Control system for the suction line relief valve of a hydraulic dredge
AssigneePearce Pump Supply, Inc.
InventorTimothy A. Hutchinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for the suction line relief valve of a hydraulic dredge is disclosed. The system includes a relief valve actuator which is hydraulically operated; a hydraulic pump powered by a motor; a directional valve; an energy storage device; and hydraulic lines connecting the hydraulic pump, the accumulator, and the relief valve actuator. The accumulator converts the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic lines into potential energy which is used to generate hydraulic pressure if the pump fails or loses power. The pressure generated is enough for the operator to move the relief valve actuator which will reposition the relief valve to a desired position after pump failure.
Claims7
An apparatus for controlling a suction line relief valve of a hydraulic dredge comprising:
- a relief valve actuator for operating a relief valve positioned on the suction line of a hydraulic dredge;
- a hydraulic pump having a drive shaft;
- a hydraulic pump motor having a rotor and a power input, said rotor being mechanically connected to said drive shaft of said hydraulic pump;
- a directional valve, in hydraulic fluid connection with said hydraulic pump and said relief valve actuator, for directing the flow of hydraulic fluid so as to control the movement of said relief valve actuator;
- a directional valve controller, mounted on said directional valve, for controlling the operation of said directional valve, said directional valve controller adapted to respond to a signal from a detecting means;
- said detecting means being in operational connection with said power input of said hydraulic pump motor and said directional valve controller, said detecting means being adapted for sending a predetermined signal to said directional valve controller when said detecting means detects the loss of power to said hydraulic pump motor, said predetermined signal being adapted to cause said directional valve controller to cause the opening of said relief valve;
- and
- an energy storage means, in hydraulic fluid connection with said directional valve and said hydraulic pump, for converting hydraulic pressure generated by said hydraulic pump into stored potential energy which will generate hydraulic pressure when said hydraulic pump motor loses electrical power, said hydraulic pressure generated by said energy storage means being sufficient to move said relief valve actuator to a new setting.
An apparatus for controlling a suction line relief valve of a hydraulic dredge comprising:
- a relief valve actuator for operating a relief valve positioned on the suction line of a hydraulic dredge;
- a hydraulic pump having a drive shaft;
- a hydraulic pump motor having a rotor and an electrical power input, said rotor being mechanically connected to said drive shaft of said hydraulic pump;
- a directional valve, in hydraulic fluid connection with said hydraulic pump and said relief valve actuator, for directing the flow of hydraulic fluid so as to control the movement of said relief valve actuator;
- a directional valve controller, mounted on said directional valve, for controlling the operation of said directional valve;
- a vacuum sensor means for generating a signal corresponding to the vacuum level in said suction line;
- a pressure sensor means for generating a signal corresponding to the pressure level in the discharge line of said hydraulic dredge;
- an automatic control means, operationally connecting said vacuum sensor means and said pressure sensor means with said directional valve controller, for reading the signals from said vacuum sensor means and said pressure sensor means and sending a signal to said directional valve controller in response to the signals from said vacuum sensor means and said pressure sensor means;
- and
- setpoint means, included in said automatic control means, for allowing an operator to enter and store vacuum and pressure level setpoints, wherein said automatic control means intermittently compares said setpoints to the signals generated by said vacuum sensor means and said pressure sensor means so that when the signals generated by said vacuum sensor means and said pressure sensor means indicate a vacuum level greater than, or a pressure level greater than, said setpoints, said automatic control means sends a signal to said directional valve controller so as to open said relief valve, and when the signals generated by said vacuum sensor means and said pressure sensor means indicate a vacuum level less than, or a pressure level less than, said setpoints, said automatic control means sends a signal to said directional valve controller so as to close said relief valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.