Energy-conserving regenerative-flow valves for hydraulic servomotors

Claim 2

In a servomechanism associated with a source of pressurized fluid at a supply pressure, the improvement which comprises: a first valve and a second valve, each of said valves having one member movable relative to another member, each of said other members having a supply opening communicating with said source, having a return opening, and having a control opening, each of said one members being movable within a first positional range relative to the associated other member to increase the pressure at the associated control opening and being movable within a second positional range to decrease the pressure at the associated control opening; a first conduit communicating one of said first valve supply and return openings with the like one of said second valve supply and return openings; a first driver operatively arranged to move said first valve one member to a desired position relative to said first valve other member; a second driver operatively arranged to move said second valve one member to a desired position relative to said second valve other member; a sensor for determining a pressure differential at said first and second valve control openings; and a controller operatively associated with said sensor and with said drivers for causing said first valve one member to move to an appropriate position within one of its positional ranges and for causing said second valve one member to move to an appropriate position within the other of its positional ranges when the pressure at one of said control openings is greater than the pressure at the other of said control openings, and for causing both of said first and second valve one members to move to appropriate positions within like ones of said positional ranges when the pressure at said one control opening is less than the pressure at said other control opening.

Claim 3

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first conduit communicates said first valve supply opening with said second valve supply opening.

Claim 4

The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pressure drops across said valves are substantially the same when both of said valve one members have been moved to said appropriate positions.

Claim 5

The improvement as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second ranges are located on either side of a null position at which said control openings do not communicate with either of said supply and return openings.

Claim 6

The improvement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said appropriate positions are such taht said first valve one member is displaced from its null position by a distance substantially equal to the displacement of said second valve one member from its null position.

Claim 7

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first conduit communicates said first valve return opening with said second valve return opening.

Claim 8

The improvement as set forth in claim 6 and further comprising a fluid sump communicating with said return openings, a second conduit communicating said sump with said first valve control opeing, a third conduit communicating said sump with said second valve control opening, and wherein each of said second and third conduits includes a check valve operatively arranged to prevent fluid from flowing toward said sump.

Claim 9

The improvement as set forth in claim 6 wherein the pressure drops across said valves are substantially the same when both of said valve one members have been moved to said appropriate positions.

Claim 10

The improvement as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first and second ranges are located on either side of a null position at which said control openings do not communicate with either of the associated supply and return openings.

Claim 11

The improvement as set forth in claim 9 wherein said appropriate position are such that said first valve one member is displaced from its null position by a distance substantially equal to the displacement of said second valve one member from its null position.

Claim 12

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first valve other member is a body provided with a bore, wherein said first valve one member is a spool slidably mounted within said bore.

Claim 13

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second valve other member is a body provided with a bore, and wherein said second valve one member is a spool slidably mounted within said bore.

Claim 14

The improvement as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising an actuator having a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder, said piston separating a first chamber on one side thereof from a second chamber on the other side thereof, and wherein said first valve control opening communicates with said actuator first chamber and said second valve control opening communicates with said actuator second chamber.

Claim 15

A servomechanism, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a first servovalve having a supply slot communicating with a fluid source, having a return slot communicating with a fluid return, and being operatively arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said first chamber; a second servovalve having a supply slot communicating with a fluid source, having a return slot communicating with a fluid return, and being operatively arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said second chamber; each of said servovalves having a member selectively movable off-null in one direction to uncover a supply port and movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a return port; a bypass conduit communicating one of said first servovalve supply and return slots with the like one of said second servovalve supply and return slots; a sensor operatively arranged to sense a differential of the pressures in said first and second chambers; and a controller associated with said sensor and with said servovalves such that when an external load applied to said actuator opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, said servovalves will be operated such that fluid will flow to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber, but when said external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, said servovalves will be operated to permit fluid flow from the higher pressure chamber to the lower pressure chamber through said bypass conduit.

