Patent Publication Number: US-10316495-B2

Title: Safety hydraulic circuit

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2015/063639 filed Jun. 17, 2015, which claims priority to Italian Application No. MO2014A000180 filed Jun. 18, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a safety hydraulic circuit destined for use in hydraulic machines, such as earth moving machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that the stability of excavators is a function of the angular position of the upper frame (“turret”) with respect to the carriage and the weight of the hanging loads suspended from the articulated excavator arm. 
     The excavator arm is usually defined by a lift boom, hinged to a distal arm. 
     In detail, the further the plane in which the excavator arm and the longitudinal axis of the carriage are located from the mutually parallel condition, the greater the risk of the machine&#39;s tipping. 
     The risk grows together with the weight of the load. 
     At present, a pressure sensor, arranged at the piston side of the boom cylinder of the boom, is used in order to prevent the risk of tipping. 
     When the pressure detected by the sensor exceeds a safety threshold, a signal is emitted internally of the drive cabin, for example a sound alarm, which informs the driver of the risk of vehicle instability. 
     As a precaution, the cited threshold relates to the value of the maximum load that can be lifted when the turret is in the riskiest position, i.e. the position in which the excavator arm is perpendicular to the axis of the carriage. 
     This system has the drawback of being poorly efficient. 
     In fact, the operator knows that the danger signal is emitted also in conditions that are not necessarily dangerous, i.e. when the pressure detected by the sensor is critical but the plane of the arm is not perpendicular to the axis of the carriage. 
     In the above-described circumstance, the operator will assess the risk of proceeding to the complete lifting of the load using the well-known lift tables; this is inefficient and renders partially useless the fact that an automated safety system is provided on the vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical objective underpinning the present invention is therefore to provide a hydraulic safety system, destined for use in hydraulic machines, in particular for earth movement, which obviates the drawbacks in the prior art. 
     In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a safety circuit which is able to evaluate conditions of danger relating to the stability of the machine, which at the same time is a function of the load to be lifted and the angular position of the turret which bears the excavator arm. 
     The set technical objective and the set aim are attained by the hydraulic safety circuit realized according to claim  1 . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the description that follows by way of non-limiting example of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a hydraulic safety circuit, as illustrated in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view from above of an earth-moving machine, in which the invention can be applied, the figure showing a diagram indicating possible angular positions of the excavator arm with respect to the carriage; 
         FIG. 1 a    is a table illustrating the logical steps of the emission of the alarm signal, using, by way of example, the pressure values detected in actuators moving the excavator arm and according to the angular position of the turret; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are lateral views of the machine of  FIG. 1 , shown in two different operating configurations; and 
         FIGS. 4-10  are schematic representations of the circuit of the invention, shown in different functioning modes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the above figures, reference numeral  1  denotes the hydraulic safety circuit of the invention. 
     The circuit  1  is especially destined for use in earth moving machines or agricultural machines, with the aim of signalling a risk for the stability of the means during the lifting of a load. 
     In greater detail, the circuit is usable in hydraulic machines having a mobile part, in particular rotating, with respect to the rest of the means. 
     A type of machine  2  in which the circuit  1  can be installed is as described in the following. 
     The machine  2  comprises a carriage  21 , for example tracked, on which a turret  22  is rotatably mounted, which turret  22  rotates about a vertical axis (see  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 ). 
     An articulated excavator arm  23 ,  24  is housed on the turret  22 , which also housed the control cabin. The articulated excavator arm  23 ,  24  comprises a boom  23  (proximal), hinged to an arm  24 , the arm  24  being equipped with the excavating tool  25 , such as a bucket or the like. 
     The arm  23 ,  24  thus lies on a vertical plane P, which is rotatable with respect to the axis A of the carriage  21  and which plane also identifies the advancement direction thereof (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     Primarily, the proposed circuit  1  comprises a first hydraulic actuator  3 , which can for example be a hydraulic cylinder controlling the movement of the boom  23 . 
