System to pump fluid and control thereof
AssigneeProject Phoenix, LLC
InventorThomas Afshari
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid system includes a variable-speed and/or a variable-torque pump to pump a fluid, at least one proportional control valve assembly, an actuator that is operated by the fluid to control a load, and a controller that establishes a speed and/or torque of the pump and a position of the at least one proportional control valve assembly. The pump includes at least one fluid driver that provides fluid to the actuator, which can be, e.g., a fluid-actuated cylinder, a fluid-driven motor or another type of fluid-driven actuator that controls a load. Each fluid driver includes a prime mover and a fluid displacement assembly. The fluid displacement assembly can be driven by the prime mover such that fluid is transferred from the inlet port to the outlet port of the pump.
Claims20
A hydraulic system comprising:
- a hydraulic pump to provide hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator having first and second ports, the hydraulic pump including,
- at least one electric motor,
- a gear assembly configured to be driven by the at least one electric motor such that the fluid is transferred from an inlet port of the hydraulic pump to an outlet port of the hydraulic pump;
- and
- a control valve disposed on a side of the inlet port or the outlet port, wherein the control valve is configured to be throttled;
- and
- a controller configured to operate the at least one electric motor to control a flow in the hydraulic system to a flow set point or a pressure in the hydraulic system to a pressure set point, the controller further configured to operate the control valve to control the flow in the hydraulic system to the flow set point or the pressure in the hydraulic system to the pressure set point.
A method for controlling a fluid flow in a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic pump and a throttleable control valve, the hydraulic pump to provide hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic actuator that controls a load, the hydraulic pump including at least one electric motor and a fluid displacement assembly to be driven by the at least one electric motor, the method comprising:
- controlling, in response to a change in demand of a fluid flow or a pressure in the hydraulic system, a flow in the hydraulic system to a flow set point or a pressure in the hydraulic system to a pressure set point using the electric motor;
- and
- concurrently operating the control valve to control the flow in the hydraulic system to the flow set point or the pressure in the hydraulic system to the pressure set point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.