Hydraulic apparatus for regulating the flow of one or more pumps

Abstract

In combination with a pump having a variable rate of flow, a device for varying such rate of flow is governed by the pressure generated by the pumps through a variable transmission mechanism the ratio of which depends on the said rate of flow, whereby the power output of the pump can be maintained at a predeterminate value. The device can be used with two pumps for limiting the total power output of both pumps, as being governed by the average of the two pressures.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A hydraulic apparatus for regulating the fluid flow of pump means as a function of the pressure generated by said pump means, comprising pump means having suction inlet means and pressure outlet means, and including adjusting means for varying the fluid flow through said pressure outlet means; hydraulic motor means for operating said adjusting means and including a working piston connected with said adjusting means, a first chamber located on one side of said piston and communicating with said pressure outlet means, and a second chamber located on the other side of said piston; said piston having a greater effective surface area in said second chamber than in said first chamber; distributor valve means having a closed position, and a first operative position connecting said second chamber with said suction inlet means, and a second operative position connecting said second chamber with said pressure outlet means; control means responsive to an increased pressure at said pressure outlet means; and variable transmission means connecting said control means with said distributor valve means; at a predetermined maximum pressure said control means actuates said distributor valve means to move to said first operative position to reduce the pressure in said second chamber from a pressure which is higher than the pressure in said suction inlet means, so that said hydraulic motor means operates said adjusting means to reduce the flow at said pressure outlet means at a predetermined minimum pressure said variable transmission is actuated to move said distributor valve to said second operative position to increase the pressure in said second chamber to equal the pressure in said first chamber, so that said hydraulic motor means operates said adjusting means to increase the flow of said pressure outlet means; said adjusting means being operatively connected with said variable transmission means so as to move said distributor valve means to said closed position when said adjusting means has been operated by said hydraulic motor means to reduce, or increase the flow at said pressure outlet means.  .[.2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means includes a cylinder communicating with said pressure outlet means, and a control piston and wherein said transmission means includes lever means whose effective lever arm is varied when said control piston and cylinder are moved by said operated adjusting means along said lever means..]. .[.3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said control means include biassing means acting on said lever means and on said distributor valve means for urging said lever means toward said control piston, and said distributor valve means to said normal closed position..]. .[.4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including operating means for operating said adjusting means independently of said hydraulic motor means..]. .[.5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic motor means includes a cylinder, said working piston forming in said cylinder said first and second chambers; and wherein said distributor valve means includes a valve cylinder having high pressure and low pressure ports, and a third port communicating with said second chamber, and a valve slide in said valve cylinder closing all ports in said closed position, and having two other positions for connecting said high pressure and low pressure ports, respectively, with said second chamber..]. .[.6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic motor means includes a cylinder, said working piston forming in said cylinder said first and second chambers; wherein said control means is secured to said cylinder; and wherein said variable transmission includes a lever connected with said control means, and a pressure reducing valve operated by said lever for supplying fluid at a varying pressure to said distributor valve means; and wherein said distributor valve means include a valve cylinder, and a spring-loaded valve slide in said cylinder moved to different positions by fluid supplied by said pressure reducing valve 
     
     
        to said valve cylinder..]. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pump means includes first and second pumps having first and second adjusting members, and first and second suction inlets and pressure outlets; wherein said hydraulic motor means include connector means connecting said first and second adjusting members; wherein said control means include first and second control members responsive to increased pressure at said first and second pressure outlets of said first and second pumps, respectively; and wherein said variable transmission means include first and second variable transmissions connecting said first and second control members with said distributor valve means so that said hydraulic motor means simultaneously operates through said connector means said first and second adjusting members; and comprising first and second motion transmitting means connecting said first and second adjusting members, respectively, with said first and second control members.  .[.8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said distributor valve means include a valve cylinder having ports, a valve slide in said valve cylinder, and biassing means in said valve cylinder urging said valve slide to said closed position; and wherein said first and second transmissions include first and second levers abutting said valve slide and said first and second control members, respectively, so that the effective lever arms of said first and second levers are varied when said first and second motion transmitting means move said first and second 
     
     
        control members along said first and second levers, respectively..]. 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising first and second equalizing cylinder means and spring loaded equalizing piston means, forming first and second high pressure chambers connected with said first and second pressure outlets and first and second average pressure chambers; first and second throttle conduit means connecting said first and second average pressure chambers with said first and second pressure outlets, respectively; and equalizing conduit means connecting said first and second average pressure chambers with each other; said first and second spring loaded equalizing piston means being connected with said first and second adjusting members so as to reduce the flow of one of said first and second pumps which generates a greater pressure, and to increase the flow 
     
     
        of the other pump. 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprising first and second safety valves in said first and second throttle conduit means for releasing pressure fluid when the pressure in said first and second 
     
