electrically operated ball valve

[jonsstihl]

I'm looking at building a ride control (hydraulic accumulator) system similar to the ride control (comfort ride) offered by wr long but I want mine to have a switch in the cab to turn it off and on.

anyone have a clue what I would need to look for in terms of an electronically operated ball valve to isolate the accumulator from the lift circuit. I am mainly looking for something small enough to make it easier to install.

I may end up buying the wr long kit and changing out the ball valve for an electric version.

I need help with the terminology. I don't need a diverter valve I just need something to open and close electronically to give the lift circuit access to the accumulator.

thanks

 

[Industrial Toys]

Just a solenoid operated valve. Maybe a DO3 or DO5 depending on the flow requirement. Princess Auto?

 

[oldnslo]

Do a search for normally open or normally closed poppet style cartridge valves.

These are low leakage valves designed for this type of use.

Companies like Hydraforce, Delta Power Co., Bucher, etc. all make this style of valve.

 

[TractorGuy]

Not seen any solenoid operated ball valves.

Would a poppet valve work? Here is a NC (normally closed) version.
Hydra Force 12 Volt DC NC Solenoid Valve | Hydraforce | Brands | www.surpluscenter.com

They have a normally open version too.
Hydra Force 12 Volt DC NO Solenoid Valve | Solenoid Valves | Hydraulic Valves | Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com

Choose NO or NC depending on if you want to interrupt the flow intermittently or open intermittently. You want the solenoid energized the least amount of time.

 

[Zebrafive]

My JD 640 loader suspension has an electric ball valve at the accumulator. You can find it at jdparts.com

 

[jonsstihl]

thanks for all the suggestions the jd part would be handy since I have a dealer on my way to work but it may be 5X the price of a standard valve.

for a loader application I would think I would want it normally closed since ride control would get used only when travelling at higher speeds.

 

[LouNY]

There are several suppliers of ball valve actuators,
the difficulty will be selecting a valve with a high enough pressure rating.
Here are a few;
Hanbay | Ball Valves

I believe you will be better served by a ball valve then a solenoid,
or an electrically actuated hydraulic valve, most solenoids will have a very small port for fluid flow.

 

[jonsstihl]

I would have to be careful with the direction of mounting since they seem to double as a pilot operated check valve with a pressure setting of 50 - 150 psi

the only thing that has me worried is the 3000psi rating. with shock loads I may exceed that in a loader application

 

[oldnslo]

Agree, valve should be normally closed. I also believe that on ride control there is a one way orifice that limits how fast the oil can exhaust from the accumulator to prevent the loader from going into excessive oscillation. This allows the oil to enter the accumulator to absorb the bounce and prevents the accumulator from discharging rapidly causing the loader to raise rapidly and over shoot. Similar to the dampening in a shock absorber.

You will also have to determine the accumulator size and pre-charge pressure for the ride control to be effective. For reference accumulators are typically pre-charged with nitrogen to approximately 70 - 80% of operating pressure. Not sure what "standard" pre-charge is for ride control though.

 

[jonsstihl]

the tractor only generates around 10gpm of hydraulic flow and the valve would be in the T to the accumulator so it would not see full system flow only the flow from the bouncing of the cylinders.

the smaller the valve the easier it is to package I would like to put the valve and accumulators on the tractor instead of way out on the loader arm like the wr long kit.

 

[jonsstihl]

I hadn't thought of limiting the flow from the accumulator back into the system but the poppet style valve would provide a little restriction due to the 50 -150 psi check valve.

 

[jonsstihl]

pre charge pressure settings are where the magic happens. I see that the wr long kit uses two balloons, one for empty damping and one for loaded. most manufacturers of accumulators warn against bottoming out the accumulator but the wr long kit must bottom out the accumulator set for empty ride control to start using the accumulator set to loaded ride control.

 

[oldnslo]

James,
If this link works it is for a Rexroth ride control system. Probably far more elaborate that what you require but it might provide some guidance on what is required to make these systems work. If the link does not work I just googled Rexroth ride control. Or search for RE64614, that is the data sheet number.

You will require far more restriction that 50 - 150 PSI will generate. I would suspect that a boded bucket will require 2000 PSI to lift.

https://md.boschrexroth.com/modules...D6D3C080CAA0.borex-tc&sch=M&id=13812,20,54374

 

[jonsstihl]

thanks for the link
the pressure I refered to was for the bounce back flow from the accumulator back to the system but I suspect I will need some kind of flow limiter instead of just the poppet valve. tractor pressure is set to 2630 so I'm assuming a full capacity lift would require that much psi.

 

[oldnslo]

James,
I also found this link for Hydraforce.

HydraForce - Application Wheel Loader Solutions

 

[Texasmark]

Agree on a solenoid which is an off-on, spring loaded switch. Powering up, it goes from closed to fully open and cut power and the spring slams it shut. Beware of transients in the system using a solenoid. Kinetic energy stored in the flowing fluid has to be absorbed somewhere when you try to stop it. Best thing would be either a Water Hammer type device, like used in household plumbing for absorbing shock from the washing machine or dish washer turning on and off (very impractical in a simple, small system, or a slowly moving device of which I know not. Cutting engine rpms to idle can go a long way in making a solenoid work for you....just don't forget to idle down first when stopping the flow.

W.W. Graingers is one source.

 

[rScotty]

I don't have any new ideas to offer yet, but just following along on this project. I hope you do it; I'd like to add something similar to our Kubota M59

We do have ride control on our full size JD310 backhoe. There the ride control is controlled by a simple electric switch from inside the cab....probably a solenoid & accumulator of some sort.
I've not looked at it in detail, but it works beautifully. Something similar could be very simple and would be a big improvement for every machine with a FEL. Fairly simple to do, too.
It would make a great group project.

For a solenoid - or for any hydraulic component - I usually start by looking at: Hydraulics | www.surpluscenter.com
rScotty

 

[jonsstihl]

The only flow the system would see is when the loader is bouncing. This system would be similar to a water hammer in the lift circuit of the loader but with an on off switch.