Claim 16

A servomechanism, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a first servovalve having a supply slot communicating with a fluid source, having a return slot communicating with a fluid return, and being operatively arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said first chamber; a second servovalve having a supply slot communicating with a fluid source, having a return slot communicating with a fluid return, and being operatively arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said second chamber; each of said servovalves having a member selectively movable off-null in one direction to uncover a supply port and movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a return port; a bypass conduit communicating one of said first servovalve supply and return slots with the like one of said second servovalve supply and return slots; a sensor operatively arranged to sense a differential of the pressures in said first and second chambers; and a controller associated with said sensor and with said servovalves such that when an external load applied to said actuator opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, said servovalves will be operated such that fluid will flow to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber, but when said external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, said servovalves will be operated to permit fluid flow from the higher pressure chamber to the lower pressure chamber through said bypass conduit.

Claim 17

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 14 wherein said bypass conduit communicates said first servovalve supply port with said second servovalve supply port.

Claim 18

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 15 wherein when an aiding load is applied to said actuator, each of said servovalve members is moved off-null in said one direction.

Claim 19

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 14 wherein said bypass conduit communicates said first servovalve return port with said second servovalve return port.

Claim 20

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein when an aiding load is applied to said actuator, each of said servovalve members is moved off-null in said opposite direction.

Claim 21

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 14 wherein the flow gains of said supply ports are substantially the same, and the flow gains of said return ports are substantially the same.

Claim 22

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings and first and second return openings joining said bore, each of said supply openings communicating with said source; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said supply and return openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said first supply opening and to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, said spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said second supply opening, the gains of said supply ports being substantially different from the gains of said return ports; a driver operatively arranged to move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; a first passageway continuously communicating one of said first supply and first return openings with said first chamber, said first passageway having a first check valve operatively associated therewith to permit only unidirectional fluid flow through said first passageway; and a second passageway continuously communicating the like one of said second supply and second return openings with said second chamber, said second passageway having a second check valve operatively associated therewith to permit only unidirectional fluid flow through said second passageway; whereby, when said spool is moved off-null and if the load applied to said actuator opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid may flow through one of said supply ports to the higher pressure chamber and through one of said return ports through the lower pressure chamber, but if such load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid may flow from the higher pressure chamber to the lower pressure chamber through one of said first and second passageways.

Claim 23

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings and first and second return openings joining said bore, each of said supply openings communicating with said source; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said supply and return openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said first supply opening and to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, said spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said second supply opening, the gains of said supply ports being substantially different from the gains of said return ports; a driver operatively arranged to move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; a first passageway continuously communicating one of said first supply and first return openings with said first chamber, said first passageway having a first check valve operatively associated therewith to permit only unidirectional fluid flow through said first passageway; and a second passageway continuously communicating the like one of said second supply and second return openings with said second chamber, said second passageway having a second check valve operatively associated therewith to permit only unidirectional fluid flow through said second passageway; whereby, when said spool is moved off-null and if the load applied to said actuator opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid may flow through one of said supply ports to the higher pressure chamber and through one of said return ports through the lower pressure chamber, but if such load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid may flow from the higher pressure chamber to the lower pressure chamber through one of said first and second passageways.

Claim 24

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first passageway communicates said first chamber with said first supply opening, wherein said second passageway communicates said second chamber with said second supply opening, and wherein said first and second check valves are arranged to prevent flow into said chambers.

Claim 25

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first passageway communicates said first chamber with said first return opening, wherein said second passageway communicates said second chamber with said second return opening, and wherein said first and second check valves are arranged to prevent flow from said chambers.

Claim 26

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of said supply ports has a gain substantially greater than thegain of either of said return ports.

Claim 27

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein each of said return ports has a gain substantially greater than the gain of either of said supply ports.

Claim 28

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first passageway is provided in said body.

Claim 29

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said second passageway is provided in said body.

Claim 30

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings and first and second return openings joining said bore, each of said supply openings communicating with said source; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said supply and return openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said first supply opening and to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, said spool being movalbe off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said second supply opening; a driver operatively arranged to move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; and a throttling valve operatively arranged to prevent flow through the associated return port when said spool is moved off-null and the load applied to said actuator is aiding with respect to the desired direction of actuator movement.

