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 control valves (700, 800), and first and second blocking valves (350, 450). A net load (90) is supported by a first chamber (116, 118) of the hydraulic actuator, and a second chamber (118, 116) of the hydraulic actuator 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 blocking valve prevents the fluctuating hydraulic fluid flow from opening the first counter-balance valve. The first blocking valve may drain leakage from the first counter-balance valve.

A hydraulic apparatus comprises first and second manifolds each of which is connected to a plurality of actuators via corresponding actuator valves connected in parallel and operated responsive to inputs to regulate the flow of fluid to the actuators. A plurality of working chambers are connectable to either the first or second manifold and have a net flow which is controlled responsive to a negative feedback signal. The negative feedback signal is determined in response to a calculated pressure or flow rate in virtual fluid flow paths extending from the first and second manifolds.

A working machine includes: a plurality of hydraulic actuators including a high-load hydraulic actuator and a low-load hydraulic actuator whose hydraulic pressure for actuation thereof is lower than that of the high-load hydraulic actuator; a plurality of direction switching valves each of which switches a direction of a hydraulic fluid for a corresponding one of the hydraulic actuators, the plurality of direction switching valves including a low-load direction switching valve that switches a direction of hydraulic fluid for the low-load hydraulic actuator; and a dummy-load forming unit that forms a dummy load in the low-load direction switching valve to suppress a variation in an actuation speed of the low-load hydraulic actuator between a time when the high-load hydraulic actuator and the low-load hydraulic actuator are operated in combination and a time when the low-load hydraulic actuator is operated singly.

A hoist valve assembly for a work machine cylinder includes a main control valve, a counterbalance valve and a counterbalance shutoff valve. A main control valve raise position connects a head end of the cylinder with a pressurized fluid source and a rod end of the cylinder to a low pressure reservoir to extend the cylinder. The counterbalance valve is between the rod end and the main control valve, is biased to a closed position and has an open position connecting the rod end to the low pressure reservoir. Rod end and head end pressure signals apply force to the counterbalance valve toward the open position. The counterbalance shutoff valve is positioned between the head end and the counterbalance valve, and has a normal position to apply the head end pressure signal to the counterbalance valve and a shutoff position that blocks the head end pressure signal from the counterbalance valve.

Hydraulic systems and methods for reducing the propagation of flow and/or pressure pulsations within a hydraulic system are described. In one embodiment, a hydraulic system may include a hydraulic device and a differential buffer fluidly connected to the hydraulic device. The differential buffer may include a piston that is exposed to pressure pulsations that propagate along separate flow paths and that are at least partially out of phase with one another. Corresponding displacement of the piston due to the out of phase pulsations may at least partially mitigate propagation of the pulsations within the hydraulic system downstream from the differential buffer.

A dynamic load damping apparatus is employed in a hydraulic steering system control circuit of an aircraft. The dynamic load damping apparatus is positioned in the hydraulic steering system control circuit in parallel with a control valve of the control circuit that functions as the hydraulic fluid source of the control circuit and an actuator that controls movements of a nose gear of the aircraft. The dynamic load damping apparatus dampens loads transmitted to the hydraulic actuator that controls the steering movements of the nose gear on the aircraft.

A hydraulic machine. A boom actuator includes a large chamber and a small chamber. A recovery unit receives fluid discharged from the large chamber and then recovers energy. A recovery line connects the large chamber and the recovery unit. An accumulator is connected to a first point on the recovery line. A discharge valve is disposed on the recovery line between the first point and the recovery unit. A first sensor measures a pressure in the accumulator. A controller controls opening and closing of the discharge valve. The controller performs anti-bouncing control of: determining a target pressure in the accumulator corresponding to a load pressure applied to fluid in the large chamber by a load according to a predetermined correspondence; and controlling the opening and closing of the discharge valve such that the pressure in the accumulator measured by the first sensor reaches the target pressure.

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 electropneumatic control system for a pneumatic drive and electropneumatic position controller for the system, wherein a volume flow booster having a bypass valve is downstream of the position controller to increase the air capacity, where the pneumatic drive is run in a new operating mode multiple times at maximum air capacity in a first direction to support an operator in adjusting the bypass valve, and where upon exceeding a specified position, the air capacity is set to zero, an overshoot value of the pneumatic drive is determined and output for the operator on a display such that by varying adjustment of the bypass valve, the operator can find and set an adjustment of the valve having low overshoot such that with an adjustment found in such a manner, the transition behavior of the control system can be significantly improved without additional effort.

A hydraulic machine. A boom actuator includes a large chamber and a small chamber. A recovery unit receives fluid discharged from the large chamber and then recovers energy. A recovery line connects the large chamber and the recovery unit. An accumulator is connected to a first point on the recovery line. A discharge valve is disposed on the recovery line between the first point and the recovery unit. A first sensor measures a pressure in the accumulator. A controller controls opening and closing of the discharge valve. The controller performs anti-bouncing control of: determining a target pressure in the accumulator corresponding to a load pressure applied to fluid in the large chamber by a load according to a predetermined correspondence; and controlling the opening and closing of the discharge valve such that the pressure in the accumulator measured by the first sensor reaches the target pressure.