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WORLD OF INDUSTRIES - MOTION, DRIVE & AUTOMATION 5/2017

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WORLD OF INDUSTRIES - MOTION, DRIVE & AUTOMATION 5/2017

No matter how rough the

No matter how rough the terrain MACHINE ELEMENTS Terrain that makes for difficult driving, such as steep inclines, icy road surfaces or soft ground, is always a challenge for self-propelled and towed machines. The innovative differential lock valves from Bucher Hydraulics overcome these problems thanks to Power on Demand, so the machines always work reliably, guaranteeing a high degree of certainty in task-planning. In normal driving conditions, when the differential lock function is not required, the valve is not activated and the entire power is available to the drive. This increases the efficiency by a significant amount. About Bucher Hydraulics The company Bucher Hydraulics located in Klettgau- Griessen, Germany is an international manufacturer of advanced hydraulic systems and products including pumps, motors, valves, power units, elevator drives and control systems with integrated electronics. The company has manufacturing facilities and distribution companies in Europe, Asia, the USA and Brazil. The Klettgau location is part of a Bucher Hydraulics global competence centre with its own design and production facilities. Built on extensive technological know-how, Bucher’s product spectrum covers check valves in cartridge design as well as flange-mounting check valves. Machines have to be ready to work at any time and in spite of any obstacles, and they must be energy efficient as well. Nevertheless, some operating circumstances or surrounding conditions impose constraints in this area and often necessitate costly and time-consuming measures. Examples still commonplace today are the redeployment or transfer of construction vehicles to new job sites, restrictions on ride-on mowers due to steep gradients, or harvesters that in the worst case simply have to wait for dry periods and thus compromise the schedule for the entire logistics chain. For everyday situations such as these, differential lock valves from Bucher Hydraulics are an interesting and future-proof solution that is based on a proven design. Basically, differential lock valves ensure that force is distributed to the individual wheels or axles of a vehicle to suit the prevailing situation. For example, to prevent a wheel from slipping or spinning on ice, snow or muddy ground, its oil supply must be reduced by reallocating it among the other wheels. This hydrostatic-drive principle is by no means new, but the continuous developments by Bucher Hydraulics clearly show the additional benefits that the differential lock valves from Klettgau can already offer, so they are having a decisive influence on the ride comfort as well as the traction, operational readiness and safety of machinery. Power on Demand, focusing on overall performance The main components of a differential lock valve are a double-acting flow divider that can both combine as well as divide flows, and a control spool that enables the flow divider to be bypassed when it is not needed. When the differential lock valve is switched off, the oil flow can apportion itself among the motors in the vehicle without any restrictions. In the case of the Bucher valves, the total power is available to the drive when the valve is not activated. This is made possible by the detailed design, which features large cross sections and optimized flow channels in the valve block, yielding a lower delta P. In plain language: the oil gets to its destination WORLD OF INDUSTRIESMOTION, DRIVE & AUTOMATION 5/2017

01 The smart flow division results in such low pressure losses that the total power for the travel drive is hardly affected 02 The rugged and reliable MT..DV series differential lock valves are marked out above all by their energy efficiency over the whole flow range faster thanks to lower resistance, and the vehicle saves energy when it is being driven if the valve is not activated. This means that a size 08 differential lock valve handling 50 l/min [13.2 gpm] would need only 2.5 bar [36 psi] when not activated and barely 10 bar [145 psi] when activated. This smart flow division results in such low pressure losses that the total power for the travel drive is hardly affected. Off-road and steep hills? No problem This high efficiency level of the Bucher valve is the vital foundation for tests with aerial work access platforms that were successfully conducted. Equipped with a Bucher Hydraulics differential lock valve, an aerial work platform coped with a 45° slope. No road in the world is that steep. However, thanks to the use of these differential lock valves, aerial work platforms as well as compaction rollers and other construction site vehicles can now drive up ramps onto a truck under their own power, to then be taken to the next job site. Even with ride-on and golf course mowers, the ability to cope smoothly with major height differences can be decisive when municipalities are choosing off-road vehicles for hilly parkland, or when golf courses must look well maintained in all weathers. In these cases, the differential lock valve proves itself with three motors: both front wheels are completely locked with respect to each other and to the rigid rear axle, a situation which – depending on the weight distribution of the machine – can of course also be implemented the other way around. Faster road speed instead of expensive transport The whole concept of differential lock valves is directed towards the increasing demands of users, particularly in terms of cost reduction and efficiency improvement. This is also reflected in a new changeover valve, which Bucher Hydraulics offers in addition to the differential lock valve and which is focused on speed. When vehicles such as road sweepers have to be relocated from one job site to the next, the time required is usually twice as expensive: the vehicle is non-productive during the period, and it requires costly transport. Incorporating a differential lock valve with changeover valve, model USV08 (size 08) or USV16 (size 16), now makes it possible to achieve all the drive variants: in difficult road conditions the lock is activated, while for relocation the lock is deactivated and fast-speed mode is engaged – and all at the touch of a button. During normal driving the oil flow is distributed equally between the two axles, but the changeover valve causes the entire flow to be fed to just one axle, while the second axle simply free-wheels. This means that maximum speed can be achieved, and the sweeper can travel to the next job site under its own power. In addition to road sweepers, the changeover valve can be used on all mobile machines. Rugged and reliable Using their extensive product and application knowledge, the valve specialists at Bucher Hydraulics developed the MT..DV series in nominal sizes 08 and 16. With ratings of 100 or 250 l/min [26.4 or 66 gpm], the maximum flow rates correspond to those of the wellknown high-pressure flow divider valves; the same also applies to the working pressure of 420 bar [6000 psi]. Above this rating, and after discussion and depending on the operating conditions, peak pressures of up to 520 bar [7500 psi] may be acceptable. A customized version of the valve demonstrated this capability when used in a field sprayer. The application required an operating pressure of 420 bar [6000 psi] over long periods and peak pressures of 520 bar [7500 psi] for short periods. Related to the number of driving motors used in the application, Bucher Hydraulics offers models for two, three and four motors. The dual model (MT..DV) typically locks the front and rear axles relative to each other. The version for three motors (MT..DVD) can completely lock two individual wheels and one axle. Telescopic work access platforms, combine harvesters, graders and forwarders are ideally suited for applying the 4-gang lock valve (MT..DVV), which can lock each wheel individually and therefore both axles as well. Numerous options and customized models Responding to market requirements, Bucher Hydraulics also offers a low-cost differential lock valve (MTDA..HD). In these double-acting flow divider valves, the flow is permanently routed through the flow divider. The low-cost solution is particularly suitable when the ability to switch between travel mode and locked-differential mode is not needed. With all variants, other functions can be directly integrated to ensure optimum matching with the particular application. These include incorporating the changeover valve mentioned earlier, on/ off valves for releasing the brakes, and shock/make-up valves to protect the motor when an external force is suddenly applied to the wheels (for example, by the edge of curb stones). Characteristic of all versions is the simple, robust and therefore reliable design that requires no maintenance. This lowers costs and at the same time increases machine availability. This is the route to achieving accurate results without the use of costly electronics. Users can apply the differential lock valves with all popular motors. In addition, the valves can be supplied with the usual electrical connectors for this type of application. These feature ingress protection up to class IP68, so high-pressure cleaning of the vehicles is not a problem. www.bucherhydraulics.com WORLD OF INDUSTRIESMOTION, DRIVE & AUTOMATION 5/2017

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