A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.

An electro-hydraulic actuator includes: a motor output rotative power; an external gear pump activated by the motor; a hydraulic actuator operated by a pressurized working fluid supplied by the external gear pump; a manifold block in which a flow channel forming a working fluid circuit of the hydraulic actuator is incorporated; a first portion to store the motor; a second portion to store the external gear pump, the hydraulic actuator, and a reservoir; and a coupling portion to couple the first portion and the second portion in a liquid-tight state. The coupling portion includes a communication hole through which the first portion and the second portion communicate, a rotational shaft of the motor and a driving shaft of the external gear pump are joined to each other, and the external gear pump is attached to the coupling portion while being stored in the manifold block.

A hydraulic machine. A high pressure line allows working fluid to flow into a hydraulic motor. A low pressure line allows working fluid to flow out of the hydraulic motor. High pressure line valves open and close the high pressure line. Low pressure line valves open and close the low pressure line. An operator input device inputs a command to control movement of the hydraulic motor. A control unit controls the high pressure line valves and the low pressure line valves to be opened and closed by receiving the command from the operator input device. The control unit controls the high pressure line valves to have a normalized flow factor K.sub.vHP, and controls the low pressure line valves to have a normalized flow factor K.sub.vLP, where K.sub.vLP<K.sub.vHP when a normalized flow factor K.sub.vcmd corresponding to the command is 0<K.sub.vcmd<1.

A servo valve assembly includes a first nozzle opposing a second nozzle and a shaft positioned in the gap between the first and second nozzles. The first and second nozzles are spaced apart by a gap and each nozzle has an outlet opening. The shaft defines a diameter (D) and a circumferential surface and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (R-R). The shaft defines first and second reduced radial portions around its circumferential surface, and the first and second reduced radial portions are in fluid communication with the first and second nozzle outlet openings, respectively. The shaft is configured to rotate between a first position where the first nozzle outlet opening is more occluded by the shaft circumferential surface than the second nozzle outlet opening, and a second position where the first nozzle outlet opening is less occluded by the shaft circumferential surface than the second nozzle outlet opening.

A hydraulic unit includes a hydraulic circuit fluidly connected to a hydraulic actuator, and a control device to control the hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic oil tank, a hydraulic pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic actuator from the hydraulic oil tank, a discharge flow path fluidly connecting a discharge side of the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator, a valve that blocks a flow of the hydraulic oil in the discharge flow path, and a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the hydraulic oil the discharge flow path. In a pressure holding state, when a rotational frequency of the hydraulic pump exceeds a predetermined first determination rotational frequency or when a discharge flow rate of the hydraulic pump exceeds a predetermined first determination discharge flow rate, the control device determines that the hydraulic circuit is abnormal.

Provided is a work machine which can achieve both of excellent operability when an operator manually operates a machine body or a work device and an accuracy of control of the machine body or the work device when a controller performs automatic control. The controller is configured to, in a case where the automatic control function selector switch gives an instruction to disable the automatic control function, adjust an opening amount of a bleed-off valve to a maximum opening amount or an opening amount corresponding to input amounts of control levers, and in a case where the automatic control function selector switch gives the instruction to enable the automatic control function, adjust the opening amount of the bleed-off valve, in at least part of an operation region of the control levers, so as to be smaller than the opening amount with the instruction to disable the automatic control function being given.

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 single solenoid-controlled electro-hydraulic liftomatic system is provided. The single solenoid-controlled electro-hydraulic liftomatic system is developed for controlling electrically, automating a hydraulic mechanism used in three-point hitch systems of tractors lifted and lowered by a mechanically controlled hydraulic mechanism. The single solenoid-controlled electro-hydraulic liftomatic system includes an actuator, a hydraulic pump, a safety element, a tank line, a valve body, a hydraulic piston, at least one solenoid valve, a piston spring, a check valve, a time-delay relay, and a button.

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.

A hydraulic drive system includes control valve and operating devices, a variable displacement pump, and a flow regulator. When an operating lever inclination angle becomes a value, a control valve opening area becomes a reference. When the operating lever inclination angle maximizes, the opening area maximizes. The flow regulator: until the operating lever inclination angle becomes the value, increases the pump discharge flow rate with the inclination angle, so a differential pressure between pump discharge and actuator load pressures is constant; when the operating lever inclination angle becomes the value, controls the pump discharge flow rate, so a control valve passing flow rate is an actuator maximum flow rate when the differential pressure is constant; and when the operating lever inclination angle is between the value and the maximum, defines a maximum pump discharge flow rate, so the pump discharge flow rate is kept to the actuator maximum flow rate.