System and Method for Calibrating Hydraulic Valves

A system for calibrating an electronically actuatable hydraulic valve, the system comprising:

• at least one supply valve;
• at least one drain valve in fluid communication with the at least one supply valve;
• at least one hydraulic cylinder operatively coupled to the at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve;
• a pump for pumping fluid from a fluid source through the at least one supply valve to the at least one hydraulic cylinder;
• a bypass valve in fluid communication with the pump and the fluid source;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• determine a first target pressure parameter;
• determine a second target pressure parameter;
• actuate the at least one supply valve by issuing a first current command and reducing the first current command until the first target pressure is reached for a desired flow output of the pump;
• actuate the at least one drain valve by issuing a second current command and reducing the second current command until the second target pressure is reached for the desired flow output of the pump;
• and
• adjust fluid flow through the at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve based upon the first current command and the second current command.

A work machine, comprising:

• an engine;
• a work implement;
• and
• a hydraulic system configured to operate the work implement and calibrate one or more hydraulic valves, the hydraulic system comprising (a) at least one supply valve;
• (b) at least one drain valve in fluid communication with the at least one supply valve;
• (c) at least one hydraulic cylinder operatively coupled to the at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve;
• (d) a pump for pumping fluid from a fluid source through the at least one supply valve to the at least one hydraulic cylinder;
• (e) a bypass valve in fluid communication with the pump and the fluid source;
• and (f) a controller configured to:
• (1) determine a first target pressure parameter;
• (2) determine a second target pressure parameter;
• (3) actuate the at least one supply valve by issuing a first current command and reducing the first current command until the first target pressure is reached for a desired flow output of the pump;
• (4) actuate the at least one drain valve by issuing a second current command and reducing the second current command until the second target pressure is reached for the desired flow output of the pump;
• and adjust fluid flow through the at least one supply valve and the at least one drain valve based upon the first current command and the second current command.