U.S. patent application number 13/906848 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for hydraulic system and pressure limiting valve.
The applicant listed for this patent is Liebherr-France SAS. Invention is credited to Simon HAPPEL, Frank HELBLING, Christoph MUELLER.
Application Number | 20130323091 13/906848 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48444013 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130323091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HELBLING; Frank ; et
al. |
December 5, 2013 |
Hydraulic System and Pressure Limiting Valve
Abstract
A hydraulic system has at least one consumer and at least one
hydraulic pump. A pressure limiting valve for limiting the maximum
system pressure is connected with the at least one hydraulic pump,
and the pressure limiting valve is pilot-controlled for switching a
bypass. The invention also concerns a pressure limiting valve for
limiting the system pressure inside such a hydraulic system.
Inventors: |
HELBLING; Frank; (Sasbach,
DE) ; HAPPEL; Simon; (Oberhergheim, FR) ;
MUELLER; Christoph; (Colmar, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Liebherr-France SAS |
Colmar Cedex |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
48444013 |
Appl. No.: |
13/906848 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F15B 2211/50536
20130101; F15B 2211/5157 20130101; F04B 49/035 20130101; F15B
2211/50518 20130101; F15B 11/0423 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/307 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/035 20060101
F04B049/035 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 4, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 011 062.6 |
Claims
1. A hydraulic system comprising: at least one consumer, at least
one hydraulic pump, and a pressure limiting valve for limiting a
maximum system pressure connected with the at least one hydraulic
pump, wherein the pressure limiting valve is pilot-controlled for
switching a bypass.
2. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein pilot control
of the pressure limiting valve provides for a proportional control
of the system pressure to be limited.
3. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein pilot control
of the pressure limiting valve is effected electrically,
electro-hydraulically, or electrically and
electro-hydraulically.
4. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein pilot control
of the pressure limiting valve is effected hydraulically,
pneumatically, or hydraulically and pneumatically.
5. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure
limiting valve has a cartridge design, a gate design, or a
cartridge and gate design.
6. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein pilot control
of the pressure limiting valve acts against at least one of a
spring restoring force and a system pressure.
7. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein the pressure
limiting valve does not allow an increase of the system pressure
without actuation.
8. A hydraulic system comprising: at least one consumer, at least
one hydraulic pump, and a pressure limiting valve for limiting a
maximum system pressure connected with the at least one hydraulic
pump, wherein the pressure limiting valve is pilot-controlled in
order to additionally carry out a pressure build-up or pressure
control function as well as limiting the maximum system
pressure.
9. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein the pressure
limiting valve is pilot-controlled for switching a bypass.
10. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein pilot
control of the pressure limiting valve provides for a proportional
control of the system pressure to be limited.
11. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein pilot
control of the pressure limiting valve is effected electrically,
electro-hydraulically, or electrically and
electro-hydraulically.
12. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein pilot
control of the pressure limiting valve is effected hydraulically,
pneumatically, or hydraulically and pneumatically.
13. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein the pressure
limiting valve has a cartridge design, a gate design, or a
cartridge and gate design.
14. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein pilot
control of the pressure limiting valve acts against at least one of
a spring restoring force and a system pressure.
15. The hydraulic system according to claim 8, wherein the pressure
limiting valve does not allow an increase of the system pressure
without actuation.
16. A pressure limiting valve for limiting the system pressure
inside a hydraulic system, wherein the pressure limiting valve is
pilot-controlled and pilot control of the pressure limiting valve
acts against at least one of a spring restoring force and an input
pressure.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent
Application 10 2012 011 062.6, filed Jun. 4, 2012, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a hydraulic system with at least
one consumer and at least one hydraulic pump, wherein a pressure
limiting valve for limiting the maximum system pressure is
connected with the at least one hydraulic pump.
[0003] Hydraulic circuits and the hydraulic components thereof are
designed for a definable maximum system pressure. Exceeding the
maximum system pressure possibly leads to damages of the circuit
and the components used. For this reason, pressure limiting valves
are provided, which pass the delivery flow of the hydraulic pump
through to the hydraulic tank, if the existing system pressure
exceeds a maximum limit pressure value.
