A hydraulic stage includes a hydraulic element located between and sealing a first and second chamber, wherein the first chamber comprises at least one aperture through which fluid is arranged to flow into or out of the first chamber; and at least one piezoelectric element which is positioned adjacent to the at least one aperture and is arranged to deform in response to an applied potential difference such that it blocks or obstructs the at least one aperture to a varying degree according to the level of deformation, so as to control fluid flow into or out of the first chamber. The level of deformation of the piezoelectric element thus reduces or increases an effective size of the inlet or outlet aperture to which it is adjacent, restricting or permitting an increase in fluid flow accordingly.

To provide a construction machine that can highly precisely control branch flows from a hydraulic pump to a plurality of hydraulic actuators without being affected by load conditions. A controller (100) has a meter-out valve control section (140) configured to calculate a target opening area of a second meter-out valve (65a) (65b) according to a pressure difference between a supply pressure and a second meter-in pressure, or calculate a target opening area of a first meter-out valve (55a) (55b) according to a pressure difference between the supply pressure and the first meter-in pressure.

A fluid circuit includes a pressure fluid source configured to supply pressure fluid, multiple actuators connected to the pressure fluid source , a direction switching valve configured to switch a supply destination of the pressure fluid supplied from the pressure fluid source , and a discharge amount control mechanism configured to control the output pressure of the pressure fluid source such that a pressure difference ΔP between the output pressure of the pressure fluid source and the maximum load pressure of the load pressures of the multiple actuators reaches a target value ΔPt. The fluid circuit further includes an accumulator configured to accumulate part of return fluid from the actuators.

A hydraulic system for a working machine includes a first electric machine connected to a first hydraulic machine; a second electric machine connected to a second hydraulic machine, an output side of the second hydraulic machine being connected to an input side of the first hydraulic machine; at least one hydraulic consumer hydraulically coupled to an output side of the first hydraulic machine via a supply line and configured to be powered by the first hydraulic machine; and a valve arrangement arranged between the hydraulic consumer and the first and second hydraulic machines, wherein the valve arrangement is configured to control a return flow of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic consumer to either the input side of the first hydraulic machine or an input side of the second hydraulic machine based on a requested output pressure from the first hydraulic machine.

A main winch system of a rotary drilling rig includes a main action loop, a pilot control loop, and a feedback control loop. The main action loop includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a main control valve, a balance valve, a main winch motor, and an oil tank. The pilot control loop includes a pilot handle, a solenoid valve I, a pressure relay, and the main control valve in the main action loop. The feedback control loop includes a solenoid valve II and the hydraulic pump and the main control valve in the main action loop. In response to a lifting action of the pilot handle for the main winch, under the control of a button, the solenoid valve II is energized continuously, and the solenoid valve I is energized and de-energized according to a given rule.

A downforce control system for an agricultural ground engaging unit provides individual control of each agricultural ground engaging row unit by providing a proportional pressure control valve connected to the retracting chamber of a double acting cylinder which varies the upward force produced by the retracting chamber of the cylinder against a constant counteracting downward force produced by an extending chamber of the cylinder, the valve control based on a comparison of a sensed resultant downward force on the agricultural ground engaging row unit and a predetermined target downward force.

Provided is a work machine which can increase the operation speed of an actuator by a regeneration function while securing the position control accuracy of the actuator. A controller is configured to calculate a regeneration flow rate on the basis of an input amount of an operation lever and a target actuator flow rate, subtract the regeneration flow rate from the target actuator flow rate to calculate a target actuator supply flow rate, calculate a target flow rate control valve opening amount on the basis of the target actuator supply flow rate, calculate a target pump flow rate that is equal to or higher than a total target actuator supply flow rate, control a selector valve on the basis of the input amount of the operation lever, control a flow rate control valve according to the target flow rate control valve opening amount, and control a hydraulic pump according to the target pump flow rate.

A vehicle includes: a prime mover; a hydraulic fluid manifold; a hydraulic machine; a hydraulic accumulator; one or more hydraulic actuators; a valve arrangement; and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an actuator demand signal indicative of a demand to move the one or more hydraulic actuators; and to control the hydraulic machine and the valve arrangement to cause movement of the one or more actuators in accordance with the actuator demand signal by bringing the hydraulic accumulator into fluid communication with a first actuator chamber of the one or more hydraulic actuators, and to synchronise therewith changing a pressure in a second actuator chamber of the one or more hydraulic actuators. The second actuator chamber is in fluid communication with the hydraulic machine.

A hydraulic actuator control system that includes an actuator. A pump pumps a hydraulic fluid to move the actuator. A first control valve fluidly couples to the pump. The first control valve provides a first hydraulic fluid flow to the actuator. A maximum first hydraulic fluid flow through the first control valve is less than a maximum required hydraulic fluid flow of the actuator. A second control valve fluidly couples to the pump. The second control valve provides a second hydraulic fluid flow to the actuator. A maximum second hydraulic fluid flow through the second control valve is less than the maximum required hydraulic fluid flow of the actuator. A controller controls the first control valve and the second control valve to provide the hydraulic fluid to the actuator.

The present disclosure relates to variable recruitment actuator systems and related methods. In one embodiment, a variable recruitment actuator system may include a high-pressure fluid connection and a plurality of actuators. A variable recruitment actuator mechanism may selectively recruit a subset of the plurality of actuators based on a position of the variable recruitment actuator mechanism by selectively placing the subset of the plurality of actuators in fluid communication with the high-pressure fluid connection. A control system to control the position of the variable recruitment actuator mechanism may operate based on an input from a user.