An example counterbalance valve includes: a poppet configured to be subjected to a fluid force by fluid received at a first port, and a fluid force by a pilot pressure fluid signal received at a pilot port; a first setting spring disposed in a first chamber and applying a first biasing force on the poppet; and a second setting spring disposed in a second chamber and applying a second biasing force on the poppet, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are vented to an external environment of the counterbalance valve, wherein the second setting spring is in parallel with the first setting spring such that an equivalent biasing force acting on the poppet in the distal direction comprises a sum of the first biasing force and the second biasing force.

A system for controlling hydraulic fluid flow within a work vehicle includes a pilot conduit fluidly configured to receive a pilot flow of the hydraulic fluid from a fluid supply conduit such that an operation of a compensator valve is controlled based on a pressure of the pilot flow. Furthermore, the system includes a pilot conduit valve configured to adjust the pressure of the pilot flow within the pilot conduit. A computing system is configured to determine the pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the fluid supply conduit downstream of the flow control valve based on the data captured by a pressure sensor. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to control an operation of the pilot conduit valve to selectively adjust the pressure of the pilot flow within the pilot conduit based on the determined pressure.

A balancing valve includes four ports. While the pressures at a pair of balancing ports of a hydraulic balancing valve are equal, the valve maintains two other ports in a closed position. Upon a pressure differential between the balancing ports, fluid communication can occur between one of the balancing ports and either of the other ports based upon the direction of the pressure differential. A hydraulic ride control system utilizes the balancing valve together with other control valves to provide ride control functionality.

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 hydraulic system includes a first fixed displacement pump having a first pump output and a second fixed displacement pump having a second pump output. A first actuator requires a first required flow rate to perform a first function. A second actuator requires a second required flow rate to perform a second function. A combined flow control valve is controllable between a first state connecting fluid communication between the first fixed displacement pump and the tank so that only the second pump output is directed to the second actuator, and a second state disconnecting fluid communication between the first fixed displacement pump and the tank to combine the first pump output and the second pump output such that the combined first pump output and the second pump output is directed to the first actuator.

Even where the differential pressure across a directional control valve associated with each actuator is very small, flow dividing control of the plurality of directional control valves can be performed stable, and even where a demanded flow rate suddenly changes at the time of transition from composite action to single action or the like, a sudden change of the flow rate of hydraulic fluid to be supplied to each actuator is prevented to implement superior combined operability. Further, the meter-in loss of the directional control valves can be reduced to implement a high energy efficiency. To this end, a plurality of pressure compensating valves 7a, 7b and 7c for controlling such that the pressure in the downstream side of the meter-in opening of a plurality of directional control valves 6a, 6b and 6c becomes equal to the highest load pressure are individually arranged in the downstream side of meter-in openings of the plurality of directional control valves 6a, 6b and 6c, and demanded flow rates for the directional control valves 6a, 6b and 6c are calculated from input amounts of operation levers. Besides, the meter-in pressure loss of a predetermined directional control valve is calculated from the demanded flow rates for and meter-in opening areas of the directional control valves 6a, 6b and 6c, and the set pressure of the unloading valve 15 is controlled using the value of the meter-in pressure loss.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction machine having a good engine starting property in a low temperature environment. The construction machine of the present invention includes: an electric pump having a delivery port connected to a line part of a pilot line, the line part connecting a pilot pump with a pilot control valve; a motor that drives the electric pump; and a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of a hydraulic working fluid delivered from the pilot pump. A controller starts driving of the motor in the case where a key switch is operated from a key OFF state to a key ON state and where the temperature of the hydraulic working fluid measured by the temperature sensor is lower than a predetermined temperature.

A controller for hydraulic system of a work machine is provided. The controller is configured to perform a worktool disconnect routine to reduce pressure in a first worktool line and a second worktool line of the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system comprises a spool valve, a first worktool port connected to the spool valve by the first worktool line, a second worktool port connected to the spool valve by the second worktool line, a high pressure flow source of hydraulic fluid connected to the spool valve by a high pressure line and a low pressure tank line connected to the spool valve, the low pressure tank line at a lower pressure than a pressure of the high pressure line. When performing the worktool disconnect routine the controller is configured to: check that a power source of the work machine is operating, instruct the high pressure flow source of hydraulic fluid to provide no flow of hydraulic fluid in the high pressure line to the spool valve, instruct the spool valve to move to a first position wherein the first worktool port is connected to the low pressure tank line and the second worktool port is connected to the high pressure flow source in order to reduce a pressure in the first worktool line, and instruct the spool valve to move to a second position wherein the second worktool port is connected to the low pressure tank line and the first worktool port is connected to the high pressure flow source in order to reduce a pressure in the second worktool line.

A hydraulic system, mining machine and method of controlling a hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system (HS) is provided with a control valve (23) for controlling movement direction and speed of a hydraulic actuator (HA) connected to the system. Generated force of the hydraulic actuator is controlled independently relative to the control valve by means of counterbalance valves (Cb1, Cb2) and servo valves (Sv1, Sv2) controlling their opening pressure. The counterbalance valves and the servo valves operate as a meter-out control assembly which controls flow of hydraulic fluid discharged from working pressure spaces (16a, 16b) of the hydraulic actuator. The disclosed system may be implemented to control a mining boom (3) of a mining machine (1).

A forklift truck includes a carriage that moves up and down by a mast assembly in a multi-stage structure including an outer mast, a first inner mast accommodated in the outer mast, and a second inner mast accommodated in the first inner mast. The forklift truck includes a first lift cylinder configured to move the first inner mast up and down; a second lift cylinder configured to move the second inner mast up and down and having a pressure reception area less than a pressure reception area of the first lift cylinder. A first lift hydraulic line supplies hydraulic oil to the first lift cylinder. A second lift hydraulic line supplies hydraulic oil to the second lift cylinder. A pressure regulating valve is provided to increase a pressure of the hydraulic oil to a pressure capable of driving the second lift cylinder.