# US 9,752,597 B2 · Metered fluid source connection to downstream functions in PCLS systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,597 B2 - Document ID: US9752597B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/854,755 - Filed: 2015-09-15 - Published: 2017-03-16 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-15 - Assignees: HUSCO International, Inc. - Applicants: HUSCO International, Inc. - Inventors: Casey Buschkopf; Darrell Hesse; Joseph L Pfaff; Jacob Ballweg; Eric P Hamkins - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752597B2 ## CPC - F15B 11/163: {for sharing the pump output equally amongst users or groups of users, e.g. using anti-saturation, pressure compensation} - F15B 11/162: {for giving priority to particular servomotors or users} - F15B 2211/30535: the pressure compensating valve is arranged between pressure source and directional control valve - F15B 2211/351: Flow control by regulating means in feed line, i.e. meter-in control - F15B 2211/40507: with constant throttles or orifices - F15B 2211/40515: with variable throttles or orifices - F15B 2211/40569: the pressure compensating valve arranged downstream of the flow control means - F15B 2211/41509: being connected to a pressure source and a directional control valve - F15B 2211/50554: the pressure control means controlling a pressure downstream of the pressure control means, e.g. pressure reducing valve - F15B 2211/5151: being connected to a pressure source and a directional control valve - F15B 2211/565: Control of a downstream pressure - F15B 2211/781: one or more output members having priority - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A hydraulic control valve assembly to be integrated into a pressure compensated load sensing system including a fluid source is provided. The hydraulic control valve assembly includes a first working unit to control a first hydraulic function of a machine. The first working unit includes a first directional and return flow control in the form of a first spool, a first function flow control to selectively communicate a working pressure of the first function to the fluid source, and a first downstream flow control. The hydraulic control valve assembly further includes a second working unit arranged downstream of the first working unit. The second working unit to control a second hydraulic function of the machine. The first downstream flow control to selectively restrict a flow a fluid from the fluid source to the second working unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hydraulic control valve assembly to be integrated into a pressure compensated load sensing hydraulic system including a fluid source having an outlet, the hydraulic control valve assembly comprising: a first working unit to control a first hydraulic function of a machine and including a first directional and return flow control in the form of a first spool, a first function flow control to selectively communicate a working pressure of the first function to the fluid source, and a first downstream flow control; a second working unit arranged downstream of the first working unit, the second working unit to control a second hydraulic function of the machine and including a second directional and return flow control in the form of a second spool and a second function flow control to selectively communicate a working pressure of the second function to the fluid source; and a supply conduit extending through the first working unit and the second working unit and in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid source; the fluid source to respond to a change in at least one of the working pressure of the first function and the working pressure of the second function by varying a pressure at the outlet; the first downstream flow control to selectively restrict a flow of fluid from the fluid source to the second working unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third working unit arranged downstream of the second working unit, the third working unit to control a third hydraulic function of the machine and including a third directional and return flow control in the form of a third spool and a third function flow control to communicate a working pressure of the third function to the fluid source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the second working unit further comprises a second downstream flow control to selectively restrict a flow of fluid from the fluid source to the third working unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first downstream flow control is arranged to selectively restrict the flow of fluid in the supply conduit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first downstream flow control is a variable orifice. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the variable orifice is controlled as a function of the directional and return flow control. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the variable orifice is controlled by a pilot pressure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the variable orifice is controlled by an electrical signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first downstream flow control is a fixed orifice. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first downstream flow control is arranged downstream of a first orifice of the first working unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 1, further comprising a secondary supply conduit extending from the supply conduit, the secondary supply conduit extending through the first working unit and the second working unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 11, the first downstream flow control is arranged to selectively restrict the flow of fluid in the secondary supply conduit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the first working unit further comprises a compensator and a secondary line providing a path for fluid to flow from the secondary supply conduit to a location downstream of the compensator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the secondary line includes a secondary line orifice. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the secondary line orifice is a variable orifice controlled by a function of the direction and return flow control. ### Claim 16 A hydraulic control valve assembly to be integrated into a pressure compensated load sensing hydraulic system including a fluid source having an outlet, the hydraulic control valve assembly comprising: a first working unit to control a first hydraulic function of a machine and including a first directional and return flow control in the form of a first spool and a first function flow control to control a flow of fluid to the first function and selectively communicate a working pressure of the first function to the fluid source; a second working unit arranged downstream of the first working unit and to control a second hydraulic function of the machine, the second working unit including a second directional and return flow control in the form of a second spool and a second function flow control to control a flow of fluid to the second function and selectively communicate a working pressure of the second function to the fluid source; a supply conduit extending through the first working unit and the second working unit and in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid source; and a supply flow section including a downstream flow control, the downstream flow control to selectively restrict a flow of fluid from the fluid source to at least one of the first working unit and the second working unit; the fluid source to respond to a change in at least one of the working pressure of the first function and the working pressure of the second function by varying a pressure at the outlet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the supply flow section is arranged downstream of the first working unit and upstream of the second working unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the downstream flow control comprises a supply control valve and a flow limiting line, the flow limiting line providing a path for fluid to flow from a location upstream of the supply control valve to a location downstream of the supply control valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 18, wherein the supply control valve is controlled by a pilot pressure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 18, wherein the supply control valve is controlled by an electrical signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 18, wherein the flow limiting line includes a flow limiting line orifice arranged upstream of and in fluid communication with a supply compensator. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 17, wherein the downstream flow control comprises a supply control valve arranged upstream of a compensator. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 22, wherein the supply control valve is controlled by a pilot pressure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 22, wherein the supply control valve is controlled by an electrical signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the supply flow section is arranged upstream of the first working unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 25, further comprising a secondary supply conduit extending from the supply conduit, the secondary supply conduit extending through the first working unit and the second working unit. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 26, wherein the downstream flow control comprises a supply control valve to restrict fluid flow into the secondary supply conduit. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the supply control valve is controlled by a pilot pressure. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 27, wherein the supply control valve is controlled by an electrical signal. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 26, wherein the first working unit further comprises a compensator and a secondary line providing a path for fluid to flow from the secondary supply conduit to a location downstream of the compensator. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 30, wherein the secondary line includes a secondary line orifice. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 31, wherein the secondary line orifice is a variable orifice controlled by a function of the direction and return flow control. ### Claim 33 A hydraulic control valve assembly to be integrated into a pressure compensated load sensing hydraulic system including a fluid source having an outlet, the hydraulic control valve assembly comprising: a first working unit to control a first hydraulic function of a machine and including a first directional and return flow control in the form of a first spool, a first function fluid path to selectively communicate a working pressure of the first function to the fluid source, a first compensator, and a first variable downstream flow control orifice, the first spool including a first variable spool orifice; a second working unit arranged downstream of the first working unit, the second working unit to control a second hydraulic function of the machine and including a second directional and return flow control in the form of a second spool, a second function fluid path to selectively communicate a working pressure of the second function to the fluid source, and a second compensator, the second spool including a second variable spool orifice; and a supply conduit extending through the first working unit and the second working unit and in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluid source; the fluid source to respond to a change in at least one of the working pressure of the first function and the working pressure of the second function by varying a pressure at the outlet; the first variable downstream flow control orifice is arranged in series with and upstream of the second variable spool orifice and selectively restricts a flow of fluid from the fluid source to the second working unit. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 33, wherein the first variable downstream flow control orifice is controlled by a position of the first spool. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 33, wherein the first variable downstream flow control orifice is controlled by a pilot pressure. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 33, wherein the first variable downstream flow control orifice is controlled by an electrical signal. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 33, further comprising a first compensator bypass line providing a path for fluid to flow from a location upstream of the first compensator to a location downstream of the first compensator. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 37, wherein the first compensator bypass line include a first bypass orifice. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 38, wherein the first bypass orifice is a variable orifice. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 39, wherein the first bypass orifice is controlled by a position of the first spool. ### Claim 41 (depends on 33) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 33, further comprising a second compensator bypass line providing a path for fluid to flow from a location upstream of the second compensator to a location downstream of the second compensator. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 41, wherein the second compensator bypass line include a second bypass orifice. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 42, wherein the second bypass orifice is a variable orifice. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The hydraulic control valve assembly of claim 43, wherein the second bypass orifice is controlled by a position of the second spool.