[0004] As an additional safety measure it often is requested that a
bypass shutdown is realized via a further valve. By actuating the
provided valve, the delivery flow of the hydraulic pump is
recirculated directly to the hydraulic tank, the system pressure
then will drop.
[0005] In addition, depending on the actuation of the individual
hydraulic consumers within the hydraulic circuit, a further
pressure build-up or pressure control valve is used. The required
system pressure chiefly is determined by the delivery volume of the
pump and the valve arrangement for actuating the hydraulic
consumers. In addition, the system pressure can selectively be
influenced via the used pressure build-up or pressure control
valve, in order to reach and hold the desired system pressure
level.
[0006] When the consumers are actuated via a 4/3-way technology,
i.e. via individual 4/3-way valves (main control valves), the
pressure control or build-up valve is arranged after the hydraulic
pump and before the main control valves.
[0007] In a 6/3-way technology, the system pressure is looped
through the downstream consumers and conveyed back to the hydraulic
tank. In this case, it is required to arrange the pressure control
or build-up valve not after the hydraulic pump, but after the
consumer arrangement.
[0008] The pressure build-up or control valves used mostly are
designed as proportional gate-type 2/2-way valves.
[0009] A disadvantage of the aforementioned known design, however,
is that there must always be used separate valves for the maximum
pressure limitation, the pressure build-up and the bypass function.
This increases the complexity of the switching construction as well
as the necessary installation space and the manufacturing costs
incurred.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] One object of the present invention is to indicate an
improved hydraulic system and pressure limiting valve, which is
able to overcome the disadvantages described above.
[0011] This object is solved by a hydraulic system according to the
features included in the independent claims below. Further
advantageous embodiments of the hydraulic system form the
subject-matter of the dependent claims.
[0012] According to the invention, there is proposed a hydraulic
system with at least one consumer and at least one hydraulic pump,
wherein a pressure limiting valve for limiting the maximum system
pressure is connected with the at least one hydraulic pump. The
system pressure in particular is applied to the pressure limiting
valve at the input side. When the applied system pressure exceeds a
certain limit pressure level, the pressure limiting valve will
switch through, in order to decrease the applied system
pressure.
[0013] Furthermore, the pressure limiting valve is pilot-controlled
according to the invention. The pilot control serves for realizing
a bypass function within the hydraulic system. In particular, by
actuation or non-actuation of the pilot control, the pressure
limiting valve is switched for passage, in order to provide for a
bypass or parallel shut-down path to the system pressure line. In
this case, the system pressure is discharged directly from the
hydraulic pump to a hydraulic tank. Expediently, it is provided
that the pressure limiting valve is open in its neutral position
and can be closed via the pilot control.
[0014] According to an alternative aspect of the invention, there
is proposed a hydraulic system with at least one consumer and at
least one hydraulic pump. The system comprises a pressure limiting
valve connected with at least one hydraulic pump for limiting the
maximum system pressure. The system pressure in particular is
applied to the pressure limiting valve at the input side. When the
applied system pressure exceeds a certain limit pressure level, the
pressure limiting valve will switch through, in order to decrease
the applied system pressure.
[0015] Furthermore, the pressure limiting valve is pilot-controlled
according to the invention. Via the pilot control, a pressure
build-up or pressure control function additionally can be realized
by a single valve beside the maximum pressure limitation.
Expediently, it is provided that the pressure limiting valve is
open in its neutral position and can at least partly be closed via
the pilot control, in order to be able to adjust the input pressure
or system pressure to a certain pressure level. The construction
according to the invention provides for the combination of at least
two valves or valve functions inside a single valve.
[0016] It is particularly advantageous when beside the bypass
function the function of a pressure control or pressure build-up
valve additionally is realized via the pilot control of the
pressure limiting valve. In this case, three valve functions can be
performed by a single valve with a 4/3-way valve actuation of the
hydraulic consumers in the hydraulic system. This allows an
improved pressure build-up functionality as compared to the
conventional pressure build-up valves. In addition, the integration
of the various valve functions inside a valve permits a substantial
reduction of the required number of hydraulic components. The
production or manufacturing costs related therewith can be
minimized. The same applies for the required installation space of
the hydraulic circuit.
