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US 11,447,930 B2Granted
System and methods for cycle time management
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorsCharles Young, Marty Carpenter, Scott Becker, Douglas Kallas, Matthew Kaldor, Eric Zabel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic work system can include a continuously variable displacement hydraulic pump that is powered by an engine and is in communication with a hydraulic actuator. A run-time displacement of the hydraulic pump for movement of the hydraulic actuator can be controlled based on a speed of the engine.
Claims19
A power machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a lift arm pivotally mounted to the frame;
- a hydraulic actuator coupled to the frame and to the lift arm and actuable to move the lift arm relative to the frame;
- a hydraulic system including a pump in communication with the hydraulic actuator, the pump being powered by an engine and being configured to operate with continuously variable displacement to provide a hydraulic flow to the hydraulic actuator;
- and
- a control device configured to:
- determine an engine speed value;
- and
- control a run-time displacement of the pump, based on the determined engine speed value, to maintain a target hydraulic flow rate from the pump to cause the hydraulic actuator to move the lift arm from a fully lowered position to a fully raised position over a target duration of time, in response to an operator input that commands movement of the lift arm, at a speed that corresponds to movement of the lift arm from the fully lowered position to the fully raised position in a duration of time that is greater than or equal to the target duration of time.
6 more elements
A method for controlling operation of a power machine, the method comprising:
- operating a pump of a hydraulic system, using power from an engine of the power machine, to provide hydraulic flow to execute hydraulic work functions, the pump being configured to operate with continuously variable displacement to provide the hydraulic flow;
- determining, using a control device, an engine speed value;
- and
- controlling, using the control device, a run-time displacement of the pump, based on the determined engine speed value, to provide a hydraulic flow corresponding to execution of at least one of the hydraulic work functions in a target cycle time.
1 more element
A hydraulic work system for use in a power machine with an engine, the hydraulic work system comprising:
- a hydrodynamic work actuator circuit that includes a pump that is configured to provide hydraulic flow to execute hydraulic work functions, the pump being powered by the engine and being configured to operate with continuously variable displacement to provide the hydraulic flow;
- and
- a control device that is configured to:
- determine a target maximum hydraulic flow rate based on at least one of:
- an actual travel speed or acceleration for the power machine, a commanded travel speed or acceleration for the power machine, a loading of an implement associated with at least one of the hydraulic work functions, or an orientation of a implement or the power machine;
- and
- control a run-time displacement of the pump, over a range of engine speeds, to prevent a run-time flow rate of the pump from exceeding the target maximum hydraulic flow rate during execution of at least one of the hydraulic work functions.
4 more elements
A power machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a lift arm pivotally mounted to the frame;
- a hydraulic actuator coupled to the frame and to the lift arm and actuable to move the lift arm relative to the frame;
- a hydraulic system including a pump in communication with the hydraulic actuator, the pump being powered by an engine and being configured to operate with continuously variable displacement to provide a hydraulic flow to the hydraulic actuator;
- a sensor configured to indicate an orientation of the power machine relative to gravity;
- and
- a control device configured to:
- determine an engine speed value;
- and
- control a run-time displacement of the pump, based on the determined engine speed value and on the orientation of the power machine, to maintain a target hydraulic flow rate from the pump to cause the hydraulic actuator to move the lift arm from a fully lowered position to a fully raised position over a target duration of time.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.