Proportional Electrohydraulic Systems??

[jgrreed]

Find a short list of valves that might work for your application (open/closed center, size flow etc.)
Then you have some specs to go back and look at the controller boards. Either of the 2 already shown could work depending on the valve.
Most of the electro hydraulic systems I've worked on were Variable displacement pumps NOT like the fixed displacement ones we have on our tractors.
I work a lot with robotics and the joystick to PWM control is actually simple and cheap unless you want to operate High voltage coils (>24Vdc) or high current (>10A).
If you valve needs + and - voltages to operate the different directions then you will need a full H bridge type of control.
A physical lockout may be necessary if your valve does not have a deadband area in its input. This would be say where an input voltage of -0.5V to +0.25V does nothing. the valve actually moves with 0.5V - 12V on the input ( or negative as appropriate).

It must be cold in Hinton right now. I think Seattle being nearby is wishful thinking.
Scorpion stuff looks good. what are their prices like?

Another thought: what is the breakdown of the costs of the $2000 JD kit ? (valves, Hoses, fittings, mountings)
Most of these you will still be needing to get one way or another.

Their head office is in Kamloops. I saw the Seattle address as well, but there phone # is area code (250).

The JD kit was $2000 for everything, hoses and fittings included. That didn't include installation labor though.......

The proportional system is starting to scare me a bit in terms of setup and calibration. My gut is telling me to go with on/off valves with adjustable flow controls. I'd love to hear more opinions on that from the Guru's out there. I'd only lose the 'featherability'. I'd still have all the circuits I want, and my sexy grip controller!!!

It's finally warmed up to about -5C now. I got home after being away for about 2 weeks yesterday to not a lick of new snow, but a HUGE pile of drifts that took me about 2.5 hours to clear. The drift snow is so packed that I needed to break it up with my FEL first, then slowly chip away at rowing it up with my back blade.

That FEL mounted blower is almost certainly getting fab'd this summer!!!

-Jer.

 

[SamWalton]

Check out the Parker DFW Series proportional directional control valves with improved coil technology to increase maximum flow capacities to 12.5 gpm for the D1FW and 45 gpm for the D3W.

Please wait while we redirect...

 

[SamWalton]

I think it would be useful to automate the Top and Tilt controls so that it could maintain your blade, rake or box rake either level or at a desired angle, perhaps for shaping a road or cutting a ditch. You still could have a manual control via switches. The electronics and sensors could be relatively simple and inexpensive. I would be good to know the cost of the parker valves first.

 

[J_J]

Jer,

Maybe you have your reasons for wanting superior electronic control, but on a tractor. What kinds of jobs do you do that will require such finite movements of certain implements, valves and motors, with feedback circuits and digital monitoring. I will be in awe if you can achieve this with out spending a fortune. I thought that I was going to the extreme, for considering wireless remote control of the hydraulics on my machines. It would nice to have in some situations, but alas, I can only dream, and my funds are limited.

 

[kennyd]

I think it would be useful to automate the Top and Tilt controls so that it could maintain your blade, rake or box rake either level or at a desired angle, perhaps for shaping a road or cutting a ditch. You still could have a manual control via switches. The electronics and sensors could be relatively simple and inexpensive. I would be good to know the cost of the parker valves first.

You just need to use GPS or Lasers like the big-boys use

 

[Philscbx]

As for grapples, just insert restrictors, and smaller hose diameter to slow down the grab. It's night & day difference.

It's also used for angle plows on cats.
Bobcats use feather controls on the upper models, but they are still touchy without restrictors for cylinder control.

If they make digital servos like what is used for RC hobby, then you might
have a simple application if they make them for control valve duty.
They would have to be strong & bullet proof.

I'll Google about and see what appears.

 

[Philscbx]

Came across a site where their line card lists components related.
Selection of product categories, product lines and manufacturers offered by FORCE America - Product Lines : Force America, Inc.

 

[jgrreed]

You just need to use GPS or Lasers like the big-boys use

That's too much, even for me to dream of.....

-Jer.

 

[jgrreed]

Jer,

Maybe you have your reasons for wanting superior electronic control, but on a tractor. What kinds of jobs do you do that will require such finite movements of certain implements, valves and motors, with feedback circuits and digital monitoring. I will be in awe if you can achieve this with out spending a fortune. I thought that I was going to the extreme, for considering wireless remote control of the hydraulics on my machines. It would nice to have in some situations, but alas, I can only dream, and my funds are limited.

What's your opinion on having flow adjustable on/off style servo valves for TnT, etc?? In your experience would that offer reasonable control?? I realize that I'd have to accept either having high flow/imprecise/highspeed movement OR low flow/low speed/precise movement, but it's a CUT, not a road grader, and I'm by no means a pro landscaper. By eliminating the proportional part of the plan it seems it'd simplify things greatly.

-Jer.

 

[dfkrug]

A flow control would be much handier, of course some machines are proportional but they still don't work all that great and tend to be quick in my experience. (Bobcat 773 g and 853c)
I have put flow controls on the swing of my backhoes attachment, on my tilt attach and on my old meyers snow blade I converted to skidsteer, just to slow things down and was very happy.

I have experimented with some Parker dial-adjustable flow restrictors and I
also find them to be quite effective. Very reasonably priced, too.

For the proportional controls on your 773, do you know if they are all-
mechanical? Or do they have electrical or electronic controls, too?

On a modern Takeuchi excavator, the house seems to use some kind of
proportional flow control, and it is very smooth and seamless, using the
joystick. I wonder if the controls utilize electronics, like PWM?