Hydraulic valve module for steering and work functions in a work vehicle

1. A hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) for use in a vehicle ( 10 ), the vehicle ( 10 ) including:

a plurality of wheels ( 20 ),

an equipment ( 41 ) for carrying out a work function of the vehicle,

a plurality of hydraulic circuits ( 40 , 50 ), and

first and second hydraulic pumps ( 61 , 62 ) for supplying hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic circuits;

the hydraulic circuits including:

a steering circuit ( 50 ) including at least one steering actuator ( 51 ) for steering the wheels ( 20 ), and

a work function circuit ( 40 ) including at least one equipment actuator ( 42 ) for operating the equipment ( 41 );

the hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) including:

a plurality of valves ( 2016 ), and

a monolithic valve block ( 2099 );

the valve block ( 2099 ) having:

a plurality of internal flowpaths ( 2013 ),

an external, first interface surface ( 2200 ),

an external, second interface surface ( 2300 ),

at least one further external surface ( 2700 );

the first interface surface ( 2200 ) being sealingly connectable, in a connected configuration, to a corresponding interface surface ( 1100 ) of a further, fan and brake function valve module ( 1000 );

the second interface surface ( 2300 ) being sealingly connectable, in the connected configuration, to a corresponding interface surface ( 3400 ) of a further, work control valve module ( 3000 );

the valves being arranged in fluid communication with respective ones of the internal flowpaths ( 2013 ) to define:

a work function supply circuit ( 2014 ) for supplying hydraulic pressure from each of a first pump inlet ( 2205 ) and a second pump inlet ( 2006 ) to a work function outlet ( 2301 ), and

a steering supply circuit ( 2015 ) for supplying hydraulic pressure from the second pump inlet ( 2006 ) to a steering supply outlet ( 2009 );

the first pump inlet ( 2205 ) opening through the first interface surface ( 2200 ) to receive a supply of hydraulic pressure from the first pump ( 61 ) via the fan and brake function valve module ( 1000 ) in use in the connected configuration;

the second pump inlet ( 2006 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ) to receive a supply of hydraulic pressure from the second pump ( 62 ) in use;

the steering supply outlet ( 2009 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ) to supply hydraulic pressure from the steering supply circuit ( 2015 ) to the steering circuit ( 50 ) of the vehicle in use;

the work function outlet ( 2301 ) opening through the second interface surface ( 2300 ) to supply hydraulic pressure from the work function supply circuit ( 2014 ) via the work control valve module ( 3000 ) to the work function circuit ( 40 ) of the vehicle in use in the connected configuration;

the plurality of valves including:

a steering function priority valve ( 2020 ) configured to receive a steering load sensing pressure signal (S 4 ) from a steering load sensing pressure signal port ( 2008 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ), and operable responsive to the steering load sensing pressure signal (S 4 ) to restrict the supply of hydraulic pressure from the second pump inlet ( 2006 ) to the work function outlet ( 2301 ) through the work function supply circuit ( 2014 ), so as to maintain the supply of hydraulic pressure from the second pump inlet ( 2006 ) to the steering supply outlet ( 2009 ) through the steering supply circuit ( 2015 ); the steering load sensing pressure signal (S 4 ) being received in use from the steering circuit ( 50 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ); and

a fan and brake function priority valve ( 2021 ) configured to receive a fan and brake function load sensing pressure signal (S 1 ) from a fan and brake function load sensing pressure signal port ( 2203 ) opening through the first interface surface ( 2200 ), and operable responsive to the fan and brake function load sensing pressure signal (S 1 ) to restrict the supply of hydraulic pressure from the first pump inlet ( 2205 ) to the work function outlet ( 2301 ) through the work function supply circuit ( 2014 ), so as to maintain hydraulic pressure upstream of the first pump inlet ( 2205 ); the fan and brake function load sensing pressure signal (S 1 ) being received from the fan and brake function valve module ( 1000 ) in use in the connected configuration.

2. A hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves ( 2016 ) further include:

a first load sensing shuttle valve ( 2023 ) configured:

to receive and resolve the fan and brake function load sensing pressure signal (S 1 ), and a work function load sensing pressure signal (S 2 ) from a work function load sensing pressure signal port ( 2302 ) opening through the second interface surface ( 2300 ), and

based on the fan and brake function load sensing pressure signal (S 1 ) and the work function load sensing pressure signal (S 2 ), to produce a first pump control pressure signal (S 12 ) at a first pump control pressure signal port ( 2012 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ) for controlling the first pump ( 61 ) in use; and

a second load sensing shuttle valve ( 2024 ) configured:

to receive and resolve the steering load sensing pressure signal (S 4 ) and the work function load sensing pressure signal (S 2 ), and

based on the steering load sensing pressure signal (S 4 ) and the work function load sensing pressure signal (S 2 ), to produce a second pump control pressure signal (S 24 ) at a second pump control pressure signal port ( 2010 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ) for controlling the second pump ( 62 ) in use.

3. A hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the steering supply outlet ( 2009 ) is arranged in fluid communication with a third pump inlet ( 2007 ), the third pump inlet ( 2007 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ) to receive, in use, a supply of hydraulic pressure from a third hydraulic pump ( 63 ) of the vehicle ( 10 ); and

the steering load sensing pressure signal (S 4 ) is arranged in fluid communication with a third pump control port ( 2004 ) opening through the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ) for controlling operation of the third pump ( 63 ) in use.

4. A hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves ( 2016 ) further include a pilot pressure limit valve ( 2026 ) configured to limit pilot pressure received from a pilot pressure supply inlet ( 2201 ) opening through the first interface surface ( 2200 ) and to supply a pilot pressure (P 1 ) to a pilot pressure supply outlet ( 2304 ) opening through the second interface surface ( 2300 ).

5. A hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the pilot pressure limit valve ( 2026 ) is arranged in fluid communication with a drain flowpath ( 2022 ) between a drain inlet ( 2303 ) in the second interface surface ( 2300 ) and a drain outlet ( 2204 ) in the first interface surface ( 2200 ) to relieve hydraulic pressure from the work control valve module ( 3000 ) via the fan and brake function valve module ( 1000 ) to tank ( 64 ) in use in the connected configuration.

6. A hydraulic valve module ( 2000 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the internal flowpaths ( 2013 ) include an extension flowpath ( 2028 ), the extension flowpath ( 2028 ) opening through an extension inlet ( 2202 ) in the first interface surface ( 2200 ) and an extension outlet ( 2011 ) in the at least one further external surface ( 2700 ), wherein the extension inlet ( 2202 ) is in uninterrupted fluid communication with the extension outlet ( 2011 ) via the extension flowpath ( 2028 ).