# US 11,898,327 B2 · Hydraulic system for working machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,898,327 B2 - Document ID: US11898327B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/837,255 - Filed: 2022-06-10 - Published: 2023-03-09 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-08 - Assignees: Kubota Corporation - Applicants: Kubota Corporation - Inventors: Kohei Nagao; Yuji Fukuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898327B2 ## CPC - E02F 9/2228: {including an electronic controller} - E02F 9/2004: {Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers (control levers per se G05G)} - E02F 9/2282: {Systems using center bypass type changeover valves} - E02F 9/2285: {Pilot-operated systems} - F15B 13/044: operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors - F15B 15/20: Other details {, e.g. assembly with regulating devices} - F15B 21/082: {with different modes} - F15B 21/087: {Control strategy, e.g. with block diagram} - E02F 9/2292: {Systems with two or more pumps} - F15B 13/0433: {the pilot valves being pressure control valves (F15B13/0435, F15B13/0436, F15B13/0438 take precedence)} - F15B 2211/20538: constant capacity - F15B 2211/20576: with multiple pumps - F15B 2211/3116: the pump port being open in the centre position, e.g. so-called open centre - F15B 2211/327: electrically or electronically - F15B 2211/329: actuated by fluid pressure - F15B 2211/355: Pilot pressure control - F15B 2211/36: Pilot pressure sensing - F15B 2211/6316: the pressure being a pilot pressure - F15B 2211/6346: representing a state of input means, e.g. joystick position - F15B 2211/6355: having valve means - F15B 2211/6658: Control using different modes, e.g. four-quadrant-operation, working mode and transportation mode - F15B 2211/67: Methods for controlling pilot pressure - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A hydraulic system for a working machine includes a hydraulic pump to output a hydraulic fluid, an operation device operable to supply a pilot fluid in accordance with an amount by which the operation device is operated, a hydraulic actuator to be operated by the hydraulic fluid, a pilot fluid passage connected to the operation device, a first control valve connected to the pilot fluid passage and to be operated by the pilot fluid to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid, a second control valve to be operated by the pilot fluid to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid, a proportional valve to change a pressure of the pilot fluid to operate the second control valve, a pressure detector provided in the pilot fluid passage to detect a pressure in the pilot fluid passage, and a controller to control the proportional valve based on the pressure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic system for a working machine, the hydraulic system comprising: a first hydraulic pump to output a hydraulic fluid; a second hydraulic pump to output a pilot fluid; an operation device including an operation lever and at least one pilot valve to change a pressure of the pilot fluid supplied through a fluid passage in accordance with a direction in which the operation lever is operated and an amount by which the operation lever is operated; at least one hydraulic actuator to be operated by the hydraulic fluid; at least one pilot fluid passage connected to the at least one pilot valve; a first control valve connected to the at least one pilot fluid passage to be operated by the pilot fluid to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the at least one hydraulic actuator; a second control valve to be operated by the pilot fluid to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid; at least one proportional valve to change, to operate the second control valve, a pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve; at least one pressure detector provided in the at least one pilot fluid passage to detect a pressure in the at least one pilot fluid passage; a controller configured or programmed to control the at least one proportional valve, based on the pressure detected by the at least one pressure detector; at least one hydraulic port to supply the hydraulic fluid to an outside; and a blocking switching valve to block the at least one pilot fluid passage connected to the at least one pilot valve and the first control valve; wherein the second control valve is operable to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the at least one hydraulic port; the at least one pressure detector includes at least one pressure sensor between the operation device and the blocking switching valve; and the controller is configured or programmed to, after causing the blocking switching valve to operate to block the at least one pilot fluid passage, control the at least one proportional valve based on the pressure detected by the at least one pressure sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydraulic system according to claim 1, further comprising a solenoid switching valve connected to the second hydraulic pump via a fluid passage and operable based on a control signal output from the controller, to operate the blocking switching valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hydraulic system according to claim 2, further comprising an operation pattern switch to output, to the controller, an instruction to operate the solenoid switching valve. ### Claim 4 A hydraulic system for a working machine, the hydraulic system comprising: a first hydraulic pump to output a hydraulic fluid; a second hydraulic pump to output a pilot fluid; an operation device including an operation lever and at least one pilot valve to change a pressure of the pilot fluid supplied through a fluid passage in accordance with a direction in which the operation lever is operated and an amount by which the operation lever is operated; at least one hydraulic actuator to be operated by the hydraulic fluid; at least one pilot fluid passage connected to the at least one pilot valve; a first control valve connected to the at least one pilot fluid passage to be operated by the pilot fluid to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the at least one hydraulic actuator; a second control valve to be operated by the pilot fluid to control a flow of the hydraulic fluid; at least one proportional valve to change, to operate the second control valve, a pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve; a