Patent ID: 6321152
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: E02F,F15B

Abstract:
A control system for detecting and inhibiting a saturation condition in a hydraulic system of a work machine wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump for supplying fluid under pressure to the hydraulic system, a plurality of control valves for controllably passing fluid from the pump to a plurality of work elements, the control system comprising:at least one operator input device actuatable to control the operation of the work elements;a controller coupled to said at least one operator input device and being operable to receive signals therefrom, each signal from said at least one operator input device being indicative of a commanded fluid flow to at least one of the respective work elements;said controller outputting signals to the respective control valves to control the fluid flow to the respective work elements when said controller receives signals from said at least one operator input device indicative of a commanded fluid flow to the respective work elements;memory means for storing parameters associated with the hydraulic system including an established margin pressure of the hydraulic pump;said controller being operable to determine an actual margin pressure of the pump in response to the comparison of the pump pressure and the pressure of the highest load requested through actuation of said at least one operator input device;said controller being further operable to compare the actual margin pressure of the pump to the established margin pressure and to output appropriate signals to the control valves to establish a predetermined fluid flow to the respective work elements when the actual margin pressure of the pump is less than the established margin pressure.