IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,612,757
Granted Patent B2
US 12,612,757 · App. 17/911,495 · Granted Apr 28, 2026

Hydraulic system for work machine, work machine, and method for controlling hydraulic system

Inventors: Kiyotaka Ninomiya (Tokyo, JP); Koji Sato (Tokyo, JP); Takuya Higashiura (Tokyo, JP); Yuji Fukuda (Tokyo, JP); Akihiro Koyama (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F3/3663E02F3/3631E02F9/2004E02F9/2228F15B13/02F15B2211/526
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,612,757
App. No.
17/911,495
Granted
Apr 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A coupler cylinder is driven between a locked state and an unlocked state of a bucket by being supplied with hydraulic oil. A main pump supplies the hydraulic oil to the coupler cylinder. A pressure increasing valve controls the supply of the hydraulic oil to the coupler cylinder. A controller controls drive of the pressure increasing valve. The controller instructs the pressure increasing valve to stop the supply of the hydraulic oil to the coupler cylinder based on pressure in an oil passage between the main pump and the coupler cylinder.

Claims (27)

1 . A hydraulic system for a work machine comprising:

a coupler cylinder that is driven between an extended position and a retracted position by being supplied with oil;

a hydraulic pump that supplies the oil to the coupler cylinder in order to drive the coupler cylinder between the extended position and the retracted position;

a valve that controls the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder; and

a controller that controls drive of the valve,

wherein the controller instructs the valve to stop the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder based on pressure in an oil passage between the hydraulic pump and the valve, and

wherein oil having a pressure greater than or equal to a predetermined value is supplied to the coupler cylinder while the coupler cylinder is fixed at each of the extended position and the retracted position.

2 . The hydraulic system for a work machine according to claim 1 , wherein the controller instructs the valve to start the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder based on an oil supply instruction to the coupler cylinder.

3 . The hydraulic system for a work machine according to claim 2 , wherein the oil supply instruction is based on an operation of an alternate switch.

4 . The hydraulic system for a work machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller stops the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder at a time point when the pressure in the oil passage between the hydraulic pump and the coupler cylinder reaches a predetermined pressure, and

the predetermined pressure is set to be larger than a pilot pressure.

5 . The hydraulic system for a work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a switching valve that switches between the extended position and the retracted position of the coupler cylinder.

6 . The hydraulic system for a work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor that detects the pressure in the oil passage between the hydraulic pump and the coupler cylinder.

7 . A work machine comprising:

a machine body;

an attachment that is capable of switching between a locked state and an unlocked state with respect to the machine body;

a coupler cylinder that is driven between the locked state and the unlocked state of the attachment by being supplied with oil;

a hydraulic pump that supplies the oil to the coupler cylinder;

a valve that controls the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder; and

a controller that controls drive of the valve,

wherein the controller instructs the valve to stop the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder based on pressure in an oil passage between the hydraulic pump and the valve, and

wherein oil having a pressure greater than or equal to a predetermined value is supplied to the coupler cylinder while the coupler cylinder is fixed at each of the locked state and the unlocked state.

8 . A method for controlling a hydraulic system in a work machine including a coupler cylinder that is driven between an extended position and a retracted position by being supplied with oil, a hydraulic pump that supplies the oil to the coupler cylinder in order to drive the coupler cylinder between the extended position and the retracted position, and a valve that controls the supply of the oil to the coupler cylinder, the method comprising:

detecting pressure in an oil passage between the hydraulic pump and the valve; and

outputting a supply stop signal of the oil to the coupler cylinder to the valve based on the detected pressure,

wherein oil having a pressure greater than or equal to a predetermined value is supplied to the coupler cylinder while the coupler cylinder is fixed at each of the extended position and the retracted position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2022
From: NINOMIYA, KIYOTAKA; SATO, KOJI; HIGASHIURA, TAKUYA; FUKUDA, YUJI; KOYAMA, AKIHIRO
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 061091/0147 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2020-044981 · Mar 16, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230098551A1 · Mar 30, 2023
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