Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B20/00—Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems
  • F15B20/008—Valve failure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
  • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
  • B62D1/22—Alternative steering-control elements, e.g. for teaching purposes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D5/00—Power-assisted or power-driven steering
  • B62D5/06—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
  • B62D5/09—Power-assisted or power-driven steering fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle characterised by means for actuating valves
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B20/00—Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F15—FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL
  • F15B—SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F15B20/00—Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems
  • F15B20/002—Electrical failure

Definitions

• Control system and a vehicle comprising the control system
• the present invention relates to a system for controlling at least one hydraulic cylinder comprising a first control valve unit, which is connected to said hydraulic cylinder for regulation of the latter, a first operable control means which is adapted for controlling the first control valve unit, a second control valve unit, which is also connected to said hydraulic cylinder for regulation of the latter, and a second operable control means which is adapted for controlling the second control valve unit, the system comprising means for prioritizing the first control means .
• Such a control system is found in, for example, various types of work vehicle comprising a front part and a rear part, which parts each have at least one wheel axle.
• the vehicle parts are interconnected in an articulated manner, and the parts are rotatable relative to one another around said articulation via two hydraulic cylinders arranged between the two parts.
• a loading machine such as a wheel loader or a dumper, is an example of such a work vehicle.
• the first control means consists of the steering wheel of the vehicle
• the second control means consists of a lever, or joystick.
• a loading machine for controlling its steering cylinders.
• Steering in a loading machine has high safety requirements.
• a loading machine has normal wheel steering, but may also in parallel be equipped with lever steering. The wheel is used during transport, and the lever is used for work at lower speeds such as, for example, for loading a truck, in order to increase driver comfort .
• the control system is usually designed in such a way that the driver, by means of the wheel steering, mechanically regulates a hydraulic valve which in turn transmits hydraulic energy to the steering cylinders.
• the lever steering also transmits hydraulic energy to the steering cylinders, but its hydraulic valve is usually controlled by electric signals, that is to say the driver moves the lever, which in turn generates an electric signal.
• electric signals that is to say the driver moves the lever, which in turn generates an electric signal.
• it is desirable to manipulate the electric signal from the lever (ramps, maximum levels etc.), which can be effected by virtue of the signals from lever to hydraulic valve being transmitted via a machine computer.
• the lever steering with its electronics is a complex system with many sources of failure.
• the control system can be designed so that the wheel steering has top priority, that is to say if the steering wheel and the lever are used at the same time, it is the wheel which prevails. If an error occurs in the lever steering (for example steering takes place in spite of the lever being in neutral position or if the lever has locked in a certain position) , the driver can use the steering wheel and thus steer the machine in a safe way.
• One way of carrying out prioritization is for the machine computer to receive a signal via a sensor which senses that the driver is using the wheel, the computer thus being able to suppress the control signals going out to the hydraulic valve of the lever steering.
• One problem with such a system is that the quality requirements for the machine computer and other electronics are very high, which results in high costs.
• a primary object of the invention is to produce a control system for prioritizing a specific control means, which provides increased safety relative to prior art.
• a secondary object is to produce a control system which affords opportunities for increased cost- effectiveness .
• the prioritizing means is controlled via hydraulics in such a way that the effect of the second control means on the regulation of the hydraulic cylinder is at least substantially reduced as soon as the first control means is operated.
• the first control means is prioritized over the second control means irrespective of whether the second control means is controlling the hydraulic cylinder at the time, that is to say irrespective of the position in which the second control means is arranged, or whether it is being moved.
• the control of the hydraulic cylinder is therefore transferred hydraulically from the second control means to the first control means as soon as the first control means is moved.
• the prioritizing means is adapted, for prioritization, to bring the second control valve unit into a position in which its effect on the regulation of the hydraulic cylinder is at least substantially reduced, irrespective of the position of the second control means.
• the system therefore intervenes and hydraulically breaks the controlling connection between the second control means and the second control valve uni .
• the prioritizing means is connected to the first control valve unit in such a way that prioritization is initiated when the first control valve unit is moved. This affords opportunities for simple control and a cost-effective control system.
• the system comprises a pump which is adapted to be driven depending on the load to which the system is subjected.
• the prioritizing means also comprises a prioritizing valve which is connected hydraulically to the second control valve unit.
• the prioritizing valve is moreover connected to a line which is connected to the pump for controlling the prioritizing valve depending on the load.
• the system is load- sensing.
• the prioritizing valve is therefore controlled by the pressure in the line for load- sensing.
• FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a wheel loader in a view from above
• FIGS 2-6 show five preferred embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic view from above of a truck in the form of a wheel loader 100.
• the wheel loader 100 comprises a front part 101 and a rear part 102, which parts each have a wheel axle 103, 104.
