The present invention provides a controller for a hydraulic apparatus. The controller is configured to determine (410) that a mode change criteria has been met for the hydraulic apparatus. In response to the determination, the controller is configured to control (420) a valve arrangement to change a first actuator chamber of a hydraulic actuator between being fluidly connected to a hydraulic machine and fluidly isolated from a second chamber of the hydraulic actuator, and being fluidly connected to both the second actuator chamber and the hydraulic machine. Further in response to the determination, the controller is configured to control (430) the hydraulic machine to change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic machine to regulate a movement of the hydraulic actuator during the control of the valve arrangement.

Provided is a hydraulic machine including an actuator, a first pump and a second pump configured to supply pressurized fluid to the actuator, a driving motor configured to drive the first and second pumps, a first operator input device through which an operator's desire to operate the actuator is input, and a controller. The controller determines displacements of the first and second pumps corresponding to the operator's desire and a speed of rotation of the driving motor and controls the first pump, the second pump, and the driving motor to operate according to the displacements of the first and second pumps and the speed of rotation of the driving motor finally determined in the determination of the displacements of the first and second pumps.

A redundant balance line operating system including first and second control lines, first and second balance lines, a first and second compensators and first and second actuators, the components being hydraulically connected to operate redundantly and to fail safe.

A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets, each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads. A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets connected to one or more of the loads is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulic control system for a work machine that is capable of reducing the loss caused by flow division while reducing a decrease in the speed of a hydraulic actuator due to a combined operation. The hydraulic control system for a work machine includes a first hydraulic actuator, one hydraulic pump, a second hydraulic actuator, and another hydraulic pump. The hydraulic control system further includes operating instruction detection means and pump flow control means. The operating instruction detection means detects that operating instructions are issued to the first hydraulic actuator and the second hydraulic actuator. The pump flow control means individually adjusts the delivery flow rate of the one hydraulic pump and the another hydraulic pump in accordance with operation amounts designated by the operating instructions for the first and second hydraulic actuators. When the first and second hydraulic actuators are simultaneously operated, the pump flow control means increases the delivery flow rate of the one hydraulic pump to a higher rate than when the first hydraulic actuator is operated and the second hydraulic actuator is not operated.

A modular multi-pump system is provided. The modular multi-pump system may comprise a plurality of modular pump systems. A modular pump system may comprise a pump, at least one backpressure orifice, a pressure regulating valve (PRV), and a mix valve. The pump may receive and pump a fluid through the modular multi-pump system. The at least one backpressure orifice may set a desired fluid output pressure for the fluid flow. The pressure regulating valve may maintain modular pump system fluid output pressure in response to being in a balanced position, and may initiate fluid flow transition to the next modular pump system in response to being in a transition position. The mix valve may prevent fluid flow from the next modular pump system in response to being in a first position, and enable fluid flow from the next modular pump system in response to being in a second position.

An example robot includes movable members, a hydraulic system including at least (i) hydraulic actuators configured to operate the movable members, and (ii) a source of hydraulic fluid, and a controller. The controller may be configured to: determine a task to be performed by the robot, where the task includes a plurality of phases; cause hydraulic fluid having a first pressure level to flow from the source to the hydraulic actuators for the robot to perform a first phase of the plurality of phases of the task; based on a second phase of the task, determine a second pressure level for the hydraulic fluid; and adjust, based on the second pressure level, operation of the hydraulic system before the robot begins the second phase of the task.

A control valve comprises a body. A diverter is disposed within the body. The diverter is movably positionable within the body such that the diverter can assume a first position, second position and third position. The body includes one or more exhaust ports, a supply port, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The body and diverter are configured such that: when the diverter is in the first position, the supply port and first outlet port fluidly communicate and the one or snore exhaust ports and second outlet port are fluidly isolated; when the diverter is in the second position, the first outlet port and one of the one or more exhaust ports fluidly communicate and the supply port and second outlet port are fluidly isolated; and When the diverter is in the third position, the first outlet port and second outlet port fluidly communicate and the supply port and the one or more exhaust ports are fluidly isolated.

A pneumatic volume booster to amplify a control pressure output signal can include a pneumatic control outlet for attachment to a pneumatic working chamber of the pneumatic actuator; a pneumatic aeration inlet configured to receive the pneumatic control pressure signal from the position controller, a pneumatic amplification inlet configured to receive a constant pneumatic air amplification signal, a pneumatic de-aeration connection from the control outlet to a pressure sink configured to aerate the control actuator, a deaerator seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic de-aeration connection, a pneumatic aeration connection between the first aeration inlet and the control outlet; an aerator seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic aeration connection, a pneumatic amplification connection between the amplification inlet and the control outlet; an amplification seat-valve separating and/or opening the pneumatic amplification connection; and a mechanical seat-valve-operator for commonly operating the de-aeration seat-valve, the first aerator seat-valve and the amplification seat-valve.

A fluid power system comprises a pump with multiple independently variable outlets (11, 12, 13, 14), each of which is capable of delivering fluid in individually controllable volume units and a plurality of hydraulic loads (15, 16, 18, 20). A system of switching valves is configured to create fluid connections between the pump outlets and the loads. A control system commands both the pump and the switching valves, so as to create valve state combinations to satisfy load conditions as demanded by an operator. The number of pump outlets (11, 12, 13, 14) connected to one or more of the loads (15, 16, 18, 20) is changeable to satisfy the flow required of the load due to the operator demand, each pump outlet being commanded to produce a flow depending on the status of other outlets connected a load to which the outlet is connected and the operator demand for that load.