Hydraulic pump with electronically adjustable pressure setting

Abstract

A hydraulic pump and a method of operating a double-acting hydraulic pump are provided. The method includes retrieving a current operating pressure from a memory of the controller, controlling the pump assembly to pump hydraulic fluid from the bladder through one of the two working ports to the hydraulic tool at the current operating pressure, and updating the current operating pressure based on input from the user interface.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 478,838, filed on January 6, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to hydraulic pumps and systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for hydraulic pumps for use with hydraulic tools. Background Art

[0004] Hydraulic tools can be used to provide a mechanical advantage to an operator performing work on a workpiece. For example, a hydraulic tool can be a cutting device having a blade for cutting an object into separate parts. As another example, a hydraulic tool can be a crimping device for making a crimped connection, thereby joining two separate parts together by deforming one or both parts to hold them together. As yet another example, a hydraulic tool can be a lift cylinder for raising and lowering a workpiece and / or a pipe bender for bending a workpiece.

[0005] Generally speaking, hydraulic tools are coupled to a hydraulic pump that is operable to pressurize hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic pump transfers the pressurized hydraulic fluid to a cylinder within the hydraulic tool, and the hydraulic tool uses the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to perform tasks such as cutting, crimping, lifting, etc. Therefore, the hydraulic pump requires a mechanism for pressurizing, maintaining, and releasing the hydraulic fluid. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In some aspects, a hydraulic pump is provided. The hydraulic pump includes a bladder storing hydraulic fluid and a manifold in fluid communication with the bladder and including a workport. The hydraulic pump also includes a pump assembly, a user interface, and a controller in communication with the user interface and the pump assembly, the pump assembly pumping the hydraulic fluid from the bladder through the workport. The controller is configured to store a current operating pressure in a memory, update the current operating pressure based on input from the user interface, and control the pump assembly to pump the hydraulic fluid from the bladder through the workport at the current operating pressure.

[0007] In another aspect, a method of operating a double-acting hydraulic pump is provided, the double-acting hydraulic pump comprising a pump assembly, a bladder, two workports, a controller, and a user interface. The method comprises retrieving a current operating pressure from a memory of the controller, controlling the pump assembly to pump hydraulic fluid from the bladder through one of the two workports to a hydraulic tool at the current operating pressure, and updating the current operating pressure based on input from the user interface.

[0008] The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure, or they may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the illustrative embodiments are set forth in the appended claims. However, the illustrative embodiments, together with the preferred mode of use, further objects and description thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic power tool system including a hydraulic pump according to some embodiments;

[0011] Figure 2 is a top view of a hydraulic pump according to some embodiments with portions of a housing removed;

[0012] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A side view of a hydraulic pump;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Isometric view of a hydraulic pump in the middle;

[0014] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a user interface of a hydraulic pump according to some embodiments; and

[0015] Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method of adjusting a pump pressure setting in a hydraulic pump, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following discussion is presented to enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the present invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but rather to the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar elements in different drawings have similar reference numerals. The drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] As used herein, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0018] The disclosed embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, of the disclosed embodiments are shown. Indeed, several different embodiments may be provided, and the present invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0019] In general, some embodiments provide a double-acting hydraulic pump for use with hydraulic tools and including electronically adjustable pressure settings. For example, Figure 1 A hydraulic power tool system 100 is illustrated that includes a hydraulic pump 102 and a hydraulic tool 104 according to some embodiments. Generally speaking, the hydraulic pump 102 can be operated to provide pressurized fluid (e.g., hydraulic oil) to actuate the hydraulic tool 104. For example, Figure 1 , the hydraulic pump 102 may include a power unit 106, a pump assembly 108, a manifold 110, a bladder 112, a switch assembly 114, a pressure sensor 116, a user interface 118, a pump controller 120 having a processor 122 and a memory 124, a first workport 126, a second port 128, and a removable power source or battery 130. The hydraulic pump 102 may be removably coupled to the hydraulic tool 104 via a fluid supply line 132 (such as a tubing) extending from the workports 126, 128. Furthermore, the hydraulic tool 104 may include a tool head 134 and a hydraulic cylinder 136.