     Further, the circuit  1  includes a signalling device  4  which can for example be an acoustic signal and can emit a signal in the cabin so as to alert the operator. 
     In detail, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the signalling device  4  emits an alarm in a case in which a situation of danger is created in regard to the stability of the machine  2 , detected by use of the circuit of the invention. 
     In practice, the signalling device  4  can be of a type which emits an alarm signal following an exceeding of a pressure threshold at an inlet thereof. 
     For example, the signaling device  4  can include a hydraulic switch which, following the exceeding of the pressure threshold at the inlet thereof, closes an electrical circuit which activates a signal emitter. 
     The hydraulic circuit  1  of the invention includes a pilot pump  11  for supplying pilot work fluid (preferably a mineral oil) at a given pilot pressure which, for example, for a mini-excavator can be of 35 bar. 
     Downstream of the pilot pump  11 , the circuit  1  comprises a balance valve  12  subjected to the pressure of the first actuator. 
     The pressure of the first actuator, in a case where the actuator comprises a hydraulic cylinder, can be the pressure reached at the piston side (if mounted as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     In practice, the balance valve  12  is a hydraulically-activated directional valve, controlled by the pressure of the first actuator  3 , according to which it variously distributes the pilot fluid. 
     This is implemented by means of a fluid-dynamic communication, using mineral oil, between the inside of the first actuator  3  and the balance valve  12 . 
     In detail, the pilot fluid in outlet from the balance valve  12  assumes a form of a plurality of hydraulic activating signals S 1 , S 2 , S 3  which control further components of the circuit  1 , described in the following, arranged on respective branches located downstream of the balance valve  12 . 
     The balance valve  12  is preferably of the normally-closed type, and comprises a plurality of positions, for example four, and has an elastic-type return. 
     Further, the balance valve  12  exhibits a further hydraulic pilot on the spring side able to modify the pre-load of the spring by an amount required to obtain the situation detailed in the following. 
     The balance valve  12  changes position according to the value of the pressure at the inlet thereof, to which corresponds a difference in pressure to which the first actuator  3  is subjected during use of the excavator arm  23 ,  24 . 
     This characteristic will be further explored during the explanation of the functioning of the invention. 
     In a further aspect of the invention, the circuit  1  includes hydraulic distribution means  13 , arranged downstream of the pilot pump  11 , in parallel with the balance valve  12 , able to assume a plurality of operating configurations and further intended to distribute the pilot fluid according to the specific configuration assumed. 
     The distribution means  13  are preferably fashioned in a device that is solidly constrained to or in any case connected to the turret  22  and able to change configuration according to the angular position of the turret  22 . 
     In detail, the distribution means  13  can comprise a swivel joint, coaxial to the turret  22 , of a type for transmitting an operating fluid, externally of the circuit  1  of the invention, from one or more pumps, located on-board the frame of the vehicle  2 , to one or more actuators located on-board the carriage  21 . 
     A swivel joint of this type is described in Italian patent application no MO2014A000102 which is incorporated with the present description for purposes of reference. 
     The reason for this solution will be further clarified exhaustively in the paragraphs relating to the functioning of the invention. 
     More in general, various embodiments of the invention can be comprised, in which to the various configurations of the distribution means  13  correspond respective spatial positions assumed by a part of the machine  1 , which for example includes at least the first actuator, with respect to the rest of the machine. 
     The circuit  1  includes a plurality of alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  downstream of the balance valve  12 , controlled by respective activating signals dispensed by the balance valve  12 . 
     The alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  are arranged in parallel to one another and are preferably three in number. 
     The alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  are predisposed on control to send the pilot fluid to the signalling device  4 . 
     In detail, in the preferential version of the invention, a first alarm valve  14  is arranged directly downstream of the pilot pump  11 , while the remaining valves  15 ,  16  are arranged downstream of the distribution means  13 . 
     The reason for this constructional choice will be clarified during the explanation of the functioning of the invention. 
     The alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  can be hydraulically-controlled valves, three-way and two-position, monostable and normally closed. 
