Control system for pressure-driven loads

A manually operable control system for use with at least one reversible pressure-driven load which can be operated at variable pressures, the system allowing the pressure to be continuously varied and further allowing the load to be reversed while protecting the load from pressure shock resulting from reversal and from abrupt variation in pressure, comprising:

• a reversible pressure-driven load;
• a directional servo responsive to a directional signal and connected in series with the load, the directional servo having a forward state and a reverse state, the directional servo applying pressure to the load in such a manner that the load operates in a forward direction when the directional servo is the forward state and the load operates in a reverse direction when the directional servo is in a reverse state;
• an adjustable pressure servo responsive to an electrical pressure signal, the pressure servo including a pump of a variable-pressure and non-reversible type having its output connected in series with the directional servo and continuously varying the pressure applied thereto as a function of the electrical pressure signal;
• a manually adjustable control producing a continuous electrical control signal with a voltage which varies with time between a maximum value and a minimum value which have equal magnitudes and opposite senses as a function of the adjustment of the control;
• a signal shaper connected to the control and responsive to the control signal, the shaper producing an electrical shaped signal which varies between said values as the output signal when the variation of the output signal with time at most equals a predetermined rate, and which further varies at said predetermined rate when the variation of the output signal with time is greater than said predetermined rate;
• a directional discriminator responsive only to the sense of the shaped signal and producing an electrical directional signal, the directional discriminator being connected to and cooperating with the directional servo to place the directional servo in its forward state when the shaped signal is in one sense and to place the directional servo in its reverse state when the shaped signal is in an opposite sense;
• and
• a pressure monitor responsive only to the magnitude of the shaped signal and producing the continuous electrical pressure signal in response thereto which varies with time directly as said magnitude varies with time, the pressure monitor being connected to and cooperating with the pressure servo, whereby the pressure is varied as a function of the magnitude of the shaped signal.