794 Ac m04 Steersys en
794 Ac m04 Steersys en
794 Ac m04 Steersys en
SERV2131
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Caterpillar: Confidential Yellow
SERV2131 - 09/18 -2- Module 4 - Steering System
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY BRIEFING..................................................................................................................... 3
PURPOSE ................................................................................................................................... 4
REASON ..................................................................................................................................... 5
COMPETENCY STATEMENT ..................................................................................................... 6
LEARNING OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................ 7
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 8
STEERING SYSTEM HYDRAULIC GAUGES ............................................................................ 9
STEERING PUMP ..................................................................................................................... 10
STEERING ACCUMULATORS...................................................................................................11
STEERING VALVES AND STEERING OIL FILTER .................................................................. 12
STEERING PRIORITY VALVE .................................................................................................. 13
STEERING MANIFOLD COMPONENTS .................................................................................. 15
STEERING VALVE .................................................................................................................... 17
STEERING VALVE (FLOW AMPLIFIER)................................................................................... 18
STEERING CYLINDERS........................................................................................................... 19
STEERING VALVE (FLOW AMPLIFIER) - NO TURN ............................................................... 20
STEERING VALVE (FLOW AMPLIFIER) - RIGHT TURN ......................................................... 22
STEERING SYSTEM OPERATION - HOLD ............................................................................. 24
STEERING SYSTEM OPERATION - RIGHT TURN ................................................................. 26
PURPOSE REVIEW .................................................................................................................. 27
REASON REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 28
COMPETENCY STATEMENT REVIEW .................................................................................... 29
LEARNING OUTCOMES REVIEW ........................................................................................... 30
MODULE CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................... 31
SAFETY BRIEFING
• Emergency Phone Numbers
• First Aid Responders
• Location of Exits
• Location of Fire Extinguisher
• Room Alerts or Hazards
• Designated Location for Evacuation
• Storm Shelter
• Hazardous Material
3
SAFETY BRIEFING
PURPOSE
4
• Course purpose PURPOSE
REASON
5
• Course reason REASON
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES
7
• Learning outcomes LEARNING OUTCOMES
3
4
1 8
INTRODUCTION
• Identify the steering system. This module explains the operation of the steering system. The steering system is
a closed center, load sensing system which controls two double acting
cylinders (1). Oil is supplied to the cylinders by accumulators that are charged by a
pressure compensated piston pump (2).
The steering control valve (4) uses hydraulic oil from the Hand Metering
Unit (HMU) (3) to change the direction of the front wheels.
1 2
9
STEERING SYSTEM HYDRAULIC GAUGES
• Identify the steering system The steering valve gauge (1) and the steering accumulator gauge (2) are located in
hydraulic gauges. the hydraulics cabinet at the rear of the cab, on the left side of the truck.
1
4
3
10
STEERING PUMP
• Identify the steering pump. The steering pump (1) is driven by the pump drive gearbox (2). The gearbox is
connected through a driveshaft (3) to the end of the generator (4)
The steering pump is a variable displacement, piston-type pump that supplies oil
to the steering system. The steering pump also supplies oil to the brake system,
the drive train cooling fan, the final drive lubrication system, and to the pilot signal
pressure reducing valve for the hoist system.
1 3
2
11
STEERING ACCUMULATORS
• Identify the steering There are five steering accumulators (1) mounted together on the side of the frame
accumulators. near the hydraulic tank (2). Shown in front of these accumulators is the front brake
accumulator (3).
The accumulators are bladder-type accumulators charged with nitrogen and stored
oil under pressure. The accumulators are a ready source of pressurized oil for the
steering system and include an oil reserve in the case of restricted or inadequate
flow from the steering pumps. The accumulators also allow the steering system to
maintain a more constant pressure by absorbing high or low pressure surges.
There is a nitrogen charge valve on the top of the accumulators. The accumulator
should be pre-charged to approximately 10340 kPa (1,500 psi), with no pressure in
the steering system.