blocking switching valve capable of blocking the at least one pilot fluid passage connected to the at least one pilot valve and the first control valve; at least one pressure sensor provided in the at least one pilot fluid passage to detect a pressure in the at least one pilot fluid passage, the at least one pressure sensor being located between the at least one pilot valve and the blocking switching valve; and a controller configured or programmed to, after causing the blocking switching valve to operate to block the at least one pilot fluid passage, control the at least one proportional valve, based on the pressure detected by the at least one pressure sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The hydraulic system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one proportional valve includes a first proportional valve and a second proportional valve; and the first proportional valve and the second proportional valve are operable to change, to operate the second control valve, the pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hydraulic system according to claim 5, wherein the operation lever is operable in a predetermined first direction and a predetermined second direction different from the first direction, and the at least one pilot valve includes a first output port to output the pilot fluid in accordance with an amount by which the operation lever is operated in the first direction, and a second output port to output the pilot fluid in accordance with an amount by which the operation lever is operated in the second direction; the at least one pilot fluid passage includes a first pilot fluid passage connected to the first output port and a second pilot fluid passage connected to the second output port; the first control valve is connected to the first pilot fluid passage and the second pilot fluid passage and is operable by the pilot fluid supplied through the first pilot fluid passage and the second pilot fluid passage; the second control valve is a switching valve operable in a predetermined third direction and a predetermined fourth direction different from the third direction; the first proportional valve is operable to change, to operate the second control valve in the third direction, the pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve; the second proportional valve is operable to change, to operate the second control valve in the fourth direction, the pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve; the blocking switching valve is capable of blocking the first pilot fluid passage and the second pilot fluid passage; the at least one pressure sensor includes a first pressure sensor provided in the first pilot fluid passage between the first output port and the blocking switching valve to detect a first pressure in the first pilot fluid passage, and a second pressure sensor provided in the second pilot fluid passage between the second output port and the blocking switching valve to detect a second pressure in the second pilot fluid passage; and the controller is configured or programmed to, after causing the blocking switching valve to operate to block the first pilot fluid passage and the second pilot fluid passage, control the first proportional valve and the second proportional valve, based on the first pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure detected by the second pressure sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The hydraulic system according to claim 6, wherein the controller is configured or programmed to: after causing the blocking switching valve to operate to block the first pilot fluid passage and the second pilot fluid passage, in response to detection of an increase in pressure by the first pressure sensor, control the first proportional valve in accordance with a magnitude of the detected pressure, and change, to operate the second control valve in the third direction, the pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve, and in response to detection of an increase in pressure by the second pressure sensor, control the second proportional valve in accordance with a magnitude of the detected pressure, and change, to operate the second control valve in the fourth direction, the pressure of the pilot fluid to be supplied to the second control valve. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The hydraulic system according to claim 7, further comprising a solenoid switching valve connected to the second hydraulic pump via a fluid passage and operable based on a control signal output from the controller, to operate the blocking switching valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hydraulic system according to claim 8, further comprising an operation pattern switch to output, to the controller, an instruction to operate the solenoid switching valve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The hydraulic system according to claim 6, further comprising a solenoid switching valve connected to the second hydraulic pump via a fluid passage and operable based on a control signal output from the controller, to operate the blocking switching valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hydraulic system according to claim 10, further comprising an operation pattern switch to output, to the controller, an instruction to operate the solenoid switching valve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The hydraulic system according to claim 5, further comprising a solenoid switching valve connected to the second hydraulic pump via a fluid passage and operable based on a control signal output from the controller, to operate the blocking switching valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hydraulic system according to claim 12, further comprising an operation pattern switch to output, to the controller, an instruction to operate the solenoid switching valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The hydraulic system according to claim 4, further comprising a solenoid switching valve connected to the second hydraulic pump via a fluid passage and operable based on a control signal output from the controller, to operate the blocking switching valve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hydraulic system according to claim 14, further comprising an operation pattern switch to output, to the controller, an instruction to operate the solenoid switching valve.