HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT HAVING PRESSURE COMPENSATION VALVE

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit provided with a pressure compensation valve and intended to improve response function thereof while preventing operational delay proportionate to stroke volume of said valve, which is in such a structure that: a pressure compensation valve (3) is disposed between the outlet side of a hydraulic pump (1) and the inlet side of a direction control valve (4) and pushed toward a position (D) of large opening area by pressure of a first pressure receiving part (6) as well as toward a position (E) of small opening area by pressure of a second pressure receiving part (8); said first pressure receiving part (6) is connected to the outlet side of the direction control valve (4) whereas said second pressure receiving part (8) to the inlet side of said valve (4); a cylinder unit (30) is provided for pushing said pressure compensation valve (3) toward the position (D) of large opening area; a piston advance chamber (31) is connected to an external hydraulic pressure source (11) and a piston withdrawal chamber (34) to the first pressure receiving part (6), so that the pressure compensation valve (3) is held in position (D) of large opening area when the direction control valve (4) is in the neutral position (A).

Description: This invention relates to a hydraulic circuit according to the preamble portion of claim 1 and of claim 5. A hydraulic circuit of the above type including a pressure compensating valve, as shown in Fig. 1 is known and described hereinafter. A discharge conduit 2 of a hydraulic pump 1 is connected with an inlet of a pressure compensating valve 3 whose outlet is connected with an inlet of a direction control valve 4. When the directional control valve 4 is changed from its neutral position A over either to a first pressurized fluid supply position B or to a second pressurized fluid supply position C the fluid under pressure discharged by the hydraulic pump 1 is supplied into hydraulic actuators 5. The pressure compensating valve 3 is urged by the fluid pressure applied to its first pressure receiving portion 6 in combination with the resilient force of a spring 7 to a position D where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum, and also urged by the fluid pressure applied to its second pressure receiving portion 8 to a position E where the area of the opening thereof is kept minimum. The first pressure receiving portion 6 is connected with a load pressure circuit 9 so that the fluid pressure on the outlet side of the direction control valve 4 is supplied through a load pressure detection circuit 10 formed within the control valve 4 into the first pressure receiving portion 6. The second pressure receiving portion 8 is connected with the outlet side of the pressure compensating valve 3 so that the fluid pressure on the inlet side of the direction control valve 4 is supplied into the second pressure receiving portion 8. Thus, the pressure compensating valve 3 is rendered operative in response to the pressure drop of the fluid under pressure flowing through the direction control valve 4. The direction control valve 4 can be changed from its neutral position A over either to a first pressurized fluid supply position B or to a second pressurized fluid supply position C when the pressurized fluid discharged by an auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 is supplied through a pilot fluid pressure changeover valve 12 either into a first pressure receiving portion 13 or into a second pressure receiving portion 14. When the direction control valve 4 is located at its neutral position A its pumping port 15 is disconnected and the load pressure circuit 9 is allowed to communicate with a fluid tank 16. The known hydraulic pump 1 is of a variable displacement type, and the angle of swash plate 17 thereof is changed over by the action of a servo-cylinder 18 whose small diameter chamber 19 is supplied directly with the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump 1 and whose large diameter chamber 20 is supplied with the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump 1 through a control valve 21. The control valve 21 is rendered operative in response to the pressure differential between the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump 1 and the load pressure in the above-mentioned load pressure circuit 9. The hydraulic pump 1 is arranged such that the discharge pressure thereof is set to become higher than the load pressure by a value which, for example, corresponds to the resilient force of the spring 22, and even when the directional control valve 4 is located at its neutral position A where the outflow of the fluid under pressure discharged by the hydraulic pump 1 is blocked, the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump 1 is prevented from becoming excessively high. In such a hydraulic circuit, when the direction control valve 4 is located at its neutral position A the load pressure circuit 9 is connected through a passage 23 formed within the direction control valve 4 with the fluid tank 16 thus keeping the load pressure at zero so that the pressure compensating valve 3 is held by the action of the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump 1 at a position E where the area of opening thereof is kept minimum. For this reason, when the direction control valve 4 is changed from its neutral position over either to the first pressurized fluid supply position B or to the second pressurized fluid supply position C to supply the pressurized fluid on the outlet side of the direction control valve 4 into the load pressure circuit 9, the fluid pressure in the first pressure receiving portion 6 of the pressure compensating valve 3 will rise after the pressurized fluid has flown into the first pressure receiving portion 6 by an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof, and therefore it takes a time for the pressure rise, which causes a delay in operation of the pressure compensating valve 3, thereby deteriorating the response of the entire hydraulic circuit. Another pressure circuit of the type-defined in the opening paragraph is known from JP-A-1-266301. The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances in the prior art, and has for its object to provide a hydraulic circuit including a pressure compensating valve wherein when a directional