NOTE: Steering accumulators remain charged when the cab key start
switch is in the ON position. Moving the key start switch to the OFF
position will discharge the hydraulic pressure from the steering and brake
accumulators. Before inspection or maintenance of any accumulator, turn
on the battery disconnect, then turn the key start switch to the ON position
then to the OFF position which will engage the discharge timer.
1
2
3
12
STEERING VALVES AND STEERING OIL FILTER
• Identify the steering valves and The steering manifold (1), the priority valve (2), and the steering oil filter (3) are
steering oil filter. mounted inside the left frame rail in front of the hydraulic tank.
The steering oil filter is equipped with a bypass valve. The bypass valve limits the
maximum differential pressure through the filter element when the oil is cold or the
filter element is restricted.
The filter is equipped with a mechanical indicator located on the exterior of the filter
assembly head. The truck can be equipped with an optional bypass switch that
illuminates an indicator in the cab. The mechanical indicator and bypass switch
are designed to activate when the differential pressure through the filter element is
restricted.
7 2
8
5
1
10 9
4
3
13
STEERING PRIORITY VALVE
• Identify the steering priority The steering priority valve (1) is located just to the left of the steering manifold
valve. valve (2) on the left inside frame. The purpose of the priority valve is to give priority
to the steering system. As the engine is started, priority is to charge the five
accumulators which provide supplemental steering. After the accumulators are
charged, oil is available for the steering system and the excess oil is directed to the
drive train blower motor, the final drive lubrication system motor, and the optional
final drive system cooling fan motor.
Steering oil comes from the steering filter, through hose (3), to the steering priority
valve, and then to the steering manifold valve (arrow).
The steering priority valve contains the final drive lube solenoid (4) on the bottom
of the valve. At this time, engineering has determined to keep this solenoid in the
open condition when the disconnect switch is closed. Keeping this solenoid open
is because of the addition of the final drive lubrication system that already has a
final drive lubrication bypass valve, which controls the motor on and off times. Final
drive lubrication oil to the motor exits the valve through hose (5).
On the left side of the valve body is the check valve (6). Oil flows through this valve
to the drive train blower motor via hose (7).
Behind check valve, closer to the frame (not shown), is the supply port for the
optional rear axle cooling fan motor.
The relief valve (8) is closed as the accumulators are charging. After they have
charged, the relief valve opens and maintains a system pressure, which causes
the control valve (10) to open and direct oil to the drive train blower motor, the final
drive lubrication system, through orifice (9), and the optional final drive system
cooling fan motor.
10
1
3 11
6
4 7
9
2
5
8
15
STEERING MANIFOLD COMPONENTS
• Identify the steering manifold Oil from the steering pump flows into the priority valve then to the steering
components. manifold (1) via hose (9), which distributes the oil to the steering flow amplifier, the
brake manifold, and to the pilot signal pressure reducing valve for the hoist system.
The solenoid cartridge valve assembly (2) contains a solenoid and manual
pull-type valve. When the key switch is turned off, the solenoid is energized and
oil is directed from the steering accumulator to the tank. The manual pull-type
valve, which is spring loaded to the closed position, provides a method to manually
release pressure in the steering accumulators.
The relief cartridge valve assembly (3) limits pressure in the steering system and is
set at approximately 28270 kPa (4100 psi).
The flow control cartridge assembly (4) controls the oil flow to the five
accumulators, the steering amplifier valve and HMU, and the brake system.
The low steering pressure switch (5) monitors the steering system supply pressure
(accumulator pressure), and causes a cab dash low steering pressure indicator to
light.
4
3
1
17
STEERING VALVE
• Identify the steering valve. The steering wheel in the cab is connected to the steering valve (1). The steering
valve is also referred to as an orbital valve or a Hand Metering Unit (HMU).
