A safety valve is provided with an electronic control unit for generating a control voltage. An electro-fluidic preliminary stage has a piezo bending actuator which can be actuated between a working position and a safety position by the control voltage and influences the flow of a secondary control fluid flow depending on its position. A fluid-mechanical main stage has an influencing device for influencing the flow of a primary working fluid flow. The influencing device can be actuated by means of the secondary control fluid flow which flows into a control chamber of the main stage. The control unit caries out a test of the preliminary stage repeatedly in an iterative manner after the expiration of a specified time interval. As part of the functionality test, the position of the piezo bending actuator is changed slightly by varying the control voltage.

A method is proposed for establishing termination criteria for a partial stroke test on a safety valve, including: a) A partial stroke test is carried out when the safety valve is operational. b) Position of the valve member and pressure in the drive fluid are recorded. c) A first relation is derived, which relates position of the valve member, time, pressure of the drive fluid, and/or control deviation to one another. d) This relation is defined as a safety valve reference curve. e) A second relation is defined, which has a predetermined distance from the reference curve. f) Termination criterion include: If the partial stroke test is repeated on the same valve, the same data are recorded and a third relation is derived for the reference curve, the partial stroke test is not passed if the third relation has a greater distance to the reference curve than the second relation.

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 emergency shutdown (ESD) system for a process control system includes an air supply coupled to a solenoid valve used to control a pneumatically-operated emergency isolation valve (ZV) via a switchover kit, a smart valve positioner coupled to the solenoid valve via the switchover kit, and an ESD controller. The ESD controller is configured to: control the supply of air from the air supply by the solenoid valve to open and close the ZV, and control the smart valve positioner so as to perform a partial stroke test on the ZV. The switchover kit includes a manifold having a plurality of valves coupling the air supply, the solenoid valve, and the smart valve positioner such that: based on a first setting of the plurality of valves, a first air flow path through the manifold connects the air supply directly to the solenoid valve, and based on a second setting of the plurality of valves, a second air flow path through the manifold connects the air supply to the solenoid valve through the smart valve positioner.

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.

In one aspect, a system (110) for performing an action is disclosed. In one arrangement and embodiment, the system (110) comprises: a tool (118) operable to perform at least the action; a controller (122); storage (124) storing electronic program instructions for controlling the controller (122); and an input/output means (126). In one form, the controller (122) is operable, under control of the electronic program instructions, to: receive input via the input means; process the input, and on the basis of the processing, control the tool to perform the action. In one embodiment, the action comprises a hydraulic tuning action in respect of a system, such as a hydraulic pump (114), comprising a hydraulic circuit.

A hydraulic system is adapted to provide at least one of a fluid flow at a variable fluid pressure or a fluid flow at a variable fluid displacement. A pressure sensor measures a fluid pressure. A controller is in communication with the engine and the pressure sensor. Wherein, the controller sends an engine speed signal to operate the engine in an open state and controls the fluid displacement or the fluid pressure of the hydraulic system to a first load condition. Further wherein, the controller detects an engine speed and a fluid pressure of the hydraulic system with the pressure sensor when the engine is in the open state and the hydraulic system is in the first load condition. Further wherein, the controller operably calculates a total engine torque as a function of the detected engine speed and fluid pressure when the hydraulic system is in the first load condition.

A hydraulic system (600) and method for reducing boom dynamics of a boom (30), while providing counter-balance valve protection, includes a hydraulic actuator (110), first and second counter-balance valves (300, 400), first and second independent control valves (700, 800), and first and second blocking valves (350, 450). The actuator includes first and second corresponding chambers. In a first mode, the second counter-balance valve is opened by the first control valve, and the first counter-balance valve is opened by the second control valve. In a second mode, at least one of the counter-balance valves is closed. A meter-out control valve (800, 700) may be operated in a flow control mode, and/or a meter-in control valve (700, 800) may be operated in a pressure control mode. Boom dynamics reduction may occur while the boom is in motion (e.g., about a worksite). By opening the counter-balance valves, sensors at the control valves may be used to characterize external loads. The control valves may respond to the external loads and at least partially cancel unwanted boom dynamics. The system may further detecting faults in actuators with counter-balance valves and prevent any single point fault from causing a boom falling event and/or mitigate such faults.

The present disclosure relates to diagnosing and locating fluid leakage within a pneumatic system (5) using a minimal amount of pressure sensors (55, 75, 89). In general, each branch (51, 71, 85) of a pneumatic system (5) includes an associated pressure sensor (55, 75, 89) and in accordance with how the pneumatic components (57, 59, 61, 77, 91, 93, 95) associated with the pneumatic branch (51, 71, 85) are toggled and monitored, leaks can be detected and located within the branch (51, 71, 85) using a minimal amount of pressure sensors (55, 75, 89). More specifically, pressure and pressure decay may be measured by the sensors (55, 75, 89) within a branch (51, 71, 85) while the pneumatic components (57, 59, 61, 77, 91, 93, 95) are in a particular configuration. The configuration is thereafter changed, and pressure and pressure decay are again measured by the sensors (55, 75, 89). The results of these two measurements may enable the pneumatic system (5) to derive the presence and location of a leak.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction machine that allows easy and accurate calibration of a pressure sensor and enables accurate control of hydraulic actuators. A controller increases the delivery pressure of a hydraulic pump in a state in which first and second meter-out valves and a second meter-in valve are closed and in which a first meter-in valve is opened, and calibrates a first pressure-calculation map such that a pressure calculated on the basis of the first pressure-calculation map matches a pressure calculated on the basis of a supply-pressure-calculation map, and increases the delivery pressure of the hydraulic pump in a state in which the first and second meter-out valves and the first meter-in valve are closed and in which the second meter-in valve is opened, and calibrates a second pressure-calculation map such that a pressure calculated on the basis of the second pressure-calculation map matches the pressure calculated on the basis of the supply-pressure-calculation map.