Torque Limit Control

• Main Authors: AARDEMA JAMES A, ENGELMANN ERIC
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.07.2015
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DREDGING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVO-MOTORS; FOUNDATIONS; GEARING; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL; INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; SOIL SHIFTING; SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A prime mover transfers power to a separate hydraulic circuits via a power take off (PTO). In some situations, a peak torque demand in one of the hydraulic circuits may cause the total torque of all hydraulic circuits to exceed a rated torque at the PTO. An apparatus measures hydraulic fluid pressure in a first hydraulic circuit and adjusts the hydraulic fluid pressure in a second hydraulic circuit. Because pressure is directly correlated to torque at a pump, by adjusting the pressure in the second circuit based on the current pressure in the first hydraulic circuit, the total torque may be capped below the maximum torque rating at the PTO. The first hydraulic circuit may have a higher priority function, such as steering, compared to that of the second hydraulic circuit which may, for example, power a tool.