Solenoid valve for a portable hydraulic power unit

A method comprising:

• powering a first pump and a second pump of a hydraulic power unit simultaneously, the first pump drawing hydraulic fluid from a fluid reservoir and providing a first flow of the hydraulic fluid to a first valve, the second pump drawing hydraulic fluid from the fluid reservoir and providing a second flow of the hydraulic fluid to the first valve, wherein the first valve is configured to route the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically-driven tool;
• measuring, by a transducer, a hydraulic fluid pressure indicative of a pressure in a combined flow line upstream of the first valve;
• and
• controlling a second valve between an open state and a closed state based on the measured hydraulic fluid pressure, wherein the second valve is configured to divert the second flow to a system return line when in the open state such that the second flow bypasses the combined flow line and the hydraulically-driven tool with the second valve in the open state.

A hydraulic power unit for providing hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically-driven tool to power the hydraulically-driven tool comprising:

• a fluid tank supported by a frame, the fluid tank configured to store a supply of hydraulic fluid;
• a first pump configured to draw the hydraulic fluid from the fluid tank and pump a first hydraulic flow to a combined flow line;
• a second pump configured to draw the hydraulic fluid from the fluid tank and pump a second hydraulic flow to a high-flow line, the high-flow line fluidly connected to the combined flow line;
• a first valve disposed along the high-flow line, the first valve controllable between an open state and a closed state;
• a high-flow return line extending from a downstream side of the first valve, the high-flow return line configured to provide a return flow of the second hydraulic flow to the fluid tank;
• a transducer configured to sense the hydraulic fluid pressure in the combined flow line and to generate a hydraulic pressure output;
• and
• control circuitry configured to receive the hydraulic pressure output from the transducer and control the first valve between the open state and the closed state based on the hydraulic pressure output;
• wherein the first valve is an electrically-actuated valve configured to shift to the open state based on a hydraulic fluid pressure in the combined flow line exceeding a threshold pressure level, and wherein the first valve directs the second hydraulic flow to the high-flow return line in the open state;
• wherein the threshold pressure level is between 3,000-4,000 psi.

A hydraulic power unit for providing hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically-driven tool to power the hydraulically-driven tool comprising:

• a fluid tank supported by a frame, the fluid tank configured to store a supply of hydraulic fluid;
• a first pump configured to draw the hydraulic fluid from the fluid tank and pump a first hydraulic flow to a combined flow line;
• a second pump configured to draw the hydraulic fluid from the fluid tank and pump a second hydraulic flow to a high-flow line, the high-flow line fluidly connected to the combined flow line;
• a first valve disposed along the high-flow line, the first valve controllable between an open state and a closed state;
• and
• a high-flow return line extending from a downstream side of the first valve, the high-flow return line configured to provide a return flow of the second hydraulic flow to the fluid tank;
• wherein the first valve is an electrically-actuated valve configured to shift to the open state based on a hydraulic fluid pressure in the combined flow line exceeding a threshold pressure level, and wherein the first valve directs the second hydraulic flow to the high-flow return line in the open state;
• wherein the first pump is mechanically linked to the second pump such that a first piston of the first pump and a second piston of the second pump are configured to reciprocate simultaneously;
• wherein the first piston includes a piston rod configured to reciprocate to pump the hydraulic fluid and having a first upper diameter portion and a first lower diameter portion, the first lower diameter portion having a larger diameter than the first upper diameter portion;
• wherein the second piston includes a piston rod configured to reciprocate to pump the hydraulic fluid and having a second upper diameter portion and a second lower diameter portion, the second lower diameter portion having a larger diameter than the second upper diameter portion;
• and
• wherein the second lower diameter portion has a larger diameter than the first lower diameter portion.

A hydraulic power unit for providing hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically-driven tool to power the hydraulically-driven tool comprising:

• a fluid tank supported by a frame, the fluid tank configured to store a supply of hydraulic fluid;
• a first pump configured to draw the hydraulic fluid from the fluid tank and pump a first hydraulic flow to a combined flow line;
• a second pump configured to draw the hydraulic fluid from the fluid tank and pump a second hydraulic flow to a high-flow line, the high-flow line fluidly connected to the combined flow line;
• a first valve disposed along the high-flow line, the first valve controllable between an open state and a closed state;
• and
• a high-flow return line extending from a downstream side of the first valve, the high-flow return line configured to provide a return flow of the second hydraulic flow to the fluid tank;
• wherein the first valve is an electrically-actuated valve configured to shift to the open state based on a hydraulic fluid pressure in the combined flow line exceeding a threshold pressure level, and wherein the first valve directs the second hydraulic flow to the high-flow return line in the open state;
• wherein the first pump is configured to pump the hydraulic fluid at pressures up to 10,000 psi, and the second pump is configured to pump the hydraulic fluid at pressures up to 3,500 psi.

A method comprising:

• powering a first pump and a second pump of a hydraulic power unit simultaneously, the first pump drawing hydraulic fluid from a fluid reservoir and providing a first flow of the hydraulic fluid to a first valve, the second pump drawing hydraulic fluid from the fluid reservoir and providing a second flow of the hydraulic fluid to the first valve, wherein the first valve is configured to route the hydraulic fluid to a hydraulically-driven tool;
• measuring, by a transducer, a hydraulic fluid pressure indicative of a pressure in a combined flow line upstream of the first valve;
• and
• controlling a second valve between an open state and a closed state based on the measured hydraulic fluid pressure by:
• comparing, by a control circuitry of the hydraulic power unit, the hydraulic fluid pressure from the transducer to a threshold pressure level;
• shifting the second valve to the open position based on the comparison indicating that the hydraulic fluid pressure is greater than or equal to the threshold pressure level;
• and
• maintaining the second valve in the open position where the hydraulic fluid pressure exceeds the threshold pressure level;
• wherein the second valve is configured to divert the second flow to a system return line when in the open state;
• and
• wherein the threshold pressure level is between 3,000-4,000 psi.