Load dampening system
AssigneeJ.C. Bamford Excavators Limited
InventorsJames Hewitt, Seb Parkes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load dampening system for a working vehicle is provided. The load dampening system includes a load handling hydraulic actuator configured to support a load carried by the working vehicle and an accumulator apparatus for storing pressurized hydraulic fluid. The accumulator apparatus is selectively connectable to the load handling hydraulic actuator to act as a compliant element which dampens pressure fluctuations in the load handing hydraulic actuator. The load dampening system also includes a control system configured to adjust a compliance of the accumulator apparatus to adjust the extent to which the accumulator apparatus dampens pressure fluctuations in the load handling hydraulic actuator.
Claims20
A load dampening system for a working vehicle, the load dampening system comprising:
- a load handling hydraulic actuator configured to support a load carried by the working vehicle;
- an accumulator apparatus for storing pressurized hydraulic fluid, wherein the accumulator apparatus is selectively connectable to the load handling hydraulic actuator to act as a compliant element which dampens pressure fluctuations in the load handing hydraulic actuator;
- and
- a control system configured to adjust a compliance of the accumulator apparatus to adjust the extent to which the accumulator apparatus dampens pressure fluctuations in the load handling hydraulic actuator.
An adjustable compressed fluid accumulator comprising:
- a compressed fluid chamber,
- a hydraulic fluid chamber for coupling to a load-bearing hydraulic circuit,
- a first adjustable barrier at a first end of the compressed fluid chamber, the first adjustable barrier separating the compressed fluid chamber and the hydraulic fluid chamber, and
- a second adjustable barrier at a second end of the compressed fluid chamber, the second adjustable barrier being configured to be acted upon by an external force to adjust the pressure in the compressed fluid chamber.
A method of adjusting compliance in an accumulator apparatus, the method comprising:
- a) determining a payload mass supported by a load handling actuator of a working vehicle;
- b) using the determined payload mass to determine a desired compliance of an accumulator apparatus which is connected to the load handling actuator;
- and
- c) controlling a compliance actuator in order to adjust the compliance of the accumulator apparatus as desired;
- optionally, wherein step a) comprises receiving a payload mass signal from a load sensor, the payload mass signal being indicative of a payload supported by a load handling actuator;
- and/or
- optionally, wherein step c) comprises determining a control signal required to achieve the desired compliance of the accumulator apparatus, and outputting the determined control signal to the compliance actuator;
- and/or
- optionally, wherein the method comprises receiving a compliance signal indicative of the compliance of the accumulator apparatus from a compliance sensor, and using the compliance signal at step c) to determine how to control the compliance actuator (e.g., using feedback control);
- and/or
- optionally, wherein step b) comprises reducing the desired compliance as the determined payload mass increases.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.