The steering valve meters the amount of oil sent to the flow amplifier by the speed
at which the steering wheel is turned. The faster the steering wheel is turned, the
higher the oil flow that is sent to the steering cylinders from the flow amplifier, and
the faster the wheels will change direction.
10
3
5
9
6
1 7
8
2
4 18
STEERING VALVE (FLOW AMPLIFIER)
• Identify the steering valve (flow The steering valve (flow amplifier) (1) is mounted on the inside of the left frame rail
amplifier). at the front of the truck. The steering relief valve (10) is located in the steering valve
and is set at approximately 23500 kPa (3408 psi). This relief valve cannot be
adjusted. It’s set by the supplier.
The steering valve uses pilot oil from the Hand Metering Unit (HMU). As the
operator rotates the steering wheel, the HMU sends pilot oil to either end of the
directional spool, depending on a right or left turn. Moving the directional spool
directs steering pump oil to the left and right steering cylinders.
19
STEERING CYLINDERS
• Identify the steering cylinders. The steering cylinders are two-way hydraulic cylinders mounted under the frame
rails on the front beam axle. This image shows the left steering cylinder (arrow). All
trucks have a pin and clevis arrangement. A pin and clevis are used to connect the
piston rod to the steering arm.
Pressurized oil is routed to each cylinder, from the flow amplifier, through a high
pressure hose entering through an inlet port at either the head or rod end. The oil
pressure causes the rod to extend or retract. The return oil is routed back to the
flow amplifier.
Stabilizing
Orifice (17)
Connecting
Pin Hole (16)
(18)
20
STEERING VALVE (FLOW AMPLIFIER) - NO TURN
• Identify the steering valve (flow The main components of the steering valve are: the priority spool (1), the
amplifier) - no turn. amplifier spool (2) with internal combiner/check spool (3), the directional spool (4),
the relief/makeup valves (5), the back pressure valve (6),and the steering relief
valve (16).
Pressure oil from the steering manifold (7) flows past the spring biased priority
spool and is blocked by the amplifier spool. The same pressure oil flows through
an orifice to the right end of the priority spool. The orifice stabilizes the flow to
the priority spool and must be present to open and close the priority spool as
the flow demand changes. The same pressure oil flows to the HMU (8). After all
the passages fill with pressure oil, the priority spool shifts to the left, but remains
partially open. In this position, the priority spool allows a small amount of oil flow
(thermal bleed) to the HMU and decreases the pressure to the HMU supply port.
The thermal bleed prevents the HMU from sticking.
With the truck in the NO TURN position, all four working ports (supply, tank, right
turn, and left turn) are vented to the tank through the HMU. The directional spool is
held in the center position by the centering springs.
While the truck is traveling straight (no steer), any rolling resistance (opposition)
acting on the steering cylinders creates a pressure increase. The increased
pressure acts on the relief/makeup valve in that port. If the pressure increase
exceeds approximately 28,500 ± 1000 kPa (4133 ± 145 psi), the relief poppet will
open. A pressure drop occurs across the orifice. The pressure drop causes the
dump valve to move and allows oil to flow to the tank (9) passage.
The relief action causes the makeup portion of the other relief/makeup valve to
open and replenish oil to the low pressure ends of the cylinders.
The excess (dumped) oil flows across the back pressure valve and enters the
outer end of the other relief/makeup valve. A pressure difference of 48 kPa (7 psi)
between the tank passage and the low pressure cylinder port causes the makeup
valve to open. The excess oil flows into the low pressure cylinder port to prevent
cavitation of the cylinder. The back pressure valve also prevents cavitation of
the cylinders by providing a positive pressure of 170 kPa (25 psi) in the passage
behind the makeup valve. A pressure higher than 170 kPa (25 psi) will open the
back pressure valve to the tank.
