Hydraulic system

Abstract

A hydraulic system includes: a single-rod hydraulic cylinder; a variable displacement pump driven by a rotating machine; a rod-side supply line and a head-side supply line that connect the pump to the hydraulic cylinder; a first tank line that is branched off from the rod-side supply line and connects to a tank; a second tank line that is branched off from the head-side supply line and connects to the tank; and a flow rate adjuster. The flow rate adjuster is configured to: switch a delivery capacity of the pump to a first setting value when a pressure of the head-side supply line is higher than a pressure of the rod-side supply line; and switch the delivery capacity of the pump to a second setting value less than the first setting value when the pressure of the rod-side supply line is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line.

Claims

1. A hydraulic system comprising: a single-rod hydraulic cylinder including a rod-side chamber and a head-side chamber; a variable displacement pump driven by a rotating machine, the pump including a first port and a second port; a flow rate adjuster that switches a delivery capacity per rotation of the pump between a first setting value and a second setting value less than the first setting value; a rod-side supply line that connects the first port to the rod-side chamber; a head-side supply line that connects the second port to the head-side chamber in a manner to form a closed circuit together with the pump, the rod-side supply line, and the hydraulic cylinder; a first tank line that is branched off from the rod-side supply line and connects to a tank; a first pilot check valve provided on the first tank line, the first pilot check valve allowing a flow from the tank toward the rod-side supply line and preventing a reverse flow, but stopping exerting a function of preventing the reverse flow when a pressure of the head-side supply line is higher than a first setting pressure; a second tank line that is branched off from the head-side supply line and connects to the tank; and a second pilot check valve provided on the second tank line, the second pilot check valve allowing a flow from the tank toward the head-side supply line and preventing a reverse flow, but stopping exerting a function of preventing the reverse flow when a pressure of the rod-side supply line is higher than a second setting pressure, wherein the pressure of the rod-side supply line and the pressure of the head-side supply line are led to the flow rate adjuster, and the flow rate adjuster is configured to: switch the delivery capacity of the pump to the first setting value when the pressure of the head-side supply line is higher than the pressure of the rod-side supply line; and switch the delivery capacity of the pump to the second setting value when the pressure of the rod-side supply line is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line.

2. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein a ratio between the first setting value and the second setting value is equal to a ratio between a pressure receiving area of the head-side chamber and a pressure receiving area of the rod-side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder.

3. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein the rotating machine is a servomotor, and a delivery side and a suction side of the first and second ports of the pump are switched with each other in accordance with a rotation direction of the rotating machine.

4. The hydraulic system according to claim 1, wherein a delivery side and a suction side of the first and second ports of the pump are switched with each other by tilting a swash plate or a tilted axis of the pump bi-directionally over a reference line.

5. A hydraulic system comprising: a single-rod hydraulic cylinder including a rod-side chamber and a head-side chamber; a variable displacement pump driven by a rotating machine, the pump including a first port and a second port; a flow rate adjuster that switches a delivery capacity per rotation of the pump between a first setting value and a second setting value less than the first setting value; a rod-side supply line that connects the first port to the rod-side chamber; a head-side supply line that connects the second port to the head-side chamber in a manner to form a closed circuit together with the pump, the rod-side supply line, and the hydraulic cylinder; a first tank line that is branched off from the rod-side supply line and connects to a tank; a check valve provided on the first tank line, the check valve allowing a flow from the tank toward the rod-side supply line and preventing a reverse flow; a second tank line that is branched off from the head-side supply line and connects to the tank; and a pilot check valve provided on the second tank line, the pilot check valve allowing a flow from the tank toward the head-side supply line and preventing a reverse flow, but stopping exerting a function of preventing the reverse flow when a pressure of the rod-side supply line is higher than a setting pressure, wherein the pressure of the rod-side supply line and the pressure of the head-side supply line are led to the flow rate adjuster, and the flow rate adjuster is configured to: switch the delivery capacity of the pump to the first setting value when the pressure of the head-side supply line is higher than the pressure of the rod-side supply line; and switch the delivery capacity of the pump to the second setting value when the pressure of the rod-side supply line is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a hydraulic system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIGS. 2A and 2B each show a flow of a hydraulic liquid when a hydraulic cylinder extends; FIG. 2A shows the flow in a case where the load direction is the retracting direction of the hydraulic cylinder; and FIG. 2B shows the flow in a case where the load direction is the extending direction of the hydraulic cylinder.