     In practice, once opened by the relative activating signal, each valve  14 ,  15 ,  16  can send the pilot fluid, at the pilot pressure, in inlet to the signalling device  4  so as to activate the signalling device  4 . 
     Note that the distribution means  13  are predisposed in the circuit  1  for sending the pilot fluid to a different alarm valve  15 ,  16 , alternatively on the basis of the specific operating configuration assumed thereby, which, as mentioned, preferably corresponds to a given angular position of the turret  22 . 
     At the same time the balance valve  12  assumes different positions according to the pressure level of the first actuator  3  and in all positions sends an activating signal to a specific alarm valve  14 ,  15 ,  16 . 
     For the sake of precision, the balance valve  12  moves into the various open positions according to the pressure of the first actuator  3 , so as to sequentially open the alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16 . 
     In practice, therefore, each alarm valve functions as an AND logic operator in activating the alarm signal. 
     The circuit  1  of the invention can also include a second hydraulic actuator  30  comprising a hydraulic cylinder, which, in the preferred version of the invention, is mounted on the excavator arm  23   24  and activates the horizontal lifting of the arm. 
     In this case, as partly anticipated in the preceding, the invention also comprises a pre-loading valve  17 , arranged downstream of the pilot pump  11  and subjected to the second actuator  30 . 
     In practice, the pre-loading valve  17  can enable or prevent the pilot fluid from acting as a pressure signal on the distribution valve, according to the pressure of the second actuator  30 . 
     The preloading valve  17  is normally open and, if not excited, sends the pilot pressure to add to the elastic return of the balance valve  12  so as to define a preload to be exceeded in order to displace the balance valve from the open position. 
     The preloading valve  17  is preferably a two-position three-way valve. 
     When the arm  24 , once the load has been engaged, is arranged horizontally, the pressure of the second actuator  30  grows up to the point of switching the preloading valve  17  into a closed configuration, with practical effects illustrated in the following. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the balance valve  12  has four positions, of which a closed position and three open positions, in which the valve  12  moves according to the pressure of the first actuator  3 , with values that are detailed in the following. 
     In the same embodiment, the distribution means  13  have three configurations corresponding to three angular positions of the turret  22 . 
     Before explaining further optional constructional aspects, the functioning of the preferred embodiment of the circuit  1  of the invention will be described with the aid of  FIGS. 4 to 10 . 
     Note that in the diagrams of the hydraulic circuit  1  illustrated in the accompanying tables, the branches drawn in a continuous line are those in which the pilot pressure or the pressure of the actuators  3 ,  30  is present, while the branches represented in a broken line are those without. 
     In detail, four different operating conditions are initially explained, which have in common the fact that the excavator arm  23 ,  24  is in a frontal position, but distinguished by the different load conditions ( FIGS. 4-7 ). 
     The arm  23 ,  24  is in the frontal position if the angular position of the turret  22  is such that the plane P of the arm  23 ,  24  is at most displaced by 30° from the vertical plane which contains the longitudinal axis A of the carriage  21  of the machine  2 . 
     Note that the angle delimiting the frontal condition of the arm  23 ,  24  can also be different from the preferential value of 30°. 
     In any case, in this situation the distribution means  13  are in the closed configuration. 
     In the four operating conditions first examined, the arm  24  is arranged substantially vertically, which means that the second actuator  30  is inactive. 
     In the initial operating condition, the excavator arm  23 ,  24  is at rest or in any case the pressure of the first actuator  3  responsible for the lifting of the boom  23  is lower than a first load threshold. 
     The first threshold, in the example reported in  FIG. 1 a   , can be lower than 150 bar. 
     In this condition, the balance valve  12  is in the closed position. 
     In this situation, the stability of the machine  2  is not at risk. 
     The functioning of the circuit  1 , in this circumstance, is represented schematically in  FIG. 4 . 
     In this preliminary condition, the pilot fluid reaches only the first alarm valve  14 , while it stops at the distributing means  13  before arriving at the second or third valve  15 ,  16 . However, given that no activating signal from the balance valve  12  arrives at the first alarm valve  14 , the first alarm valve  14  does not switch from the closed position and therefore does not send pilot fluid to the signalling device  4 , which thus remains inactive. 