Claim 31

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings and first and second return openings joining said bore, each of said supply openings communicating with said source; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement relative thereto, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said supply and return openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said first supply opening and to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, said spool being movalbe off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said second supply opening; a driver operatively arranged to move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; and a throttling valve operatively arranged to prevent flow through the associated return port when said spool is moved off-null and the load applied to said actuator is aiding with respect to the desired direction of actuator movement.

Claim 32

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 27 and further comprising a first bypass passageway communicating one of said first supply and first return openings with said first chamber, said first passageway having a first check valve operatively associated therewith to permit only unidirectional fluid flow through said first bypass passageway.

Claim 33

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first bypass passageway communicates said first supply opening with said first chamber, and wherein said first passageway is arranged to only permit flow from said first chamber to said first supply opening.

Claim 34

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first bypass passageway communicates said first return opening with said first chamber, and wherein said first passageway is arranged to only permit flow from said first return opening to said first chamber.

Claim 35

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 27 and further comprising a second bypass passageway communicating one of said second supply and return openings with said second chamber, said second passageway having a second check valve operatively associated therewith to permit only unidirectional fluid flow through said second bypass passageway.

Claim 36

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 31 whereins aid second bypass communicates with said second supply opening with said second chamber, and wherein said second check valve is arranged to only permit flow from said second chamber to said second supply opening.

Claim 37

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 31 wherein said second bypass passageway communicates said second return opening with said second chamber, and wherein said second check valve is arranged to only permit flow from said second return opening to said second chamber.

Claim 38

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 27 wherein said throttling valve includes a second body provided with a second bore, and includes a second valve spool mounted in said second bore for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, wherein said second body is provided with first and second bypass openings which join said second bore, wherein said second spool has a plurality of lobes such that when said second spool is in a null position relative to said second body the lobes of said second spool will cover said first and second bypass openings, said second spool being movable off-null in one direction to communicate said first bypass opening with said first chamber, said second spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to communicate said second bypass opening with said second chamber.

Claim 39

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 34 wherein each of said first and second bypass openings communicate with said source.

Claim 40

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 34 wherein said first and second bypass openings communicate with a fluid return.

Claim 41

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 34 wherein said second spool moves in said one direction when the pressure in said first chamber is greater than the pressure in said second chamber, and moves in said opposite direction when the pressure in said second chamber is greater than the pressure in said first chamber.

Claim 42

A servomechanism, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a four-way electrohydraulic servovalve arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said first and second chambers, said servovalve having a member movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first supply port and a first return port, and being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second supply port and a second return port, the gains of said supply ports being substantially greater than the gains of said return ports; a first conduit communicating said first chamber with the fluid supply to said servovalve, said first conduit having a first means to permit only unidirectional flow from said first chamber to said supply; a second conduit communicating said second chamber with said fluid supply, said second conduit having a second means to permit only unidirectional flow from said second chamber to said fluid supply; whereby, when said servovalve is operated to cause a desired direction of actuator movement and an external load is applied to said actuator which opposes said desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from supply to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber to return, but when said external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow fromthe higher pressure chamber through one of said first and second conduits to the supply, and thence to the lower pressure chamber.

Claim 43

A servomechanism, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a four-way electrohydraulic servovalve arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said first and second chambers, said servovalve having a member movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first supply port and a first return port, and being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second supply port and a second return port, the gains of said supply ports being substantially greater than the gains of said return ports; a first conduit communicating said first chamber with the fluid supply to said servovalve, said first conduit having a first means to permit only unidirectional flow from said first chamber to said supply; a second conduit communicating said second chamber with said fluid supply, said second conduit having a second means to permit only unidirectional flow from said second chamber to said fluid supply; whereby, when said servovalve is operated to cause a desired direction of actuator movement and an external load is applied to said actuator which opposes said desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from supply to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber to return, but when said external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow fromthe higher pressure chamber through one of said first and second conduits to the supply, and thence to the lower pressure chamber.