(3) FIGS. 3A and 3B each show a flow of the hydraulic liquid when the hydraulic cylinder retracts; FIG. 3A shows the flow in a case where the load direction is the extending direction; and FIG. 3B shows the flow in a case where the load direction is the retracting direction.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a hydraulic system according to a variation.

(5) FIGS. 5A and 5B each show a schematic configuration of a conventional hydraulic system, and each show a flow of a hydraulic liquid when a hydraulic cylinder extends.

(6) FIGS. 6A and 6B each show a schematic configuration of the conventional hydraulic system, and each show a flow of the hydraulic liquid when the hydraulic cylinder retracts.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(7) FIG. 1 shows a hydraulic system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The hydraulic system 1 includes: a single-rod hydraulic cylinder 4; a pump 2 connected to the hydraulic cylinder 4 in a manner to form a closed circuit; and a rotating machine 3 driving the pump 2. A hydraulic liquid flowing through the closed circuit is typically oil, but may be a liquid different from oil.

(8) The hydraulic cylinder 4 includes a rod-side chamber 41 and a head-side chamber 42, which are partitioned from each other by a piston. A rod extends from the piston and penetrates the rod-side chamber 41.

(9) The pump 2 includes a first port 21 and a second port 22. The first port 21 is connected to the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 by a rod-side supply line 51, and the second port 22 is connected to the head-side chamber 42 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 by a head-side supply line 52. With these rod-side supply line 51 and head-side supply line 52, the aforementioned closed circuit is formed between the pump 2 and the hydraulic cylinder 4.

(10) In the present embodiment, the pump 2 is a variable displacement swash plate pump including a swash plate 23, and the rotating machine 3 is a servomotor. The delivery side and the suction side of the first and second ports 21 and 22 of the pump 2 are switched with each other in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotating machine 3. The speed and position of the hydraulic cylinder 4 are controlled by controlling the rotation speed and rotation angle of the servomotor.

(11) It should be noted that the pump 2 may be a bent axis pump. Alternatively, the pump 2 may be an over-center pump configured such that, even though the rotation direction remains the same direction, the delivery side and the suction side of the first and second ports 21 and 22 are switchable with each other by tilting the swash plate or the tilted axis bi-directionally over a reference line (in a case where the pump 2 is a swash plate pump, the reference line is a line orthogonal to the center line of the pump 2, whereas in a case where the pump 2 is a bent axis pump, the reference line is the center line of the pump 2). In this case, the rotating machine 3 may be an engine.

(12) In the present embodiment, a drain line 24 extends from the pump 2 to a tank 11. When the pump 2 is driven, a slight amount of hydraulic liquid flows from the pump 2 to the tank 11 through the drain line 24.

(13) The delivery capacity per rotation of the pump 2 is adjusted by a flow rate adjuster 8. The flow rate adjuster 8 will be described below in detail.

(14) A first tank line 6 is branched off from the rod-side supply line 51, and a second tank line 7 is branched off from the head-side supply line 52. The first tank line 6 and the second tank line 7 connect to the tank 11.

(15) The first tank line 6 is provided with a first pilot check valve 61. The first pilot check valve 61 allows a flow from the tank 11 toward the rod-side supply line 51, and prevents the reverse flow. The pressure of the head-side supply line 52 is led to the first pilot check valve 61 through a pilot line 62, and the first pilot check valve 61 stops exerting the function of preventing the reverse flow when the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 is higher than a first setting pressure P1.

