US 12,352,014 B2
Enhanced electrical control of a hydraulic system
Darshan C. Patel, Des Plaines, IL (US); and Wesley Thomas Payne, Plainfield, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/527,388.
Prior Publication US 2025/0179774 A1, Jun. 5, 2025
Int. Cl. E02F 9/22 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 9/2296 (2013.01) [E02F 9/2228 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hydraulic system, comprising:
a tank to store a supply of fluid;
a pump to supply pressurized fluid;
an actuator that is displaceable within a range from a minimum position to a maximum position;
a control valve assembly including:
an unloading valve between the pump and the tank, wherein the unloading valve is directly fluidly coupled to the pump and the tank and includes an opening that is proportionally controllable,
a first circuit valve directly fluidly coupled to the pump and the tank, and
a second circuit valve directly fluidly coupled to the tank and an output of the first circuit valve; and
a controller configured to:
receive one or more inputs associated with the hydraulic system;
determine, based on the one or more inputs, one or more desired system pressures of the hydraulic system; and
control the opening of the unloading valve to operate the hydraulic system at the one or more desired system pressures.