Claim 44

A servomechanism, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a four-way electrohydraulic servovalve arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said first and second chambers, said servovalve having a member movable off-null in one directin to uncover a first supply port and a first return port, and being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second supply port and a second return port, the gains of said return ports being substantially greater than the gains of said supply ports; a first conduit communicating said first chamber with the fluid return from said servovalve, said first conduit having a first means to permit only unidirectional flow from said return to said first chamber; a second conduit communicating said second chamber with said fluid return, said second conduit having a second means to permit only unidirectional flow from said return to said second chamber; whereby, when said servovalve is operated to cause a desired direction of actuator movement and an external load is applied to said actuator which opposes said desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from supply to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber to return, but when said external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from the higher pressure chamber to the return, and thence through one of said first and second conduits to the lower pressure chamber.

Claim 45

A servomechanism, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a four-way electrohydraulic servovalve arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said first and second chambers, said servovalve having a member movable off-null in one directin to uncover a first supply port and a first return port, and being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second supply port and a second return port, the gains of said return ports being substantially greater than the gains of said supply ports; a first conduit communicating said first chamber with the fluid return from said servovalve, said first conduit having a first means to permit only unidirectional flow from said return to said first chamber; a second conduit communicating said second chamber with said fluid return, said second conduit having a second means to permit only unidirectional flow from said return to said second chamber; whereby, when said servovalve is operated to cause a desired direction of actuator movement and an external load is applied to said actuator which opposes said desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from supply to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber to return, but when said external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from the higher pressure chamber to the return, and thence through one of said first and second conduits to the lower pressure chamber.

Claim 46

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings, first and second return openings, and first and second bypass openings, each of said supply openings communicating with said source; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening, to uncover a second bypass port, and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said source, said spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, to uncover a first bypass port, and to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said source; a driver operatively arranged to selectively move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; a first passageway continuously communicating said first bypass opening with said second chamber, said first passageway having a first check valve therein operatively arranged to prevent flow toward said second chamber; a second passageway continuously communicating said second bypass opening with said first chamber, said second passageway having a second check valve therein operatively arranged to prevent flow toward said first chamber; whereby, when said servomechanism is operated such that an external load applied to said actuator opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from supply to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber to return, but when said servomechanism is operated such that an external load applied to said actuator aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will be permitted to flow from the higher pressure actuator chamber to the lower pressure actuator chamber through one of said bypass openings.

Claim 47

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings, first and second return openings, and first and second bypass openings, each of said supply openings communicating with said source; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening, to uncover a second bypass port, and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said source, said spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, to uncover a first bypass port, and to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said source; a driver operatively arranged to selectively move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; a first passageway continuously communicating said first bypass opening with said second chamber, said first passageway having a first check valve therein operatively arranged to prevent flow toward said second chamber; a second passageway continuously communicating said second bypass opening with said first chamber, said second passageway having a second check valve therein operatively arranged to prevent flow toward said first chamber; whereby, when said servomechanism is operated such that an external load applied to said actuator opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will flow from supply to the higher pressure chamber and from the lower pressure chamber to return, but when said servomechanism is operated such that an external load applied to said actuator aids the desired direction of actuator movement, fluid will be permitted to flow from the higher pressure actuator chamber to the lower pressure actuator chamber through one of said bypass openings.

Claim 48

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 40 wherein each of said supply and return ports has the same gain.

Claim 49

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 41 wherein each of said first and second bypass ports has the same gain.

Claim 50

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 42 wherein the gain of said bypass ports is substantially greater than the gain of said supply and return ports.

Claim 51

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings communicating with said source, first and second return openings, and first and second bypass openings, each of said openings communicating with said bore; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening, to uncover a second bypass port, and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said source, said spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, to uncover a first bypass port, and to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said source; a driver operatively arranged to selectively move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; and a throttling valve operatively arranged to permit flow through the uncovered ones of said supply and return ports only when an applied load opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, and arranged to constrain fluid in the contracting higher pressure actuator chamber to flow through one of said bypass ports into the expanding lower pressure actuator chamber when an applied load aids the desired direction of actuator movement.

