The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, an electrohydraulic positioning control system that includes a shuttle valve configured to direct fluid flow between a selectable one of a first fluid port and a second fluid port, and a fluid outlet configured to be fluidically connected to a fluid actuator, a first servo valve controllable to selectably permit and block flow between the first fluid port, a fluid source, and a fluid drain, a second servo valve controllable to selectably permit and block flow between the second fluid port, the fluid source, and the fluid drain, a first servo controller configured to provide a first health signal and control the first servo valve based on a second health signal, and a second servo controller configured to provide the second health signal and control the second servo valve based on the first health signal.

For determining the operability of a fluid driven safety valve, a method comprising the following steps is described: A partial stroke test is performed on the safety valve, resulting in a stroke-pressure curve. The stroke pressure curve is extrapolated (330, 340) beyond the measured range (360) up to the safety closing position (350). From the extrapolated stroke-pressure curve, the closing pressure reserve (320) can be determined. In this way, the functionality of the safety valve can be checked during operation.

An electro-hydraulic circuit includes a supply line that connects between a hydraulic supply device that supplies hydraulic fluid and a driving part to be driven by a hydraulic pressure of the hydraulic fluid; a switching valve disposed in the supply line to switch between switching lines for the hydraulic fluid supplied to the driving part; a pilot hydraulic line connected to the switching valve to supply the hydraulic fluid for switching between the switching lines; a check valve disposed in the pilot hydraulic line; a solenoid valve disposed in the pilot hydraulic line to change a supply state of the hydraulic fluid to the switching valve; a sealing material disposed in the switching valve to seal the hydraulic fluid; and a relief valve disposed in the pilot hydraulic line to release the pilot hydraulic pressure

A safety module for a process valve and a system comprising a safety module and a process valve are provided. The safety module comprises at least a first interface complementary to a first connection interface of a drive module of the process valve and a second interface complementary to a second connection interface of a process valve actuator of the process valve, such that the safety module can be retrofitted in the process valve. The safety module further comprises at least one safety valve and fluid lines provided for fluidically coupling the safety valve to the drive module and the process valve actuator of the process valve. The at least one safety valve of the safety module is configured for forced venting of the process valve in a safety case.

A hydraulic unit includes a hydraulic circuit fluidly connected to a hydraulic actuator, and a control device to control the hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic circuit includes a hydraulic oil tank, a hydraulic pump that supplies the hydraulic oil to the hydraulic actuator from the hydraulic oil tank, a discharge flow path fluidly connecting a discharge side of the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator, a valve that blocks a flow of the hydraulic oil in the discharge flow path, and a pressure sensor that detects a pressure of the hydraulic oil the discharge flow path. In a pressure holding state, when a rotational frequency of the hydraulic pump exceeds a predetermined first determination rotational frequency or when a discharge flow rate of the hydraulic pump exceeds a predetermined first determination discharge flow rate, the control device determines that the hydraulic circuit is abnormal.

An example valve includes: (i) a valve body comprising a supply port and an operating port; (ii) a sleeve comprising a first opening fluidly coupled to the supply port, a second opening fluidly coupled to the operating port, and a seat; (in) a spool configured to move axially within the sleeve, wherein the spool is configured to he seated on the seat of the sleeve when the valve is unactuated, and wherein when the valve is actuated, the spool moves such that a gap is formed at the seat; and (iv) a flow restriction disposed downstream of the gap, wherein when the valve is actuated, fluid is allowed to flow from the supply port through the first opening and the gap and through die flow′ restriction prior to flowing through the second opening to the operating port, such that the flow restriction generates an increased pressure level at the gap.

A spool valve device includes: a housing with channels; a spool moving to change channel connection statuses; an electric actuator including an electric motor and linear-motion conversion mechanism, the motor rotating an output shaft by torque corresponding to a drive current supplied to the motor, the mechanism converting rotational output shaft movement into straight movement and applying thrust corresponding to the torque to the spool to change position; a biasing member applying biasing force to the spool against the actuator thrust; an angle detector detecting an motor output shaft angular position; a driving portion driving the motor by controlling drive current flow supplied to the motor based on a position command input and the angular position detected by the angle detector; and an abnormality determining portion calculating the spool position based on the detected angular position and determine presence or absence of operation spool abnormality.

A system and method for detecting the functional state of a piloted or direct-operated isolation valve in a hydraulic circuit is presented. In some examples the hydraulic circuit is a steering circuit and the isolation valve provides selective isolation between a hydraulic actuator and one or more metering valves. In some examples, the isolation valve assembly is movable between a first position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is enabled, and a second position, in which fluid flow between the metering valve and the actuator is blocked. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to one of the first and second positions, an inlet port and a pressure sensing port of the isolation valve assembly are placed in fluid communication with each other. When the isolation valve assembly is moved to the other of the first or second position, a second inlet port and the pressure sensing port are placed in fluid communication.

This invention relates to hydraulic energy storage and management systems. In particular, this invention relates to a hydraulic energy management system that has a reconfigurable energy storage and release capability that adjusts to varying available energy input and power demand output requirements. The hydraulic energy management system can be resized by a hydraulic bridge circuit to permit hydraulic power units to be added or removed, both physically and operationally, to capture available energy over time, adjust to peak demand cycles, and maintain power output in the event of a failure of a portion of the system.

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.