A system including a pneumatic actuator having an actuator element, the system further including a compressed-air provision device which is configured to carry out a closed-loop position control of the actuator element by applying compressed air to the pneumatic actuator. The compressed-air provision device is further configured to carry out an assistance procedure in which the actuator element is set in an oscillation movement, pressure values and position values are detected, and, on the basis of the detected pressure values and the detected position values, friction information and/or mass information is determined and/or verified.

A drive control method of a hydraulic actuator of a construction machine includes: determining whether a rotation operation lever and a working device operation lever are operated; calculating the required pressure of a hydraulic cylinder fix a working device according to the operation amount of the rotation operation lever; calculating the required flow rates of a swing motor and the hydraulic cylinder for the working device, the required flow rates corresponding to the operation amounts of the working device operation lever and the rotation operation lever; calculating the opening areas of the first and second proportional solenoid valves of an inlet side and an outlet side by using the calculated required pressure and required flow rates of the hydraulic cylinder for the working device and the swing motor; and calculating current values to be inputted into the first and second proportional solenoid valves of the inlet side and the outlet side according to preset data values or a table in comparison with the calculated opening areas of the first and second proportional solenoid valves of the inlet side and the outlet side.

This hydraulic drive system includes: a hydraulic pump that supplies a working fluid to a hydraulic actuator; a meter-in control valve that controls a flow rate of the working fluid flowing from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator; a meter-out control valve that controls a flow rate of the working fluid being drained from the hydraulic actuator into a tank; and a regeneration valve that supplies, to the hydraulic actuator, the working fluid drained from the hydraulic actuator. The meter-out control valve is connected to the hydraulic actuator in parallel with the regeneration valve.

A servo valve for precisely controlling a position of a pneumatic cylinder does not require a servo amplifier and a small sized and/or high durability servo valve unit. The servo valve comprises a unit body having first and second portions, first and second valve portions, first and second seal members that open and close the first and second valve portions, respectively, first and second drive mechanisms that drive first and second seal members by first and second electric pulses, respectively, a supply flow path between the first end and first valve, an exhaust flow path between the second end and second valve, a common flow path connected to the supply and exhaust flow paths via first and second valve portions, and a drive flow path connected to the pneumatic actuator. First and second drive mechanisms are arranged in a drive mechanism arrangement portion located between first and second end portions.

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.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction machine capable of efficiently driving a hydraulic cylinder by an accumulator. Thus, the construction machine includes a first control valve disposed in a first hydraulic fluid line connecting a bottom-side fluid chamber of a hydraulic cylinder with an accumulator, and a second control valve disposed in a second hydraulic fluid line connecting a rod-side fluid chamber of the hydraulic cylinder with a tank. The construction machine further includes a third control valve disposed in a third hydraulic fluid line connecting the rod-side fluid chamber with the accumulator, and a fourth control valve disposed in a fourth hydraulic fluid line connecting a line part of the first hydraulic fluid line, which connects the bottom-side fluid chamber with the third control valve, and a line part of the third hydraulic fluid line, which connects the rod-side fluid chamber with the third control valve, with each other.

A hydraulic machine. A high pressure line allows working fluid to flow into a hydraulic motor. A low pressure line allows working fluid to flow out of the hydraulic motor. High pressure line valves open and close the high pressure line. Low pressure line valves open and close the low pressure line. An operator input device inputs a command to control movement of the hydraulic motor. A control unit controls the high pressure line valves and the low pressure line valves to be opened and closed by receiving the command from the operator input device. The control unit controls the high pressure line valves to have a normalized flow factor K.sub.vHP, and controls the low pressure line valves to have a normalized flow factor K.sub.vLP, where K.sub.vLP<K.sub.vHP when a normalized flow factor K.sub.vcmd corresponding to the command is 0<K.sub.vcmd<1.

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 digital positioner for a valve includes a valve controller configured to obtain a set point value for a valve travel of a valve, and generate a pulse-width modulated current signal based on the set point value. The digital positioner also includes a current-to-pressure converter configured to receive the pulse-width modulated current signal from the valve controller, convert the pulse-width modulated current signal to a pulse-width modulated pressure signal, and provide the pulse-width modulated pressure signal to a pneumatic actuator in the valve to adjust a position of the valve.

The present invention provides a controller for a hydraulic apparatus. The controller is configured to determine (410) that a mode change criteria has been met for the hydraulic apparatus. In response to the determination, the controller is configured to control (420) a valve arrangement to change a first actuator chamber of a hydraulic actuator between being fluidly connected to a hydraulic machine and fluidly isolated from a second chamber of the hydraulic actuator, and being fluidly connected to both the second actuator chamber and the hydraulic machine. Further in response to the determination, the controller is configured to control (430) the hydraulic machine to change a flow rate of hydraulic fluid flowing through the hydraulic machine to regulate a movement of the hydraulic actuator during the control of the valve arrangement.