Combined automatic and manual hydraulic control for motor grader blade

Claim 2

A control system for controlling the position of a work implement comprising: a hydraulic motor for positioning a work member; a source of pressurized fluid for powering said hydraulic motor; a manual control valve in continuous uninterrupted communication with said source for directing fluid from said source for operation of said motor; lock valve means disposed between said manual control valve and said motor for locking said motor in a selected position when said manual control valve is in a neutral position; attitude detection means for detecting deviations in a predetermined attitude of said work member and generating a signal in response to any such change; attitude responsive valve means connected in parallel with said manual control valve between said source and said hydraulic motor and responsive to said signal for controlling communication of fluid to said motor for thereby making corrections in the attitude of said work member; first pilot fluid operated check valve means for normally blocking flow of fluid from said source to said attitude responsive valve means; second pilot operated check valve means for normally blocking flow of fluid from said motor to said attitude responsive valve means; and, pilot control valve means connected to said source for simultaneously providing fluid for opening said first and said second pilot operated check valve means for providing open communication of said source to said attitude responsive valve means and for providing open communication of said attitude responsive valve means with said hydraulic motor.

Claim 3

The hydraulic system of claim 1 wherein each of said check valve means includes a spring biased ball member for blocking said flow of fluid; and, fluid operated plunger means for unseating said ball member.

Claim 4

The hydraulic system of claim 2 wherein said pilot control valve means includes a solenoid operated valve for directing pressurized fluid from said source for operation of said plunger of each of said check valves.

Claim 5

A combined automatic and manual control system for a motor grader for controlling the angle and vertical position of a grader blade comprising: a frame member; a grader blade supported by said frame member for movement relative thereto; a hydraulic motor for positioning said blade; a source of pressurized fluid for powering said hydraulic motor; a manual control valve in continuous uninterrupted communication with said source for directing fluid from said source for operation of said motors; lock valve means disposed between said manual control valve and said motor for locking said motor in a selected position when said manual control valve is in a neutral position; attitude detection means for detecting deviations in a predetermined attitude of said blade and generating a signal in response to any such change; attitude responsive valve means connected in parallel with said manual control valve between said source and said hydraulic motor and responsive to said signal for controlling communication of fluid to said motor for thereby making corrections in the attitude of said work member; first pilot fluid operated check valve means for normally blocking flow of fluid from said source to said attitude responsive valve means; second pilot operated check valve means for normally blocking communication of fluid from said motor to said attitude responsive valve means; and, pilot control valve means connected to said source for simultaneously providing fluid for opening said first and said second pilot operated check valve means for providing open communication of said source to said attitude responsive valve means and for providing open communication of said attitude responsive valve means with said hydraulic motor.

Claim 6

A combined automatic and manual control system for a motor grader for controlling the angle and vertical position of a grader blade comprising: a frame member; a grader blade supported by said frame member for movement relative thereto; a hydraulic motor for positioning said blade; a source of pressurized fluid for powering said hydraulic motor; a manual control valve in continuous uninterrupted communication with said source for directing fluid from said source for operation of said motors; lock valve means disposed between said manual control valve and said motor for locking said motor in a selected position when said manual control valve is in a neutral position; attitude detection means for detecting deviations in a predetermined attitude of said blade and generating a signal in response to any such change; attitude responsive valve means connected in parallel with said manual control valve between said source and said hydraulic motor and responsive to said signal for controlling communication of fluid to said motor for thereby making corrections in the attitude of said work member; first pilot fluid operated check valve means for normally blocking flow of fluid from said source to said attitude responsive valve means; second pilot operated check valve means for normally blocking communication of fluid from said motor to said attitude responsive valve means; and, pilot control valve means connected to said source for simultaneously providing fluid for opening said first and said second pilot operated check valve means for providing open communication of said source to said attitude responsive valve means and for providing open communication of said attitude responsive valve means with said hydraulic motor.

Claim 7

The hydraulic system of claim 4 wherein each of said check valve means includes a spring biased ball member for blocking said communication; and, fluid operated plunger means for unseating said ball member.

Claim 8

The hydraulic system of claim 5 wherein said pilot control valve means includes a solenoid operated valve for directing pressurized fluid from said source for operation of said plunger of each of said check valves.