Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

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.

Systems and methods for auto-commissioning first and second valve assemblies associated with an actuator in an electro-hydraulic system are disclosed. In one method, a controller performs an automatic test protocol to determine a bulk modulus over fluid volume parameter used by the controller to control the valve assemblies. In one aspect, the test protocol can include pressurizing each side of the actuator to two different pressures with one of the first and second valve assemblies and blocking the other side of the actuator with the other of the first and second valve assemblies. The bulk modulus over fluid volume parameter for each valve assembly can be calculated based on recorded fluid pressures at the actuator and consumed flow at the first and second valve assemblies.

The present invention relates to a construction machine having at least one material receiver that is adjustable by means of at least one hydraulic actuator for unloading, with the required feed pressure for the actuator actuation being able to be provided by a hydraulic circuit of the construction machine and with the feed pressure being able to be limited to a limit pressure by means of at least one pressure limiting device, wherein the construction machine comprises a weighing system for determining the current load weight of the material receiver; and a control for the hydraulic circuit is provided that adapts the limit pressure of the pressure limiting device in dependence on the determined load weight.

A hydraulic system is provided. The hydraulic system includes a pump, a load sense conduit, a tank conduit, a function workport, and a function control valve. The hydraulic system further includes a function poppet valve arranged between the function workport and the function control valve and having a function poppet vent passage, and a system control valve arranged downstream of the function control valve. The system control valve is biased into a first position where fluid communication between the function poppet vent passage and the tank conduit is prevented and fluid communication between the load sense conduit and the tank conduit is provided. The system control valve is selectively movable to a second position where fluid communication between the function poppet vent passage and the tank conduit is allowed and fluid communication between the load sense conduit and the tank conduit is prevented.

The present invention discloses a load-sensing multi-way valve with a variable differential pressure, where each valve group uses a new element: an electro-hydraulic pressure compensation valve, so as to implement continuous real-time adjustment and control of compensated differential pressure and real-time position feedback and monitoring of a compensation valve trim, and overcome a flow mismatch problem of a conventional LS system in a flow saturation working condition and problems of a fixed shunting proportion of an LUDV system and poor operation coordination of actuators. The load-sensing multi-way valve with a variable differential pressure disclosed in the present invention has advantages such as strong working condition applicability, high flow distribution accuracy, and strong technicality.

The present invention provides an engineering machinery hydraulic system with compensation differential pressure controllable, uses an electronic pressure compensating valve to solve the problem of flow mismatch under conditions of pressure over-limit and flow saturation, and realizes proportional shunt control and high-precision flow distribution of the system. The engineering machinery hydraulic system disclosed in the present invention has the advantages of low energy consumption, fast response speed, and high flow control precision.

A valve subassembly includes a main spool having a continuously adjustable main orifice and a control spool having adjustable first and second orifices. The control spool has first and second end positions and is acted upon by a first spring toward the first end position. A fluid flow path starts from a pump and runs to an actuator via the first orifice, first control point, second orifice, second control point, main orifice, and third control point. Pressure at the first control point acts on the control spool toward the second end position and pressure at the third control point acts toward the first end position. The second orifice is closed between the first end position and an intermediate position, and opens from the intermediate position to the second end position. The second orifice opening decreases from the intermediate position to the second end position from a nonzero value to zero.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a rotorcraft-assisted system and method for launching and retrieving a fixed-wing aircraft into and from free flight. The launch and retrieval system includes a modular multicopter, a storage and launch system, an anchor system, a flexible capture member, and an aircraft-landing structure. The multicopter is attachable to the fixed-wing aircraft to facilitate launching the fixed-wing aircraft into free, wing-borne flight. The storage and launch system is usable to store the multicopter (when disassembled) and to act as a launch mount for the fixed-wing aircraft by retaining the fixed-wing aircraft in a desired launch orientation. The anchor system is usable with the multicopter, the flexible capture member, and the aircraft-landing structure to retrieve the fixed-wing aircraft from free, wing-borne flight.

An example valve includes: a piston movable between a neutral position and an actuated position, wherein in the neutral position: a second port of the valve is fluidly coupled to a first port, and a third port is fluidly decoupled from the second port; a solenoid actuator sleeve movable between an unactuated state and an actuated state, wherein in the actuated state, the solenoid actuator sleeve allows pilot fluid to apply a fluid force on a piston in a distal direction; a first feedback spring; and a second feedback spring disposed in series with the first feedback spring, wherein the first feedback spring and the second feedback spring cooperate to apply a biasing force in a proximal direction on the piston against the fluid force, wherein the piston is configured to move to the actuated position based on a relationship between the fluid force and the biasing force.