The steering control valve must be removed and tested on a hydraulic test bench
to accurately check the setting of the relief/makeup valves. To functionally test
the right relief/makeup valve, install two tees with pressure taps in the right turn
steering hose at the steering cylinders. Steer the truck all the way to the right
against the stops and shut off the engine. An external pump supply must be
connected to one of the pressure taps on the right turn hose. Connect a pressure
gauge to the other pressure tap on the right turn hose. Pressurize the steering
system and the reading on the gauge will be the setting of the right relief/makeup
valve.
To test the left relief/makeup valve, install two tees with pressure taps in the left turn
steering hose at the steering cylinders. Steer the truck all the way to the left against
the stops and shut off the engine. An external pump supply must be connected to
one of the pressure taps on the left turn hose. Connect a pressure gauge to the
other pressure tap on the left turn hose. Pressurize the steering system and the
reading on the gauge will be the setting of the left relief/makeup valve.
Stabilizing
Orifice (17)
Connecting
Pin Hole (16)
(18)
22
STEERING VALVE (FLOW AMPLIFIER) - RIGHT TURN
• Identify the steering valve (flow When the steering wheel is turned to the RIGHT, the HMU thermal bleed and
amplifier) - right turn. venting of the four work ports (supply, tank, right turn, and left turn) to the tank is
stopped. Right turn pilot oil (13) flows into the left side of the directional
spool (4) through a stabilizing orifice and moves the directional spool to the right.
Movement of the directional spool allows pilot oil to flow to the amplifier and
combiner/check spools.
The pilot oil divides at the amplifier spool (2). Pilot oil flows through a narrow
groove around the combiner/check spool (3). The pilot oil is momentarily blocked
until the amplifier spool moves far enough to the right to allow partial oil flow
through one of eight orifices.
Pilot oil also flows through a connecting pin hole (16) and a stabilizing orifice to
the left end of the amplifier spool, causing the amplifier spool to move to the right.
Accumulator oil at the spring end (right end) of the amplifier spool flows through
a mid-connecting pin (15) to the left end of the amplifier spool, also causing the
amplifier spool to move to the right.
When the amplifier spool moves to the right, accumulator oil flows to the inner
chamber, forcing the combiner/check spool to the left. Accumulator oil then flows
through seven of the eight orifices. Pilot and accumulator oil combine. Oil flows
across the directional spool (which has already shifted) for a RIGHT TURN.
The faster the steering wheel is turned, the farther the directional spool and the
amplifier spool are shifted. A higher flow rate is available, which causes the truck
to turn faster. The ratio of pilot and accumulator supply oil that combine is always
the same because of the orifice dedicated to pilot flow and the orifices dedicated to
accumulator supply flow.
Steering resistance increases the supply (cylinder) pressure to the HMU (8) and
the load sensing port line (14). The load sensing pilot line directs cylinder oil
pressure to the priority spool (1). The increased pressure in the load sensing line
causes the priority spool to move to the right and allows more oil flow to the HMU
through the supply line. The load sensing port supply pressure varies with the
steering load. The priority spool moves proportionally, allowing sufficient oil flow to
meet the steering requirements.
Return oil from the cylinders flows across the directional spool, around the
relief/makeup valve (5), forces the back pressure valve (6) open, and returns to the
tank (9).
During a turn, if a front wheel strikes a large obstruction that cannot move, oil
pressure in that steering cylinder and oil line increases. Oil flow to the cylinder is
reversed. This pressure spike is felt in the amplifier spool. The combiner/check
spool moves to the right and blocks the seven accumulator supply oil orifices to
the steering cylinders. The amplifier spool moves to the left and blocks the pilot oil
orifice. Pilot oil flow to the steering cylinders stops. The pressure spike is not felt at
the HMU. If the pressure spike is large enough, the relief/makeup valve drains the
pressure oil to the tank as previously described.
NOTE: Callouts not listed in the text are shown for reference purposes only.
