Independent metering systems

Measures of individualisation and integration offer a great potential for further development and optimisation in hydraulic drive technology. Advantages are seen especially for energy efficiency and functionality. To exploit these benefits the independent metering technology appears to be very attractive which motivates the extensive research on this topic during the last decade. This article starts with a brief overview on common hardware arrangements and general control approaches. Furthermore an approach to the safety evaluation of novel independent metering systems is given. Afterwards different application examples are presented, such as a cardboard packaging press in the area of stationary machines and in the fields of mobile machines a working implement of an excavator and an active steering system for tractors. The article ends with a brief summary of the valve requirements for independent metering.