# US 10,480,541 B2 · Intelligent boom control with rapid system cycling > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,541 B2 - Document ID: US10480541B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/643,008 - Filed: 2017-07-06 - Published: 2019-01-10 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-06 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Tyler D. Bellows; Calin L. Raszga; Daryl I. Rober - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480541B2 ## CPC - F15B 11/20: controlling several interacting or sequentially-operating members - A01G 23/081: Feller-bunchers, i.e. with bunching by felling head (A01G23/083 takes precedence) - B66F 9/22: Hydraulic devices or systems - E02F 9/2203: {Arrangements for controlling the attitude of actuators, e.g. speed, floating function} - E02F 9/2296: {Systems with a variable displacement pump} - F15B 13/06: for use with two or more servomotors - F15B 11/046: depending on the position of the working member - F15B 11/16: with two or more servomotors - F15B 21/082: {with different modes} - F15B 21/087: {Control strategy, e.g. with block diagram} - F15B 2211/20546: variable capacity - F15B 2211/30565: having multiple valves for a single output member, e.g. for creating higher valve function by use of multiple valves like two 2/2-valves replacing a 5/3-valve - F15B 2211/6336: representing a state of the output member, e.g. position, speed or acceleration - F15B 2211/6346: representing a state of input means, e.g. joystick position - F15B 2211/6654: Flow rate control - F15B 2211/7053: Double-acting output members - F15B 2211/71: Multiple output members, e.g. multiple hydraulic motors or cylinders - F15B 2211/7128: the chambers being connected in parallel - F15B 2211/75: Control of speed of the output member - F15B 2211/7656: with continuous position control - F15B 2211/78: Control of multiple output members - Y10S 901/01: Mobile robot - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A work machine has a connecting valve which is positioned fluidly between a hoist actuator and a stick actuator to permit fluid flow between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator when the connecting valve is open. When the connecting valve is closed, fluid flow is inhibited between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator. A controller can receive information from a hoist boom position sensor and a stick boom position sensor, the controller can receive input from a user interface, and the controller can communicate signals to the hoist actuator and the stick actuator based upon the information from the hoist boom position sensor and the stick boom position sensor, and the input from the user interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A work machine comprising: a frame; a boom assembly coupled to the frame and including a hoist boom pivotally connected to the frame and moveable relative to the frame by a hoist actuator, a hoist boom position sensor connected to the hoist boom, a stick boom pivotally connected to the hoist boom and moveable relative to the hoist boom by a stick actuator, a stick boom position sensor connected to the stick boom, and a tool pivotally connected to the stick boom by a stick pin; a pump fluidly coupled to the hoist actuator and operable to fluidly communicate with the hoist actuator through a hoist valve, the pump further fluidly coupled to the stick actuator and operable to fluidly communicate with the stick actuator through a stick valve; a connecting valve positioned fluidly between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator to permit fluid flow between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator when the connecting valve is open, wherein when the connecting valve is closed, fluid flow is inhibited between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator; a user interface configured to receive velocity input commands from an operator for movement of the tool, the user interface being configured to receive the velocity input commands with at least first, second and third degrees of freedom; and a controller configured to: receive information from the hoist boom position sensor and the stick boom position sensor, receive input from the user interface, communicate signals to the hoist actuator and the stick actuator based upon the information from the hoist boom position sensor and the stick boom position sensor, and the input from the user interface, determine, based upon the at least one velocity input command and the sensed indicators, at least one target actuator velocity for actuating one or more of the hoist actuator, and the stick actuator, and command one or more of the hoist actuator and the stick actuator to move with the determined at least one target actuator velocity, such that the tool moves with an aggregate velocity corresponding to the desired movement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The work machine of claim 1, wherein fluid is permitted to flow from the stick actuator to the hoist actuator when the connecting valve is open. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The work machine of claim 2, wherein the pump is configured to direct fluid flow into the hoist actuator to supplement fluid flow from the stick actuator into the hoist actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The work machine of claim 1, wherein fluid is permitted to flow from the hoist actuator to the stick actuator when the connecting valve is open. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The work machine of claim 4, wherein the pump is configured to direct fluid flow into the stick actuator to supplement fluid flow from the hoist actuator to the stick actuator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The work machine of claim 1, wherein the pump is operable to direct fluid into the hoist actuator when the hoist valve is in a first position, and the pump is operable to direct fluid into the stick actuator when the stick valve is in a first position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The work machine of claim 6, further including a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid, wherein the hoist actuator is configured to direct fluid into the reservoir when the hoist valve is in a second position and the stick actuator is configured to direct fluid into the reservoir when the stick valve is in a second position. ### Claim 8 A method of controlling fluid flow in a work machine, the method comprising: moving