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3ZS 966G WHEEL LOADER Operación de Sistemas

Número de publicación RENR2114-01 Fecha de publicación 2000/11/01 Fecha de actualización 2001/10/02

Ride Control System

SMCS Code: 5004

The optional ride control system provides a means for dampening the bucket forces which produce a
pitching motion as the machine travels over rough terrain.

The ride control system is made up of the following components: the lift cylinders, the ride control
diverter valve, the ride control accumulator and the manifold.

Illustration 60

Location of the Ride Control Diverter Valve

(1) Manifold. (2) Ride control diverter valve. (3) Ride control solenoid valve. (4) Ride control relief
valve. (5) Solenoid valve.

Ride control diverter valve (2) is located on the front loader frame. The ride control diverter valve
attaches to manifold (1). The ride control diverter valve controls the flow of oil from the lift
cylinders to the ride control accumulator.

Ride control solenoid valve (3), ride control relief valve (4), and solenoid valve (5) are attached to
ride control diverter valve (2).

Illustration 61

Location of the Ride Control Accumulator

(6) Ride control accumulator.

Ride control accumulator (6) is located in front of the articulation joint on the right side of the front
end frame. Ride control accumulator (6) contains a precharge of nitrogen gas.

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Illustration 62

Ride Control Switch

The ride control system is controlled by the ride control switch. The ride control switch is a three-
position switch that is located on the right side control panel in the cab.

Note: The schematic in illustration 63 shows the ride control system with the ride control switch in
the OFF position and the key start switch in the ON position.

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Illustration 63

Schematic of the Ride Control System

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(1) Manifold. (2) Ride control diverter valve. (3) Ride control solenoid valve. (4) Ride control relief
valve. (5) Solenoid valve. (6) Ride control accumulator. (7) Lift cylinders. (8) Valve spool. (9) Ports
to the main control valve. (10) Check valve. (11) Valve spool. (12) Supply line to the pilot valve (oil
manifold). (13) Ride control check valve. (14) Implement pump. (15) Supply line from the pilot
valve (oil manifold). (16) Implement electronic control module. (A) High pressure oil. (B) Low
pressure oil. (C) High pressure pilot oil. (D) Low pressure pilot oil.

Reference: For additional information on the implement hydraulic system, refer to the Service
Manual module Schematic, "Hydraulic System" for the machine that is being serviced.

OFF Position
When the ride control switch is in the OFF position, ride control solenoid valve (3) is closed. In this
position, the flow of pilot oil to valve spool (11) is blocked.

Valve spool (11) prevents the oil from the rod end of the lift cylinders from flowing back to the
hydraulic oil tank. Valve spool (11) also prevents the oil from the head end of the lift cylinders from
flowing to ride control accumulator (6).

When the start switch key is turned to the OFF position, solenoid valve (5) de-energizes. Solenoid
valve (5) moves to the DOWN position. The oil pressure in accumulator (6) acts against the right end
of valve spool (8). Valve spool (8) balances the pressure in accumulator (6) and the head end of the
lift cylinders.

If the oil pressure in accumulator (6) is higher than the oil pressure in the head end of the lift
cylinders, valve spool (8) moves to the left. Oil in accumulator (6) flows to the hydraulic oil tank
until the pressure in the accumulator is equal to the pressure of the head end of the lift cylinders.

When the operator turns the start switch key to the ON position, solenoid valve (5) energizes.
Solenoid valve (5) moves to the UP position. The right end of valve spool (8) is open to the
hydraulic oil tank. Oil can not flow from accumulator (6) to the right end of valve spool (8).

The oil pressure in the head end of the lift cylinders keeps valve spool (8) shifted to the right. If the
pressure in accumulator (6) is less than the pressure of the implement hydraulic system, check valve
(13) will open. Check valve (13) prevents oil flow from the accumulator to the main hydraulic
system.

This allows oil from implement pump (14) to flow through check valve (13) and into accumulator
(6). The implement pump will increase the pressure in accumulator (6). The implement pump can
charge the accumulator to a pressure that is equal to the main relief valve pressure setting.

Note: The operator must move the lift control lever to the RAISE position or the tilt control lever to
the RACK BACK in order to create pressure in the implement hydraulic system.

ON Position
Push in on the bottom of the ride control switch in order to turn on the ride control system. An
indicator light on the dashboard turns on.

Solenoid valve (5) will de-energize in order to allow oil pressure from accumulator (6) to move the
valve spool (8). This allows valve spool (8) to balance the pressure in the accumulator and the head
end of the lift cylinders.

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After five seconds, solenoid valve (3) energizes. Ride control solenoid valve (3) opens. In this
position, pilot oil flows to valve spool (11). Valve spool (11) moves in order to allow the flow of oil
from the head end of the lift cylinders to the accumulator (6). Oil from the rod end of the lift
cylinders flows back to the hydraulic oil tank.

The oil flow from the head end of the lift cylinders acts against a piston in accumulator (6). The
accumulator piston acts as a shock absorber. The flow of oil is resisted by the nitrogen precharge in
the accumulator. Makeup oil flows through valve spool (11) and into the rod end of the lift cylinders.

When the oil pressure in accumulator (6) exceeds the setting of ride control relief valve (4), oil flows
through the ride control relief valve to the hydraulic oil tank.

AUTO Position
Push in on the top of the ride control switch in order to turn on the automatic ride control system. An
indicator light on the dashboard turns on.

In the AUTO position, the ride control system functions automatically when the machine's speed
increases above approximately 9.5 km/h (6.0 mph). There is a 5 second delay before the ride control
functions. The operation of the ride control system in the AUTO position is similar to the ON
position.

As the machine approaches the load site, the operator decreases the ground speed of the machine.
When the speed decreases below approximately 9.0 km/h (5.5 mph) the ride control system stops
functioning.

No oil will flow from the lift cylinders to the ride control accumulator while the operator loads the
bucket. This allows a greater breakout force for loading the bucket.

Note: If the bucket of the machine is loaded from an external source (a hopper or another machine)
the pressure in the head end of the lift cylinders will increase. The operator must move the lift
control lever to the RAISE position or the tilt control lever to the RACK BACK in order to create
pressure in the implement hydraulic system. This will cause implement pump (14) to charge the
accumulator.

After the bucket is filled and the operator increases the ground speed of the machine, the ride control
system functions again. The pitching of the bucket is dampened.

Note: If the oil pressure in the head end of the lift cylinders is above the pressure of the ride control
accumulator, oil will suddenly flow into the accumulator when the ride control system turns on. This
will cause the lift arms to drop slightly.

Reference: For more information on operating the ride control system, refer to the Service Manual
module for Operation and Maintenance Manual, "Ride Control".

Copyright 1991, 2008 Caterpillar Inc.

All Rights Reserved.

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