Claim 52

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; a body provided with a bore, said body having first and second supply openings communicating with said source, first and second return openings, and first and second bypass openings, each of said openings communicating with said bore; a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement therealong, said spool having a plurality of lobes arranged such that when said spool is in a null position relative to said body, each of said openings will be covered, said spool being movable off-null in one direction to uncover a first return port communicating said first chamber with said first return opening, to uncover a second bypass port, and to uncover a second supply port communicating said second chamber with said source, said spool being movable off-null in the opposite direction to uncover a second return port communicating said second chamber with said second return opening, to uncover a first bypass port, and to uncover a first supply port communicating said first chamber with said source; a driver operatively arranged to selectively move said spool to a desired position relative to said body; and a throttling valve operatively arranged to permit flow through the uncovered ones of said supply and return ports only when an applied load opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, and arranged to constrain fluid in the contracting higher pressure actuator chamber to flow through one of said bypass ports into the expanding lower pressure actuator chamber when an applied load aids the desired direction of actuator movement.

Claim 53

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 44 wherein each of said supply and return ports has the same gain.

Claim 54

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 45 wherein each of said first and second bypass ports has the same gain.

Claim 55

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 46 wherein the gain of said bypass ports is substantially greater than the gain of said supply and return ports.

Claim 56

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 44 wherein said throttling valve is arranged to prevent flow from said supply when an aiding load is applied to said actuator.

Claim 57

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 44 wherein said throttling valve is arranged to prevent flow to return when an aiding load is applied to said actuator.

Claim 58

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 44 wherein said throttling valve is arranged to prevent flow from said supply and to prevent flow to return when an aiding load is applied to said actuator.

Claim 59

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid and a return for such fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; an electrohydraulic servovalve operatively arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said actuator chambers; and a throttling valve operatively arranged between said return and said servovalve such that when an external load opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, said servovalve may be operated so as to selectively communicate said source with the higher pressure actuator chamber and to selectively communicate the lower pressure actuator chamber with said return, but when an external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, said throttling valve will prevent flow to return and will cause fluid in the higher pressure actuator chamber to flow directly through said servovalve to the lower pressure chamber.

Claim 60

A servomechanism adapted to be associated with a source of pressurized fluid and a return for such fluid, comprising: a fluid-powered actuator having opposing first and second chambers; an electrohydraulic servovalve operatively arranged to control the flow of fluid with respect to said actuator chambers; and a throttling valve operatively arranged between said return and said servovalve such that when an external load opposes the desired direction of actuator movement, said servovalve may be operated so as to selectively communicate said source with the higher pressure actuator chamber and to selectively communicate the lower pressure actuator chamber with said return, but when an external load aids the desired direction of actuator movement, said throttling valve will prevent flow to return and will cause fluid in the higher pressure actuator chamber to flow directly through said servovalve to the lower pressure chamber.

Claim 61

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 51 wherein said throttling valve is arranged to prevent flow from said source in the case of such aiding external load.

Claim 62

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 51 wherein said servovalve controls the flow of fluid from said higher pressure actuator chamber to said lower pressure actuator chamber in the case of such aiding external load.

Claim 63

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 51 wherein said throttling valve includes a body provided with a bore, a valve spool mounted in said bore for longitudinal sliding movement therealong and defining first and second spool end chambers, and wherein the pressure in said actuator first chamber is supplied to one of said spool end chambers and the pressure in said actuator second chamber is supplied to the other of said spool end chambers, whereby substantially the same pressure differential between said actuator first and second chambers will exist between said first and second spool end chambers.

Claim 64

A servomechanism as set forth in claim 54 and further including a first centering spring arranged in said first spool end chamber and a second centering spring arranged in said second spool end chamber, each of said centering springs acting between said body and the proximate end face of said spool for biasing said spool toward a null position relative to said body.

Claim 67

The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein said one member has surfaces of equal area facing into said chambers.

Claim 68

The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein said supply flow passes through a variable-orifice supply port, and said bypass flow passes through a variable-orifice bypass port.