(16) The second tank line 7 is provided with a second pilot check valve 71. The second pilot check valve 71 allows a flow from the tank 11 toward the head-side supply line 52, and prevents the reverse flow. The pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 is led to the second pilot check valve 71 through a pilot line 72, and the second pilot check valve 71 stops exerting the function of preventing the reverse flow when the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 is higher than a second setting pressure P2. It should be noted that the second setting pressure P2 of the second pilot check valve 71 may be equal to or different from the first setting pressure P1 of the first pilot check valve 61.

(17) The aforementioned flow rate adjuster 8 switches the delivery capacity of the pump 2 between a first setting value q1 and a second setting value q2. The second setting value q2 is less than the first setting value q1. For example, the ratio between the first setting value q1 and the second setting value q2 is equal to the ratio between the pressure receiving area of the head-side chamber 42 and the pressure receiving area of the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4.

(18) The pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 and the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 are led to the flow rate adjuster 8 through a pilot line 8e and a pilot line 8f, respectively. The flow rate adjuster 8 is configured to switch the delivery capacity of the pump 2 to the first setting value q1 when the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 is higher than the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, and switch the delivery capacity of the pump 2 to the second setting value q2 when the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line 52.

(19) To be more specific, the flow rate adjuster 8 includes a servo piston 81. The servo piston 81 is coupled to the swash plate 23 of the pump 2, and is capable of sliding in the axial direction. A first pressure receiving chamber 82, in which a smaller-diameter end portion of the servo piston 81 is exposed, and a second pressure receiving chamber 83, in which a larger-diameter end portion of the servo piston 81 is exposed, are formed in the flow rate adjuster 8.

(20) The first pressure receiving chamber 82 is connected an output port of a high pressure selective valve 84 by an output line 8c. Two input ports of the high pressure selective valve 84 are connected to the rod-side supply line 51 and the head-side supply line 52, respectively, by input lines 8a and 8b. That is, the high pressure selective valve 84 selects and outputs a higher one of the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 and the pressure of the head-side supply line 52.

(21) The second pressure receiving chamber 83 is connected to a switching valve 85 by a relay line 8g. The switching valve 85 is connected to the output port of the high pressure selective valve 84 by an output line 8d, and to the tank 11 by a tank line 8h. The switching valve 85 includes a pair of pilot ports. These pilot ports are connected to the rod-side supply line 51 and the head-side supply line 52, respectively, by the aforementioned pilot lines 8e and 8f.

(22) When the pressure of the head-side supply line 52, which is led to the switching valve 85 through the pilot line 8f, is higher than the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, which is led to the switching valve 85 through the pilot line 8e, the switching valve 85 is positioned in a first position (left-side position in FIG. 1), in which the switching valve 85 brings the second pressure receiving chamber 83 into communication with the tank 11. Accordingly, the servo piston 81 shifts to the second pressure receiving chamber 83 side to a maximum extent, and thereby the tilting angle of the pump 2 is maximized. Consequently, the delivery capacity of the pump 2 becomes the first setting value q1.

(23) On the other hand, when the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, which is led to the switching valve 85 through the pilot line 8e, is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line 52, which is led to the switching valve 85 through the pilot line 8f, the switching valve 85 is positioned in a second position (right-side position in FIG. 1), in which the switching valve 85 brings the second pressure receiving chamber 83 into communication with the output port of the high pressure selective valve 84. Accordingly, the servo piston 81 shifts to the first pressure receiving chamber 82 side to a maximum extent, and thereby the tilting angle of the pump 2 is minimized. Consequently, the delivery capacity of the pump 2 becomes the second setting value q2.

(24) Although the spring of the switching valve 85 is disposed at the pilot line 8f side in the illustrated example, the spring may be disposed at the pilot line 8e side.