STEERING SYSTEM R L
Left Steering Cylinder (13) Right Steering Cylinder (14)
Steering Valve
(Flow Amplifier) (19)
Hoist Pumps (2)
EF
U R M1 SL S
T2 Priority Spool (12)
Steering Relief
Valve (21)
Adaptor (36)
Breather (37) Steering Main Relief Valve (27) Steering Accumulator Pressure (23)
24
STEERING SYSTEM OPERATION - HOLD
• Identify the steering system When the engine is started, oil for the steering system is drawn from the hydraulic
operation - HOLD. tank by the steering pump (1), sent through the steering and brake oil filter (10) to
the priority valve (31), inside the steering priority valve (29). The priority valve gives
priority to the steering system. The priority valve remains closed until the pressure
in the steering system charges the five steering accumulators (22). After the
accumulators are charged, the priority valve will open and direct oil to the rear axle
lube solenoid (30) (not used) and to the drive train blower motor. The rear axle lube
solenoid is always open. Engineering decided not to use this valve. The rear axle
drive bypass valve controls the oil flow to the rear axle lube motor. The steering
priority valve also contains a relief valve (32) that limits the oil pressure in the drive
train cooling circuit and the rear axle lube circuit.
Oil from the steering priority valve flows through an orifice and check valve to the
steering manifold (25). Inside the steering manifold, oil flows to the steering main
relief valve (27) and through a check valve to the brake manifold to supply the
brake system. Oil then flows to the accumulator drain (24), to the five steering
accumulators (22), and to the steering valve (flow amplifier) (19).
Oil from the accumulators flows through the priority spool (12) to the Hand Metering
Unit (HMU) (11). If the steering wheel is not turned (HOLD position, as shown), the
oil flows through the steering valve (flow amplifier) (19) to the hydraulic tank (33).
Allowing oil to circulate through the HMU while the steering wheel is stationary,
provides a thermal bleed condition which maintains a temperature differential of
less than 28°C (50°F) between the steering valve and the tank. This thermal bleed
prevents thermal seizure of the steering valve (sticking steering wheel).
NOTE: Callouts not listed in the text are shown for reference purposes only.
R L
Left Steering Cylinder (13) Right Steering Cylinder (14)
RIGHT TURN
Steering Pump (1)
Crossover Relief Valves (15)
U1 U T1 G M A CL CR
Steering Valve
(Flow Amplifier) (19)
Hoist Pumps (2)
EF
U R M1 SL S
T2 Priority Spool (12)
Steering Relief
Valve (21)
Adaptor (36)
Breather (37) Steering Main Relief Valve (27) Steering Accumulator Pressure (23)
26
STEERING SYSTEM OPERATION - RIGHT TURN
• Identify the steering system When the steering wheel is turned, the Hand Metering Unit (HMU) (11) directs oil to
operation - RIGHT TURN. one side of the directional spool (16), the spool shifts and directs oil to the left
steering cylinder (13) and right steering cylinder (14). Depending on which direction
the steering wheel is turned, oil will flow to the head end of one steering cylinder
and to the rod end of the other cylinder. The action of the oil on the pistons and
rods in the steering cylinders causes the wheels to change direction. Displaced oil
from the steering cylinders flows through the steering valve (flow amplifier) (19) to
the tank.
NOTE: Callouts not listed in the text are shown for reference purposes only.
PURPOSE
27
• Purpose review PURPOSE REVIEW
REASON
28
• Reason review REASON REVIEW
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
29
• Course competency review COMPETENCY STATEMENT REVIEW
LEARNING OUTCOMES
30
• Learning outcomes review LEARNING OUTCOMES REVIEW
31
• Conclusion MODULE CONCLUSION
This concludes the Steering System module for the 794 AC Off-Highway Truck.
When used in conjunction with the service manuals, the information in this module
will aid the service technician in troubleshooting, testing, adjusting, and correcting
problems with the machine.
For service repairs, adjustments, and maintenance, always refer to the Operation
and Maintenance Manual (OMM), service manuals, and other related service
publications.