Work machine and hydraulic system for work machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10316489-B2
Application number	US-201615371102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2016
Priority date	Dec 7, 2015
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A hydraulic system for a work machine includes a first control valve to control a first hydraulic actuator, a second control valve to control a second hydraulic actuator, a first fluid tube connecting the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve, and a second fluid tube connecting the second hydraulic actuator to the second control valve. A level control valve apparatus is connected to the first fluid tube and the second fluid tube. The level control valve apparatus is configured to control a leveling operation for the second hydraulic actuator. An accumulator apparatus is connected to the first hydraulic actuator. The accumulator apparatus communicates with the first fluid tube between the level control valve apparatus and the first control valve. Circuitry is configured to control the level control valve apparatus to stop the leveling operation when the accumulator apparatus is in operation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic system for a work machine, comprising:
a first hydraulic actuator;
a second hydraulic actuator other than the first hydraulic actuator;
a first control valve to control the first hydraulic actuator;
a second control valve to control the second hydraulic actuator;
a first fluid tube connecting the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve;
a second fluid tube connecting the second hydraulic actuator to the second control valve;
a level control valve apparatus connected to the first fluid tube and the second fluid tube, the level control valve apparatus being configured to control a leveling operation for the second hydraulic actuator;
an accumulator apparatus connected to the first hydraulic actuator, the accumulator apparatus communicating with the first fluid tube between the level control valve apparatus and the first control valve; and
circuitry configured to control the level control valve apparatus to stop the leveling operation when the accumulator apparatus is in operation.

2. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 1 , wherein
the level control valve apparatus includes
an operation device configured to switch an operational state between a first state to stop the leveling operation and a second state to activate the leveling operation, and

the circuitry switches the operation device to the first state to stop the leveling operation when the accumulator apparatus is in operation.

3. The hydraulic system for the wok machine, according to claim 2 , wherein
the first hydraulic actuator is a boom cylinder,
the second hydraulic actuator is a bucket cylinder, and
the circuitry switches the operation device to the second state to activate the leveling operation when the boom cylinder is stretched.

4. The hydraulic system for the work machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the level control valve apparatus includes
a switch valve configured to be switched to
a first position such that, in the first fluid tube, an operation fluid returns from the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve and flows from the first control valve to the first hydraulic actuator,
a second position such that the flow of the operation fluid returning in the first fluid tube from the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve is blocked.

5. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 4 , wherein
the level control valve apparatus includes
a flow tube connecting the first fluid tube to the second fluid tube, the operation fluid being supplied to the second hydraulic actuator through the flow tube when the switch valve is at the second position, the operation fluid returning from the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve.

6. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 1 , wherein
the first fluid tube includes:
a first supply tube connected to a bottom side of a first hydraulic cylinder constituting the first hydraulic actuator; and
a second supply tube connected to a rod side of the first hydraulic cylinder, and

the second fluid tube includes:
a third supply tube connected to a rod side of a second hydraulic cylinder constituting the second hydraulic actuator; and
a fourth supply tube connected to a bottom side of the second hydraulic cylinder.

7. A hydraulic system for a work machine, comprising:
a first hydraulic actuator;
a second hydraulic actuator other than the first hydraulic actuator;
a first control valve to control the first hydraulic actuator;
a second control valve to control the second hydraulic actuator;
a first fluid tube connecting the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve;
a second fluid tube connecting the second hydraulic actuator to the second control valve;
a level control valve apparatus connected to the first fluid tube and the second fluid tube, the level control valve apparatus being configured to control a leveling operation for the second hydraulic actuator;
an accumulator apparatus connected to the first hydraulic actuator; and
a third fluid tube having a first tube end connected to the first hydraulic actuator and a second tube end which is opposite to the first tube end and which is connected to the first fluid tube between the level control valve apparatus and the first control valve.

8. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 7 , comprising
a discharge fluid tube connected to the accumulator apparatus, the discharge fluid tube being configured to discharge an operation fluid supplied from the accumulator apparatus, wherein
the accumulator apparatus includes:
an accumulator; and
a ride control valve configured to connect the third fluid tube, the first hydraulic actuator, the accumulator, and the discharge fluid tube to each other, and

the ride control valve is configured to be switched to
a stopping position to block a connection between the first hydraulic actuator and the accumulator and to block a connection between the third hydraulic tube and the discharge fluid tube and
an activating position to connect the first hydraulic actuator to the accumulator and to connect the third hydraulic tube and the discharge fluid tube.

9. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 7 , wherein
the level control valve apparatus includes
a switch valve configured to be switched to
a first position such that, in the first fluid tube, an operation fluid returns from the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve and flows from the first control valve to the first hydraulic actuator, and
a second position such that the flow of the operation fluid returning in the first fluid tube from the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve is blocked.

10. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 9 , wherein
the level control valve apparatus includes
a flow tube connecting the first fluid tube to the second fluid tube, the operation fluid being supplied to the second hydraulic actuator through the flow tube when the switch valve is at the second position, the operation fluid returning from the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve.

11. The hydraulic system for the work machine, according to claim 7 , wherein
the first fluid tube includes:
a first supply tube connected to a bottom side of a first hydraulic cylinder constituting the first hydraulic actuator; and
a second supply tube connected to a rod side of the first hydraulic cylinder, and

the second fluid tube includes:
a third supply tube connected to a rod side of a second hydraulic cylinder constituting the second hydraulic actuator; and
a fourth supply tube connected to a bottom side of the second hydraulic cylinder.

12. A hydraulic system for a work machine, comprising:
a first hydraulic actuator;
a second hydraulic actuator other than the first hydraulic actuator;
a first control valve to control the first hydraulic actuator;
a second control valve to control the second hydraulic actuator;
a first fluid tube connecting the first hydraulic actuator to the first control valve;
a second fluid tube connecting the second hydraulic actuator to the second control valve;
a level control valve apparatus connected to the first fluid tube and the second fluid tube, the level control valve apparatus being configured to control a leveling operation for the second hydraulic actuator; and
an accumulator apparatus connected to the first hydraulic actuator, the accumulator apparatus communicating with the first fluid tube between the level control valve apparatus and the first control valve, the accumulator

Assignees

• Kubota Kk
• Kubota Cororation

Inventors

• Tomita Jun
• Fukuda Yuji
• Konishi Yuya

Classifications

• F15B2211/71

  Multiple output members, e.g. multiple hydraulic motors or cylinders · CPC title

• E02F9/2282

  Systems using center bypass type changeover valves · CPC title

• F15B2211/3059

  having multiple valves for multiple output members · CPC title

• F15B2211/30565

  having multiple valves for a single output member, e.g. for creating higher valve function by use of multiple valves like two 2/2-valves replacing a 5/3-valve · CPC title

• E02F3/3414

  the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader · CPC title