Electrically powered hydraulic actuating system

Abstract

An electrically powered hydraulic actuating system is disclosed. The system includes a pump that has a plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers. The plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers have a common inlet situated to supply the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers with low-pressure fluid. The plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers also have a common outlet situated to receive fluid pressurized by the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers.

1 . A pump, comprising:
 a plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers;   a common inlet situated to supply the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers with low-pressure fluid; and   a common outlet situated to receive fluid pressurized by the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers.   
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , further including a piston disposed within each of the plurality of electro-magnetically actuated pumping chambers and magnetically urged in alternating directions to pressurize fluid. 
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the piston includes a magnetic element; and   the hydraulic pump includes a plurality of conductive coils substantially encompassing each of the plurality of pumping chambers, wherein each of the plurality of conductive coils are configured to receive an electrical current and generate a force that urges the magnetic element in a direction corresponding to a direction of the electrical current through the conductive coil.   
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 1 , further including a piston disposed within each of the plurality of pumping chambers and magnetically urged in a first direction to pressurize fluid, and spring biased in a second direction. 
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pumping chambers are actuated individually based on a demand. 
   
   
       6 . A machine, comprising:
 a power source;   at least one linkage member;   at least one hydraulic actuator located remote from the power source and configured to move the at least one linkage member; and   at least one hydraulic pump located proximal to the at least one hydraulic actuator, wherein the at least one hydraulic pump is electrically driven by the power source and configured to power the at least one hydraulic actuator.   
   
   
       7 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the at least one linkage member includes a plurality of the linkage members;   the at least one hydraulic actuator includes a plurality of the hydraulic actuators located remote from the power source and configured to move the plurality of the linkage members; and   the at least one hydraulic pump includes a plurality of hydraulic pumps located proximal the plurality of the hydraulic actuators, wherein the plurality of the hydraulic pumps are electrically driven by the power source and configured to power the plurality of the hydraulic actuators.   
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the plurality of hydraulic actuators are paired with the plurality of linkage members to separately move the plurality of linkage members; and   each of the plurality of hydraulic pumps is associated in a closed loop configuration with a different pairing of the plurality of hydraulic actuators and the plurality of linkage members.   
   
   
       9 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of hydraulic pumps is sized for a particular pairing of the plurality of hydraulic actuators and the plurality of linkage members. 
   
   
       10 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of hydraulic pumps is single acting and spring biased. 
   
   
       11 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of hydraulic pumps is double acting. 
   
   
       12 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of hydraulic pumps is a rail pump. 
   
   
       13 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of hydraulic pumps is comprised of:
 at least two inlets;   at least two outlets; and   at least two check valves configured to allow a flow of fluid between the plurality of hydraulic actuators and the plurality of hydraulic pumps.   
   
   
       14 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one hydraulic pump includes:
 a piston configured to be affected by a magnetic force;   a conductive coil substantially encompassing the piston, wherein the conductive coil is configured to receive an electrical current and generate a force that urges the piston in a direction corresponding to a direction of the electrical current through the conductive coil.   
   
   
       15 . A method, comprising:
 producing electrical power at a first location;   directing the electrical power to pressurize fluid at a second location, remote from first location; and   directing pressurized fluid at the second location to move a work tool at the second location.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including
 directing the electrical power from the first location to a plurality of locations remote from the first location to pressurize fluid at the plurality of locations; and   directing the pressurized fluid at the plurality of locations to move the work tool at the plurality of locations.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fluid pressurized at the plurality of locations has a different characteristic at each of the plurality of locations. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic includes a flow rate. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic includes a pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein pressurizing fluid at the plurality of locations includes generating a variable magnetic field.