Accumulator, plunger assembly and hydraulic plunger pump for a hydraulic plunger pump

Abstract

The application provides an accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump, characterized in that the accumulator is configured to be positioned in a piston (104) of a hydraulic piston pump (100) and comprises: an elastomer (201) capable of elastic deformation; wherein the accumulator (200) is configured to absorb and store pressure energy in the accumulator (200) in the case of the piston (104) pushing out hydraulic fluid, and release the pressure energy in the case of the piston (104) sucking in hydraulic fluid. The application also provides a piston assembly and a hydraulic piston pump.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an accumulator, and more particularly to an accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump. Additionally, this application also relates to a piston assembly and a hydraulic piston pump. Background Technology

[0002] Hydraulic piston pumps are an indispensable and important component in hydraulic systems. Driven by a prime mover, they convert mechanical energy into fluid pressure energy through the reciprocating motion of the pistons, thereby providing the high pressure required by the hydraulic system. Therefore, hydraulic piston pumps are widely used in various scenarios such as engineering machinery, shipbuilding, and mineral exploration.

[0003] In the actual operation of a hydraulic piston pump, on one side, the piston moves inward to draw hydraulic fluid into the chamber. During this process, due to a sudden and rapid drop in pressure, the gas originally dissolved in the hydraulic fluid precipitates out and forms bubbles. On the opposite side of the piston pump, the piston moves outward to expel the hydraulic fluid from the chamber. During this process, due to a sudden and rapid increase in pressure, the bubbles burst, and the precipitated gas dissolves back into the hydraulic fluid, thus the bubbles also burst and disappear.

[0004] However, due to the bursting of the bubble, a vacuum is created in the volume it previously occupied. The surrounding liquid hydraulic fluid then refills this volume at extremely high speed and pressure, resulting in localized extremely high temperatures and pressures in the region, thus creating a cavitation effect. This not only introduces unwanted noise and / or vibration into the hydraulic system, but also corrodes the hydraulic piston pump over time, affecting its robustness and service life.

[0005] Considering, but not limited to, the above situations, it is desirable to provide a novel component for a hydraulic piston pump, piston assembly, and / or hydraulic piston pump to solve or at least alleviate the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0006] This application aims to provide an accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump, which is advantageous over the prior art in at least one respect.

[0007] To this end, this application provides, in one aspect, an accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump, characterized in that the accumulator is configured to be positioned within the piston of the hydraulic piston pump and includes: an elastomer capable of elastic deformation; wherein the accumulator is configured to absorb and store pressure energy in the accumulator when the piston ejects hydraulic fluid, and to release the pressure energy when the piston draws in hydraulic fluid.

[0008] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the accumulator further includes a guide that can be configured to fluidly communicate a lubricating fluid passage in the ball head of the plunger and a hydraulic oil chamber of the plunger.

[0009] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the guide is configured to guide the elastomer to elastically stretch and contract along the axial direction and constrain the elastomer's swaying in the radial direction.

[0010] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the accumulator further includes a retainer configured to hold the elastomer within the plunger.

[0011] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the accumulator further includes a pressure bearing member disposed between the elastomer and the retainer, and configured to apply pressure of hydraulic fluid in the plunger chamber to the elastomer.

[0012] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the elastomer is a cylindrical helical spring.

[0013] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the elastomer is formed as two or more cylindrical rubber bodies arranged sequentially along an axial direction, wherein the axial direction refers to the direction of reciprocating motion of the plunger in the working state of the hydraulic plunger pump.

[0014] In one feasible exemplary embodiment, the guide is a guide post that extends through the interior of the elastic body, thereby guiding the elastic body to extend and retract in the axial direction, wherein the axial direction refers to the direction of reciprocating motion of the plunger in the working state of the hydraulic plunger pump.

[0015] In another aspect, this application provides a plunger assembly characterized by comprising: an accumulator for a hydraulic plunger pump as described above, wherein the accumulator can be held inside the plunger by a snap-fit ​​mechanism using a retainer, wherein the retainer has an annular structure and the plunger has a retaining ring structure that mates with the annular structure.

[0016] In another aspect, this application provides a hydraulic piston pump, characterized in that it includes: an accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump as described above or a piston assembly as described above.

[0017] The accumulator, plunger assembly, and / or hydraulic plunger pump according to this application can significantly reduce the generation and collapse of air bubbles during the reciprocating motion of the plunger, thereby reducing the noise and vibration of the hydraulic pump and thus reducing the adverse effects of cavitation on the hydraulic pump and the entire hydraulic system. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 A hydraulic piston pump according to one embodiment of this application is shown.

[0019] Figure 2A-2B A plunger assembly according to one embodiment of this application is shown, wherein an accumulator for a hydraulic plunger pump is disposed in the plunger, showing two states of the elastomer being compressed and released.

