A hydraulic excavator drive system (1) includes an arm control valve (31) and an arm switching valve (41). The arm switching valve (41) is connected to an arm pushing supply line (34) by a rod-side line (42) and to an arm crowding supply line (35) by a head-side line (43). The arm switching valve (41) is switched between a neutral position, a recycling position in which the arm switching valve (41) allows the rod-side line (42) to communicate with the head-side line (43) and a second tank line (44), and a meter-out control position in which the arm switching valve (41) allows the head-side line (43) to communicate with the tank line (44). The arm switching valve (41) incorporates therein a check valve (45) that allows a flow from the rod-side line (42) toward the head-side line (43) when the arm switching valve (41) is in the recycling position.

In some applications, a piston of a hydraulic actuator may move at high speeds, and large undesired forces may be generated if the piston reaches an end-stop of the hydraulic actuator at a high speed. The undesired forces may, for example, cause mechanical damage in the hydraulic actuator. A controller may receive information indicative of the piston reaching a first position at a first threshold distance from the end-stop, and, in response, may modify a signal to a valve assembly controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic actuator. Further, the controller may receive information indicative of the piston reaching a second position at a second threshold distance closer to the end-stop of the hydraulic actuator, and, in response, the controller may further modify the signal to the valve assembly so as to apply a force on the piston in a away from the end-stop.

In some applications, a piston of a hydraulic actuator may move at high speeds, and large undesired forces may be generated if the piston reaches an end-stop of the hydraulic actuator at a high speed. The undesired forces may, for example, cause mechanical damage in the hydraulic actuator. A controller may receive information indicative of the piston reaching a first position at a first threshold distance from the end-stop, and, in response, may modify a signal to a valve assembly controlling flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic actuator. Further, the controller may receive information indicative of the piston reaching a second position at a second threshold distance closer to the end-stop of the hydraulic actuator, and, in response, the controller may further modify the signal to the valve assembly so as to apply a force on the piston in a away from the end-stop.

A hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder having axially spaced-apart first and second bores, and a piston having a piston rod and arranged in the cylinder for movement between two end positions and dividing the cylinder into a piston side and a piston-rod side. A hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic oil into the piston side to move the piston from one end position toward the other end position while hydraulic fluid is discharged from the piston-rod side via the first bore and a first outlet line. A throttling device is operably connected to the cylinder to throttle a flow of the hydraulic fluid as the piston moves past and seals the first bore so that hydraulic fluid is discharged via the second bore, thereby reducing a delivery amount of the hydraulic oil and thereby braking and damping a movement of the piston toward the other one of the end positions.

A hydraulic cylinder includes a cylinder having axially spaced-apart first and second bores, and a piston having a piston rod and arranged in the cylinder for movement between two end positions and dividing the cylinder into a piston side and a piston-rod side. A hydraulic pump pumps hydraulic oil into the piston side to move the piston from one end position toward the other end position while hydraulic fluid is discharged from the piston-rod side via the first bore and a first outlet line. A throttling device is operably connected to the cylinder to throttle a flow of the hydraulic fluid as the piston moves past and seals the first bore so that hydraulic fluid is discharged via the second bore, thereby reducing a delivery amount of the hydraulic oil and thereby braking and damping a movement of the piston toward the other one of the end positions.

This hydraulic drive device for a work vehicle includes a main pump (1) of a variable displacement type or a fixed displacement type discharging pressure oil, a main flow passage (F1) for supplying pressure oil of the main pump to an actuator, a sub-pump (5) of a fixed displacement type discharging pressure oil, a sub-flow passage (F2) for making pressure oil of the sub-pump merge with the main flow passage and supplying the pressure oil to the actuator (2), a merging directional valve (6A) for connecting or cutting off the main flow passage and the sub-flow passage, a controller (30) for controlling operation of the merging directional valve, and a relief valve (7A) arranged in the sub-flow passage, in which the relief valve has a pressure override characteristic having a tendency that the relief pressure increases from a cracking pressure to a set pressure as a relief flow rate increases.

A hydraulic excavator drive system (1) includes an arm control valve (31) and an arm switching valve (41). The arm switching valve (41) is connected to an arm pushing supply line (34) by a rod-side line (42) and to an arm crowding supply line (35) by a head-side line (43). The arm switching valve (41) is switched between a neutral position, a recycling position in which the arm switching valve (41) allows the rod-side line (42) to communicate with the head-side line (43) and a second tank line (44), and a meter-out control position in which the arm switching valve (41) allows the head-side line (43) to communicate with the tank line (44). The arm switching valve (41) incorporates therein a check valve (45) that allows a flow from the rod-side line (42) toward the head-side line (43) when the arm switching valve (41) is in the recycling position.

A carrier comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a piston, a controller and a piston position sensor, wherein the carrier is arranged to carry an accessory through the use of the hydraulic cylinder and wherein the controller is configured to: receive piston position information; determine a direction of movement of the piston; and if the piston position equals a stop distance from an end wall of the hydraulic cylinder in the direction of movement, abort the movement.

A carrier comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a piston, a controller and a piston position sensor, wherein the carrier is arranged to carry an accessory through the use of the hydraulic cylinder and wherein the controller is configured to: receive piston position information; determine a direction of movement of the piston; and if the piston position equals a stop distance from an end wall of the hydraulic cylinder in the direction of movement, abort the movement.

A speed controller capable of controlling an action speed of an external cylinder in one stroke in a step-wise manner. The speed controller includes a first flow path and a second flow path that allow a first port and a second port to be in communication with each other. The first flow path is provided with a first check valve for allowing flow from the first port to the second port. The second flow path is provided with a first needle valve, and an opening hole of the first check valve is constituted as a part of a flow path. The first needle valve adjusts the flow rate by changing an opening area of the opening hole with a tip portion fixed on a piston in the cylinder chamber. The speed controller further includes a third flow path allowing the first port and the cylinder chamber to be in communication with each other. The third flow path is provided with a second check valve for allowing flow from the first port to the cylinder chamber.