Power plants – Pressure fluid source and motor – With control means for structure storing work driving energy
Utility Patent
1998-07-06
2001-01-02
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Power plants
Pressure fluid source and motor
With control means for structure storing work driving energy
C060S469000
Utility Patent
active
06167701
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a ride control system for a machine and more particularly to a variable rate ride control system.
BACKGROUND ART
In known ride control systems, the cushioning of the ride is controlled by an accumulator or accumulators connected in parallel. The known accumulator arrangements may have one or more accumulators depending on the size of the machine and the volume of fluid that is being moved in and out of the accumulator arrangement. As is well known in these arrangements, the pressure setting of each accumulator is substantially the same. Whether there is one or more accumulators in the accumulator arrangement, the pressure setting is fixed. Consequently, the control of the ride is limited to a certain limited range of operating pressures. If, for example, the ride control is being used on a wheel loader or a backhoe loader and the machine/bucket is empty, the ride control may function very well. However, if the bucket is full of material (load), the control system may not provide adequate cushioning because the extra load changed the cushioning characteristics of the accumulator system or caused the accumulator system to prematurely bottom out and become totally ineffective. If the operating pressure of the accumulator arrangement is increased to handle a loaded machine/bucket, the “ride” of the machine is more harsh when the machine/bucket is empty. It is desirable to have a ride control arrangement that is effective when the machine/bucket is empty or full or anywhere in-between.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, a variable rate ride control system is provided and adapted for use in a fluid system of a machine to cushion the ride of the machine. The machine has a frame with an actuator arrangement disposed between the frame and a load to raise the load relative to the frame of the machine. The actuator arrangement has a raise port and a lower port and is operative to raise and lower the load in response to pressurized fluid being selectively directed to and from the respective raise and lower ports thereof from a directional control valve that is connected to a source of pressurized fluid and a reservoir. The variable rate ride control system includes an accumulator arrangement having a variable pressure rate and a valve arrangement disposed between the accumulator arrangement, the actuator arrangement, and the reservoir. The accumulator arrangement is selectively connected to the actuator arrangement at a location downstream of the directional control valve and the valve arrangement is operative to selectively connect the accumulator arrangement to the actuator arrangement and the reservoir.
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patent: 4738101 (1988-04-01), Kubik
patent: 4969562 (1990-11-01), Saotome
patent: 5245826 (1993-09-01), Roth et al.
patent: 5333533 (1994-08-01), Hosseini
patent: 5520499 (1996-05-01), Ufheil et al.
patent: 5706657 (1998-01-01), Amborski et al.
patent: 5906089 (1999-05-01), Guinn et al.
patent: 5992146 (1999-11-01), Hausman
Hatcher Andrew
Quinn Patrick
Burrows J. W.
Caterpillar Inc.
Lazo Thomas E.
Look Edward K.
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