Fluid control system with priority flow

Claim 2

In a fluid system having a plurality of pumps, left and right track motors, and a plurality of work elements, the improvement comprising: first means for controllably delivering fluid from a first plurality of said pumps to the left track motor and for controllably bypassing the left track motor and delivering fluid from each of the first plurality of pumps to a separate respective work element; and second means for controllably delivering fluid from a second different plurality of said pumps to the right track motor and for controllably bypassing the right track motor and delivering fluid from each of the second plurality of pumps to a separate respective work element.

Claim 3

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second means comprises a plurality of primary control valves each connected to a respective pump, a respective track motor and a respective separate work element.

Claim 4

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the plurality of primary control valves of each first and second means are each independently positionable at first, second and third operational positions.

Claim 5

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 1, including third means for controllably, selectively passing fluid from the respective secondary control valves of selected pumps to other work elements.

Claim 6

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 4, including a tank and wherein each of the first and second means comprises a plurality of primary control valves each connected to a respective pump, the respective track motor and a respective separate work element and the third means comprises: a plurality of secondary control valves each connected to and between a respective primary control valve and a respective work element; and a plurality of selecting valves each connected to a respective secondary control valve, the tank, and a different work element than serviced by said respective secondary control valve.

Claim 7

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the plurality of selecting valves are each selectively positionable at first and second positions at which fluid from the respective secondary control valve is open to the tank and a third position at which fluid from the respective secondary control valve is delivered to said different work element.

Claim 8

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein at preselected positions of the secondary control valves and selecting valves a fluid pathway from the work element is provided to the tank via a selecting valve other than its respective selecting valve.

Claim 9

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein each pump serves a separate respective subcircuit, each of said subcircuits comprises a respective primary control valve, a respective secondary control valve, a respective work element, and a respective selecting valve and including: a controlling element connected to a secondary control valve of one sub-circuit associated with the left track and to a selecting valve of another sub-circuit associated with the left track for simultaneously shifting said connected secondary control valve and selecting valve in response to said controlling element; and a controlling element connected to a secondary control valve of one sub-circuit associated with the right track and to a selecting valve of another sub-circuit associated with the right track for simultaneously shifting said connected secondary control valve and selecting valve in response to said controlling element.

Claim 10

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of the controlling elements is connected to a preselected secondary controlling valve and a preselected selecting valve and including: an auxiliary valve connected to said one controlling element and a different preselected selecting valve for controllably and simultaneously delivering an operating signal from said one controlling element to both preselected selecting valves and the preselected secondary controlling element.

Claim 11

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 9, wherein one of the preselected selecting valves is associated with the right track and the other preselected selecting valve is associated with the left track.

Claim 12

A fluid control system, as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of the primary control valves pass fluid from the respective pump to the respective track motor in first and second operational positions and from the respective pump toward the respective work element while bypassing said respective track motor at a third operational position.

Claim 13

In a fluid system having a plurality of pumps, left and right track motors, and a plurality of work elements, the improvement comprising: first means for controllably delivering fluid from a first plurality of said pumps to the left track motor and for controllably bypassing the left track motor and delivering fluid from at least one of the first plurality of pumps to a separate respective work element; second means for controllably delivering fluid from a second different plurality of said pumps to the right track motor and for controllably bypassing the right track motor and delivering fluid from at least one of the second plurality of pumps to a separate respective work element; and third means for controllably, selectively passing fluid from respective secondary control valves of selected pumps to other work elements.

Claim 14

In a fluid system having a plurality of pumps, left and right track motors, and a plurality of work elements, the improvement comprising: first means for controllably delivering fluid from a first plurality of said pumps to the left track motor and for controllably bypassing the left track motor and delivering fluid from at least one of the first plurality of pumps to a separate respective work element; second means for controllably delivering fluid from a second different plurality of said pumps to the right track motor and for controllably bypassing the right track motor and delivering fluid from at least one of the second plurality of pumps to a separate respective work element; and third means for controllably, selectively passing fluid from respective secondary control valves of selected pumps to other work elements.