A system and method for detecting faults and optimiz-ing power usage of solenoid valves. The method includes obtaining a current signature of the solenoid coil, using a dedicated circuit to detect various features and using a pulse width modulation controller optimize the power output of the system. Additionally, using machine learning, the system can be optimized using data from the dedicated circuit.

A fluid control system for supplying fluid to a fluid consumer, having a valve module including a channel body to which a fluid switching valve, a fluid pressure regulator and a vacuum switching valve are attached, the channel body having a first fluid channel extending from a fluid input port to an input port of the fluid pressure regulator and having a second fluid channel extending from an output port of the fluid pressure regulator to an input port of the fluid switching valve, and having a third fluid channel extending from an output port of the fluid switching valve to a fluid consumer port, and having a first vacuum channel extending from a vacuum input port to an input port of the vacuum switching valve, and having a second vacuum channel extending from an output port of the vacuum switching valve to the fluid consumer port.

A hydraulic control system includes a first hydraulic cylinder, a second hydraulic cylinder, a fluid supply apparatus, a first control valve bank, a second control valve bank, a third control valve bank, and a first check valve. The first control valve bank is configured to independently control the first hydraulic cylinder; the second control valve bank is configured to independently control the second hydraulic cylinder; and the third control valve bank is configured to synchronously control the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder. Synchronous volume control is implemented through series connection of the hydraulic cylinders, and has quite high synchronization precision, which is measured to be up to two percent.

A valve module (1) for mounting on a valve module carrier (2), the valve module (1) being of plate-shaped design, extending in a longitudinal direction (x), and being subdivided into a plurality of longitudinal sections adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction (x), the valve module having, as a first longitudinal section, a main valve section (8) with a first main valve (9), and, as a second longitudinal section adjoining the main valve section (8) in the longitudinal direction (x), a pilot section (10) with a pilot valve (11) for actuating the first main valve (9), the valve module (1) further having, as a third longitudinal section adjoining the pilot section (10) in the longitudinal direction (x), a pressure sensor section (12) with a pressure sensor (13) for detecting a fluid pressure of the valve module (1).

Hydraulic control comprising at least one hydraulic valve, each hydraulic valve comprising a hydraulic distributor and an electric actuator. The hydraulic distributor comprises a valve slide mounted with the ability to slide in a body comprising hydraulic ports. The electric actuator is fixed to the body of the hydraulic distributor and comprises an electric motor, an electronic circuit comprising a circuit board, a linear-displacement output member coupled to the control slide, reduction gearing comprising gear wheels coupling the motor to the output member, and a housing in which the electric motor, the electronic circuit and the reduction gearing are mounted.

Fluid assembly for use in a fluid system, having a control module including a processing unit for processing control commands into individual electrical control signals with individually adjustable control signal levels and a control signal level electrically connected to the processing unit, with a power unit, which has a power module for converting the control signals into individual electrical control currents as a function of the control signal levels and an output interface electrically connected to the power module, wherein the processing unit is designed to provide a first group of control signals in a first time interval which can be individually predetermined for each control signal and to provide a second group of control signals in a second time interval which can be individually predetermined for each control signal and follows the respective first time interval, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal are selected in such a way that the control currents in the first time interval are greater than the control currents in the second time interval.

An exemplary valve bank and/or modular control valve having a valve body, a valve member movable in a fluid flow of the valve body to control flow of fluid, and an onboard electronic controller that is operably mounted to the valve bank or valve body. The onboard controller is operably connected to at least one actuator of the valve, which is configured to control movement of the valve member in response to commands from the onboard controller. The onboard controller may provide diagnostics, feedback and/or control of the control valve, such as via inputs from one or more sensors that may be included in the valve. The modular control valve may be used with conventional non-intelligent valve banks to thereby impart smart diagnostics and/or feedback into the valve bank in a plug-and-play manner. A communications interface may be provided in the control valve to interface and communicate with an upper-level PLC controller.

A servovalve system comprising a pilot stage valve in communication with an hydraulic stage valve, the hydraulic stage valve comprising a valve member movably mounted in a valve chamber to selectively meter fluid flow in a flow path from an upstream inlet port to a downstream outlet port and at least two variable-sized orifices disposed in the flow path between the inlet and outlet ports, an upstream pressure sensor, a downstream pressure sensor, a fluid temperature sensor, a position sensor sensing a linear position of the valve member, a controller that receives input from the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, the fluid temperature sensor and the position sensor; and the controller configured to provide a control signal to the pilot stage valve as a function of the input from the upstream pressure sensor, the downstream pressure sensor, the fluid temperature sensor and the position sensor.

There is described a valve island base module (12, 14) with at least one valve module receptacle (25a-25h), which comprises means for the attachment of a plurality of valve modules (18a-18h) each including at least one electrically actuatable valve on the valve island base module (12, 14). In addition, the valve island base module (12, 14) has a fluidic and an electrical valve module connection (36a-36h) for the power supply of the valve modules (18a-18h) with electric current. A power supply line (30) is electrically connected with the electrical valve module connections (36a-36h). By means of a safety interface (26, 28) accessible from outside, the power supply of at least one electrical valve module connection (36a-36h) can selectively be interrupted. In addition, there is described a valve island (10) with at least one valve island base module (12, 14) and at least one valve module (18a-18h).

A switching unit may be provided for connecting a first pneumatic unit and a second pneumatic unit of a pneumatic system together. The switching unit comprises a main body having: a channel structure which extends through the main body; a first and a second inlet for introducing a pressure into the channel structure; a first and a second outlet for discharging at least some of the pressure from the channel structure; and a first and a second valve; wherein the first inlet can be brought into a pressure-exchange connection to the first outlet via a first channel by setting a first switch position of the first valve or to the second outlet via a second channel by setting a second switch position of the first valve, and wherein the second inlet can be brought into a pressure-exchange connection to the first outlet via a third channel by setting a first switch position of the second valve or to the second outlet via a fourth channel by setting a second switch position of the second valve.