Methods of controlling an actuator during operation using a hydraulic circuit, and related apparatus, are described. The circuit has a first path section along which fluid is supplied to a first chamber of the actuator using a first valve and a second path section along which fluid is extracted from a second chamber of the actuator using a second valve. Pressure data associated with a pressure of the fluid supplied to the first side of the actuator are obtained, a pilot pressure pPilot is produced based on the data and the first and second valves are configured based on the pilot pressure pPilot.

Methods of controlling an actuator during operation using a hydraulic circuit, and related apparatus, are described. The circuit has a first path section along which fluid is supplied to a first chamber of the actuator using a first valve and a second path section along which fluid is extracted from a second chamber of the actuator using a second valve. Pressure data associated with a pressure of the fluid supplied to the first side of the actuator are obtained, a pilot pressure pPilot is produced based on the data and the first and second valves are configured based on the pilot pressure pPilot.

A valve, in particular for use as a pressure maintenance-type component (38) in hydraulically actuated hoisting devices (2), having a valve housing (54), which has a control port (40) plus a fluid inlet (64) and a fluid outlet (66), and having a regulating piston (68) longitudinally displaceably arranged in the valve housing (54), which regulating piston, against the action of an energy storage device (70), in particular in the form of a compression spring, brings the regulating piston (68) into at least one position forming a fluid-conveying connection between the fluid inlet (40) and the fluid outlet (66) or blocks this connection by means of a control pressure existing at the control port (40), is characterized in that a first diaphragm (88) is arranged in the regulating piston (68), which connects the control port (40) to a receiving space (62) for the energy storage device (70) in a fluid-conveying manner, and in that a second diaphragm (90) is arranged in an intermediate part (72) in the valve housing (54), by means of which the receiving space (62) can be connected to a compensating chamber (92), which connected to the fluid outlet (66) in a fluid-conveying manner (98).

A valve, in particular for use as a pressure maintenance-type component (38) in hydraulically actuated hoisting devices (2), having a valve housing (54), which has a control port (40) plus a fluid inlet (64) and a fluid outlet (66), and having a regulating piston (68) longitudinally displaceably arranged in the valve housing (54), which regulating piston, against the action of an energy storage device (70), in particular in the form of a compression spring, brings the regulating piston (68) into at least one position forming a fluid-conveying connection between the fluid inlet (40) and the fluid outlet (66) or blocks this connection by means of a control pressure existing at the control port (40), is characterized in that a first diaphragm (88) is arranged in the regulating piston (68), which connects the control port (40) to a receiving space (62) for the energy storage device (70) in a fluid-conveying manner, and in that a second diaphragm (90) is arranged in an intermediate part (72) in the valve housing (54), by means of which the receiving space (62) can be connected to a compensating chamber (92), which connected to the fluid outlet (66) in a fluid-conveying manner (98).

An open center (OC)-open center load sense (OCLS) conversion valve and hydraulic circuits therewith configured to control flow from a hydraulic pump to multiple hydraulic functions. The conversion valve includes cartridge, load sense, pump, first function supply, first function return, and downstream ports. When an OC cartridge is inserted in the cartridge port, regardless of load sense, the pump and first function supply ports are connected and the first function return and downstream ports are connected. When an OCLS cartridge is inserted in the cartridge port and load sense is detected, the pump and first function supply ports are connected and the first function return and downstream ports are connected. When an OCLS cartridge is inserted in the cartridge port and load sense is not detected, the pump, first function return and downstream ports are connected.

An open center (OC)-open center load sense (OCLS) conversion valve and hydraulic circuits therewith configured to control flow from a hydraulic pump to multiple hydraulic functions. The conversion valve includes cartridge, load sense, pump, first function supply, first function return, and downstream ports. When an OC cartridge is inserted in the cartridge port, regardless of load sense, the pump and first function supply ports are connected and the first function return and downstream ports are connected. When an OCLS cartridge is inserted in the cartridge port and load sense is detected, the pump and first function supply ports are connected and the first function return and downstream ports are connected. When an OCLS cartridge is inserted in the cartridge port and load sense is not detected, the pump, first function return and downstream ports are connected.

A hydraulic system includes first and second valve assemblies connected to a common pump. The first valve assembly includes a main valve housed inside a manifold. A pressure compensator valve maintains a constant pressure drop across a variable orifice of the main valve. A pressure limiter valve is in communication with the main valve and the pressure compensator valve, and allows an actuator connected to the first valve assembly to operate independently of the second valve assembly so that fluid flow to a work port of the first valve assembly is not interrupted by operation of the second valve assembly.

A pump device includes a variable capacity first pump, a tilt actuator that controls a tilt angle of a swash plate of the first pump in accordance with the control pressure, a regulator that regulates the control pressure in accordance with a front-rear differential pressure of a control valve, a fixed capacity second pump driven by the same drive source as the first pump, the control actuator that operates in accordance with the front-rear differential pressure a resistor so as to drive the regulator to reduce the control pressure in response to an increase in the front-rear differential pressure of the resistor, an auxiliary passage that leads an auxiliary pressure to the control actuator, the auxiliary pressure acting on the control actuator against a upstream pressure of the resistor, and a switch valve that switches between connecting and shutoff the auxiliary passage.

A pump device includes a variable capacity first pump, a tilt actuator that controls a tilt angle of a swash plate of the first pump in accordance with the control pressure, a regulator that regulates the control pressure in accordance with a front-rear differential pressure of a control valve, a fixed capacity second pump driven by the same drive source as the first pump, the control actuator that operates in accordance with the front-rear differential pressure a resistor so as to drive the regulator to reduce the control pressure in response to an increase in the front-rear differential pressure of the resistor, an auxiliary passage that leads an auxiliary pressure to the control actuator, the auxiliary pressure acting on the control actuator against a upstream pressure of the resistor, and a switch valve that switches between connecting and shutoff the auxiliary passage.

A pilot valve assembly (10) includes a cylindrical connector (12) having a first end portion (16) with external threading (18) for engaging a threaded control socket (106) of a hydraulic valve (100), and a second end (20) with an array of teeth (22) arrayed around its edge. A circumferential slot (24) around connector (12) is spaced from second end (20). The assembly also includes a pilot valve (26) with a mechanism for controlling a pressure within the hydraulic control valve actuator chamber. Pilot valve (26) is formed with a recess (28) having a complementary teeth (30) for engaging teeth (22) of connector (12) in a range of angular orientations. A clamping arrangement engages slot (24) and clamps pilot valve (26) to second end (20) of connector (12), thereby fixing an angular orientation of the pilot valve.