The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic valve arrangement comprising a first pilot operated proportional directional control valve having a first valve member that is displaceable in a first and a second axial direction for controlling direction of supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to and from a hydraulic actuator, a first proportional electro-hydraulic control valve for controlling displacement of the first valve member in the first axial direction, a second proportional electro-hydraulic control valve for controlling displacement of the first valve member in the second axial direction, and a second pilot operated proportional control valve having a second valve member configured to be controlled by the first and second proportional electro-hydraulic control valves via a shuttle valve arrangement. Individual meter-in and meter-out control of the hydraulic actuator is providable by having the second pilot operated proportional control valve configured to operate as a meter-in valve of the hydraulic actuator and the first pilot operated proportional directional control valve configured to operate as a meter-out valve of the hydraulic actuator, or by having the first pilot operated proportional directional control valve configured to operate as a meter-in valve of the hydraulic actuator and the second pilot operated proportional control valve configured to operate as a meter-out valve of the hydraulic actuator. The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising a hydraulic actuator and a hydraulic valve arrangement for controlling the motion of the hydraulic actuator.

A construction machine that precisely enables derivation of the operation characteristics of hydraulic actuators in a high-velocity area with less calibration operation is provided. A controller (10) has a calibration mode in which the controller (10) derives operation characteristics (α(xs)) representing a relation among a spool position (xs) of a meter-in valve (8a1), an operation velocity (Va) of a hydraulic actuator (4a), and a differential pressure (ΔP) across the meter-in valve (8a1), and is configured to, in a case where the spool position (xs) of the meter-in valve (8a1) has changed in a direction to increase the opening area of the meter-in valve (8a1) in the calibration mode, output a command signal to increase the opening area of a bleed-off valve (8b1) to a bleed-off solenoid proportional pressure-reducing valve (8b2) as a command signal to reduce the differential pressure (ΔP).

A construction machine that precisely enables derivation of the operation characteristics of hydraulic actuators in a high-velocity area with less calibration operation is provided. A controller (10) has a calibration mode in which the controller (10) derives operation characteristics (α(xs)) representing a relation among a spool position (xs) of a meter-in valve (8a1), an operation velocity (Va) of a hydraulic actuator (4a), and a differential pressure (ΔP) across the meter-in valve (8a1), and is configured to, in a case where the spool position (xs) of the meter-in valve (8a1) has changed in a direction to increase the opening area of the meter-in valve (8a1) in the calibration mode, output a command signal to increase the opening area of a bleed-off valve (8b1) to a bleed-off solenoid proportional pressure-reducing valve (8b2) as a command signal to reduce the differential pressure (ΔP).

A valve arrangement for supplying pressure medium to a hydraulic consumer has two utility ports (A, B) for fluid connection to the consumer and has a first control valve. The first control valve (20) has a first intake (24) via which a first intake flow from the first utility port (A) to the consumer (10) is controllable, has a first return control orifice (26) via which a first return flow (28) from the consumer (10) via the second utility port (B) is controllable simultaneously with the first intake (24), has a second intake (34) via which a second intake flow from the second utility port (B) to the consumer (10) is controllable, and having a second return control orifice (36), via which a second return flow (38) from the consumer (10) via the first utility port (A) is controllable simultaneously with the second intake (34). A second control valve (40) has an intake control orifice (42) used to control the respective intake (24, 34) of the first control valve (20).

A valve arrangement for supplying pressure medium to a hydraulic consumer has two utility ports (A, B) for fluid connection to the consumer and has a first control valve. The first control valve (20) has a first intake (24) via which a first intake flow from the first utility port (A) to the consumer (10) is controllable, has a first return control orifice (26) via which a first return flow (28) from the consumer (10) via the second utility port (B) is controllable simultaneously with the first intake (24), has a second intake (34) via which a second intake flow from the second utility port (B) to the consumer (10) is controllable, and having a second return control orifice (36), via which a second return flow (38) from the consumer (10) via the first utility port (A) is controllable simultaneously with the second intake (34). A second control valve (40) has an intake control orifice (42) used to control the respective intake (24, 34) of the first control valve (20).

This hydraulic drive system includes: a hydraulic pump capable of changing a discharge flow rate of a working fluid; a meter-in control valve that controls a meter-in flow rate of the working fluid flowing from the hydraulic pump to a hydraulic actuator; a meter-out control valve that is provided separately from the meter-in control valve and controls a meter-out flow rate of the working fluid being drained from the hydraulic actuator into a tank; an operation device that outputs an operation command; a first pressure sensor that detects a drainage pressure of the hydraulic actuator; and a control device that sets a target meter-out flow rate according to the operation command from the operation device and controls an opening degree of the meter-out control valve on the basis of the drainage pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and the target meter-out flow rate.

This hydraulic drive system includes: a hydraulic pump capable of changing a discharge flow rate of a working fluid; a meter-in control valve that controls a meter-in flow rate of the working fluid flowing from the hydraulic pump to a hydraulic actuator; a meter-out control valve that is provided separately from the meter-in control valve and controls a meter-out flow rate of the working fluid being drained from the hydraulic actuator into a tank; an operation device that outputs an operation command; a first pressure sensor that detects a drainage pressure of the hydraulic actuator; and a control device that sets a target meter-out flow rate according to the operation command from the operation device and controls an opening degree of the meter-out control valve on the basis of the drainage pressure detected by the first pressure sensor and the target meter-out flow rate.

A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump, a first hydraulic actuator, a second hydraulic actuator, a first control valve to control the first hydraulic actuator, a second control valve to control the second hydraulic actuator, the second control valve being arranged on a downstream side of the first control valve, and a discharge fluid tube in which the operation fluid flows. The hydraulic system further includes a first fluid tube in which a return fluid flows toward the second control valve. The hydraulic system further includes a second fluid tube in which a supply fluid flows toward the first hydraulic actuator, a third fluid tube coupling the first fluid tube to the discharge fluid tube, and a fourth fluid tube in which the return fluid flows toward the second fluid tube, the fourth fluid tube being connected to the first fluid tube.

A hydraulic system (600) and method for reducing boom dynamics of a boom (30), while providing counter-balance valve protection, includes a hydraulic actuator (110), first and second counter-balance valves (300, 400), first and second control valves (700, 800), and first and second blocking valves (350, 450). A net load (90) is supported by a first chamber (116, 118) of the hydraulic actuator, and a second chamber (118, 116) of the hydraulic actuator may receive fluctuating hydraulic fluid flow from the second control valve to produce a vibratory response (950) that counters environmental vibrations (960) on the boom. The first blocking valve prevents the fluctuating hydraulic fluid flow from opening the first counter-balance valve. The first blocking valve may drain leakage from the first counter-balance valve.

This hydraulic drive system includes: first and second circuit systems; first and second hydraulic pumps; a merge valve that opens and closes a merge passage connecting the hydraulic pumps; an operation device that outputs an operation command corresponding to an amount of operation specifying an amount of actuation of first and second hydraulic actuators; and a control device that controls the merge valve according to the operation command from the operation device. The first circuit system includes: a first meter-in control valve that controls a meter-in flow rate of the working fluid that flows to the first hydraulic actuator; and a first meter-out control valve that controls a meter-out flow rate of the working fluid that is drained from the first hydraulic actuator into a tank. The control device controls an opening degree of the first meter-in control valve and an opening degree of the first meter-out control valve.