[0020] In operation, the power unit 106 can be powered by a battery 130 and controlled by a pump controller 120 in response to user input from a user interface 118 to drive the pump assembly 108. The pump assembly 108 pumps pressurized fluid from the bladder 112 through the manifold 110, one of the workports 126, 128, and one of the fluid supply lines 132 to the hydraulic tool 104. Within the hydraulic tool 104, the pressurized fluid pushes a hydraulic cylinder 136, which actuates a tool head 134. For example, the tool head 134 can include a set of jaws (not shown) and the hydraulic cylinder 136 includes a piston (not shown) that moves one or both jaws toward each other, thereby causing a crimping or cutting operation. In another example, the tool head 134 includes a movable lifting structure (not shown), and the hydraulic cylinder 136 moves the movable lifting structure to change the height of a workpiece supported by the movable lifting structure. Other examples are possible, such as, but not limited to, a tool head 134 having movable elements (e.g., bending dies and / or bending rollers) that can move the workpiece relative to stationary elements (e.g., stationary dies and / or fixed rollers) to change the shape of the workpiece.

[0021] Once the operation is complete, the pump assembly 108 can pump the pressurized fluid from the bladder 112 through the manifold 110, the other of the working ports 126, 128, and the other of the fluid supply lines 132 to the hydraulic tool 104, thereby pushing the hydraulic cylinder 136 in the other direction to reverse its previous movement. In this manner, the hydraulic pump 102 is a double-acting pump. That is, the hydraulic pump 102 includes two working ports 126, 128 that are capable of applying force to the fluid in two directions and, therefore, can provide controlled thrust and pull to the hydraulic tool. However, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pump 102 can be a single-acting hydraulic pump 102, i.e., one in which the fluid is controlled in a single direction. Therefore, although the present disclosure herein relates to Figures 1 to 4 The concepts are described with respect to a double-acting pump illustrated in , but they are equally applicable to single-acting pumps.

[0022] Figures 2 to 4 Further illustrated is a hydraulic pump 102 according to some embodiments. Figures 2 to 4 As shown in FIG, the hydraulic pump 102 may include work ports 126, 128, a power unit 106, a pump assembly 108, a manifold 110 (in FIG. Figure 3 ), capsule 112, switch assembly 114, and printed circuit board 138 (e.g., including Figure 1 controller 120). Although Figures 2 to 4Although not shown, the hydraulic pump 102 may also include a housing that houses at least all or a portion of the power pack 106, the pump assembly 108, the manifold 110, the switch assembly 114, the printed circuit board 138, and / or the bladder 112. The housing may also include battery terminals configured to receive the battery 130 and the user interface 118.

[0023] In some embodiments, the user interface 118 may include a display and / or inputs configured to receive feedback from an operator, such as one or more buttons, keypads, dials, triggers, switches, scroll wheels, etc. Figure 5 An example user interface 118 is illustrated that includes a display 140 and one or more buttons 142 (such as at least an "up" button 142A and a "down" button 142B). In some embodiments, the display 140 can be separate from the physical buttons 142. In other embodiments, the display 140 can include electronic buttons 142 and can be, for example, an LCD touch screen. Additionally, in some embodiments, the user interface 118 can be integrated into the housing of the hydraulic pump 102 (e.g., on an outer surface of the housing so that user input is provided at the housing). In other embodiments, the user interface 118 can be a separate element coupled to the housing and controller 120 via a wired or wireless connection (e.g., so that user input can be provided remotely from the housing). In some embodiments, the housing can include a mount on which the user interface 118 can be mounted and / or stored.