control valve is changed from its neutral position over to a pressurized fluid supply position to drive a hydraulic actuator or actuators the response of the pressure compensating valve can be improved without causing any delay in operation of the pressure compensating valve due to the time required for the inflow of fluid in an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof so that the response of the hydraulic circuit can be improved. According to the present invention this technical problem is solved by a hydraulic circuit according to claim 1 or to claim 5. Accordingly, when the direction control valve is located at its neutral position the pressure compensating valve is located at the position where the area of opening thereof is kept minimum, and therefore when the direction control valve is located at the pressurized fluid supply position, there is no delay in operation of the pressure compensating valve due to the time required for the inflow of fluid in an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof, thereby improving the response of the pressure compensating valve, and hence the response of the hydraulic circuit. Further, when the direction control valve is changed over to the pressurized fluid supply position the pressure compensating valve is pushed immediately to the position where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum, and therefore there is no delay in operation of the pressure compensating valve due to the time required for the inflow of fluid in an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof, thereby improving the response of the pressure compensating valve, and hence the response of the hydraulic circuit. Still further, when the direction control valve is located at its neutral position the fluid under pressure discharged by the exterior pressurized fluid supply source is supplied into the first pressure receiving portion of the pressure compensating valve to thereby hold the latter at the position where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum, and therefore when the directional control valve is located at the pressurized fluid supply position there is no delay in operation of the pressure compensating valve due to the time required for the inflow of fluid in an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof, that is to say, the pressure compensating valve can be rendered operative immediately, thereby improving the response of the hydrulic circuit. Yet further, when the direction control valve is changed over to the pressurized fluid supply position the fluid under pressure is supplied into the first pressure receiving portion of the pressure compensating valve so that the latter is located immediately at the position where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum without causing any time delay in operation due to the time required for the inflow of fluid in an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof. The above-mentioned object, and further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by making reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of example only. Fig. 1 is a hydraulic circuit diagram including a prior art pressure compensating valve; Fig. 2 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of combination of a pressure compensating valve and a hydraulic cylinder unit; Fig. 4 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 10 is a hydraulic circuit diagram in which a fixed displacement type hydraulic pump is used. Fig. 2 is a hydraulic circuit diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. Same elements in the embodiments and the prior art hydraulic circuit shown in Fig. 1 are indicated by the same reference numerals and characters, and the detailed description of them are omitted herein. A hydraulic cylinder means 30 is provided which has a piston 46 adapted to push against a pressure compensating valve 3 to its position D where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum, and a piston elongating chamber 31 is connected through a restrictor 32 and a check valve 33 with a discharge conduit of an auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 serving as an exterior fluid pressure supply source, whilst a piston retracting chamber 34 is connected with a load pressure circuit 9. The pressure of pressurized fluid discharged by the above-mentioned hydraulic pump 11 is regulated by a relief valve 35. The magnitude of the thrust afforded by the piston 46 of the hydraulic cyclinder means 30 is equal to the discharge pressure multiplied by the area of the piston elongating chamber 31 which is subjected to the fluid pressure. This piston thrust is set at a value larger than a thrust required to urge the pressure compensating valve 3 to its position E where the area of opening thereof is kept minimum (which equals to the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump 1 multiplied by the area of a second pressure receiving portion 8). Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of combination of the pressure compensating valve 3 and the hydraulic cylinder means 30. The pressure compensating valve 3 comprises a spool 42 slidably inserted in a spool hole 41 formed within a valve body 40, and a spring 43 mounted in a chamber 44 urging the spool 42 to the position D where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum, the spring chamber 44 serving as a first pressure receiving portion 6. The above-mentioned valve body 40 has also a cylinder hole 45 formed therein coaxially with the spool hole 41 and in which the piston 46 is slidably inserted, thus forming the hydraulic cylinder means 30 having the piston elongating chamber 31 and the piston retracting chamber 34. One end of the spool 42 is held in contact with the piston 46, and also the piston retracting chamber 34 is allowed to communicate with the spring chamber 44 (that is, the first pressure receiving portion 6). In the next place, operation of the hydraulic circuit is described. When the direction control valve 4 is located at its neutral position A , the load pressure circuit 9 is connected with a fluid tank 16 so as to keep the load pressure in the circuit 9 at zero as mentioned hereinabove, so that the pressure compensating valve 3 is urged to and held at the position D , where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum by the thrust of the piston 46 developed by the fluid under pressure supplied into the piston elongating