A work machine is adapted for reduced fuel consumption in regions where swinging by a hydraulic motor is prone to deterioration in efficiency, such as when the operating stroke of the swinging is small. The work machine includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a swing structure, an electric motor for driving the swing structure, and a hydraulic motor for driving the swing structure, the hydraulic motor being driven by the hydraulic pump, and includes a swing control lever device that commands the swing structure to be driven. A control device operates in either an electric swing mode in which the swing structure is driven mainly by torque of the electric motor or a hydraulic swing mode in which the swing structure is driven mainly by torque of the hydraulic motor, depending on an operating stroke of the control lever device and/or a swing speed of the swing structure.

A work machine is adapted for reduced fuel consumption in regions where swinging by a hydraulic motor is prone to deterioration in efficiency, such as when the operating stroke of the swinging is small. The work machine includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a swing structure, an electric motor for driving the swing structure, and a hydraulic motor for driving the swing structure, the hydraulic motor being driven by the hydraulic pump, and includes a swing control lever device that commands the swing structure to be driven. A control device operates in either an electric swing mode in which the swing structure is driven mainly by torque of the electric motor or a hydraulic swing mode in which the swing structure is driven mainly by torque of the hydraulic motor, depending on an operating stroke of the control lever device and/or a swing speed of the swing structure.

A hydraulic system for driving a post driver of a skid steer loader. The hydraulic system includes a master cylinder disposed between a valve, such as a 4-way valve, and the driver cylinder of the post driver. The master cylinder effectively provides that hydraulic fluid from the 4-way valve to the hydraulic system of the skid steer loader can flow freely without needing an auxiliary pump and motor to overcome resistance in the return line back to the skid steer loader hydraulic system. By eliminating the restriction in the return line of the driver cylinder, a very fast retraction can be achieved, improving the impact performance of the system.

A hydraulically actuatable jib for a loading crane includes at least two jib extensions, the first jib extension being designed as an outer jib extension and the second jib extension being designed as an inner jib extension. At least two feed cylinders extend and react the at least two jib extensions. A hydraulic circuit for a working fluid includes a retraction line for retracting the feed cylinders in a pressurized manner, and the retraction line opens into the feed cylinder of the outer jib extension. A tank is provided for releasing the working fluid, and a control valve can be switched into an open position when the outer jib extension reaches a defined retraction position, particularly when the outer jib extension is substantially fully retracted. The valve thereby supplies the feed cylinder of the inner jib extension with pressurized working fluid.

A hydraulic system for controlling at least one steerable caster wheel of an agricultural machine includes a first actuator having a piston and including an inboard fluid port for supplying fluid to a first side of the piston to move the piston in a first direction, and an outboard fluid port for supplying fluid to a second side of the piston to move the piston in a second direction. A first fluid pressure equalizer is fluidically coupled to the first side actuator and operable to equalize fluid pressure over a period of time between the first side and the second side of the piston of the first side actuator.

A hydraulic system for controlling at least one steerable caster wheel of an agricultural machine includes a first actuator having a piston and including an inboard fluid port for supplying fluid to a first side of the piston to move the piston in a first direction, and an outboard fluid port for supplying fluid to a second side of the piston to move the piston in a second direction. A first fluid pressure equalizer is fluidically coupled to the first side actuator and operable to equalize fluid pressure over a period of time between the first side and the second side of the piston of the first side actuator.

A forklift truck includes a carriage that moves up and down by a mast assembly in a multi-stage structure including an outer mast, a first inner mast accommodated in the outer mast, and a second inner mast accommodated in the first inner mast. The forklift truck includes a first lift cylinder configured to move the first inner mast up and down; a second lift cylinder configured to move the second inner mast up and down and having a pressure reception area less than a pressure reception area of the first lift cylinder. A first lift hydraulic line supplies hydraulic oil to the first lift cylinder. A second lift hydraulic line supplies hydraulic oil to the second lift cylinder. A pressure regulating valve is provided to increase a pressure of the hydraulic oil to a pressure capable of driving the second lift cylinder.

A mechanical transmission system that transmits motions and forces from one location to another while allowing the relative position/orientation of the two locations to change continuously is disclosed. The system can be used to actuate the joints and tooling of a robotic arm using stationary motors in the robot's base. Since the motors do not contribute any weight or inertia to the arm, this yields a lightweight and agile arm that is more human safe. The transmission includes a controller hydraulic cylinder connected to a remote cylinder by a tubing assembly, which contains hydraulic fluid, and a wire cable. The fluid transmits pushing forces between pistons of the cylinders, while the cable transmits pulling forces. The tubing assembly allows the cylinders to move in space relative to one another.

A hydraulic machine unit that can be operated with various working forces, in which working medium is selectively delivered, via a pump-piston accumulator system, to a main cylinder and at least one driving cylinder, wherein at least for one working stroke a pump system of the pump-piston accumulator system is used to provide working medium to a piston accumulator of the pump-piston accumulator system, and then at least for the working stroke at least the main cylinder is charged with a working pressure from the piston accumulator, and wherein at least for a return stroke the at least one driving cylinder is charged with a return stroke pressure from the pump-piston accumulator system, can be of structurally simple configuration if, at reduced working forces, the working pressure is reduced with respect to the piston accumulator pressure prevailing in the piston accumulator.

A hydraulic machine unit that can be operated with various working forces, in which working medium is selectively delivered, via a pump-piston accumulator system, to a main cylinder and at least one driving cylinder, wherein at least for one working stroke a pump system of the pump-piston accumulator system is used to provide working medium to a piston accumulator of the pump-piston accumulator system, and then at least for the working stroke at least the main cylinder is charged with a working pressure from the piston accumulator, and wherein at least for a return stroke the at least one driving cylinder is charged with a return stroke pressure from the pump-piston accumulator system, can be of structurally simple configuration if, at reduced working forces, the working pressure is reduced with respect to the piston accumulator pressure prevailing in the piston accumulator.