[0024] In addition, return reference Figure 1 In some embodiments, the hydraulic power tool system 100 may additionally or alternatively include a remote user interface 118A. The remote user interface 118A may be in communication with the controller 120 via a wireless or wired connection. In some embodiments, the remote user interface 118A may be provided by a software application on a mobile phone, tablet computer, or computer, thereby providing a display and input via the mobile phone, tablet computer, or computer. Both the user interface 118 and the remote user interface 118A may include similar features, such as similar displays and inputs, thereby allowing an operator to view the same display output from the user interface 118 or the remote user interface 118A or provide user input to the user interface 118 or the remote user interface 118A. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, any reference to the user interface 118 throughout this disclosure may equally apply to the remote user interface 118A.

[0025] refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4, the power unit 106 can include a motor 146 configured to convert electrical energy into rotational motion to operate the pump assembly 108. In some embodiments, the power unit 106 can include a variable speed motor 146. Additionally, in some embodiments, the power unit 106 can include a brushless direct current (DC) motor 146 having a planetary gear set.

[0026] like Figure 1 As shown in , the power unit 106 can be powered by a power source such as a battery 130. Thus, the hydraulic pump 102 can be considered a cordless pump because it is battery operated. In some embodiments, the battery 130 can be an 18-volt battery. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the battery 130 can be removed from the hydraulic pump 102. For example, as noted above, the hydraulic pump 102 can include battery terminals to which the battery 130 can be removably coupled. Thus, the battery 130 can be removed from the hydraulic pump 102 and recharged and / or replaced when necessary. In some embodiments, the hydraulic pump 102 can additionally or alternatively include a power cord configured to be plugged into a power source, thereby allowing for the replacement of battery power.

[0027] Additionally, the power unit 106 can be controlled by a pump controller 120. As such, the pump controller 120 can be in communication with the motor 146. The pump controller 120 can be implemented using hardware, software, and / or firmware. For example, Figure 1 As shown in FIG, the pump controller 120 may include one or more processors 122 and a memory 124, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable memory storing machine language instructions or other executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors 122, may cause the pump controller 120 to implement various operations of the hydraulic pump 102. For example, the memory 124 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor(s) 122, cause the pump controller 120 to operate the electric motor 146 in response to user input from an operator. Such user input may be an operator pressing a button 142 on the user interface 118.

[0028] The motor 146 (or more generally, the power unit 106) may be operated to actuate the pump assembly 108 to pump fluid to the hydraulic tool 104 at increasing fluid pressure until a predetermined operating pressure is reached. Figure 1 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in FIG, the pump assembly 108 may include a pump 148 coupled to the power pack 106. Under the control of the switch assembly 114, the pump 148 draws fluid from the bladder 112 and supplies pressurized fluid to the respective workports 126, 128 through the manifold 110.

[0029] More specifically, if Figures 1 to 4As shown in FIG, bladder 112 operates as a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid (e.g., hydraulic oil). Bladder 112 can store hydraulic fluid at a low pressure level, such as atmospheric pressure or slightly above atmospheric pressure (e.g., about 30 psi to about 70 psi in some embodiments). As noted above, pump assembly 108 draws fluid from bladder 112 and forces the pressurized fluid through fluid supply line 132 into hydraulic tool 104.

[0030] Additionally, fluid travels through the manifold 110 between the pump assembly 108, the bladder 112, and the workports 126, 128. The switch assembly 114 can be coupled to the manifold 110 to provide automated fluid direction control through the manifold 110. That is, the switch assembly 114 can be controlled by the controller 120 to change the direction of pressurized fluid flow through the first workport 126 and the second workport 128, for example, based on user input via the user interface 118.

[0031] Additionally, in some embodiments, an operator can set or adjust the operating pressure of the fluid flowing to the hydraulic tool 104. That is, the hydraulic pump 104 can include an electronically adjustable pressure setting via the user interface 118. For example, in some embodiments, the controller 120 can monitor the pressure of the fluid exiting the hydraulic pump 102 or at another location along the hydraulic pump 104 via the pressure sensor 116. For example, the pressure sensor 116 can be located at a location within the fluid path of the hydraulic fluid to measure the pressure of the hydraulic fluid entering the workports 126, 128, exiting the workports 126, 128, entering the manifold 110, exiting the bladder 112, or at another point along the hydraulic pump 104.