Claim 69

The method as set forth in claim 58 wherein said supply and bypass ports are opened simultaneously.

Claim 70

The method as set forth in claim 58 wherein the orifice areas of said supply and bypass ports are controlled simultaneously.

Claim 71

The method as set forth in claim 58 wherein said supply and bypass ports have different gains.

Claim 72

The method as set forth in claim 61 wherein the gain of said bypass port is substantially greater than the gain of said supply port.

Claim 73

The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein the step of controlling the magnitude of such summed flows, includes the further steps of: controlling the magnitude of said supply flow; and controlling the magnitude of said bypass flow.

Claim 74

The method as set forth in claim 63 wherein said supply flow is controlled such that said bypass flow is augmented by said supply flow so that such summed flows are just sufficient to achieve the desired velocity of said actuator.

Claim 75

The method as set forth in claim 64 wherein the magnitude of said bypass flow is maximized and the magnitude of said supply flow is minimized.

Claim 76

The method as set forth in claim 65 wherein when the magnitude of said bypass flow is sufficient to achieve the desired velocity of said actuator, the magnitude of said supply flow is zero.

Claim 77

The method as set forth in claim 58 and further comprising the step of: causing a return flow of fluid from the contracting chamber to a fluid return whenever it is desired to cause relative movement between said members.

Claim 78

The method as set forth in claim 67 wherein said return flow passes through a variable-orifice return port.

Claim 79

The method as set forth in claim 68 wherein said supply and return ports are opened simultaneously.

Claim 80

The method as set forth in claim 68 wherein the orifice areas of said supply and return ports are controlled simultaneously.

Claim 81

The method as set forth in claim 68 wherein the gains of said supply and return ports are substantially the same.

Claim 82

The method as set forth in claim 56 wherein the step of causing said bypass flow includes the further step of: opening a check valve to permit said bypass flow only when said load aids the desired direction of relative movement between said members.

Claim 85

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein said one member has surfaces of equal area facing into said chambers.

Claim 86

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein said supply and bypass ports are opened simultaneously.

Claim 87

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein said supply and bypass ports have different gains.

Claim 88

The method as set forth in claim 76 wherein the gain of said bypass port is substantially greater than the gain of said supply port.

Claim 89

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein the step of controlling the magnitude of such summed flows includes the further steps of: controlling the magnitude of said supply flow; and controlling the magnitude of said bypass flow.

Claim 90

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein the magnitude of said supply flow is progressively reduced as said pressure differential changes from said first predetermined valve to said second predetermined value.

Claim 91

The method as set forth in claim 79 wherein said bypass flow is maximized and said supply flow is minimized.

Claim 92

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein the step of causing said supply flow includes the further step of: progressively reducing the magnitude of said supply flow as the magnitude of a load, which acts on said one member to aid the direction of relative movement between said members, increases such that the magnitude of said bypass flow is augmented by a sufficient magnitude of said supply flow to achieve the desired velocity of said actuator.

Claim 93

The method as set forth in claim 81 wherein the magnitude of said supply flow is zero when the pressure differential between said chambers is said first value.

Claim 94

The method as set forth in claim 73 wherein said second predetermined algebraic value is substantially zero.

Claim 95

The method as set forth in claim 80 wherein when the magnitude of said bypass flow is sufficient to achieve the desired velocity of said actuator, the magnitude of said supply is zero.

Claim 98

The method as set forth in claim 85, comprising the further step of: selectively controlling the magnitude of a supply flow from said source to the expanding actuator chamber such that the magnitudes of said supply and bypass flows produce the desired velocity of said actuator.

Claim 99

The method as set forth in claim 86 wherein the magnitudes of said supply and return flows are controlled simultaneously.

Claim 100

The method as set forth in claim 85 wherein said bypass flow is maximized and said return is minimized.

Claim 101

The method as set forth in claim 88 wherein when the magnitude of said bypass flow is sufficient to achieve the desired velocity of said actuator, the magnitude of said supply flow is zero.