| CPC E02F 9/2292 (2013.01) [E02F 9/2217 (2013.01); E02F 9/2221 (2013.01); E02F 9/2235 (2013.01); E02F 9/2242 (2013.01); E02F 9/2296 (2013.01); F15B 1/024 (2013.01); F15B 1/033 (2013.01); F15B 11/024 (2013.01); F15B 11/165 (2013.01); F15B 11/17 (2013.01); F15B 21/14 (2013.01); F15B 2211/20546 (2013.01); F15B 2211/20569 (2013.01); F15B 2211/20576 (2013.01); F15B 2211/212 (2013.01); F15B 2211/625 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A vehicle having a hydraulic work function, the vehicle comprising:
a prime mover;
a hydraulic fluid manifold;
a hydraulic machine in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid manifold, having a rotatable shaft in driven engagement with the prime mover, and configured such that, in operation, the hydraulic machine exchanges hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic fluid manifold by movement of the rotatable shaft,
a hydraulic accumulator in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid manifold and for exchanging hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic fluid manifold;
one or more hydraulic actuators, the one or more hydraulic actuators together having at least two actuator chambers in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid manifold, the one or more hydraulic actuators to be used in the hydraulic work function;
a valve arrangement configured to selectively control fluid communication between at least one of the at least two actuator chambers and the hydraulic accumulator, via the hydraulic fluid manifold, and between at least one of the at least two actuator chambers and the hydraulic machine, via the hydraulic fluid manifold; and
a controller configured to:
receive an actuator demand signal indicative of a demand to move the one or more hydraulic actuators; and
control the hydraulic machine and the valve arrangement to cause movement of the one or more hydraulic actuators in accordance with the actuator demand signal, wherein
to cause the movement of the one or more hydraulic actuators in accordance with the actuator demand signal, the hydraulic machine and the valve arrangement are controlled to bring the hydraulic accumulator into fluid communication with a first actuator chamber of the at least two actuator chambers, via a first portion of the hydraulic fluid manifold and the valve arrangement, and to synchronize therewith, a change in pressure in a second actuator chamber of the at least two actuator chambers, the second actuator chamber in fluid communication with the hydraulic machine via a second portion of the hydraulic fluid manifold and the valve arrangement, and
the hydraulic machine comprises a plurality of pump groups, each comprising a plurality of working chambers in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid manifold, each working chamber defined partially by a movable working surface mechanically coupled to the rotatable shaft, and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the pump groups differently to at least one other of the pump groups.
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14. A controller for a vehicle having a hydraulic work function, the controller configured to:
receive an actuator demand signal indicative of a demand to move one or more hydraulic actuators to be used in the hydraulic work function; and
control a hydraulic machine of the vehicle and a valve arrangement to cause movement of the one or more hydraulic actuators in accordance with the actuator demand signal, wherein
to cause the movement of the one or more hydraulic actuators in accordance with the actuator demand signal, the hydraulic machine and the valve arrangement are controlled to bring a hydraulic accumulator of the vehicle into fluid communication with a first actuator chamber of at least two actuator chambers, via a first portion of a hydraulic fluid manifold of the vehicle and the valve arrangement, and to synchronize therewith, a change in pressure of a second actuator chamber of the at least two actuator chambers, the second actuator chamber in fluid communication with the hydraulic machine via a second portion of the hydraulic fluid manifold and the valve arrangement, and
the hydraulic machine comprises a plurality of pump groups, each comprising a plurality of working chambers in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid manifold, each working chamber defined partially by a movable working surface mechanically coupled to a rotatable shaft, and wherein the controller is configured to control at least one of the pump groups differently to at least one other of the pump groups.
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20. A method for controlling a vehicle having a hydraulic work function, the method comprising:
receiving a demand to move one or more hydraulic actuators to be used in the hydraulic work function; and
controlling a hydraulic machine and a valve arrangement to bring a hydraulic accumulator of the vehicle into fluid communication with a first actuator chamber of the one or more hydraulic actuators, via a hydraulic fluid manifold of the vehicle and the valve arrangement, and synchronized therewith, changing a pressure in a second actuator chamber of the one or more hydraulic actuators, the second actuator chamber in fluid communication with the hydraulic machine via the hydraulic fluid manifold and the valve arrangement, to thereby cause movement of the one or more hydraulic actuators in accordance with the demand, wherein the hydraulic machine comprises a plurality of pump groups, each comprising a plurality of working chambers in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid manifold, each working chamber defined partially by a movable working surface mechanically coupled to a rotatable shaft, and
the method comprises controlling at least one of the pump groups differently to at least one other of the pump groups.
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