[0032] Through this monitoring, the controller 120 can operate the pump assembly 108, one or more valves within the manifold 110, and / or the switch assembly 114 to provide pressurized fluid to the hydraulic tool 104 up to, but not exceeding, a set operating pressure stored in the memory 124. That is, the controller 120 can control the pump assembly 108, the switch assembly 114, and / or the manifold 110 to pump hydraulic fluid from the bladder 112 through the workports 126, 128 until the current operating pressure is reached. For example, in some embodiments, the controller 120 can stop the motor 146 when the set operating pressure is reached, adjust the switch assembly 114 when the set operating pressure is reached, or perform another action when the set operating pressure is reached. The operator can also update and save the new set operating pressure in the memory 124 via the user interface 118. Additionally, in some embodiments, multiple operating pressures can be saved in the memory 124, and the user can select a set operating pressure from one of the saved operating pressures.

[0033] Figure 6An example method 150 for adjusting pump pressure settings according to some embodiments is illustrated. In some embodiments, Figure 6 The method 150 may be executed by the pump controller 120 (e.g., may be stored in the memory 124 for execution by the processor 122 of the pump controller 120). It should be noted that although some steps are Figure 6 Although illustrated in the drawings and described below in a particular order, in some embodiments, the steps may be performed in an order different than shown and described, or more or fewer steps may be performed.

[0034] like Figure 6 As shown in FIG, upon waking up at step 152, the controller 120 may obtain the current pressure setting from the memory 124 at step 154. The controller 120 may display the current pressure setting (e.g., "Displayed Pressure Setting") at step 156, for example, via the display 140 of the user interface 118 (or, as noted above, via the remote user interface 118A via a software application on a mobile phone, tablet, or computer in communication with the controller 120). At step 158, the controller 120 may determine whether the operator has pressed the up button 142A on the user interface. If so, the controller 120 may determine at step 160 whether the displayed pressure setting is the maximum operating pressure. For example, in some embodiments, the hydraulic pump 102 may have a maximum operating pressure of approximately 10,500 pounds per square inch (PSI), approximately 10,000 PSI, or another pressure. If the displayed pressure setting is the maximum operating pressure, the controller 120 may provide a message via the display 140 indicating that the maximum operating pressure has been reached at step 162 and return to step 158. If, at step 160 , the displayed pressure setting is not equal to the maximum operating pressure, the controller 120 increases the current pressure setting by 1 PSI (or another number) at step 164 and returns to step 158 .

[0035] If the operator does not press the up button 142A at step 158, the controller 120 determines at step 166 whether the operator has pressed the down button 142B. If so, the controller 120 determines at step 168 whether the displayed pressure setting is the minimum operating pressure. If the displayed pressure setting is the minimum operating pressure, the controller 120 provides a message via the display 140 at step 170 that the minimum operating pressure has been reached and returns to step 158. In some embodiments, the maximum operating pressure and the minimum operating pressure may be preset (e.g., factory-set) pressure settings set in the memory 124. If, at step 168, the displayed pressure setting is not equal to the minimum operating pressure, the controller 120 reduces the current pressure setting by 1 PSI (or another number) at step 172 and returns to step 158.

[0036] If the operator does not press the down button 142B at step 166, the controller 120 determines at step 174 whether the current pressure setting is not equal to the pressure setting displayed on the user interface 118. This may occur, for example, if the controller 120 has already increased the current pressure setting at step 160 or decreased the current pressure setting at step 172. If so, the controller 120 updates and displays the current pressure setting at step 176, thereby setting the current pressure setting to the newly displayed pressure setting, and returns to step 158. If, at step 174, the displayed pressure setting is equal to the current pressure setting, the controller 120 determines at step 178 whether the current pressure setting has been saved. If so, the controller 120 returns to step 158. If not, the controller 120 saves the current pressure setting to the memory 124 at step 180 and returns to step 158.

