Abstract:
Apparatus for spacing consecutive capsules of solid material traveling as a capsule train in a pipeline in which the capsules are carried by a fluid flowing through the pipeline includes a separation system interposed between upstream and downstream portions of the pipeline for receiving the train of capsules. The separation system passes consecutively separated capsules within the capsule train to the downstream portion. The separation system is constructed for increasing the spacing between consecutive capsules within the capsule train in the downstream portion of the pipeline after passing through the separation system. The volume of fluid flowing from an outlet location of the separation system is substantially the same as the volume of fluid flowing into an inlet location of the separation system. A method for boosting fluid pressure in the capsule carrying pipeline consecutively spaces capsules within a capsule train as the train approaches a dual lock booster station to permit the booster station to alternately divert the trains into the first and second locks of the booster station.
Abstract:
A pump is disclosed. The pump may have a housing, a body rotatably disposed within the housing and at least partially defining a plurality of barrels, a plurality of plungers associated with the plurality of barrels, and a swashplate tiltable by a swivel torque to vary a displacement of the plurality of plungers relative to the plurality of barrels. The pump may also have a port plate with an inlet port, a discharge port, and a protrusion. The port plate may be configured to engage an end of the rotatable body. The pump may further have at least one piston disposed within the housing and configured to selectively engage the protrusion of the port plate to rotate the port plate and adjust the swivel torque.
Abstract:
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for controlling the torque load of multiple variable displacement hydraulic pumps are described herein. A pump displacement limit for each variable displacement hydraulic pump is determined using a nonlinear control law to limit the total pump torque load of the variable displacement hydraulic pumps on the engine. The value of the actual pump displacement of each variable displacement hydraulic pump is controlled based upon the respective determined pump displacement limit.
Abstract:
An electro-hydraulic control system for pump control is disclosed. The hydraulic actuator is configured to control the inclination of a swashplate. The position of the hydraulic actuator is controlled by controlling the flow of pressurized fluid into and out of two pressure chambers, one on either side of the actuator. A fluid passageway is provided that selectively connects the passageway to tank. The passageway has an orifice for each pressure chamber, and the actuator is configured to selectively block all or a portion of one or more of the orifices, depending on the position of the actuator. The components of the control system are configured such that the actuator will return to a neutral or near-neutral position upon loss of electric power.
Abstract:
Consistent with an aspect of the disclosure, a method for controlling a hydraulic cylinder is provided. The hydraulic cylinder is provided with a chamber and configured to receive fluid from a valve. The method includes receiving a user input and determining a desired velocity of the hydraulic cylinder in accordance with the user input. In addition, the velocity of the hydraulic cylinder is measured and a position of the valve is determined in accordance with the desired velocity of the hydraulic cylinder and the measured velocity of the hydraulic cylinder. The method further includes determining a desired force to be applied to the valve in accordance with a difference between the desired and measured velocities of the hydraulic cylinder, and actuating the valve in accordance with the desired force to thereby inject the fluid into the chamber and move the hydraulic cylinder.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the operating health of a hydraulic system are provided. The method may include the steps of determining a plurality of operating parameters of the hydraulic system during operation of the hydraulic system, determining an estimated working condition value of the hydraulic system, modifying the estimated working condition value as a function of the operating parameters, and determining the operating health of the hydraulic system as a function of the working condition value. In one method, the working condition value may be indicative of an effective bulk modulus value of an operating fluid within at least part of the hydraulic system.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for determining the operating health of a hydraulic system are provided. The method may include the steps of determining a plurality of operating parameters of the hydraulic system during operation of the hydraulic system, determining an estimated working condition value of the hydraulic system, modifying the estimated working condition value as a function of the operating parameters, and determining the operating health of the hydraulic system as a function of the working condition value. In one method, the working condition value may be indicative of an effective bulk modulus value of an operating fluid within at least part of the hydraulic system.
Abstract:
Consistent with an aspect of the disclosure, a method for controlling a hydraulic cylinder is provided. The hydraulic cylinder is provided with a chamber and configured to receive fluid from a valve. The method includes receiving a user input and determining a desired velocity of the hydraulic cylinder in accordance with the user input. In addition, the velocity of the hydraulic cylinder is measured and a position of the valve is determined in accordance with the desired velocity of the hydraulic cylinder and the measured velocity of the hydraulic cylinder. The method further includes determining a desired force to be applied to the valve in accordance with a difference between the desired and measured velocities of the hydraulic cylinder, and actuating the valve in accordance with the desired force to thereby inject the fluid into the chamber and move the hydraulic cylinder.
Abstract:
Swashplate angle sensing arrangement for a variable displacement pump a nonrotating swashplate and a rotating pump barrel includes a dielectric sensor in a swashplate angle sensing arrangement. The arrangement includes a sensing probe coupled to the casing, a sensor target coupled to the swashplate, and a controller configured to direct an alternating current through the sensing probe to establish an impedance between the probe and the target, and to determine voltage across the probe. The controller is further adapted to determine the angle of the swashplate relative to the casing based on the determined voltage.
Abstract:
A system for providing hydraulic power in a machine transmission includes a first hydraulic variator and a second hydraulic variator, each variator having a mechanical input to a hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic motor linked to the hydraulic pump via a hydraulic circuit, and a mechanical output from the hydraulic motor. In an embodiment, the first hydraulic circuit side of one variator is hydraulically connected to the first hydraulic side of the other variator, and the second hydraulic circuit sides are likewise linked together. A common input is geared to the inputs of the variators and a common output is geared to the outputs of the variators, tying the pump and motor of each variator to rotate at the same speed as the counterpart components of the other variator.