(25) Next, operations of the hydraulic system 1 are described for the following two cases separately: when the hydraulic cylinder 4 extends; and when the hydraulic cylinder 4 retracts.

(26) (1) When Hydraulic Cylinder 4 Extends

(27) As shown in FIG. 2A, in a case where the load direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 extends is the retracting direction of the cylinder 4, the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 becomes high against the load, and the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is controlled by the delivery flow rate of the pump 2. Since the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 is higher than the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, the flow rate adjuster 8 selects the first setting value q1 as the delivery capacity of the pump 2. At the time, the check valve 61 is opened due to the pressure of the head-side supply line 52, and the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is sucked from the tank 11 through the first pilot check valve 61 of the first tank line 6.

(28) It should be noted that if the flow rate sucked from the tank 11 is Qi, the flow rate into the head-side chamber 42 is Qh, the flow rate out of the rod-side chamber 41 is Qr, and the drain amount from the pump 2 is , then Qi=Qh+Qr.

(29) On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, in a case where the load direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 extends is the extending direction of the cylinder 4, the pressure of the rod-side chamber 41 becomes high against the load, and the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is controlled by the suction flow rate of the pump 2. Since the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line 52, the flow rate adjuster 8 switches the delivery capacity of the pump 2 to the second setting value q2. At the time, the check valve 71 is opened due to the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, and the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is sucked from the tank 11 through the second pilot check valve 71 of the second tank line 7. Also at the time, the following equation holds true: Qi=Qh+Qr.

(30) Owing to the above configuration, if the load direction is reversed from the retracting direction into the extending direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 extends, the direction of the force applied against the load changes, and the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 becomes high. Accordingly, the smaller one of the delivery capacities of the pump 2 is selected, and the delivery flow rate of the pump 2 decreases. That is, at the time, the cylinder speed control is switched from the control by the supply flow rate to the head side to the control by the discharge flow rate from the rod side, and concurrently, the pump delivery flow rate decreases. This consequently makes it possible to suppress a change (an increase) in the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 without instantaneously changing the rotation speed of the rotating machine 3. In addition, at the time, the passage of the hydraulic liquid sucked from the tank 11 is switched from the first tank line 6 to the second tank line 7, and thereby the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is fed in a manner to cover a shortfall in the delivery flow rate of the pump 2.

(31) On the other hand, if the load direction is reversed from the extending direction into the retracting direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 extends, the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 becomes high. Accordingly, the greater one of the delivery capacities of the pump 2 is selected, and the delivery flow rate of the pump 2 increases. That is, at the time, the cylinder speed control is switched from the control by the discharge flow rate from the rod side to the control by the supply flow rate to the head side, and concurrently, the pump delivery flow rate increases. This consequently makes it possible to suppress a change (a decrease) in the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 without instantaneously changing the rotation speed of the rotating machine 3. In addition, at the time, the passage of the hydraulic liquid sucked from the tank 11 is switched from the second tank line 7 to the first tank line 6, and thereby the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is fed in a manner to cover a shortfall in the suction flow rate of the pump 2.

(32) (2) When Hydraulic Cylinder 4 Retracts

(33) As shown in FIG. 3A, in a case where the load direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 retracts is the extending direction, the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 becomes high against the load, and the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is controlled by the delivery flow rate of the pump 2. Since the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 is higher than the pressure of the head-side supply line 52, the flow rate adjuster 8 selects the second setting value q2 as the delivery capacity of the pump 2. At the time, the second pilot check valve 71 of the second tank line 7 is opened due to the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, and the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 flows into the tank 11 through the second tank line 7.

(34) It should be noted that if the flow rate into the tank 11 is Qo, then Qo=QhQr.

(35) On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, in a case where the load direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 retracts is the retracting direction, the pressure of the head-side chamber 42 becomes high against the load, and the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 is controlled by the suction flow rate of the pump 2. Since the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 is higher than the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51, the flow rate adjuster 8 selects the first setting value q1 as the delivery capacity of the pump 2. At the time, the first pilot check valve 61 of the first tank line 6 is opened due to the pressure of the head-side supply line 52, and the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 flows into the tank 11 through the first tank line 6. Also at the time, the following equation holds true: Qo=QhQr.

(36) Owing to the above configuration, if the load direction is reversed from the extending direction into the retracting direction when the hydraulic cylinder retracts, the direction of the force applied against the load changes, and the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 becomes high. Accordingly, the greater one of the delivery capacities of the pump 2 is selected, and the delivery flow rate of the pump 2 increases. That is, at the time, the cylinder speed control is switched from the control by the supply flow rate to the rod side to the control by the discharge flow rate from the head side, and concurrently, the pump delivery flow rate increases. This consequently makes it possible to suppress a change (a decrease) in the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 without instantaneously changing the rotation speed of the rotating machine 3. In addition, at the time, the passage of the hydraulic liquid flowing into the tank 11 is switched from the second tank line 7 to the first tank line 6, and thereby the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4 flows into the tank 11 through the first tank line 6.

(37) On the other hand, if the load direction is reversed from the retracting direction into the extending direction when the hydraulic cylinder 4 retracts, the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 becomes high. Accordingly, the smaller one of the delivery capacities of the pump 2 is selected, and the delivery flow rate of the pump 2 decreases. That is, at the time, the cylinder speed control is switched from the control by the discharge flow rate from the head side to the control by the supply flow rate to the rod side, and concurrently, the pump delivery flow rate decreases. This consequently makes it possible to suppress a change (an increase) in the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 without instantaneously changing the rotation speed of the rotating machine 3. In addition, at the time, the passage of the hydraulic liquid flowing into the tank 11 is switched from the first tank line 6 to the second tank line 7, and thereby the hydraulic liquid at a flow rate corresponding to the pressure receiving area difference between the head-side chamber 42 and the rod-side chamber 41 flows into the tank 11 through the second tank line 7.

(38) As described above, the hydraulic system 1 of the present embodiment is capable of suppressing a change in the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4 in both cases where the load direction is reversed when the hydraulic cylinder 4 extends and where the load direction is reversed when the hydraulic cylinder 4 retracts, without instantaneously changing the rotation speed of the rotating machine 3. Moreover, the pressure of the rod-side supply line 51 and the pressure of the head-side supply line 52 are led to the flow rate adjuster 8, and the operation of the flow rate adjuster 8 is controlled by these pressures. Therefore, it is not necessary to electrically control the flow rate adjuster 8.

(39) Further, in the present embodiment, the ratio between the first setting value q1 and the second setting value q2 is equal to the ratio between the pressure receiving area of the head-side chamber 42 and the pressure receiving area of the rod-side chamber 41 of the hydraulic cylinder 4. This makes it possible to markedly suppress a change in the speed of the hydraulic cylinder 4.

(40) (Variations)

(41) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

(42) For example, the flow rate adjuster 8 is not limited to one having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, but may have an alternative configuration as shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, in the configuration shown in FIG. 4, the high pressure selective valve 84 (see FIG. 1) is not adopted; the first pressure receiving chamber 82 is connected to the head-side supply line 52 by a first pressure leading line 8j; and the switching valve 85 is connected to the rod-side supply line 51 by a second pressure leading line 8k. That is, the switching valve 85 switches whether to bring the second pressure receiving chamber 83 into communication with the tank 11 or to bring the second pressure receiving chamber 83 into communication with the rod-side supply line 51.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(43) 1 hydraulic cylinder 11 tank 2 pump 21 first port 22 second port 3 rotating machine 4 hydraulic cylinder 41 rod-side chamber 42 head-side chamber 51 rod-side supply line 52 head-side supply line 6 first tank line 61 first pilot check valve 7 second tank line 71 second pilot check valve 8 flow rate adjuster