     In a following operating condition, the pressure of the piston side of the first actuator  3  grows up to or beyond a first load valve that can be more than 150 bar, for example 160 bar, and anyway less than 190 bar. 
     The functioning of the circuit  1  in this situation is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this condition, the balance valve  12  switches into the first open position thereof and therefore sends an activating signal S 2  to the second alarm valve  15  which, in turn, switches into the open position. 
     However, given that the distribution means  13  are in the closed position, the pilot fluid cannot pass through the branch of the circuit which comprises the second alarm valve and therefore the signalling device  4  remains inactive. 
     In fact, the condition of the above-described machine  2  is not at risk in terms of the stability thereof, as the value of the load is not exorbitant and the arm  23 ,  24  is in the frontal position, i.e. the least dangerous position. 
     In a case in which the pressure in the first actuator  3  grows up to a second load valve, for example 200 or anyway more than 190 bar, the operating condition of  FIG. 6  is reached. 
     In this case, the balance valve  12  displaces into the second open position and sends an activating signal S 3  also to the third loading valve  16 , maintaining the second valve  15  open too. 
     Notwithstanding this, given that the distributing means  13  are in the closed position, the pilot pressure does not reach the inlet of the signalling device  4 , which therefore remains “silent”. 
     In fact, this operating condition is also to be considered not dangerous. 
     When the pressure of the stem side of the first actuator  3  reaches, for example, 240 bar or anyway more than 230 bar, or another load value chosen for the purpose, even if the excavator arm  23 ,  24  is in the frontal position, with the arm vertical  24 , there is still a situation of risk for the stability of the vehicle  1 , as the load is too high. 
     In this situation, the balance valve  12  displaces into the third open position in which it controls the opening also of the first alarm valve  14  which, as explained herein above, is located directly downstream of the pilot pump  11 . 
     Therefore, the pilot fluid passes into the branch of the circuit which leaves from the pump  11  and reaches the signalling device  4 , encountering the first valve  14 , which thus raises the pressure in inlet to the device  4  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     The signalling device  4  emits and alarm for warning the operator of the situation of risk; thus the operator does not proceed with the raising of the load that has been qualified as excessive. 
     Note that optionally, in the circuit  1  of the invention, there is present at least a fluid selector valve  18 ,  19 , arranged interposingly between the alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16 , and the signalling device  4 ; the reason for this constructional choice will be detailed herein below. 
     In a different operating condition, the excavator arm  23 ,  24  is in an oblique position, i.e. is distanced from the axis A of the carriage  21  by an angle of greater than 30° and less than 60°. 
     In this case too, the angular position values indicated above are meant as preferential and not limiting. 
     In this circumstance, as is known, the risk of instability is increased with respect to the frontal condition of the arm  23 ,  24 . 
     If the pressure of the first actuator  3  is such as to move the balance valve into the second position, for example 200 bar or anyway more than 190 bar, the circuit  1  of the invention assumes the configuration shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The distribution means  13  assume a first open configuration in which they enable the pilot pressure to reach the third alarm valve  16  which, as explained above, is opened by the control signal of the balance valve  12 . 
     Therefore, the pressure in inlet to the signalling device  4  is raised to the value of the pilot pressure and therefore produces an alarm signal. 
     In fact, in this situation, the load to be raised is at a value that did not constitute a risk in the case of the arm  23 ,  24  in the frontal position, but which is dangerous with the turret rotated 22 by an angle of greater than 30°. 
     It can therefore be understood how the invention, differently to the prior art, is able to adapt the danger threshold of the load to be lifted according to the angular position of the excavator arm  23 ,  24 . 
     In this way, the operator does not need to consult any tables and can further use the means for lifting and displacing, entirely safely, loads that in the prior art system were, as a precaution, deemed as dangerous even when the arm  23 ,  24  was not in a perpendicular position to the axis A of the carriage  21 . 
