Regenerative Reciprocating Circuit

Conventional reciprocating circuits use a four-way directional valve connected directly to a cylinder. In a regenerative reciprocating circuit, oil from the rod end of the cylinder is directed into the cap end to increase speed, without requiring to increase pump flow. Such a circuit is shown below in Figures 28.9-28.10. The circuit components are : A : Hydraulic Pump, B : Relief valve, C : Four-way two position solenoid operated valve, D : Double-acting Single-rod Cylinder. The operation of the regenerative circuit is shown in Figures 28.9-28.10.

Regenerative Advance

In Figure 28.9, the “B” port on the directional valve C, which conventionally connects to the cylinder, is plugged and the rod end of the cylinder is connected directly to the pressure line. With the valve shifted to the left most position, the “P” port is connect to the cap end of the cylinder. If the ratio of cap end area to rod end annular area in the cylinder is 2:1, the pressure being the same at both end, the force at the cap end is double that at the rod end. There is therefore a net force on the cylinder to move the load. Similarly, at any speed of the cylinder, the flow into the cap end would be double that of the rod end. However, in this connection, the flow out of the rod end joins pump delivery to increase the cylinder speed. Thus only half of the flow into the cap end is actually supplied by the pump. However, the pressure during advance will be double the pressure required for a conventional arrangement for the same force requirement. This is because the same pressure in the rod end, effective over half the cap end area, opposes the cylinder’s advance.

In the reverse condition shown in Figure 28.10, flow from the pump directly enters the rod end of the cylinder through two parallel paths, one through the directional valve and the other directly. Exhaust flow from the cap end returns to the tank conventionally through the directional valve. Note that, in contrast to the conventional case, the force on the cylinder as well as the pump flow remains unchanged during extension and retraction. Thus, the speed of the piston during both advancement and retraction remain same.

Regenerative Retraction Stroke


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