chamber 31 of the hydraulic cylinder means 30. When the direction control valve 4 is changed from its neutral position over either to a first pressurized fluid supply position B or to a second pressurized supply position C , the load pressure in the load pressure circuit 9 is raised successively so that when a thrust force acting on the piston 46 of the hydraulic cylinder means 30 in such a direction as to retract the piston 46 becomes more than the above-mentioned thrust force acting on the piston 46 due to the fluid pressure applied to the piston elongating chamber 31 the piston 46 commences to retract or move away from the pressure compensating valve 3. As a result, the pressure compensating valve 3 will have an area of opening which depends on the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet pressures of the direction control valve 4. The time required for the rise in the pressure within the first pressure receiving portion 6 at that time is influenced by the stroke volume of the hydraulic cylinder means 30, however, since the pressurized fluid within the piston elongating chamber 31 flows out through the restrictor 32, the movement of the piston 46 is very slow, and as a result, the above-mentioned influence by the stroke volume of the hydraulic cylinder means 30 is limited to a level which does not cause any problem in practical application. Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which a piston elongating chamber 31 of a hydraulic cylinder means 30 is connected with a first pressure receiving portion 13 of a direction control valve 4, the arrangement being made such that when the direction control valve 4 is changed from its neutral position over to its first pressurized fluid supply position B the piston 46 in the hydraulic cylinder means 30 is extended. Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention in which a piston elongating chamber 31 of a hydraulic cylinder means 30 is connected through a shuttle valve 36 with a first pressure receiving portion 13 and a second pressure receiving portion 14 on high pressure sides of a direction control valve 4, the arrangement being made such that when the direction control valve 4 is changed from its neutral position A over either to the first pressurized fluid supply position B or to the second pressurized fluid supply position C the piston 46 in the hydraulic cylinder means 30 is extended. Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention in which a directional control valve 4 has a passage 52 formed in a neutral position A and which connectes a circuit 51 that is connected through a check valve 50 with a discharge conduit of an auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 with a load pressure circuit 9, the arrangement being made such that when the direction control valve 4 is located at its neutral position A the pressurized fluid discharged by the auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 is supplied through the passage 52 and the load pressure circuit 9 into a first pressure receiving portion 6 of a pressure compensating valve 3 so that the latter is held at its position D where the area of opening thereof is kept maximum. Thus, when the direction control valve 4 is switched from its neutral position A over either to the first pressurized fluid supply position B or to the second pressurized fluid supply position C a load pressure detection passage 10 is allowed to communicate with an internal passage and the passage 52 so that the discharge pressure of the auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 and the load pressure are supplied into the first pressure receiving portion 6 of the pressure compensating valve 3. Consequently, when the load pressure becomes higher than the discharge pressure of the auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 the hydraulic circuit according to the fourth embodiment is rendered operative in the same manner as the prior art hydraulic circuit. In this arrangement, there is no need for provision of the hydraulic cylinder means. Fig. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention in which when the direction control valve 4 is located at its neutral position A the aforementioned passage 52 is connected with the interior passage, and is disconnected from the circuit 51, whilst when the direction control valve 4 is held either at the first pressurized fluid supply position B or at the second pressurized fluid supply position C , the passage 52 is allowed to communicate with the circuit 51. When the direction control valve 4 is changed from its neutral position A over either to the first pressurized fluid supply position B or to the second pressurized fluid supply position C the pressurized fluid discharged by the auxiliary hydraulic pump 11 is supplied into the first pressure receiving portion 6 of the pressure compensating valve 3, thereby rendering it possible to prevent the delay in response due to the time required for the inflow of fluid in an amount corresponding to the stroke volume thereof. Fig. 8 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention in which a circuit 53 connected with a load pressure circuit 9 is connected through a check valve 54 with a first pressure receiving portion 13 of a directional control valve 4, the arrangement being made such that when the directional control valve 4 is changed over to the first pressurized fluid supply position B a part of the pilot pressurized fluid is supplied into a first pressure receiving portion 6 of a pressure compensating valve 3. Fig. 9 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention in which a circuit 53 connected with a load pressure circuit 9 is connected through a check valve 54 and a shuttle valve 55 with a first pressurized fluid supply position 13 and a second pressurized fluid supply position 14 of a direction control valve 4, the arrangement being made such that when the direction control valve 4 is held either at the first pressurized fluid supply position B or at the second pressurized fluid supply position C the pilot pressurized fluid is supplied into a first pressure receiving portion 6 of a pressure compensating valve 3. While the foregoing embodiments of the present invention have been described in case the hydraulic pump 1 is of a variable displacement type, in the case a fixed displacement type hydraulic pump 1 is used it is only necessary to provide an unloading valve 56 as shown in Fig. 10.