[0017] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the pressure
limiting valve is designed as a proportional pressure limiting
valve. This allows a proportional control of the system pressure to
be limited between zero and the maximum system pressure.
[0018] The realization of the pilot control in principle is
arbitrary. What is conceivable is an electric and/or
electro-hydraulic design of the pilot control.
[0019] Alternatively, the pilot control also can be effected
hydraulically or pneumatically.
[0020] The embodiment of the pressure limiting valve also is to be
chosen arbitrarily in principle. A cartridge or gate design
represents a suitable construction.
[0021] A possible configuration of the hydraulic system or the
pressure limiting valve provides that the pilot control acts
against a spring restoring force of the valve. When the pressure
exerted by the pilot control exceeds the spring restoring force,
the valve will switch.
[0022] It is likewise conceivable that the pilot control acts
against the system pressure of the pressure limiting valve. It is
particularly preferred when the pilot control acts against a spring
restoring force and the system pressure. Hence, the maximum limit
pressure can be adjusted via the force of the pilot control.
[0023] A possible embodiment consists in that the pressure limiting
valve is open in the neutral position. The open valve position is
held by the spring force. Upon actuation of the pilot control, the
same acts against the restoring force of the spring. The variation
of the pilot control provides for a partial or complete closure of
the pressure limiting valve. The bypass function can be achieved
for example by switching off the pilot control. In addition, the
pilot control determines the target system pressure to be
controlled as well as the maximum system pressure.
[0024] The invention furthermore relates to a pressure limiting
valve for limiting the system pressure inside a hydraulic system.
According to the invention it is provided that the pressure
limiting valve is pilot-controlled and the pilot control acts
against a spring restoring force and/or the initially applied
system pressure. The actuation or non-actuation of the pilot
control leads to the switching of the pressure limiting valve. In
addition, the desired system pressure level of a hydraulic system
or the maximum system pressure can be adjusted via the control
signal of the pilot control.
[0025] It is particularly advantageous when the pressure limiting
valve is open in the neutral position, wherein the open valve
position is held via the spring restoring force. A partial closure
or a blocking position of the pressure limiting valve is achieved
by varying the pilot control.
[0026] The pilot control can be carried out hydraulically and/or
pneumatically. Alternatively, the pilot control can also be carried
out electrically and/or electro-hydraulically. As a suitable
construction of the pressure limiting valve, a cartridge or gate
design should be mentioned.
[0027] It is particularly advantageous if the pilot control
provides for a proportional control of the initially applied system
pressure to be limited.
[0028] The construction as well as the properties and advantages of
the pressure limiting valve according to the invention preferably
correspond to those of the pressure limiting valve used inside the
hydraulic system according to the invention, so that a repetitive
description will be omitted at this point.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] Further advantages and properties of the invention will be
explained in detail with reference to the attached drawings, in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a hydraulic
system known from the prior art,
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the hydraulic
system according to the invention in a first design variant,
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a hydraulic circuit diagram of a partial region
of the hydraulic system according to the invention as shown in FIG.
2, and
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a further design variant of the hydraulic
system according to the invention in a schematic
representation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a hydraulic
circuit according to the prior art. Via the hydraulic pump 1 three
hydraulic consumers 2, 3, 4 are fed, which are controlled jointly
or each separately via at least one 4/3-way valve as main control
valve. The system pressure inside line 5 is controlled via the
delivery volume of the pump 1 as well as the switching position of
the non-illustrated directional valves. For safety reasons, a
pressure limiting valve 6 is provided, which switches and enables
the volume flow to the tank, as soon as the system pressure exceeds
the maximum limit pressure.
[0035] The system pressure inside line 5 in addition is controlled
via a pressure build-up valve 7. To achieve the desired target
pressure inside line 5, the valve 7 partly closes the flow to the
tank. The hydraulic circuit as shown in FIG. 1 uses separate valves
6, 7 for both functions, i.e. for the maximum pressure limitation
and the pressure build-up. A possible valve arrangement for
realizing a parallel shut-down path is not provided.