     
        average pressure chambers exceeds a predetermined pressure. 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first and second adjusting members are first and second pivotally mounted adjusting levers; comprising first and second articulated links connecting said first and second equalizing piston means with said first and second adjusting levers; wherein said first and second motion transmitting members are articulated to said first and second adjusting levers and move with the same; first and second control cylinders communicating with said first and second pressure outlets, respectively, and being connected with said first and second motion transmitting members, respectively, for movement therewith; and wherein said first and second control members are first and second control pistons in said first and second control cylinders.  .[.12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic motor includes a cylinder, said working piston forming in said cylinder said first and second chambers; and wherein said working piston is formed with a control cylinder and has a duct connecting said control cylinder with said first chamber; wherein said control means includes a control piston in said control cylinder; and wherein said variable transmission means includes a spring loaded lever means engaged by said control piston and having an effective lever arm varying during movement of said working piston in said cylinder..]. .Iadd. 13. Apparatus comprising at least one fluid energy translating device which has a fluid pressure conduit connected thereto, adjusting means to vary the fluid flow through said energy translating device, regulator means operable upon said adjusting means to maintain the power consumption of said energy translating device below a predetermined maximum level, said regulator means including motor means, valve means, biasing means and variable transmission means including pressure signalling means operable upon a first portion of said variable transmission means to transmit a signal porportional to the pressure in said pressure conduit, a second portion of said variable transmission means being connected to and operable upon said valve means to apply a signal proportional to the volume displacement of said energy translating device and the signal received from said pressure signalling means as a single force against said biasing means to thereby position said valve means as a function of pressure and volume of said energy translating device, and pressure transmitting means connecting said valve means to said motor means, said pressure transmitting means permitting controlled movement of said motor means by said valve means, said regulator means being thereby operable to vary said adjusting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said pressure signalling means is moveable with said adjusting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said motor means includes a cylinder, and a working piston forming in said cylinder first and second chambers; and wherein said working piston is formed with a control cylinder and has a duct connecting said control cylinder with said first chamber; wherein said regulator means includes a control piston in said control cylinder; and wherein said variable transmission means includes a lever engaged by said control piston and having an effective lever arm varying during movement of said working piston in the first mentioned said cylinder. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 including operating means for operating said adjusting means independently of said motor means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said motor means includes a working piston and a cylinder, said working piston forming in said cylinder first and second chambers; and wherein said valve means includes a valve cylinder having high pressure and low pressure ports, and a third port communicating with said second chamber, and a valve slide in said valve cylinder closing all ports in said closed position, and having two other positions for connecting said high pressure and low pressure ports, respectively, with said second chamber. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said motor means includes a working piston, a cylinder, said working piston forming in said cylinder first and second chambers; and wherein said variable transmission means includes a lever connected with said piston and a pressure reducing valve operated by said lever for supplying fluid at a varying pressure to said valve means; and wherein said valve means includes a valve cylinder, and said biasing means includes a spring-loaded valve slide in said cylinder moved to different positions by fluid supplied by said pressure reducing valve to said valve cylinder. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 including a member moveable conjointly with said adjusting means having a cylinder communicating with said pressure conduit, and said pressure signalling means including a control piston and wherein said variable transmission means includes lever means whose effective lever arm is varied when said control piston and cylinder are moved by said adjusting means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said biasing means acts on said lever means and said lever means acts on said valve means said biasing means urging said lever means toward said control piston. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. Apparatus comprising a plurality of fluid energy translating devices each of which has a fluid pressure conduit connected thereto and at least one of which has adjusting means to vary the fluid flow independently of said other devices, regulator means operable upon said adjusting means to maintain the power consumption of said energy translating devices below a predetermined maximum level, said regulator means including motor means, valve means, biasing means, and a plurality of transmission means each of said devices being associated with a respective transmission means, each transmission means including pressure signalling means operable upon a first portion of said respective transmission means to transmit a signal proportional to the pressure in said respective pressure conduit, a second portion of said transmission means being connected to and operable upon said valve means to apply a signal proportional to the volume displacement of said respective energy translating device and the signal received from said pressure signalling means as a single force against said biasing means to thereby position said valve means as a function of pressure and volume of said respective energy translating device, and pressure transmitting means connecting said valve means to said motor means, said pressure transmitting means permitting control movement of said motor means by said valve means, said regulator means being thereby operable to vary said adjusting means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said valve means includes a valve cylinder having ports, a valve slide in said valve cylinder, and biasing means in said valve cylinder urging said valve slide to a closed position; and wherein said variable transmission means each include levers abutting said valve slide and pressure signalling means respectively. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 23. Apparatus comprising at least one fluid pump which has a fluid pressure outlet duct connected thereto; adjusting means to vary the flow of said pump, regulator means operable upon said adjusting means to maintain the power consumption of said pump below a predetermined maximum limit; said regulator means including motor means operatively coupled to the adjusting means, valve means for controlling said motor means, biasing means, variable transmission means, pressure signalling means operable upon a first portion of said variable transmission means to transmit a signal proportional to the pressure in said pressure conduit, a second portion of said variable transmission means applying a signal proportional to the volume displacement of said pump and the signal received from said pressure signalling means as a single force against said biasing means to thereby position said valve means as a function of pressure and volume of said energy translating device, and pressure transmitting means connecting said valve means to said motor means, said pressure transmitting means permitting controlled movement of said motor means by said valve means to vary said adjusting means as a function of power consumption. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. A hydraulic apparatus for regulating a hydraulically operated energy translating device as a function of pressure of fluid flowing therethrough comprising a hydraulic energy translating device having a pressure duct, adjusting means for varying the fluid flow through said energy translating device, hydraulic motor means for operating said adjusting means, distributor valve means operatively connected to said motor means having a closed position, and a first operative position for moving said adjusting means to reduce said fluid flow, and a second operative position for moving said adjusting means to increase said flow, biasing means, control means responsive to an increased pressure at said pressure duct including a pressure signalling means, a variable transmission means between and operatively interconnecting said pressure signalling means and said distributor valve means; whereby at a predetermined value of the product of the pressure and the flow said variable transmission means applies a single force against said biasing means to thereby position said distributor valve means to move to said first operative position so that said hydraulic motor means operates said adjusting means to reduce the flow through said energy translating device; and at a second predetermined value of the product of the pressure and the flow said variable transmission is actuated to move said distributor valve means to said second operative position to increase the flow through said energy translating device, said adjusting means being operatively connected with said variable transmission means so as to move said distributor valve means to said closed position when said adjusting means has been operated by said hydraulic motor means to reduce or increase the flow at said pressure outlet means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 25. Apparatus comprising at least one fluid energy translating device which has a fluid pressure conduit connected thereto, adjusting means to vary the fluid flow through the energy translating device, regulator means operable upon said adjusting means to maintain the power consumption of said machine below a predetermined maximum level, said regulator means including motor means connected to said adjusting means, valve means operable to control said motor means, biasing means and variable transmission means, said variable transmission means including a member moveable conjointly with said adjusting means to vary the ratio of said variable transmission means in unison with the volume displacement of said energy translating device, a first portion of said variable transmission means operable on said valve means and a second portion of said variable transmission means, pressure signalling means responsive to pressure in said conduit and operable upon said second portion of said variable transmission means said variable transmission means applying a single force against said biasing means to thereby position said valve means by an amount proportional to the product of the signal received from said pressure signalling means and the volume displacement of the energy translating device, the movement of said valve means beyond a predetermined position, corresponding to the said predetermined maximum level, being operative to energise said motor means to cause said adjusting means to reduce the volume displacement of said energy translating device. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 26. A hydraulic apparatus for regulating the fluid flow of pump means as a function of the pressure generated by said pump means, comprising pump means including first and second pumps and having first and second suction inlet means respectively and first and second pressure outlet means respectively, and further including first and second adjusting means respectively for varying the fluid flow through said pressure outlet means; hydraulic motor means for operating said adjusting means and including a working piston connected with said adjusting means, a first chamber located on one side of said piston and communicating with said pressure outlet means, and a second chamber located on the other side of said piston; said piston having a greater effective surface area in said second chamber than in said first chamber; said hydraulic motor means further including connector means connecting said first and second adjusting means; distributor valve means having a closed position, and a first operative position connecting said second chamber with said suction inlet means, and a second operative position connecting said second chamber with said pressure outlet means; first and second control means responsive to an increased pressure at said first and second pressure outlet means respectively, and first amd second variable transmission means connecting said first and second control means with said distributor valve means; at a predetermined maximum pressure said control means actuates said distributor valve means to move to said first operative position to reduce the pressure in said second chamber from a pressure which is higher than the pressure in said suction inlet means so that when said hydraulic motor means operates said adjusting means to reduce the flow at said pressure outlet means at a predetermined minimum pressure said variable transmission is actuated to move said distributor valve to said second operative position to increase the pressure in said second chamber to equal the pressure in said first chamber so that said hydraulic motor means simultaneously operates through said connector means said first and second adjusting means to increase the flow of said pressure outlet means; said adjusting means being operatively connected with said variable transmission means so as to move said distributor valve means to said closed position when said adjusting means has been operated by said hydraulic motor means comprising first and second motion transmitting means connecting said first and second adjusting means, respectively with said first and second control members to reduce, or increase the flow at said pressure outlet means. .Iaddend.