Open-center hydraulic system with machine information-based flow control
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorJason Lee Mueller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work vehicle is provided including at least one work tool and an open-center hydraulic circuit that supplies hydraulic fluid to operate the at least one work tool. The hydraulic circuit includes a variable displacement pump and a controller in electrical communication with the pump, the controller receiving an electrical input from the work vehicle to control the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump.
Claims23
A work vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis on the ground;
- a power source;
- a variable displacement pump that is driven by the power source to supply hydraulic fluid;
- a pump control valve operably coupled to the pump and configured to adjust the displacement of the pump;
- at least one work tool moveably coupled to the chassis;
- at least one hydraulic actuator configured to move the at least one work tool relative to the chassis;
- an open-center actuator control valve in communication with the pump and the at least one hydraulic actuator, the open-center actuator control valve directing hydraulic fluid away from the at least one hydraulic actuator when in a neutral position and directing hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic actuator when in an actuated position to move the at least one work tool relative to the chassis;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the pump control valve, the controller receiving an electrical input from the work vehicle and sending an electrical control signal to the pump control valve based on the electrical input to adjust the flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to the open-center actuator control valve.
A work vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis on the ground;
- a power source;
- at least one work tool moveably coupled to the chassis;
- a hydraulic circuit including:
- a variable displacement pump that is driven by the power source to supply hydraulic fluid;
- a pump control valve operably coupled to the pump and configured to adjust the displacement of the pump;
- at least one hydraulic actuator configured to move the at least one work tool relative to the chassis;
- and
- an open-center actuator control valve in communication with the pump and the at least one hydraulic actuator, the open-center actuator control valve directing hydraulic fluid away from the at least one hydraulic actuator when in a neutral position and directing hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic actuator when in an actuated position to move the at least one work tool relative to the chassis;
- and
- an electrical circuit including:
- at least one input device;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the at least one input device and the pump control valve, the controller receiving an electrical input from the at least one input device and sending an electrical control signal to the pump control valve based on the electrical input from the at least one input device to adjust the flow rate of hydraulic fluid supplied to the open-center actuator control valve.
A method for operating a work vehicle, the work vehicle having a chassis, a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis on the ground, a power source, a variable displacement pump that is driven by the power source, at least one work tool moveably coupled to the chassis, and at least one hydraulic actuator, the method including the steps of:
- communicating an electrical input to a controller of the work vehicle;
- sending an electrical control signal from the controller to a pump control valve based on the electrical input;
- operating the pump control valve based on the electrical control signal to adjust the displacement of the pump;
- supplying hydraulic fluid from the pump to an open-center actuator control valve;
- and
- directing hydraulic fluid from the open-center actuator control valve to the at least one hydraulic actuator to move the at least one work tool relative to the chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.