[0036] FIG. 2 now shows a schematic representation of the hydraulic
circuit of the invention according to a first advantageous design
variant. The system likewise comprises a hydraulic pump 1, which
feeds a total of three hydraulic consumers 2, 3, 4. The individual
consumers are connected according to the 4/3-way technology. Beside
its actual function of the maximum pressure limitation, the
pressure limiting valve 10 according to the invention also has a
bypass function as well as the function of a pressure build-up and
pressure control valve.
[0037] In detail, the valve 10 is designed as proportional pressure
limiting valve and allows a proportional control of the system
pressure to be limited inside line 5 between zero and the maximum
system pressure. The valve 10 hence combines a proportional control
of the system pressure to be limited, the function of the pressure
build-up and a bypass function for realizing a parallel shut-down
path by delivering the pump volume flow directly to the hydraulic
tank.
[0038] The hydraulic circuit diagram of FIG. 3 illustrates the
concrete construction of the proportional pressure limiting valve
10 according to the invention. As shown in FIG. 3, an individual
consumer 2 is connected with the pump 1 via a 4/3-way valve 6.
[0039] The pressure limiting valve 10 remains in its neutral
position due to the restoring force of the spring in the open
position, so that hydraulic fluid can flow from the system pressure
line 5 to the tank. The pressure limiting valve 10 is controlled
directly via the input pressure. The system pressure of line 5
applied at the inlet acts in support of the restoring force of the
spring.
[0040] According to the invention, there is furthermore provided a
pilot control which acts against the spring force or the system
pressure.
[0041] The illustrated drawing shows a hydraulic pilot control of
the pressure limiting valve 10 via the hydraulic pressure
p.sub.ctrl. However, an electric or electro-hydraulic pilot control
also is conceivable just as well. The applied control pressure
p.sub.ctrl determines the switching condition of the valve 10.
[0042] For the pressure build-up inside line 5 it is necessary that
the control pressure p.sub.ctrl exceeds the restoring force of the
spring and at least partly closes or completely blocks the valve
10. Subsequently, the desired pressure level inside the system
pressure line 5 now can be varied via the control pressure
p.sub.ctrl, in that the valve 10 is partly opened. The function of
a pressure build-up or pressure control valve thereby is satisfied.
Apart from this, the control pressure level p.sub.ctrl determines
the maximum limit pressure at which the pressure limiting valve 10
should open for safety reasons. For this purpose it is required
that the system pressure as well as the restoring force of the
spring together exceed the control pressure p.sub.ctrl and open the
valve 10.
[0043] For realizing the bypass function of the valve, the control
pressure p.sub.ctrl simply is shut off during the operation. The
spring restoring force opens the valve 10, the parallel shut-down
path is activated via the valve 10 to the tank.
[0044] The construction of the pressure limiting valve 10 according
to the invention is arbitrary in principle. Suitable design
variants include a cartridge or gate design.
[0045] If one or more consumers 2, 3, 4 are to be actuated
according to a 6/3-way technology, it is absolutely necessary that
a pressure build-up valve is provided downstream of the consumers.
A possible construction of such hydraulic circuit can be taken from
the schematic representation of FIG. 4. The individual consumers 2,
3, 4 each are connected with the pump 1 via non-illustrated 6/3-way
valves. It thereby is achieved that the system pressure line 5 is
looped through the individual consumers 2, 3, 4 and for completion
of the hydraulic circuit discharged into a tank. For the pressure
build-up it is necessary to provide a suitable pressure build-up
valve 20 downstream of the consumers 2, 3, 4.
[0046] According to the first design variant, the pressure limiting
valve 10 according to the invention likewise is connected directly
to the hydraulic pump 1. As compared to the first variant, however,
the function of the pressure build-up is not performed by the valve
10, but the scope of functions is limited to the proportional
control of the system pressure to be limited inside line 5 as well
as the realization of a bypass function, in order to provide for a
parallel shut-down path to the tank. The concrete construction of
the hydraulic valve 10 corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 3.
[0047] The used pressure build-up valve 20 for example can be
realized by a proportional gate-type 2/2-way valve.
[0048] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to
illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *