U.S. patent number 3,865,013 [Application Number 05/414,817] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-11 for auxiliary tool control circuit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Worthington-CEI, Incorporated. Invention is credited to Joseph A. Mastaj.
United States Patent |
3,865,013 |
Mastaj |
February 11, 1975 |
AUXILIARY TOOL CONTROL CIRCUIT
Abstract
An auxiliary tool control circuit which can be incorporated into
the hydraulic supply lines for various types of construction
equipment is presented herein. The auxiliary tool control circuit
includes a pilot operated valve and a manually operated control
valve which are cooperatively effective to control the delivery of
motive fluid to a tool which has been connected into a preexisting
fluid circuit for other equipment. The connections and cooperative
arrangements between the manual control valve and the pilot
operated valve and the operating controls for the other equipment
are such that simultaneous operation can not occur between the
other equipment and the auxiliary tool.
Inventors: |
Mastaj; Joseph A. (Holyoke,
MA) |
Assignee: |
Worthington-CEI, Incorporated
(Holyoke, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23643093 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/414,817 |
Filed: |
November 12, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
91/513; 91/432;
91/517; 91/461 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16P
7/00 (20130101); E02F 9/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E02F
9/22 (20060101); F16P 7/00 (20060101); F15b
011/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;91/411R,412,414,461 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Geoghegan; Edgar W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A control circuit for an auxiliary tool adapted to be
operatively associated with control means for another tool having a
source of operating fluid and means for delivering the operating
fluid under pressure, the control circuit including:
a first fluid conduit means for connecting fluid delivery means to
the control means for the other tool, the pressure level in said
first fluid conduit means being influenced by the operative state
of the control means for the other tool;
pilot operated valve means in said first fluid conduit means;
second fluid conduit means from said pilot operated valve means to
the inlet of an auxiliary tool to be powered;
third fluid conduit means for returning fluid from the discharge
from an auxiliary tool to be powered to a reservoir;
said pilot operated valve means having a first position
interconnecting the parts of said first fluid conduit means
upstream and downstream of said pilot operated valve means and
connecting said second fluid conduit means to said third fluid
conduit means, and said pilot operated valve means having a second
position connecting said first fluid conduit means to said second
fluid conduit means to deliver operating fluid to the auxiliary
tool;
selectively operable control means for arming said pilot valve
means for switching from the first position thereof to the second
position; and
means responsive to the pressure level of fluid in said first fluid
conduit means downstream of said pilot valve means for delivering
an operating signal to said pilot valve means and switching said
pilot valve means between said first and second positions thereof
in the armed state of said pilot valve means.
2. A control circuit as in claim 1 wherein:
said selectively operable control means includes a control valve
having first and second positions; and wherein
said means for delivering the operating signal to the pilot valve
means includes fourth fluid conduit means from said control valve
to said pilot valve means, and fifth fluid conduit means from said
first fluid conduit means to said control valve means; and further
including
sixth fluid conduit means from said third fluid conduit means to
said control valve means;
said control valve in the first position connecting said fourth and
sixth fluid conduit means, and said control valve in the second
position connecting said fourth and fifth conduit means, said
second position of said control valve being the position for arming
said pilot valve means.
3. A control circuit as in claim 2 including:
check valve means in said first fluid conduit means between said
pilot operated valve means and said fifth fluid conduit means.
4. A control circuit as in claim 2 including:
seventh fluid conduit means from a point in said first fluid
conduit means upstream of said pilot operated valve means to said
fifth fluid conduit means;
and adjustable flow control means in said seventh fluid conduit
means for compensation of leakage from said first fluid conduit
means downstream of said pilot operated valve means.
5. A control circuit as in claim 2 wherein:
the pressure level in said first fluid conduit means increases in
response to actuation of the control means for the other tool to an
active state whereby said operating signal is delivered via said
fifth fluid conduit means, the second position of said control
valve and said fourth fluid conduit means to operate said pilot
valve means and operating fluid is delivered via said first fluid
conduit means, the second position of said pilot valve means, and
said second fluid conduit means to the auxiliary tool.
6. A control circuit as in claim 5 whrein:
said pilot operated valve means returns to the first position
thereof to terminate operation of the auxiliary tool upon reduction
in pressure in said first fluid conduit means below a predetermined
value with said control valve in the second position thereof.
7. A control circuit as in claim 6 wherein:
the pressure in said first fluid conduit means downstream of said
check valve is insufficient to actuate the another tool when the
auxiliary tool is operative.
8. A control circuit for an auxiliary tool adapted to be
operatively associated with control means for another tool mounted
on a vehicle and having hydraulic actuating means, said vehicle
having a source of operating hydraulic fluid, pump means for
delivering the operating fluid under pressure to the hydraulic
actuating means for the another tool, and control means for the
another tool having at least one active position for delivering
hydraulic fluid to said actuating means and a neutral position for
returning hydraulic fluid to a reservoir, the control circuit
including:
first hydraulic conduit means for connecting the pump means to the
control means for the another tool, the fluid in said first conduit
means being at an elevated pressure level when said control means
for the another tool is in an active position and a load is imposed
on hydraulic actuating means for the another tool, and the pressure
of fluid in said first conduit means being at a lower pressue level
when the control means for the another tool is in a neutral
position;
pilot operated valve means in said first conduit means;
second hydraulic conduit means from said pilot valve means to the
inlet of an auxiliary tool to be powered;
third hydraulic conduit means for returning hydraulic fluid from
the discharge of the auxiliary tool to a reservoir;
said pilot operated valve means having a first position
interconnecting the parts of said first conduit means upstream and
downstream of said pilot valve means to provide fluid communication
from the pump means to the control means for the another tool and
connecting said second conduit means to said third conduit means to
vent said third conduit means to the reservoir, and said pilot
valve means having a second position connecting said first fluid
conduit means to said second conduit means to deliver operating
fluid to the auxiliary tool;
selectively operable control means including a control valve having
first and second positions;
fourth fluid conduit means from said control valve to said pilot
operated valve means for delivering an operating signal to switch
said pilot operated valve means between said first and second
positions thereof;
fifth hydraulic conduit means from said first conduit means to said
control valve; and
sixth hydraulic conduit means from said third conduit means to said
control valve;
said control valve in the first position interconnecting said
fourth and sixth conduit means and dead ending said fifth conduit
means, and said control valve in the second position
interconnecting said fourth and fifth conduit means to deliver the
operating signal to said pilot operated valve means and dead ending
said sixth conduit means.
9. A control circuit as in claim 8 including:
check valve means in said first fluid conduit means between said
pilot operated valve means and said fifth fluid conduit means.
10. A control circuit as in claim 9 including:
seventh hydraulic conduit means from a point in said first conduit
means upstream of said pilot operated valve means to said fifth
conduit means;
and adjustable flow control means in said seventh conduit means for
compensation of leakage from said first fluid conduit means
downstream of said pilot operated valve means.
11. A control circuit as in claim 9 wherein:
the pressure level in said first conduit means increases in
response to actuation of the control means for the other tool to an
active position whereby said operating signal is delivered via said
fifth fluid conduit means, the second position of said control
valve and said fourth fluid conduit means to operate said pilot
valve means and operating fluid is delivered via said first conduit
means, the second position of said pilot valve means, and said
second conduit means to the auxiliary tool.
12. A control circuit as in claim 11 wherein:
said pilot operated valve means returns to the first position
thereof to terminate operation of the auxiliary tool upon reduction
in pressure in said first conduit means below a predetermined value
with said control valve in the second position thereof.
13. A control circuit for an auxiliary tool as in claim 12
wherein:
the pressure in said first conduit means downstream of said check
valve is inadequate to power the hydraulic actuators for the
another tool when the auxiliary tool is operative.
14. A control circuit as in claim 8 including:
shut off valve means in said first conduit means downstream of the
connection with said fifth conduit means.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of hydraulic controls for
construction equipment tools. More particularly, this invention
relates to the field of hydraulic controls for construction
equipment tools wherein a tool, referred to herein as an auxiliary
tool, is operated by connecting it into the hydraulic circuit for
other equipment. The invention will be discussed in the environment
of a hydraulic tool, particularly a paving breaker, mounted on
backhoe equipment. However, it will be understood that the
invention is equally applicable to other types of hydraulic tools
mounted on or connected into the hydraulic circuits of other types
of equipment.
Many proposals have been made in the past in the field of
construction equipment, and hydraulic tools for use in construction
equipment, for mounting various kinds of hydraulic tools on tractor
type equipment and powering the auxiliary tool by connecting it
into hydraulic lines for the tractor. Typical approaches in the
prior art have involved dual control systems, i.e., one for the
tractor and one for the auxiliary tool, and typical prior art
practice has involved the use of manually operated on-off valves to
control the auxiliary tool. A common problem with these prior art
systems is that a mounted tool, such as a paving breaker, can be
lifted off the work by operation of parts of the tractor mechanism
while continuing to run. This lifting of the auxiliary tool from
its work while it continues to run poses a danger of serious damage
to the auxiliary tool. It is also a general practice in the prior
art to control hydraulic pressures for such auxiliary tools by
means of sequence valves and pressure reducing valves. These valves
tend to cause heat generation within the hydraulic circuit thus
often requiring the incorporation of auxiliary hydraulic coolers to
keep heat build-up at acceptable levels. These problems and other
problems known in the art have limited the acceptability and
utility of auxiliary tools which are mounted on and/or connected
into the hydraulic circuits of tractor equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be discussed in terms of a paving
breaker, the auxiliary tool, mounted on a backhoe tractor, a
configuration for which the present invention is particularly
suitable. However, it will be understood that the invention is
equally applicable to other types of auxiliary tools such as
tampers, compactors, hand-held paving breakers, augers and shears
mounted on backhoes or other tractor vehicles.
In the present invention a pilot operated directional control valve
unit is connected into the backhoe supply line and the backhoe
return line, and the auxiliary tool, i.e., the paving breaker, is
connected to the control unit. A manually operated control valve is
also connected to the control unit to selectively actuate the
paving breaker. In order to operate the paving breaker the backhoe
controls are placed in a neutral position, and the manually
operated control valve is actuated whereby the pilot valve is
connected to the backhoe supply line. Upon subsequent actuation of
a backhoe control lever, the increased pressure in the backhoe
supply line results in actuation of the pilot operated control
valve whereby actuating fluid is delivered to the paving
breaker.
Additional aspects of the present invention include features
whereby a flow control valve compensates for leakage in the backhoe
system to insure continued actuation of the control valve; and a
feature whereby the paving breaker can not be lifted off the work
area while it is still operating.
The following several advantages are realized with the present
invention:
Full tractor oil flow is available for operation of either the
backhoe or the auxiliary tool as desired. In this manner the
effective operation of each of the backhoe and the auxiliary tool
is unimpaired by the connection of the auxiliary tool into the
backhoe circuit.
Only slight additional heat build-up is encountered in the control
circuit of the present invention thus eliminating the need for
auxiliary cooling equipment.
The paving breaker can not be lifted off the work while running,
and the tool will shut off if it breaks through the work, thus
eliminating the possibility of serious damage to internal parts of
the tool which could otherwise occur.
Operation of the auxiliary tool is triggered by pressure in a line
to the backhoe valve bank inlet rather than by pressure in one of
the backhoe cylinders; thus, operation of the boom, dipper stick or
bucket cyliders of the backhoe in either direction can be made to
operate the auxiliary tool, and the tool can be reversed in its
mountings, and the tool can be rotated almost a full 360.degree.
about the boom bucket pin while still delivering actuating fluid
thereto.
The control circuitry of the present invention is easily connected
to a backhoe tractor by merely removing the backhoe, and
disconnecting the hydraulic supply lines to the backhoe actuators,
those lines usually being equipped with quick disconnect couplings
or standard hydraulic fittings, and connecting the tractor
hydraulic lines to the pilot valve control unit. Other features and
advantages of the present invention will be apparent to and
understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered
alike in the FIGS.:
FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a backhoe tractor.
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the present invention in
the "off" position, i.e., where motive fluid is not being delivered
to the auxiliary tool.
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the present invention in
the "on" position, i.e., where motive fluid is being delivered to
the auxiliary tool.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, a generalized configuration of a backhoe
machine is shown. The machine includes a tractor 10 having a
hydraulically actuated front end loader 12 at the front end and a
boom structure 14 at the back end. On a conventional backhoe a
bucket is mounted at the end of the boom for excavating purposes.
In the present invention the bucket is disconnected and removed
from the backhoe and is replaced with a paving breaker 16. The
front end loader and the bucket in the standard backhoe machine are
hydraulically actuated through a source of pressurized fluid
communicating via hydraulic lines to actuating pistons and
cylinders. Separate control panels are usually provided on the
tractor for the front end loader and the bucket. With most backhoe
machines the bucket is easily detactable mechanically, and
hydraulic connections between the fluid source and the actuators
are easily made and broken through the use of disconnect couplings
or standard hydraulic fittings. Accordingly, the paving breaker 16
can be mounted on the boom in place of the bucket with a minimum
disturbance of existing tractor hydraulics, as will be more fully
discussed hereinafter.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a combination block diagram and
generalized schematic is shown. The backhoe tractor is represented
in FIG. 2 in the form of the dotted line 10'. A hydraulic fluid
reservoir 18 is connected via a pump 20 to a bank of control valves
22 for the front end loader. The control bank 22 will usually have
a single control lever 24 (although some have more than one) and
each control lever will regulate the flow of pressurized fluid
through one or more hydraulic lines 26 to actuate the fron end
loader. A main relief valve 28 is connected as shown to prevent
pressure overloading.
The pump 20 and control valve bank 22 are in a supply line 30. The
supply line continues downstream of control bank 22 in a branch 30a
which is normally connected to branch 30b leading to a bank of
control valves 32 for the backhoe. The phrase "normally connected"
means that branches 30a and 30b of the supply line would be
interconnected, such as by means of a length of flexible hydraulic
line, if the standard bucket were mounted at the end of the boom.
However, in the present invention an auxiliary control package,
which will be discussed in more detail hereinafter, is connected
between those two branches of the supply line.
Supply line branch 30b leads to the bank of control valves 32 for
the backhoe. Control valve bank 32 has a plurality of control
levers 34 (only one of which is shown for purposes of illustration)
which, acting through control valves, control the delivery of
pressurized fluid to the actuating cylinders of the backhoe via
lines 36 in a known fashion. Control banks 22 and 32 are the
separate control banks mounted on the tractor for the front end
loader and the backhoe, as discussed above with regard to FIG. 1.
The fluid circuit continues downstream of control bank 32, at which
point it has become a return line 38 having branches 38a and 38b
leading to a return sump 40. Under the normal condition where the
backhoe bucket is mounted on the tractor, branches 38a and 38b of
the return line would also be interconnected by a length of
flexible hydraulic line.
Still referring to FIG. 2, and in accordance with the present
invention the auxiliary tool, typically a paving breaker 16, is
mounted on the boom in place of the regular bucket. The particular
mechanical configuration of the mounting is of no particular
importance to this invention, and no further discussion of it is
necessary.
Hydraulic control apparatus for paving breaker 16 is connected into
the hydraulic circuitry, the hydraulic control apparatus including
a pilot valve unit 42 hydraulically connected between the tractor
and the tool and a manual control unit 44 connected to the pilot
valve unit. The pilot valve unit 42 does not require any operator
manipulation, and thus it can be remotely mounted in any convenient
location. The manual control unit is mounted at some location
convenient to the operator. The pilot valve unit has a pair of
branch lines 46a and 46b which are connected, respectively, to
branch lines 30a and 30b and a pair of branch lines 48a and 48b
which are connected to lines 38a and 38b, respectively. All of
these connections are made by means of quick disconnect couplings
50. Similarly, a hydraulic inlet line 52a is connected from the
pilot valve unit to breaker 16 to deliver actuating fluid to the
breaker, and a return fluid line 52b is connected from the breaker
to return line 48b, the connections again being made by quick
disconnect couplings 50.
A two-position four-way spring return pilot operated valve 54 in
valve unit 42 in flow line 46 directs actuating fluid to breaker 16
upon receipt of an appropriate piloting signal. Manual control unit
44 has a manually operated two-position three-way valve 56 which
controls the actuation of pilot valve 54. Manual control unit 44 is
connected to pilot valve unit 42 through a plurality of hydraulic
lines and quick disconnect couplings as shown, the purposes of
which will be discussed in more detail in describing the operation
of the system. It will be understood that the valves 54 and 56 are
depicted in a conventional hydraulic notation wherein the alternate
flow directions or passages of the two positions are shown by the
crossed or parallel arrows in the valve, with connections being
shown made for one position of each valve, the "off" or
"unactuated" position being shown made in FIG. 2.
Still referring to FIG. 2, fluid under pressure from pump 20 flows
through line 30 to line 46a and through a filter 58 in line 46a. In
the absence of any pilot actuating pressure being delivered to
valve 54, a spring 60 in the valve holds the valve in the position
shown in FIG. 2 wherein the pressurized fluid flows directly
through the valve and to line 46b through a check valve 62 and a
manually operated shut-off valve 90 (positioned in the open
position) in line 46b downstream of valve 54. At the same time,
inlet line 52a to the tool is connected via line 68 and valve 54 to
line 70 and thence to return line 48b and thence through line 38b
to return sump 40. Similarly, the hydraulic fluid flowing through
line 46 to line 30b flows through control bank 32 to line 38a and
thence to line 71 to return line 48b and back to sump 40. In the
configuration just discussed, tool 16 is inoperative, and control
valve bank 32 may be selectively actuated to move the boom and
position tool 16 at any desired location for eventual
actuation.
Still referring to FIG. 2, it should be noted that the actuator 72
of pilot valve 54 is connected via line 74 to valve 56 and through
one passage through valve 56 to line 76 and thence to return line
48b. Thus, the actuator for the pilot valve is only exposed to
return line pressure, and hence spring 60 holds valve 54 in the
position shown in FIG. 2 where lines 46a and 46b are connected
through one flow passage through the valve and lines 68 and 70 are
connected through another flow passage through the valve. It should
also be noted that the second passage through valve 56 is
dead-ended in the FIG. 2 configuration.
In order to activate tool 16, the equipment operator must first
manually actuate control valve 56. The operating configuration and
sequence which occurs upon manual actuation of the valve 56 is
shown in FIG. 3. Upon the manual actuation of valve 56, line 76
which had previously been connected through a flow passage of the
valve to line 74, is dead-ended; and line 78, which is connected to
line 46b downstream of check valve 62 and which had previously been
dead-ended through a flow passage in valve 56, is now connected
through a flow passage of valve 56 to line 74, and hence to the
actuator 72 of pilot valve 54. The control valves in front-end
loader bank 22 and backhoe bank 32 are typically of the open center
type having a neutral central position (with the valves allowing
flow through the bank to the return line) and two actuating
positions, such as forward and reverse or up and down, illustrated
representatively by positions 1, 2 and 3 of the representative
control lever 34. With pump 20 rotating and the circuit components
attached, and with valve 56 in the "on" position of FIG. 3,
hydraulic oil will still circulate from pump 20 through line 30a
through line 46a, through the dotted line passage position (i.e.,
the unactivated position) of valve 54, through line 46b through
line 30b, valve bank 32, line 38a, line 48a, line 71, line 48b and
line 38b back to sump 40, providing the control valves in bank 32
are all in the neutral position. Thus, since pilot valve actuating
line 74 only contains oil at tank pressure, pilot valve 54 is not
actuated and tool 16 remains inoperative. However, pilot valve 54
is in what may be called an armed state since the movement of valve
56 to the position in FIG. 3 permits valve 54 to receive and
respond to an actuating signal.
When it is desired to operate tool 16, one of the control levers 34
in bank 32 is operated to connect its associated valve to one of
the lines 36 leading to a backhoe cylinder. The pressure will build
up in that cylinder when it is holding the tool against the work.
This results in an increase in pressure in the hydraulic lines
upstream of valve bank 32. The increased hydraulic pressure in line
46b is transmitted via line 78 through the transfer passage in
valve 56 to line 74 and then to the actuator 72 of valve 54. This
increased pressure thus delivered to valve 54 results in an
actuation of valve 54 so that it switches to the passage
configuration denoted by the crossed solid lines. Upon that
actuation of valve 54, hydraulic fluid under pressure is delivered
via line 46a and through the flow passage in valve 54 to line 68
and thence via inlet line 52a to breaker 16 to operate breaker 16
in known fashion.
Upon the switching of valve 54 to the "on" position of FIG. 3, line
46b is connected through a flow passage of the valve to line 70;
however, check valve 62 closes to prevent a flow of hydraulic fluid
back through line 46b. The necessary pressure level is thus
maintained in line 46b to retain valve 54 in the actuated position.
In order to insure that backhoe valve leakage or backhoe cylinder
leakage does not allow the pressure in line 46b to fall below the
level necessary to maintain valve 54 in the actuated position, a
manually adjustable flow control valve 80 is connected between line
78 and line 46a via line 82. Valve 80 is adjusted to compensate for
leakage through the valves of bank 32 and the backhoe actuating
cylinder so as to maintain the pressure level in line 78, and hence
the actuating pressure in line 74 at the level necessary to
maintain valve 54 in the operative position to insure a continued
supply of operating fluid to tool 16. Compensation for such leakage
can also be realized by leakage through valve 54 itself into line
46b. An appropriate pressure gauge 84 may be employed to check on
the pressure level, and a temperature gauge 86 or 86a may be
employed to monitor hydraulic fluid temperature.
With the control unit positioned as discussed above with respect to
FIG. 3, actuating fluid is delivered via line 52a to operate paving
breaker 16, and the actuating fluid is returned to pump 40 via line
52b and line 48b. Adjustable safety relief valve 88 is also
incorporated between line 68 and line 48b to protect hydraulic tool
16 from overloading.
Still referring to FIG. 3, operation of tool 16 can be terminated
either by positioning all of the backhoe control valves in a
neutral position or by switching valve 56 to the "off" position,
i.e., returning valve 56 to the FIG. 1 state. In either of these
events, the pressure in line 74 is reduced to tank return line
pressure. If valve 56 is switched to the off position, line 74 is
connected to return line 48b via line 76; if the backhoe control
valves are moved to the neutral position, the pressure in line 46b
is reduced to return line pressure, and line 74 is connected to the
return line pressure in line 46b via line 78. In either event, the
reduction of pressure in line 74 results in return of pilot valve
54 to the "off" position of FIG. 1 because of the biasing load of
spring 60.
One of the problems which has in the past plagued the field of
auxiliary mounted tools is the continued operation of the tool upon
repositioning of the boom to which it is connected. A tool such as
a paving breaker can receive serious internal damage if it
continues in operation after being removed from the work. That
problem is avoided in the hydraulic control configuration of the
present invention. As has already been pointed out, if the backhoe
control valves are all shifted into the neutral position, the
actuating pressure to the pilot valve 54 is reduced and operation
of the tool stops. If the backhoe valve which controls raising and
lowering of the boom is shifted through neutral to the lifting
position with valve 56 in the "on" position, tool 16 will restart
before the tool is lifted. The pressure in line 30b, and hence the
pressure delivered to the backhoe actuating cylinders, will be
insufficient to reposition the boom as long as flow control valve
80 is properly adjusted. The same consideration holds true for each
of the several backhoe control valves. Thus, no repositioning can
be made of the backhoe boom until valve 56 is returned to the "off"
position of FIG. 1, and damage to the tool is avoided since the
tool will always remain on the work and the piston of the breaker
will strike the moil.
Tool 16 will also shut off if the breaker penetrates through the
work and encounters a hollow area. If that happens, the resistance
to the boom load is removed and the pressure in the boom actuating
cylinder drops to return line pressure. Therefore, the pressure in
line 46b drops and valve 54 returns to the "off" position, thus
terminating the flow of actuating fluid to tool 16.
A manually operated shut-off valve 90 in line 46b makes it possible
to run many other tools from this basic control circuit. For
example, a hand held paving breaker can be connected to the quick
disconnects at the ends of lines 68 and 48b, and this hand held
paving breaker can be operated by closing manually operated
shut-off valve 90. The closing of valve 90 simulates the operation
of a backhoe control valve by imposing a load in line 46b whereby
the pressure in line 46b increases. Upon actuation of valve 56 to
the "on" position, the increased pressure in line 46b results in
movement of valve 54 to the "on" position as previously described,
thus resulting in the delivery of actuating fluid to the hand held
paving breaker or such other tool as is connected into the line.
Valve 90 also terminates backhoe operation, thus adding a safety
feature in that the boom can not be inadvertently operated to
injure the operator of the hand held tool.
The control circuit of this invention can also be applied to
tractor circuits containing backhoe valves with "pressure beyond"
features, i.e., one which there is a pressure requirement
downstream of the backhoe valves. For example, if the front end
loader valve bank 22 is in line 38b downstream of backhoe valve
bank 32, a check valve 92 in line 48b will prevent pressurization
of tool return line 52b with "power beyond" backhoe valves and
relief valve 87 connected between lines 46a and 48b will protect
against overloading of the pump.
With the hydraulic control system as described above it can be seen
that full tractor oil flow, i.e., the full output of pump 20, is
available for operation of either the backhoe or the auxiliary tool
16. Heat build-up in the system is very minimal, thus eliminating
the need for additional oil coolers. The auxiliary tool can not be
lifted off the work while running, thus preventing damage to tools
such as paving breakers which may suffer internal damage if lifted
off the work while running. The operation of auxiliary tool 16 is
triggered by pressure in line 46b upstream of the backhoe valve
bank 32 rather than by pressure in one of the backhoe cylinders.
Thus, the tool 16 can be reversed in its mounting on the backhoe
boom if such reverse mounting is desired in order to demolish more
effectively, and operation of boom, dipper stick, or bucket
cylinders in either direction can be made to operate the auxiliary
tool. Accordingly, the system of the present invention has a
distinct advantage in that it controls the mounted auxiliary tool
in both normal and reversed mounting positions and it provides the
flexibility of being able to apply the auxiliary tool in a full
360.degree. angle about the boom bucket pin. The hydraulic and
control circuitry can be incorporated in separate units 42 and 44
which can easily be connected into the tractor hydraulic circuit by
quick disconnect couplings or standard hydraulic fittings. In
addition, since only unit 44 requires manual operation, unit 42 can
be mounted in any remote place.
While preferred embodiments have been shown and described various
modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly,
it is to be understood that the present invention has been
described by way of illustration and not limitation.
* * * * *