the second bypass valve, a second position where the multi-position valve is capable of receiving hydraulic fluid from the first bypass valve, and a third position where the multi-position valve is capable of receiving hydraulic fluid from the second bypass valve.
A flow divider assembly for use with a hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump capable of providing hydraulic fluid alternatively to a first fluid side and a second fluid side, a first drive motor and a second drive motor, the flow divider assembly comprising:
- a shuttle valve connected to the first fluid side and the second fluid side, wherein the shuttle valve opens in a first direction when the first fluid side is under pressure and the shuttle valve opens in a second direction when the second fluid side is under pressure;
- a flow divider in communication with an output of the shuttle valve;
- a first bypass valve connected to the first fluid side and having an open position and a closed position;
- a second bypass valve connected to the second fluid side and having an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a multi-position valve operably connected to the flow divider and to both the first bypass valve and the second bypass valve, and having a plurality of positions.
A hydraulic system for use with a vehicle having a first driven wheel and a second driven wheel, the hydraulic system comprising:
- a hydraulic pump capable of providing hydraulic fluid alternatively to a first fluid side and a second fluid side;
- a first drive motor driving a first output shaft, the first output shaft driving the first driven wheel, and a second drive motor driving a second output shaft, the second output shaft driving the second driven wheel;
- a flow divider assembly hydraulically connected to the first drive motor and the second drive motor, and comprising:
- a shuttle valve connected to the first fluid side and the second fluid side;
- a first flow divider motor and a second flow divider motor, both in communication with an output of the shuttle valve;
- a first bypass valve connected to the first fluid side, the first bypass valve having an open position and a closed position;
- a second bypass valve connected to the second fluid side and the second bypass valve having an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a pilot operated valve assembly operably connected to both flow divider motors and both the first bypass valve and the second bypass valve, and having a plurality of positions, the pilot operated valve assembly being biased to a first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.