Claims: A hydraulic circuit comprising: a hydraulic pump (1), a direction control valve (4) which is changeable from a neutral position (A) to a fluid supply position (B, C), a pressure compensation valve (3) provided between the hydraulic pump (1) and the direction control valve (4), and having a first pressure receiving portion (6) receiving a hydraulic pressure for urging said pressure compensation valve (3) toward a maximum open area position (D) and a second pressure receiving portion (8) receiving a hydraulic pressure for urging said pressure compensation valve (3) toward a minimum open area position (E), said first pressure receiving portion (6) being connected to an outlet side of the direction control valve (4), and the second pressure receiving portion (8) being connected to an inlet side of the direction control valve (4), and an external pressure supply source (11), characterized by a hydraulic cylinder means (30) having a piston (46) for pushing the pressure compensating valve (3) toward the maximum open area position (D), a first chamber (31) connected to said external pressure supply source (11) and communicating with the piston (46) such as to urge the piston toward the pressure compensation valve (3), and a second chamber (34) communicating with the first pressure receiving portion (6) and with the piston (46) such as to move the piston (46) away from the pressure compensation valve (3). A hydraulic circuit according to claim 1, wherein a changeover valve (12) is arranged between said first chamber (31) and said external pressure supply source (11), the changeover valve (12) being adapted to supply pressure from the external pressure supply source (11) as a pilot pressure either to a first or second pressure receiving portion (13, 14) of the direction control valve (4) for changing the direction control valve (4) in its position (A, B, C), the first chamber (31) communicating with at least one of the first and second pressure receiving portions of the direction control valve (4). A hydraulic circuit according to claim 2, wherein the first chamber (31) is connected through a shuttle valve with the first and second pressure receiving portions (13, 14) of the direction control valve (4) in such manner that upon change of the direction control valve (4) from its neutral position (A) to a fluid supply position (B, C), the piston (46) is urged toward the pressure compensation valve (3). A hydraulic circuit according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a throttle valve (32) and a check valve (33), which are arranged in parallel, are provided in the line connecting said first chamber (31) and said external pressure supply source (11), said check valve (33) being openable such as to allow flow from said external pressure supply source (11) to said first piston chamber (31). A hydraulic circuit comprising: a hydraulic pump (1), a direction control valve (4) which is changeable from a neutral position (A) to a fluid supply position (B, C), a pressure compensation valve (3) provided between the hydraulic pump (1) and the direction control valve (4), and having a first pressure receiving portion (6) receiving a hydraulic pressure for urging said pressure compensation valve (3) toward a maximum open area position (D) and a second pressure receiving portion (8) receiving a hydraulic pressure for urging said pressure compensation valve (3) toward a minimum open area position (E), said first pressure receiving portion (6) being connected to an outlet side of the direction control valve (4), and the second pressure receiving portion (8) being connected to an inlet side of the direction control valve (4), and an external pressure supply source (11), characterized by a circuit (51; 53) which is connected via a check valve (50; 54) to the external pressure supply source (11), and which communicates with a load pressure circuit (9) for regulating the discharge pressure of said hydraulic pump (1), said load pressure circuit (9) connecting the direction control valve (4) and the first pressure receiving portion (6) of the pressure compensation valve (3). A hydraulic circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that said circuit (51) communicates with said load circuit (9) via supply means (52) extending through the direction control valve (4) at neutral position (A). A hydraulic circuit according to claim 5, characterized in that said circuit (51) communicates with said load circuit (9) via supply means (52) extending through the direction control valve (4) at fluid supply position (B, C). A hydraulic circuit according to claim 5, wherein a changeover valve (12) is arranged between said circuit (53) and said external pressure supply source (11), the changeover valve (12) being adapted to supply pressure from the external pressure supply source (11) as a pilot pressure either to a first or second pressure receiving portion (13, 14) of the direction control valve (4) for changing the direction control valve (4) in its position (A, B, C), the circuit (53) communicating with at least one of the first and second pressure receiving portions of the direction control valve (4). A hydraulic circuit according to claim 5, wherein the circuit (53) is connected through a shuttle valve (55) with the first and second pressure receiving portions (13, 14) of the direction control valve (4) in such a manner that upon change of the direction control valve (4) from its neutral position (A) to a fluid supply position (B, C) fluid from said external pressure supply source (11) is supplied into said first pressure receiving portion (6). A hydraulic circuit according to one of claims 5 to 9, wherein said check valve (50; 54) is arranged such as to allow fluid supply from the external pressure supply source (11) to said direction control valve (3) and to prevent flow in the opposite direction.

Inventors: AKIYAMA TERUO, KARAKAMA TADAO, YOSHIDA NOBUMI, AKIYAMA, TERUO, KARAKAMA, TADAO, YOSHIDA, NOBUMI, AKIYAMA, TERUO KAWASAKI FACTORY OF K. K. KOMATSU, KARAKAMA, TADAO KAWASAKI FACTORY OF K. K. KOMATSU, YOSHIDA, NOBUMI KAWASAKI FACTORY OF K. K. KOMATSU
Applicants: KOMATSU MFG CO LTD, KABUSHIKI KAISHA KOMATSU SEISAKUSHO
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F15B11
IPC codes: F15B11, E02F9, F15B13