Hydraulic pressure amplifier

A hydraulic pressure amplification method, the method using a split hydraulic pressure amplifying device comprising:

• a casing including two chambers,
• the chambers having different cross sections;
• a staged piston housed in the chambers and comprising two piston sections, the piston sections having cross sections respectively matching the chambers;
• and
• an electronic control configured for controlling a movement of the piston,
• the electronic control being configured for estimating that the piston has reached an actual end-of-stroke position,
• the device comprising no end-of-stroke sensor or mechanical stop for determining that the piston has reached an actual end-of-stroke position,
• wherein the electronic control either:
• is time base driven for estimating that the piston has reached an actual end-of-stroke position, or
• includes a time reference driven control for estimating that the piston has reached an actual end-of-stroke position, or
• is configured for
• measuring a pressure on a port of the casing;
• and
• generating a piston end-of-stroke signal when the measured pressure is a stable pressure over a predetermined period or a stable pressure equal to a reference pressure prevailing in an absence of movement of the piston,
• wherein:
• the chambers form first and second main chambers;
• the first chamber forms a low-pressure inlet chamber which has a port configured for serving alternately as:
• an inlet port for a feeding of the first chamber and
• an outlet port for a discharge of the first chamber;
• the second chamber forms a high-pressure outlet chamber which has an outlet port for a discharge of the second chamber and an inlet port for a feeding of the second chamber;
• the casing comprising an intermediate chamber having a port configured for serving alternately as:
• an inlet port for a feeding of the intermediate chamber, and
• an outlet port for a discharge of the intermediate chamber;
• the device comprising:
• a control distributor formed of a three port, two position valve for controlling a feeding and a discharge of the first chamber and consequently a feeding and a discharge of the second chamber,
• the control distributor having:
• a first port,
• a second port connected to the intermediate chamber and to a reservoir, and
• a third port connected:
• to the first chamber in a first position of the control distributor, the first port being connected to the third port, and
• to the second port in a second position of the control distributor;
• a first flow restriction connecting the first port to the fluid feed inlet;
• a second flow restriction placed between an outlet of the first flow restriction and a pressure measurement point;
• a third flow restriction placed between an outlet of the second flow restriction and an outlet connected to the reservoir;
• a first check valve placed between the outlet of the second chamber and an outlet at which is available a high hydraulic pressure supplied by the device;
• and
• a second check valve placed between the inlet of the second chamber and the pressure measurement point,
• the method comprising the steps of
• controlling movements of the piston by an electronic control;
• and
• estimating with the electronic control that the piston has reached an actual endofstroke position, the estimating step being performed without using an end-of-stroke sensor or mechanical stop,
• wherein the method either:
• is time base driven when estimating that the piston has reached an actual end-of-stroke position, or
• is time reference driven when estimating that the piston has reached an actual end-of-stroke position, or
• comprises the steps of
• measuring a pressure on a port of the casing;
• and
• generating a piston end-of-stroke signal when the measured pressure is a stable pressure over a predetermined period or a stable pressure equal to a reference pressure prevailing in an absence of movement of the piston.