A system for enabling an upper swing body of construction equipment to swing freely. A working device is attached to the upper swing body to lift and move an object. A swing motor is connected to a power unit to swing the upper swing body. A controller is electrically connected to the working device and the swing motor to detect forces applied to the working device, and based on the detected forces, generating a control signal to control the swing motor so that the upper swing body swings freely. The system enables the upper swing body to swing freely to reduce energy consumption while ensuring safety when the upper swing body lifts a load.

Provided is a slewing-type working machine including: a slewing motor; a capacity control device; a slewing control device operated by a slewing instruction operation to allow hydraulic fluid to be supplied from a hydraulic pump to the slewing motor; a slewing parking brake; a brake switching device; a brake release instruction unit which inputs a brake release instruction to the brake switching device so as to make the brake switching device switch the slewing parking brake to a brake releasing state after allowing hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the slewing motor; and a capacity limiting unit that limits the capacity of the slewing motor controlled by the capacity control device to a predetermined brake-release capacity value or less until a brake release point and allows the capacity to increase after the brake release point.

A speed reducer includes a transmission unit rotating around an axis, an annular member having a cylindrical shape surrounding the axis, rotating around the axis together with the transmission unit, and having an oil sump having a recessed groove recessed in an inner peripheral surface and a lubricating oil supply hole extending and opening radially outward from the recessed groove, and a sliding portion provided radially outward of the lubricating oil supply hole of the annular member.

Provided is a swing-back preventing apparatus capable of preventing a hydraulic actuator in a stop state from operating by undesired load. The swing-back preventing apparatus includes a housing, a piston, and a pair of biasing members. First and second spaces are formed between the piston and the housing, and the piston includes a pair of communication passages that are communicable with first and second spaces. When the piston is located at a first offset position, the first space is blocked from a first port. When the piston separates from the first offset position, the first space is connected to the first port. When the piston is located at a second offset position, the second space is blocked from a second port. When the piston separates from the second offset position, the second space is connected to the second port. When the piston is located at a position on the first offset position side of a neutral position, a first communication passage is connected to the first space. When the piston is located in a range from the neutral position to the second offset position, the first communication passage is blocked from the first space. When the piston is located at a position on the second offset position side of the neutral position, a second communication passage is connected to the second space. When the piston is located in a range from the neutral position to the first offset position, the second communication passage is blocked from the second space.

A working machine includes a lower body, a turning body, a turning manipulating member which turns the turning body, a hydraulic motor which rotationally drives the turning body, a brake device which brakes the hydraulic motor, a main hydraulic source which supplies hydraulic oil to the hydraulic motor, and a direction control valve which controls a flow direction of the hydraulic oil according to the manipulated variable of the turning manipulating member, in which in a state where the hydraulic motor is braked by the brake device based on a manipulation of a brake manipulating member, when the turning manipulation is performed by the turning manipulating member, a brake applied to the hydraulic motor by the brake device is released with respect to turning in an indication direction indicated by the turning manipulation such that the turning body turns in the indication direction.

A closed-loop hydraulic circuit associated with a swing mechanism of a machine is controlled to obtain both a pressure control during acceleration and deceleration of the swing mechanism and a velocity control during coasting. In this manner, a system pressure in closed-loop hydraulic circuit is maintained below a maximum allowable pressure during acceleration and deceleration, and the swing mechanism can be rotated at a desired constant speed during coasting. This is achieved by controlling a hydraulic actuator adjusting the displacement of a variable displacement pump in different control modes, depending on a comparison between a desired displacement of the pump and an actual displacement of the same.

A hydraulic drive system of a construction machine includes: an over-center pump connected to a turning motor; a regulator that adjusts tilting angle of the over-center pump; a main pump coupled to over-center pump; and a controller that controls the regulator such that when a turning deceleration operation is performed, the over-center pump's tilting angle decreases in accordance with decrease in a turning operation signal outputted from a turning operation device. The controller: when a pressure accumulation condition satisfied, switches a switching valve to pressure accumulation position to bring an accumulator into communication with a delivery line of the main pump; when a pressure release condition is satisfied, switches the switching valve to a pressure release position to bring accumulator into communication with a suction line of main pump; and when neither the pressure accumulation condition nor pressure release condition is satisfied, switches the switching valve to a neutral position.

A planetary gear module for a swing reducer of a construction machine is provided. The planetary gear module can fit between first and second adjacent planetary gear modules. The planetary gear module comprises a planetary gear stage and a stage support for supporting the planetary gear stage, the stage support comprises an input support interface for stacking the first adjacent planetary gear module onto the planetary gear module and an output support interface for stacking the planetary gear module onto the second adjacent planetary gear module, the planetary gear stage comprises an input gear interface for operatively connecting the planetary gear module to the first adjacent planetary gear module and an output gear interface for operatively connecting the planetary gear module to the second adjacent planetary gear module. The input and output support interfaces as well as the input and output gear interfaces are configured to match to each other.

A control method controls a movable member of an excavator including a movable member holding a load, an actuator with electric motor and static brake, a control unit and a motion sensor unit. The static brake and electric motor generate respectively an upper threshold brake force and an upper threshold motor force. An immobilization operation provides that the static brake generates the upper threshold brake force and the electric motor is stopped. A slippage detection operation provides that the control unit detects whether an electric actuator is moving despite the static brake. If the electric actuator is moving, a motor energizing operation provides that the electric motor generates a motor force equal or superior to upper threshold brake force in a direction opposite to the slippage direction. After energizing the motor, a brake release operation provides that the control unit releases the static brake.

A pivot control apparatus of construction equipment is provided for reaching a desired swing angle by controlling the brake torque of a swing motor during a loading operation using an excavator, along with a control method therefor. The swing control apparatus of construction equipment according to one embodiment of the present invention includes first and second hydraulic pumps and a pilot pump; a boom cylinder, an arm cylinder, and a bucket cylinder which are driven by the hydraulic fluid of the first and second hydraulic pumps; an operation apparatus control valve for controlling the hydraulic fluid which is supplied from the first and second hydraulic pumps to the boom cylinder, the arm cylinder and the bucket cylinder; a swing motor Which is driven by the hydraulic fluid of any one of the first and second hydraulic pumps to swing an upper swinging, body; a swing control valve; a swing operation lever, a direction control valve which applies a pilot pressure to the swing control valve according to the swing operation lever or a semi-automatic swing mode selection; electronic proportional variable relief valves capable of variably adjusting the relief setup pressure of the swing motor; and a controller which, when a semi-automatic swing mode is selected and the operation apparatus is actuated at the time of swing return, applies an electric signal to the variable relief valve at the outlet side, from among the electronic proportional variable relief valves, so as to increase or decrease the relief setup pressure.