     Note that by increasing the number of alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  and by accordingly increasing the positions/configurations of opening of the balance valve  12  and the distribution means  13  it is possible to obtain a finer regulation of the dangerous load threshold according to the angular position of the turret  22  and the load values to be lifted. 
     Returning to the functioning of the preferred embodiment of the invention, a description now follows of a case in which the arm  23 ,  24  is in a transversal position and the load is at a value that is such as to have the balance valve on the first position, which value is for example greater than 150 bar (see  FIG. 9 ). 
     The transversal position of the arm  23 ,  24  is by way of example defined by an angle comprised between 60° and 90° with respect to the axis A of the carriage  21 . 
     In this operating condition, as already explained above, the second load valve  15  is open; further, the distribution means  13  move into a second open configuration in which they enable the passage of the pilot fluid into the branch which comprises the second valve  15 . 
     As a consequence, the pilot pressure is detected at the inlet of the signalling device  4  and an alarm signal is accordingly sounded. 
     In fact, as known, the transversal condition of the excavator arm  23 ,  24  is the most dangerous for the stability of the means  2  and, therefore, a load in the piston side of the first actuator  3 , in the example more than 150 bar, which corresponds to the first position of the balance valve, constitutes a potential danger. 
     A further known factor of danger, not examined herein up to now, is constituted by a case in which, following application of a load on the excavator arm  23 ,  24 , the arm  24  is raised from the vertical position to the horizontal position (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     This action occurs by means of the activating of the second above-mentioned actuator  30 . 
     The invention advantageously includes the detail of using the preloading valve  17  which enables taking account also of this eventuality. 
     In fact, as shown in  FIG. 10 , when the pressure in the second actuator  30  reaches the threshold which identifies the raising of the arm  24 , the preloading valve  17 , normally open, switches into the closed condition, inhibiting passage of the pilot fluid from the pump to the balance valve  12 . 
     In this situation, the balance valve  12  switches into the various open positions at pressure thresholds of the first actuator  3  which are lower than those that are valid in the preceding examples, as they are reduced by a quantity which takes into consideration the new spatial configuration of the arm. 
     Therefore, for example, if the arm  23 ,  24  is in the transversal position and the piston-side pressure of the first actuator  3  is just at 120 bar, nonetheless the balance valve  12  is in the first open position in which it controls the switching of the second alarm valve  15 . 
     Given that the distributing means  13  are in the second opening configuration, the signalling device  4  receives the pilot pressure in inlet and therefore emits an alarm signal which warns the operator of the danger. 
     Thus it can be seen how the invention obviates all the drawbacks of the prior art as well as providing new and advantageous uses. 
     In fact, the operator can completely rely on the alarm signal of the circuit  1  of the invention; there is no need to use tables or other instruments and the operator knows he or she can use the excavating machine  2  with complete safety for lifting even considerable weights when the arm  23 ,  24  is in the frontal position. 
     Note that the circuit  1  of the invention has a functioning that is essentially of a hydraulic type and therefore does not require the use of electronics and software constituting a complication, a cost and requiring frequent updating and control. 
     In the preferred version of the circuit  1  of the invention, two selector valves of the fluid  18 ,  19 , which define an OR logic for the hydraulic signals, are placed in series with one another and are interposed between the alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  and the signaling device  4 . 
     In detail, a first selector valve  18  receives in inlet the outlets of the first and second alarm valve, while the second selector valve  19  receives in inlet the outlet of the first selector valve and the outlet of the third alarm valve. 
     The outlet of the second OR valve is connected to the inlet of the signalling valve  4 . 
     When one of the alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16  is open and receives the pilot pressure, i.e. both consent conditions are verified in the AND logic of the valve, there is the certainty that the pilot pressure in outlet therefrom will reach the signalling device  4  and there are no load losses through the outlet branches of the other alarm valves  14 ,  15 ,  16 . 
     In fact, the OR valves define a compulsory path for the pilot fluid towards the signalling device  4 , which prevents the pilot fluid from returning upstream.