Auxiliary hydraulic port expansion system for excavators
AssigneeAhearn Equipment, Inc.
InventorJoshua Ahearn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A diverter valve assembly for a hydraulic system is disclosed that includes a diverter valve that couples a first fluid port to either a second fluid port or a third fluid port depending on a position of the diverter valve. The diverter valve assembly further includes an attachment system for attaching the diverter valve to a machine. The attachment system includes an adapter plate configured to attach to pre-existing mounting holes on a structural member of the machine including a stick without drilling or welding. The diverter valve is mechanically secured to the adapter plate.
Claims20
A diverter valve assembly for a hydraulic system comprising:
- a diverter valve that couples a first fluid port to either a second fluid port or a third fluid port depending on a position of the diverter valve;
- and
- an attachment system for attaching the diverter valve to a machine;
- wherein the attachment system includes an adapter plate configured to attach to pre-existing mounting holes on a structural member of the machine including a stick without drilling or welding, wherein the diverter valve is mechanically secured to the adapter plate.
A retrofit kit for expanding auxiliary hydraulic functionality of a machine, comprising:
- a diverter valve having a first fluid port selectively connectable to either a second fluid port or a third fluid port based on an position of the diverter valve;
- an adapter plate configured to attach the diverter valve to pre-existing mounting holes on a structural member of the machine without drilling or welding;
- at least one spacer bar configured to mount between the diverter valve and the adapter plate;
- a bulkhead adapter configured to fluidly interface with an auxiliary hydraulic circuit of the machine;
- and
- a plurality of hydraulic hoses having different lengths corresponding to different machine mounting geometries.
A method of expanding auxiliary hydraulic functionality of a machine, comprising:
- mounting a diverter valve to a structural member of the machine using an adapter plate attached to pre-existing mounting holes on the structural member without drilling or welding;
- fluidly coupling the diverter valve to an existing auxiliary hydraulic circuit of the machine;
- and
- actuating the diverter valve to selectively route hydraulic flow from a first fluid port to either a second fluid port or a third fluid port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.