• the vehicle parts 101, 102 are interconnected in an articulated manner, and the parts are rotatable relative to one another around an articulation 105 via two hydraulic steering cylinders 2, 3 which are arranged between the two parts .
• Fig. 2 shows a hydraulic system 1 for regulating the two hydraulic cylinders 2, 3 of the wheel loader 100.
• the lines marked by solid lines indicate main lines, and the lines marked by dashed lines indicate pilot lines for regulating various components in the system.
• the system comprises a first control valve unit 4 which is regulated mechanically by a first control means 5 in the form of the steering wheel of the vehicle.
• the system also comprises a second control valve unit 6 which is controlled electronically via a second control means 7 in the form of a lever.
• the control via the lever 7 is shown diagrammatically by a dot-dash line.
• the system is load-sensing (LS) and comprises a variable displacement pump 8 and a tank 9.
• the pump 8 is driven by the propulsion engine 54 of the vehicle, in the form of a diesel engine ,
• the pump 8 senses the pressure (an LS signal) from the steering cylinders 2,
• the hydraulic cylinders 2, 3 are adapted in such a way that the piston side 11 of the first hydraulic cylinder 2 and the piston-rod side 12 of the second hydraulic cylinder 3 are connected to the pump 8 for steering the vehicle to the right, and the piston-rod side 13 of the first hydraulic cylinder 2 and the piston side 14 of the second hydraulic cylinder 3 are connected to the pump for steering the vehicle to the left .
• connection of the hydraulic cylinders 2, 3 to the pump 8 and thus the regulation of the hydraulic cylinders can be carried out either via wheel steering by means of the control valve unit 4 or via lever steering by means of the control valve unit 6.
• the first control valve unit 4 comprises two valves, or slides, 15, 16, which are arranged one outside the other for rotation relative to one another. In the figure, however, the slides 15, 16 are illustrated diagrammatically for linear movement.
• the control valve unit 4 also comprises a hydraulic motor 17 which is adapted in such a way that the lower slide 16 in the figure "hunts" the upper slide 15 in order to close it.
• a certain quantity of oil is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder 2, 3, which results in a certain degree of operation. The operation ends when the lower slide 16 has caught up with the upper slide 15.
• the second control valve unit 6 comprises a directional valve 18 which determines the steering direction and also the control flow, and a pressure-reducing valve 19 which ensures that the pilot pressure is limited to a defined level, irrespective of the pump pressure.
• the control valve unit 6 also comprises two electrically controlled valves 20, 21 which are regulated indirectly via an electric signal from the lever 7.
• the electrically controlled valves 20, 21 are arranged in parallel with one another on a line 28.
• the line 28 is also connected to the directional valve 18 on both its sides for movement thereof counter to spring force.
• the pump 8 is connected to the electric valves 20, 21 via a line 29 which is connected to the line 28 between the electric valves.
• the electrically controlled right-hand valve 21 is therefore activated, which then applies an oil pressure, which is proportional to the electric signal, to the directional valve 18.
• an oil pressure which is proportional to the electric signal
• the electrically controlled left-hand valve 20 is therefore activated in a corresponding way.
• the LS signal is connected from the shuttle valve 10 (see line 50) to the tank 9 via the directional valve 18 and is thus in principle pressureless .
• the pump 8 is thus adjusted down and maintains only a low pressure.
• the two electrically controlled valves 20, 21 are therefore arranged in such a way that activation of one valve results in movement of the directional valve 18 in one direction, and activation of the other valve results in movement of the directional valve 18 in the other direction.
• the system comprises a top-up valve and a choke valve, which are indicated together by reference number 22.
• the function of the top-up valve and the choke valve is previously known and will therefore not be described in detail here.
• the first control valve unit 4 and the second control valve unit 6 are arranged on parallel lines between the pump 8 and the hydraulic cylinders 2, 3. Depending on which control means the driver selects to steer the vehicle, that is to say the steering wheel 5 or the lever 7, the hydraulic cylinders 2, 3 are controlled by the control valve unit connected to the control means selected. The other control valve unit, which is connected to the control means which is not being used, is then in an inactive state.
• the system 1 also comprises a prioritizing means 23 which is adapted to ensure that the wheel steering has top priority, that is to say if the steering wheel 5 and the lever 7 are used at the same time, it is the wheel which prevails, or takes precedence. Prioritization is carried out completely hydraulically.
• the prioritizing means 23 comprises a prioritizing valve in the form of a sequential valve 24 and two throttles 25, 26.
• the sequential valve 24 is spring- loaded, and a line 27 is connected to the sequential valve 24, for opening the latter by oil pressure counter to the spring force, and to the steering cylinder 2, 3 via the first control valve unit 4.
• the sequential valve When the first control valve unit 4 is in a neutral position, the sequential valve is not affected, but when the first control valve unit 4 is moved, via operation of the steering wheel 5, the sequential valve 24 is connected into the pressure of the steering cylinder 2, 3, and the sequential valve then opens.
