Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Hydrostatic drives are certainly commonplace in off-highway equipment. For one thing, the
versatility of hydraulics allows for controlling speed, torque, and power to closely match immediate
needs of the application. Of course, hydraulic motors, cylinders and rotary actuators are powerful
and compact, giving them a much higher power density than other forms for power transmission.
Hydraulics doesn't just provide the most practical form of power transmission for offhighway
equipment -- in many cases it is the only solution.
Hydraulics also allows high ground clearances because you don't need
to run drive shafts to wheels or differentials. And hydraulics also can deliver high torque, which is
essential for driving large-diameter wheels up hills, through mud, and sometimes both.
But hydraulics is even more at home powering implements. No other form of power transmission
even comes close to matching the high force and precise control of linear motion from hydraulic
cylinders. Cylinders, of course, are widely used for pivoting motion needed for steering, lifting
booms and buckets, and opening and closing grapples.
When a wider range of pivoting motion is needed, hydraulic rotary actuators can deliver extremely
high torque from a surprisingly small package for rotational motion to 360? and well beyond. Of
course, when the application calls for rotational motion, any of several designs of hydraulic motors
may fit the bill.
A prime example of a machine taking full advantage of the many benefits is the Case IH Patriot 3330
sprayer from CNH America LLC. The Patriot 3330 is powered by a 6.7-l Tier III diesel engine rated
250 hp @ 2200 rpm. The engine drives a pair of variabledisplacement, axial piston pumps, which, in
turn, each feed a pair of variable- displacement, axial-piston motors. The two pumps and four motors
make up a dual hydrostatic four-wheel drive. The hydrostatic drive provides the high torque needed
to drive the large diameter wheels through mud and up inclines.
The driver controls speed through a potentiometer. An electronic control senses the signal from the
potentiometer and regulates pilot pressure of electrohydraulic valves, which controls displacement
of the hydrostatic pumps. The vehicle starts from rest with the pumps at minimum displacement and
the motors at maximum displacement. This provides maximum torque and minimum speed for
starting.
The circuit is set up so that the motors remain at maximum displacement until the pumps reach their
maximum displacement. When this occurs, pilot pressure then causes the motors' displacement to
decrease. Maximum speed of 30 mph is achieved when the motors reach minimum displacement
with the pumps at maximum displacement.
It's all in the hydraulics
But the extensive use of hydraulics doesn't end there. In addition to the dual hydrostatic pumps, the
hydraulic system also consists of a tandem pump mounted to the rear of each hydrostatic pump. One
of these tandem pumps also features variable displacement and provides hydraulic power for
steering and to drive the multiple cylinders for raising, lowering, pivoting, and extending the
vehicle's massive booms containing multiple spray nozzles for applying chemicals.
This pump also provides hydraulic power for adjustable wheel tracking. Wheel track can be adjusted
from 120 to 157 in. apart, which allows the Patriot 3330 to be used on a much wider variety of crops
than a sprayer with a fixed track. Hydraulics lets the operator adjust the track from within the cab,
and manual stops are provided at 1-in increments. And because no drive shafts are needed, the 3330
has an impressive ground clearance of 52 in.
Hydraulics packs a powerful punch
The second tandem-mounted pump is used for getting the particular liquid chemical to be applied
from a 55-gal tank to the applicator nozzles on the booms. This is accomplished by a centrifugal
pump driven by a hydraulic motor that delivers fertilizer, herbicide, pesticide, or other required
solution to the spray nozzles. The modular motorpump package is provided by Ace Pump Corp.,
Memphis. Ace's pumps can be driven by hydraulic motor, electric motor, gasoline engine, a vehicle's
belt drive or PTO, or even compressed air when the application calls for a diaphragm pump.
techniques.
A rephasing cylinder is a standard hydraulic cylinder with the addition of one important feature -built-in orifices that provide passageways for fluid to hydraulically resynchronize cylinder motion if
they come out of synchronization. These orifices can be on the cap end of the cylinder, the rod end,
or both.
Different methods exist to accomplish this function, but the orifice permits a small amount of
hydraulic fluid to bypass the cylinder piston in the fully retracted or fully extended position. This
make-up fluid allows the cylinders to rephase (synchronize) themselves, if necessary, during
operation.
Rephasing cylinders are typically used in one of two operating modes: series or parallel.
Series mode -- In this mode, the bore and rod diameters of the cylinders are of a size such that all
cylinders extend or retract an equal distance when fluid flows into the first or last cylinder in the
series. This type of circuit has a wide range of functions on many different types of machines.
Parallel mode -- Here, the bores and rod diameters of the two cylinders are the same. Therefore,
when fluid enters the cap end of the first cylinder, its rod will extend the same amount as the
cylinder's rod retracts. Similarly, the first cylinder's rod will retract the same amount as the other
cylinder's rod extends when fluid enters its cap end. This type of circuit is typically used for the
steering function on off-highway equipment.
Click here more information on rephasing cylinders for synchronized linear motion.