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US 6,854,268 B2Granted
Hydraulic control system with energy recovery
AssigneesCaterpillar Inc., Shin Caterpillar Mitsubishi Ltd.
InventorsRoger Clayton Fales, Francis J. Raab
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid control system may include a pump, a tank, and an actuator. A valve assembly may be configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump. An energy recovery circuit, including a pressure transformer, may be fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly.
Claims22
A fluid control system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a tank;
- an actuator;
- a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- and
- an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer and an energy storage device, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
- wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to receive pressurized fluid flowing from the actuator and to store the pressurized fluid to the energy storage device.
4 more elements
A fluid control system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a tank;
- an actuator;
- a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- and
- an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer and an energy storage device, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
- wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber,
- wherein the pressure transformer includes a head end port, a rod end port, and a high pressure port, the head end port being in fluid communication with the head end chamber, the rod end port being in fluid communication with the rod end chamber, and the high pressure port being in fluid communication with the energy storage device, and
- wherein the energy recovery circuit is configured to receive pressurized fluid flowing from at least one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber and to store the pressurized fluid to the energy storage device.
6 more elements
A fluid control system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a tank;
- an actuator;
- a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- and
- an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
- wherein the pressure transformer is a four quadrant hydraulic pressure transformer.
4 more elements
A fluid control system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a tank;
- an actuator;
- an independent metering valve arrangement configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- and
- an energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the independent metering valve arrangement.
3 more elements
A method of operating a fluid control system including a pump, a tank, and an actuator having a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, the method comprising:
- operating a valve assembly to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- receiving a first fluid flow from one of the head end chamber and the rod end chamber;
- transforming the first fluid flow of a first pressure to a second fluid flow of a second pressure by supplying or discharging a third fluid flow of a third pressure;
- and
- directing the second fluid flow to an energy storage device.
2 more elements
A fluid control system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a tank;
- an actuator;
- a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- and
- an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
- wherein the valve assembly includes an independent metering valve arrangement.
4 more elements
A fluid control system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a tank;
- an actuator;
- a valve assembly configured to control fluid communication between the actuator, the tank, and the pump;
- and
- an energy recovery circuit including a pressure transformer, the energy recovery circuit being fluidly coupled to the actuator in parallel with the valve assembly,
- wherein the actuator includes a head end chamber and a rod end chamber, and
- wherein the valve assembly includes a first valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the tank, a second valve configured to control fluid communication between the head end chamber and the pump, a third valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the pump, and a fourth valve configured to control fluid communication between the rod end chamber and the tank.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.