• the sequential valve 24 is also arranged on a line 31 which connects the two sides of the directional valve 18.
• the sequential valve is arranged in parallel with the two electrically controlled valves 20, 21 and connected to a respective line out from these to the directional valve 18 in such a way that, when the sequential valve 24 is loaded with sufficiently high pressure, it opens, and the pressure on the two sides of the directional valve 18 is, to a greater or lesser extent, equalized.
• the first and second control valve units 4, 6 are therefore hydraulically interconnected via said prioritizing means 23 in parallel with the steering cylinders 2, 3.
• FIGS 3-6 show alternative embodiments of the invention. Only the differences relative to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 and described above will be described below.
• the prioritizing means 32-35 is adapted for sensing whether flow occurs in the first control valve unit 4 for the steering wheel 5. When such a flow is registered, prioritization is activated.
• the system comprises an element 36, 37, 44-47 which is connected to a hydraulic oil line and adapted to bring about a pressure difference on different sides of the prioritizing valve 24 for the purpose of moving the latter.
• said pressure-difference-generating element comprises a throttle 36 for bringing about a pressure difference upstream of the throttle relative to downstream of the throttle. The flow is therefore registered as a pressure drop across the throttle 36.
• the throttle 36 is arranged on a line 38 between the first control valve unit 4 and the tank 9, that is to say after the control valve unit 4 (the outlet of the control valve unit) of the steering wheel 5.
• lines 40, 41 are connected to the line 38, which lines 40, 41 are also connected to the sequential valve 24 for regulation of the latter.
• a hydraulic signal for opening the sequential valve 24 is therefore sent when the first control valve unit 4 is moved into a position in which the steering cylinders 2, 3 are supplied with hydraulic oil from the pump 8 via the first control valve unit 4.
• This embodiment means that, in order for prioritization to be initiated, there must be a flow in the port of the control valve unit 4 to the tank 9, which results in delayed operation, which means that the steering wheel has to be turned more than according to the first embodiment in order for prioritization to start. This is advantageous in cases where it is desirable that prioritization does not start simply because the driver unintentionally touches/moves the steering wheel 5.
• the flow is also recorded as a pressure drop across a throttle 37 according to the third embodiment (see Figure 4) .
• the throttle 37 is arranged on a line 39 between the pump 8 and the first control valve unit 4, that is to say before the control valve unit 4 (the inlet of the control valve unit) of the steering wheel 5.
• lines 42, 43 are connected to the line 39, which lines 42, 43 are also connected to the sequential valve 24 for regulation of the latter.
• a hydraulic signal for opening the sequential valve 24 is therefore sent when the first control valve unit 4 is moved into a position in which the steering cylinders 2, 3 are supplied with hydraulic oil from the pump 8 via the first control valve unit 4.
• the fourth embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 5 corresponds to the second embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 with the difference that the flow is registered as a pressure drop across a valve, to be precise a back-up valve 44.
• the back-up valve 44 is spring-loaded and has a certain, relatively low opening pressure in order that a pressure drop will arise, which is controlled by the spring.
• a throttle 46 Arranged in parallel with the back-up valve 44 is a throttle 46, the purpose of which is to equalize the pressure drop when the flow ceases .
• the fifth embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 corresponds to the third embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 with the difference that the flow is registered as a pressure drop across a valve, to be precise a back-up valve 45.
• the backup valve 45 has a certain opening pressure in order that a pressure drop will arise.
• a throttle 47 Arranged in parallel with the back-up valve 45 is a throttle 47, the purpose of which is to equalize the pressure drop when the flow ceases.
• a relatively small throttle 46, 47 which is intended to equalize the pressure on the two sides of the back-up valve 44, 45 when there is no flow through the back-up valve 44, 45.
• Each of the back-up valves 44, 45 gives a pressure drop of, for example, 3 bar.
• the pressure drop is in principle independent of the flow. This produces relatively small losses and affords opportunities for a system which is economical in terms of fuel.
• the throttle 46, 47 means that a certain steering wheel speed has to be reached in order for prioritization to begin.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Fluid-Pressure Circuits (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
• Operation Control Of Excavators (AREA)
• Steering-Linkage Mechanisms And Four-Wheel Steering (AREA)
• Steering Control In Accordance With Driving Conditions (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
• Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20287991

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2002
  • 2002-05-29 SE SE0201604A patent/SE525580C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-05-23 WO PCT/SE2003/000842 patent/WO2003099637A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2003-05-23 AT AT03728204T patent/ATE438554T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-05-23 CN CNB038124335A patent/CN100462270C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-05-23 JP JP2004507307A patent/JP4686183B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-05-23 EP EP03728204A patent/EP1511667B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-05-23 AU AU2003234965A patent/AU2003234965A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-05-23 DE DE60328683T patent/DE60328683D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (5)

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