a hoist valve into a first position in which the hoist valve is configured to permit flow of hydraulic fluid between a reservoir and a hoist actuator; moving the hoist valve into a second position in which the hoist valve is configured to inhibit flow of hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the hoist actuator; moving a stick valve into a first position in which the stick valve is configured to permit flow of hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and a stick actuator; moving the stick valve into a second position in which the stick valve is configured to inhibit flow of hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the stick actuator; moving a connecting valve into a first position in which the connecting valve is configured to permit flow of hydraulic fluid between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator; moving the connecting valve into a second position in which the connecting valve is configured to inhibit flow of hydraulic fluid between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator; sensing a position of the hoist boom with a hoist boom position sensor; sensing a position of the stick boom with a stick boom position sensor; receiving velocity input commands for a desired movement of a tool; communicating the sensed positions to a controller; receiving, with the controller, input from a user interface; determining, based upon the velocity input commands and the sensed positions, a first target velocity of the hoist actuator and a second target velocity of the stick actuator; communicating signals to the hoist actuator and the stick actuator, with the controller, based upon the sensed position of the hoist boom, the sensed position of the stick boom, and the input from the user interface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising directing fluid from the stick actuator to the hoist actuator when the connecting valve is in the first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising directing fluid into the hoist actuator with the pump to supplement fluid flow from the stick actuator into the hoist actuator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including directing fluid into a reservoir from the stick actuator to store hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising directing fluid from the hoist actuator to the stick actuator when the connecting valve is in the first position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising directing fluid into the stick actuator with the pump to supplement fluid flow from the hoist actuator to the stick actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further including directing fluid into a reservoir from the hoist actuator to store hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 15 A hydraulic circuit and control system for a work machine that includes a machine frame and a boom assembly coupled to the machine frame, the boom assembly including a hoist boom pivotally connected to the machine frame and moveable relative to the machine frame by a hoist actuator, and a stick boom pivotally connected to the hoist boom and moveable relative to the hoist boom by a stick actuator, the hydraulic circuit and control system comprising: a pump operable to move hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic circuit; a hoist valve fluidly positioned between the pump and the hoist actuator to permit fluid flow from the pump into the hoist actuator when the hoist valve is in a first position and to inhibit fluid flow from the pump into the hoist actuator when the hoist valve is in a second position; a stick valve fluidly positioned between the pump and the stick actuator to permit fluid flow from the pump into the stick actuator when the stick valve is in a first position and to inhibit fluid flow from the pump into the stick actuator when the stick valve is in a second position; a connecting valve fluidly positioned between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator to permit fluid flow between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator when the connecting valve is in a first position and to inhibit fluid flow between the hoist actuator and the stick actuator when the connecting valve is in a second position; a user interface configured to receive velocity input commands from an operator for movements of hoist boom and the stick boom; a hoist boom position sensor connected to the hoist boom; a stick boom position sensor connected to the stick boom; and a controller configured to: receive information from the hoist boom position sensor and the stick boom position sensor, receive input from the user interface corresponding to at least one of the velocity input commands for a desired movement of at least one of the hoist boom and the stick boom, determine, based upon the at least one velocity input command and a current orientation of the boom assembly, at least one target actuator velocity for actuating one or more of the hoist boom and the stick boom, and command the hoist actuator and the stick actuator based upon the information from the hoist boom position sensor and the stick boom position sensor, and the input from the user interface to move with the determined at least one target actuator velocity, such that the boom moves with an aggregate velocity corresponding to the desired movement. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The circuit and system of claim 15, further including a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid, wherein the hoist valve and stick valve can permit fluid to flow into the reservoir when the valves are in a third position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The circuit and system of claim 15, wherein fluid is permitted to flow from the stick actuator to the hoist actuator when the connecting valve is open. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The circuit and system of claim 17, wherein the pump is configured to direct fluid flow into the hoist actuator to supplement fluid flow from the stick actuator into the hoist actuator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The circuit and system of claim 15, wherein fluid is permitted to flow from the hoist actuator to the stick actuator when the connecting valve is open. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The circuit and system of claim 19, wherein the pump is configured to direct fluid flow into the stick actuator to supplement fluid flow from the hoist actuator to the stick actuator.