[0037] The controller 120 may continue back to step 158 and loop through Figure 6 The method 150 is continued until the hydraulic pump 102 enters the sleep state. For example, the controller 120 may cause the hydraulic pump 102 to enter the sleep state based on a command provided by a user through the user interface 118. As another example, the controller 120 may cause the hydraulic pump 102 to enter the sleep state automatically, such as when no input is received after a set period of time.

[0038] The terms "about" or "substantially" with reference to quantities or measurements described herein mean that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved precisely, but rather that deviations or variations, including, for example, tolerances, measurement errors, measurement accuracy limitations, and other factors known to those skilled in the art, may occur in amounts that do not negate the effect that the characteristic is intended to provide.

[0039] The description of the various advantageous embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, different advantageous embodiments may provide different advantages over other advantageous embodiments. The selected embodiment or embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure of various embodiments with various modifications as are suitable for the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A hydraulic pump comprising: a bladder storing hydraulic fluid; a manifold in fluid communication with the bladder and including a working port; a pump assembly to pump hydraulic fluid from the bladder through the workport; user interface; as well as a controller in communication with the user interface and the pump assembly, the controller: storing the current operating pressure in memory; updating the current operating pressure based on input from the user interface; as well as The pump assembly is controlled to pump the hydraulic fluid from the bladder through the workport until the current operating pressure is reached. 2 . The hydraulic pump of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the controller, the pressure sensor sensing a pressure of the hydraulic fluid exiting the workport. 3 . The hydraulic pump of claim 1 , further comprising a switch assembly in communication with the manifold and controlled by the controller.

4. The hydraulic pump according to claim 3, wherein: The workports include a first workport and a second workport, wherein the controller controls the switch assembly to control a flow direction of the hydraulic fluid through the first workport and the second workport.

5. The hydraulic pump according to claim 1, wherein The user interface includes a display and a user input.

6. The hydraulic pump according to claim 5, wherein The user input includes an up button and a down button.

7. The hydraulic pump according to claim 6, wherein: When the up button is pressed, the controller increases the current operating pressure, and when the down button is pressed, the controller decreases the current operating pressure.

8. The hydraulic pump according to claim 7, wherein: If the current operating pressure is equal to the maximum operating pressure, the controller maintains the current operating pressure when the up button is pressed.

9. The hydraulic pump according to claim 5, wherein: The controller displays the current operating pressure via the display.

10. The hydraulic pump according to claim 1, wherein The user interface is a remote user interface in wireless communication with the controller.

11. A method of operating a double-acting hydraulic pump, the double-acting hydraulic pump comprising a pump assembly, a bladder, two workports, a controller, and a user interface, the method comprising: retrieving a current operating pressure from a memory of the controller; controlling the pump assembly to pump hydraulic fluid from the bladder through one of the two working ports to the hydraulic tool until a current operating pressure is reached; as well as The current operating pressure is updated based on input from the user interface. 12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising sensing a pressure of the hydraulic fluid exiting the hydraulic pump.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying the current operating pressure via a display of the user interface. 14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising displaying the current operating pressure via the display when the hydraulic pump wakes up. 15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising increasing the current operating pressure when an up button of the user interface is pressed, and decreasing the current operating pressure when a down button of the user interface is pressed. 16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising maintaining the current operating pressure when the up button is pressed and the current operating pressure is equal to a maximum operating pressure. 17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising displaying that the maximum operating pressure has been reached when the up button is pressed and the current operating pressure is equal to the maximum operating pressure. 18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising maintaining the current operating pressure when the down button is pressed and the current operating pressure is equal to a minimum operating pressure.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying that the minimum operating pressure has been reached when the down button is pressed and the current operating pressure is equal to the minimum operating pressure.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising saving a new current operating pressure to the memory when the current operating pressure is updated based on input from the user interface.

Images