Continuously adjustable control management for a hydraulic track system
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsCalin Raszga, Matthew J. Ramler, Bryon P. Neumann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a control system of a powered machine. The control system includes a hydraulic motor configured to drive a track system of the machine. The motor is operable with a variable displacement. A control valve is fluidly coupled to the motor. In addition, the control system includes a controller and an electro-hydraulic valve disposed in electrical communication with the controller and fluid communication with the control valve. The electro-hydraulic valve receives a signal from the controller, and based on the signal, the electro-hydraulic valve hydraulically varies the start of control pressure of the motor.
Claims20
A control system of a powered machine, the machine having an engine for producing power and a track system for moving along a surface, comprising:
- a hydraulic motor configured to drive the track system, the motor being operable with a variable displacement;
- a control valve fluidly coupled to the motor;
- a controller;
- and
- an electro-hydraulic valve disposed in electrical communication with the controller and fluid communication with the control valve;
- wherein, the electro-hydraulic valve receives a signal from the controller, and based on the signal, the electro-hydraulic valve hydraulically varies the start of control pressure of the motor.
A method for varying the start of control pressure of a variable displacement hydraulic motor adapted to drive a track system of a machine, the machine including user controls for controlling the functionality of the machine, a controller in electrical communication with the user controls, a control valve biased in a first position by a spring having a fixed spring force, and a proportional electro-hydraulic valve electrically coupled to the controller and fluidly coupled to the control valve, the method comprising:
- sending an electrical signal to the electro-hydraulic valve;
- moving the electro-hydraulic valve from a substantially closed position to at least a partially open position;
- fluidly coupling the electro-hydraulic valve and control valve to one another;
- controllably moving the control valve from the first position to a second position;
- and
- varying the start of control pressure of the motor.
A method for varying a start of control pressure of a variable displacement hydraulic motor for driving a machine, the machine including operator controls for controlling the operation of the machine, a controller in electrical communication with the operator controls, a control valve biased in a first position and disposed in fluid communication with the motor, and an electro-hydraulic valve electrically coupled to the controller and fluidly coupled to the control valve, the method comprising:
- receiving an input signal from the operator controls, where the input signal corresponds to a desired machine operation;
- sending an electrical signal to the electro-hydraulic valve based on the input signal;
- fluidly coupling the electro-hydraulic valve and control valve to one another;
- controllably moving the control valve from the first position to a second position based on the electrical signal;
- and
- varying the start of control pressure of the motor in accordance with the desired machine operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.