IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,565,760
Granted Patent B2
US 12,565,760 · App. 18/281,983 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Work machine

Inventors: Hiroaki Amano (Tsukuba, JP); Kento Kumagai (Ami-machi, JP); Hiroto Oohira (Kasumigaura, JP); Shinji Nishikawa (Kasumigaura, JP); Akihiro Narazaki (Tsukuba, JP); Katsuaki Kodaka (Tsukuba, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
E02F9/2285F15B11/165F15B2211/20523F15B2211/20546F15B2211/3111F15B2211/327F15B2211/329F15B2211/355F15B2211/40515F15B2211/41563F15B2211/428F15B2211/45F15B2211/50536F15B2211/50554F15B2211/6346F15B2211/6355F15B2211/67
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,565,760
App. No.
18/281,983
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A work machine includes: a main circuit that supplies a working fluid from a pump to an actuator; a pilot circuit that introduces part of the working fluid from the pump, to a pilot pressure receiving section of a control valve; a bleed-off passage that connects the pump and a tank. The pilot circuit is provided with: a first pressure reducing valve that generates a pilot primary pressure; and second and third pressure reducing valves that generate a pilot secondary pressure to be applied to the control valve and a bleed-off valve. A moving area of a spool of the bleed-off valve has a first moving area where an opening area of a restrictor changes stepwise, and a second moving area where the opening area of the restrictor changes continuously. A controller controls the third pressure reducing valve such that the spool is positioned in the first moving area at the time of non-operation of the actuator, and the spool is positioned in the second moving area at the time of operation of the actuator. The restrictor of the bleed-off valve has a restricting hole that gives a resistance to the working fluid passing therethrough in a case the spool is positioned in the first moving area.

Claims (55)

1. A work machine comprising:

a main circuit that supplies a working fluid delivered from a pump to an actuator;

a control valve that is provided in the main circuit, and controls a flow of the working fluid supplied from the pump to the actuator;

a pilot circuit that introduces part of the working fluid delivered from the pump to a pilot pressure receiving section of the control valve;

a first pressure reducing valve that is provided in the pilot circuit, and reduces a pressure of the working fluid delivered from the pump to generate a pilot primary pressure;

a second pressure reducing valve that is provided in the pilot circuit, and reduces the pilot primary pressure to generate a first pilot secondary pressure acting on the pilot pressure receiving section of the control valve;

a bleed-off passage that connects the pump and a tank;

a pilot-driven bleed-off valve provided on the bleed-off passage;

a third pressure reducing valve that is provided in the pilot circuit, and reduces the pilot primary pressure to generate a second pilot secondary pressure acting on a pilot pressure receiving section of the bleed-off valve;

an operation lever that operates the actuator; and

a controller that controls the third pressure reducing valve on a basis of operation by the operation lever, wherein

the bleed-off valve has:

a spool that is moved in an axial direction by the second pilot secondary pressure generated by the third pressure reducing valve;

a valve body that houses the spool slidably; and

a restrictor that gives a resistance to the working fluid passing therethrough,

a moving area of the spool in the axial direction has a first moving area where an opening area of the restrictor changes stepwise, and a second moving area where the opening area of the restrictor changes continuously,

the controller is configured to

control the third pressure reducing valve such that the spool is positioned in the first moving area in a case the actuator is not being operated by the operation lever, and

control the third pressure reducing valve such that the spool is positioned in the second moving area in a case the actuator is being operated by the operation lever with an operation amount greater than a predetermined value set in advance, and

the restrictor has a plurality of restricting holes that gives a resistance to the working fluid passing through in a case the spool is positioned in the first moving area.

2. The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the valve body has:

a sliding hole that houses the spool slidably;

a supply passage that communicates with the sliding hole, and receives a supply of the working fluid delivered from the pump;

a discharge passage that establishes communication between the sliding hole and the tank; and

a fluid chamber provided in the sliding hole such that the fluid chamber is adjacent to the discharge passage,

the spool has:

a land portion that establishes or interrupts communication between the discharge passage and the fluid chamber;

an internal passage;

the plurality of restricting holes that establish communication between the supply passage and the internal passage; and

a communication hole that establishes communication between the internal passage and the fluid chamber,

a cutout portion is formed at an axial end of the land portion, and

the restrictor includes a first restrictor portion including the plurality of restricting holes, and a second restrictor portion formed by a clearance between the cutout portion formed at the land portion and the sliding hole.

3. The work machine according to claim 2 , wherein

the plurality of restricting holes includes:

a first restricting hole that establishes communication between the supply passage and the internal passage in a case the spool is positioned on a first end side of the sliding hole, and interrupts communication between the supply passage and the internal passage in a case the spool is positioned on a second end side of the sliding hole; and

a second restricting hole that establishes communication between the supply passage and the internal passage independently of a position of the spool.

4. The work machine according to claim 2 , wherein

the plurality of restricting holes are through holes penetrating the spool in a radial direction, and are formed such that a radial-direction length of the through holes is shorter than an axial-direction length of the cutout portion.

5. The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the valve body has:

a sliding hole that houses the spool slidably;

a supply passage that communicates with the sliding hole, and receives a supply of the working fluid delivered from the pump; and

a discharge passage that establishes communication between the sliding hole and the tank,

the spool has:

an internal passage;

the plurality of restricting holes that establish communication between the supply passage and the internal passage; and

an outlet hole that establishes communication between the internal passage and the discharge passage, and

the plurality of restricting holes include restricting hole formed with a base hole portion and a cutout portion extending from an end of the base hole portion in the axial direction of the spool.

6. The work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a lock lever device that is operated selectively to a lock position prohibiting an action of the actuator and to an unlock position permitting an action of the actuator, wherein

the controller is configured to

control a position of the spool such that the opening area of the restrictor becomes a maximum opening area in a case where the lock lever device is operated to the lock position,

control the position of the spool such that the opening area of the restrictor becomes a first opening area that is smaller than the maximum opening area in a case the actuator is not being operated by the operation lever in a case where the lock lever device is operated to the unlock position, and

control the position of the spool such that the opening area of the restrictor becomes a second opening area that is smaller than the first opening area in a case the actuator is being operated by the operation lever with an operation amount that is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value in a case where the lock lever device is operated to the unlock position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2023
From: AMANO, HIROAKI; KUMAGAI, KENTO; OOHIRA, HIROTO; NISHIKAWA, SHINJI; NARAZAKI, AKIHIRO; KODAKA, KATSUAKI
To: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065399/0834 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240301661A1 · Sep 12, 2024
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