A system for recovering energy from a hydraulic actuator and to a method of operating the system are described. The system may have a hydraulic actuator and a source of hydraulic pressure, comprising a hydraulic pump, in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator for pressurizing the hydraulic actuator. The system may also have a hydraulic accumulator assembly for selectively absorbing energy from the hydraulic actuator or via the hydraulic actuator. The system may also have a first one-way valve configured to provide fluid communication between the hydraulic actuator and the hydraulic accumulator assembly. The first one-way valve may be configured to permit a flow of fluid through the first one-way valve from the hydraulic actuator to the hydraulic accumulator assembly. The first one-way valve may also be configured to block a flow of fluid through the first one-way valve from the hydraulic accumulator assembly to the hydraulic actuator.

Power machines and control systems used thereon include a lift cylinder, a tilt cylinder, and a slave cylinder mechanically connected to assist the lift cylinder with raising a boom. With a lift control valve controlled to cause extension of the lift cylinder to raise the boom, pressure from a hydraulic source is provided to the slave cylinder to aid in raising the boom. Resulting increased pressure on a side of the slave cylinder opens load holding valves, allowing hydraulic pressure from the tilt cylinder to be communicated to the slave cylinder such that tilt cylinder pressure due to a heavy load on an implement aids in raising the boom.

Disclosed embodiments include travel motor hydraulic circuits for controlling the provision of hydraulic fluid to a travel motor. The travel motor hydraulic circuits include a counterbalance valve configured to block the flow of hydraulic fluid when in a neutral position to prevent unintended movement of a power machine, and an anti-cavitation valve configured to direct flow of hydraulic fluid back to the travel motor to prevent cavitation.

A hydraulic system for a working machine includes a hydraulic pump to output an operation fluid, a hydraulic device to be operated by the operation fluid, an operation member to be operated, a first operation valve to regulate a pressure of the operation fluid in accordance with operation of the operation member, and a pressure supplying portion to supply a first counteracting pressure of the operation fluid against a first operation pressure, the first operation pressure being a pressure of the operation fluid regulated by the first operation valve.

To keep operability of a hydraulic actuator excellent even in a state pressure has been sufficiently accumulated in a pressure accumulator. In a hydraulic driving device of a work machine including a hydraulic actuator, a tank, a flow control valve, and a pressure accumulator, there are further provided with a first pressure compensation valve that is for controlling difference between front and back pressures of the flow control valve constant and a second pressure compensation valve that is arranged between the pressure accumulator and the tank and is for controlling difference between front and back pressures of the flow control valve and the first pressure compensation valve constant.

A valve assembly and a hydraulic circuit including the valve assembly are provided. The valve assembly comprises a hydraulically actuated valve configured to be biased from a first control position to a second control position by a hydraulic pressure applied to a first fluid port of the hydraulically actuated valve. A first switching threshold pressure required to switch the hydraulically actuated valve to its second control position when applied to the first fluid port of the hydraulically actuated valve in its first control position differs from a second switching threshold pressure required to keep the hydraulically actuated valve in its second control position when applied to the first fluid port of the hydraulically actuated valve in its second control position.

A main winch system of a rotary drilling rig includes a main action loop, a pilot control loop, and a feedback control loop. The main action loop includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a main control valve, a balance valve, a main winch motor, and an oil tank. The pilot control loop includes a pilot handle, a solenoid valve I, a pressure relay, and the main control valve in the main action loop. The feedback control loop includes a solenoid valve II and the hydraulic pump and the main control valve in the main action loop. In response to a lifting action of the pilot handle for the main winch, under the control of a button, the solenoid valve II is energized continuously, and the solenoid valve I is energized and de-energized according to a given rule.

A hydraulic control system for a work implement is provided. The hydraulic control system includes first hydraulic circuit and second hydraulic circuit. The first hydraulic circuit includes a selector valve and a pair of hydraulic cylinder assembly. Each hydraulic cylinder assembly includes a head end, a rod end, a cylinder, and a rod. The selector valve is configured to operate in neutral position and at least one operating position to selectively connect either the head end or the rod end to a fluid source, and the other of the head end or the rod end to fluid tank. The second hydraulic circuit includes a counterbalance valve and a shuttle valve. The counterbalance valve selectively connects the head end to the fluid tank. The shuttle valve is configured to maintain predefined pressure at relief side pressure port of the counterbalance valve to maintain a threshold pressure at the head end.

Methods of controlling an actuator during operation using a hydraulic circuit, and related apparatus, are described. The circuit has a first path section along which fluid is supplied to a first chamber of the actuator using a first valve and a second path section along which fluid is extracted from a second chamber of the actuator using a second valve. Pressure data associated with a pressure of the fluid supplied to the first side of the actuator are obtained, a pilot pressure pPilot is produced based on the data and the first and second valves are configured based on the pilot pressure pPilot.

Apparatus and methods for metering fluid to a fluid actuator. An example apparatus may include a hydraulic actuator and a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber may include a piston slidably movable between first and second ends of the fluid chamber and dividing the chamber into first and second chamber portions, a first port extending into the first chamber portion, and a second port extending into the second chamber portion. The apparatus may further include a hydraulic directional control valve operable to direct a fluid from a fluid source into one of the first and second ports to cause a volume of fluid to be discharged out of the other of the first and second ports into the hydraulic actuator to actuate the hydraulic actuator by a distance corresponding to the volume of fluid received by the hydraulic actuator.