A hydraulic system (600) and method for reducing boom dynamics of a boom (30), while providing counter-balance valve protection, includes a hydraulic cylinder (110), first and second counter-balance valves (300, 400), and first and second control valves (700, 800). A net load (90) is supported by a first chamber (116, 118) of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second chamber (118, 116) of the hydraulic cylinder may receive fluctuating hydraulic fluid flow from the second control valve to produce a vibratory response (950) that counters environmental vibrations (960) on the boom. The first control valve may apply a holding pressure and thereby hold the first counter-balance valve closed and the second counter-balance valve open.

An example valve includes: a first port configured to be fluidly coupled to an actuator; a second port configured to be fluidly coupled to a reservoir; a third port configured to provide an output pilot fluid signal and receive an input pilot fluid signal; a fourth port configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of fluid; a pilot poppet configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at the first port; a pilot piston interfacing with the pilot poppet and configured to be subjected to a second fluid force of the input pilot fluid signal; a solenoid actuator sleeve that is axially movable between an unactuated state and an actuated state; and at least one setting spring configured to apply a biasing force on the pilot piston and the pilot poppet.

An example valve includes: a first port configured to be fluidly coupled to an actuator; a second port configured to be fluidly coupled to a reservoir; a third port configured to provide an output pilot fluid signal and receive an input pilot fluid signal; a fourth port configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of fluid; a pilot poppet configured to be subjected to a first fluid force of fluid received at the first port and configured to be subjected to a second fluid force of the input pilot fluid signal; a solenoid actuator sleeve that is axially movable between an unactuated state and an actuated state; and at least one setting spring configured to apply a biasing force on the pilot poppet.

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.

A manipulator for concrete pumps having an articulated boom with at least two boom arms and a hydraulic drive that pivots one or more of the boom arms. A hydraulic cylinder has piston and rod side working volumes. A hydraulic circuit has a first switching state in which the hydraulic circuit connects a first working port for feed or discharge of hydraulic fluid to the rod-side working volume and connects a second working port for feed or discharge of hydraulic fluid to the piston-side working volume. In a second switching state, the hydraulic circuit separates the first working port from the first fluid channel and thereby connects the first fluid channel to the second fluid channel for the feed of hydraulic fluid from the rod-side to the piston side working volume. A sensor acquires an operating state variable based upon which an activation assembly sets the switching state.

An example valve includes: a piston movable between a neutral position and an actuated position; a check poppet configured to be coupled to the piston, wherein in the neutral position, the check poppet is seated on a seat formed on an interior peripheral surface of the housing and blocks fluid at the first 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 the piston in a distal direction; and a feedback spring that applies a biasing force in a proximal direction on the piston against the fluid force, wherein the piston and the check poppet are configured to move axially to the actuated position based on a relationship between the fluid force and the biasing force.

A mast assembly that includes a mast and a hydraulic circuit for moving the mast. The hydraulic circuit includes a primary hydraulic cylinder coupled to the mast to rotate the mast about a pivot axis and a secondary hydraulic cylinder extending from a rod end to a cap end that is fluidly coupled to the primary hydraulic cylinder. A directional valve is fluidly coupled between the primary hydraulic cylinder and secondary hydraulic cylinder to keep a pressure on the cap end of the secondary hydraulic cylinder greater than the pressure on the rod end of the secondary hydraulic cylinder during all operating conditions.

A hydraulic system (600) and method for reducing boom dynamics of a boom (30), while providing counter-balance valve protection, includes a hydraulic cylinder (110), first and second counter-balance valves (300, 400), first and second control valves (700, 800), and a selection valve set (850). The selection valve set is adapted to self-configure to a first configuration and to a second configuration when a net load (90) is supported by a first chamber (116, 118) and a second chamber (118, 116) of the hydraulic cylinder, respectively. When the selection valve set is enabled in the first and second configurations, the second and first control valve may fluctuate hydraulic fluid flow to the second and first chamber, respectively, to produce a vibratory response (950) that counters environmental vibrations (960) of the boom. When the selection valve set is not enabled, the first and second counter-balance valves are adapted to provide the hydraulic cylinder with conventional counter-balance valve protection.

A hydraulic system (600) and method for reducing boom dynamics of a boom (30), while providing counter-balance valve protection, includes a hydraulic cylinder (110), first and second counter-balance valves (300, 400), and first and second control valves (700, 800). A net load (90) is supported by a first chamber (116, 118) of the hydraulic cylinder, and a second chamber (118, 116) of the hydraulic cylinder may receive fluctuating hydraulic fluid flow from the second control valve to produce a vibratory response (950) that counters environmental vibrations (960) on the boom. The first control valve may apply a holding pressure and thereby hold the first counter-balance valve closed and the second counter-balance valve open.

A system for damping mass-induced vibrations in a machine having a long boom or elongate member, the movement of which causes mass-induced vibration in such boom or elongate member. The system comprises multiple pressure sensors operable to measure pressure fluctuations in the hydraulic fluid pressures in the non-load holding and load holding chambers of a hydraulic actuator connected to the boom or elongate member that result from mass-induced vibration, and a processing unit operable to control a first control valve spool in a pressure control mode and a second control valve spool in a flow control mode in order to adjust hydraulic fluid flow to the actuator's load holding chamber to dampen the mass-induced vibration. The system further comprises a control manifold fluidically interposed between the actuator and control valve spools that causes the first and second control valve spools to operate, respectively, in pressure and flow control modes.