A flow rate controller and a drive device are provided with a cylinder flow passage connected to an air cylinder; a main flow passage for supplying air to and discharging air from the air cylinder; an auxiliary flow passage that has a first throttle valve and through which exhaust air discharged from the air cylinder passes with a smaller flow rate than that of the main flow passage; a switch valve that switches between a first position in which the cylinder flow passage communicates with the main flow passage and a second position in which the cylinder flow passage communicates with the auxiliary flow passage; and a pilot air adjustment part that guides a portion of the exhaust air from the air cylinder as pilot air to the switch valve.

A hydraulic system for controlling an implement on a work machine may include a hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the reservoir, a central valve in fluid communication with the pump and configured for controlling the implement, a pressure relief system arranged in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and the central valve, and a controller. The controller may be configured for controlling the hydraulic pump, the central valve and the pressure relief system and selecting between operating the hydraulic system at a first pressure and a second pressure based on a factor relating to implement position.

A hydraulic system includes: an arm hydraulic cylinder; a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump; an arm first direction switching valve; an arm second direction switching valve; and a controller that controls an operation of the arm second direction switching valve when the arm hydraulic cylinder is extended and operated. Further, the arm first direction switching valve incorporates an arm regeneration passage capable of supplying oil when the arm hydraulic cylinder is extended and operated, and the controller monitors a pressure state of the arm hydraulic cylinder, and when determining that oil flow through the arm regeneration passage is possible, the controller blocks oil flow between the arm hydraulic cylinder and the arm second direction switching valve, and otherwise, the controller operates the arm second direction switching valve so that oil can be supplied from the second hydraulic pump to the bottom chamber.

A working machine includes a machine body, a first hydraulic actuator mounted on the machine body, a first control valve that controls the first hydraulic actuator, a controller that controls the first control valve, and a second hydraulic actuator that is different from the first hydraulic actuator. When the second hydraulic actuator and the first hydraulic actuator are operated in combination, the controller reduces the amount of change in the flow rate of a hydraulic fluid supplied from the first control valve to the first hydraulic actuator with respect to changes in a manipulation amount to operate the first hydraulic actuator to a value smaller than that when the first hydraulic actuator is solely operated.

A method of controlling an actuator includes switching a primary solenoid valve to a first mode to fluidically connect a supply pressure source to a control chamber of a pilot valve. A fluid from the supply pressure source is directed through the primary solenoid valve to fill the control chamber of the pilot valve and put the pilot valve in a first position. The first position fluidically connects a second chamber of the actuator to a return pressure source. The actuator includes a cylinder between the first chamber and the second chamber and a rod attached to the cylinder. The fluid from the supply pressure source is directed into the first chamber of the actuator to move the cylinder and the rod in a first direction while the pilot valve is in the first position.

A valve device that changes the direction of flow of a hydraulic fluid supplied to and discharged from a cylinder mechanism to actuate the cylinder mechanism, the valve device including: a control valve including a main spool axially movable between different positions; a lock valve including a plunger and a pressure chamber; and a selector valve including a selector spool operable in conjunction with the main spool to axially move between different positions, the selector spool being located adjacent to the main spool and having an axis crossing an axis of the main spool.

A hydraulic system for a working machine, the hydraulic system includes: a hydraulic fluid reservoir; a boom actuator having an ascending chamber and a descending chamber; a first pump; a first directional control valve comprising a first ascending state configured for moving the boom in the ascending direction, a descending state configured for moving the boom actuator in the descending direction, and a first neutral state; a second pump; a second directional control valve comprising a second ascending state configured for moving the boom actuator in the ascending direction, and a second neutral state; wherein the second directional control valve further comprises a float state configured to connect at least one of the ascending and descending chambers to the hydraulic reservoir for permitting the boom to move freely in the descending and/or descending directions.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a material moving machine comprises a pilot hydraulic switching system. The pilot hydraulic switching system comprises a control unit, a first directional valve, and a second directional valve. The control unit is configured to operate the first and second directional valves to shift a variable position actuator valve between a static state, a retract state, and an extend state. The actuator valve comprises a first and second control element. In the retract and extend states, the first and second directional valves control fluid flow to the variable position actuator valve with a positive net pressure on either the first or second control elements and a negative net pressure on the other control element to move the material moving implement. In the static state, the first and second directional valves control fluid flow equally on the first and second control elements.

An air cylinder in which a flow rate controller is built in, has a head cover and a rod cover. A pilot air adjustment unit guides exhaust air to a switch valve of the flow rate controller as pilot air, and the switch valve is switched by an increase in the pressure of the pilot air.

A flow rate controller and a drive device are provided with a first flow passage connected between an operation switching valve and an air cylinder, and that supplies air to and discharges air from a cylinder chamber of the air cylinder; a first flow rate adjustment part provided in the first flow passage; a second flow passage adjacent to the first flow passage; a pilot check valve provided at a point along the second flow passage; a second flow rate adjustment part connected in series to the pilot check valve at a point along the second flow passage; a pilot air flow passage, one end of which communicates with the operation switching valve and the other end of which is connected to a pilot port of the pilot check valve; and a third flow rate adjustment part provided in the pilot air flow passage.