[0020] Figure 3 A plunger assembly according to another embodiment of this application is shown, wherein another accumulator for a hydraulic plunger pump is configured in the plunger. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Some feasible embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are not drawn to scale. Some details may be enlarged for clarity, while some details that are not necessary to show have been omitted.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, a hydraulic piston pump 100 according to one embodiment of this application is illustrated.

[0023] The hydraulic piston pump 100 includes a housing 101 with an opening and an end plate 102 covering the opening of the housing to close the housing 101. A distribution plate 106 may be disposed on the end plate 102 to guide the flow of hydraulic fluid in and out.

[0024] The hydraulic plunger pump 100 also includes a cylinder 103a. The cylinder 103a is mounted on a spindle 105 and configured to rotate with the spindle 105. The cylinder 103a may have a (basically) cylindrical geometry. The axis of rotation of the spindle 105 coincides with the central axis of the cylinder 103a.

[0025] The cylinder body 103a has (there can be multiple) openings, as an example Figure 1 Only one cylinder bore (also called chamber) 103b is shown in the image, which can be multiple, as an example. Figure 1 Only one plunger 104 is shown in the diagram. Each plunger 104 is also evenly distributed circumferentially around the main shaft 105. The plungers 104 are capable of reciprocating motion within the cylinder bore 103b. The reciprocating motion of each plunger 104 in its corresponding cylinder bore 103b allows hydraulic fluid to be drawn in and discharged from each cylinder bore 103b accordingly (via the distribution plate 106).

[0026] It is understood that the number of plungers 104 can be three or more, for example, five, seven, or nine. In some specific cases, the number of plungers 104 can also be an even number, for example, four, six, eight, or ten. It is readily apparent that the number of the plurality of cylinder bores 103b is configured to be equivalent to the number of plungers 104.

[0027] The hydraulic piston pump 100 also includes a swashplate 107. Each piston 104 is rotatably secured to the swashplate 107. The stroke of the piston 104 reciprocating within the cylinder bore 103b (also referred to as piston stroke) is related to the tilt angle of the swashplate 107. The larger the tilt angle of the swashplate 107, the greater the stroke of the piston 104 within the cylinder bore 103b. It can be understood that the tilt angle of the swashplate 107 refers to the relative angle between the central axis of the swashplate 107 and the axis of the main shaft 105.

[0028] The inclination angle of the swashplate 107 is configured to be adjustable. For example, the swashplate 107 is configured to be adjustable via two control components located on opposite sides of the swashplate 107. The inclination angle can be adjusted, for example, in the range of about 0-16 degrees, about 0-18 degrees, or about 0-20 degrees. "Opposite sides" refers to radially opposite sides relative to the central axis of the swashplate 107 (located on opposite sides of each other).

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the hydraulic piston pump 100 also includes an accumulator 200. The accumulator 200 is configured to be positioned within the piston 104, such that when the piston 104 ejects hydraulic fluid (at the oil pressure zone of the hydraulic piston pump), pressure energy can be absorbed and stored in the accumulator 200, and when the piston 104 draws in hydraulic fluid (at the oil suction zone of the hydraulic piston pump), the pressure energy can be released. In this way, the drastic pressure fluctuations generated during the reciprocating motion of the piston 104 can be mitigated, thereby reducing the formation of air bubbles and correspondingly reducing the occurrence of bubble collapse, thus reducing the adverse effects of cavitation on the hydraulic piston pump.

[0030] like Figure 2A-2B As shown, an accumulator 200 for a hydraulic piston pump according to one embodiment of this application is illustrated, which includes a piston assembly 300, wherein an elastomer is shown being compressed ( Figure 2A ) and elastomer release ( Figure 2B ) state.

[0031] The accumulator 200 includes an elastomer 201. The elastomer 201 is capable of elastic deformation, particularly axial (i.e., the direction of reciprocating motion of the plunger 104 in the operating state of the hydraulic plunger pump 100). The elastomer 201 can be a spring, such as a cylindrical helical spring. The spring can be made of metal or alloy, such as spring steel, stainless steel, copper alloy, etc. The spring can also be made of other non-metallic materials, such as rubber. One possibility is that the elastomer 201 can be a rubber spring. Another possibility is that the elastomer 201 can also use a liquid and / or gas as the elastic medium, correspondingly forming a gas spring, a liquid spring, and / or a gas-liquid composite spring. The gas can be, for example, air, which is readily available and inexpensive. The liquid can be, for example, a hydraulic fluid. For convenience and / or other considerations, this hydraulic fluid of the elastic medium can be the same hydraulic fluid used in the operation of the hydraulic pump. Alternatively, this hydraulic fluid of the elastic medium can also be a different fluid than the hydraulic fluid used in the operation of the hydraulic pump. In this way, at least it is beneficial to identify the sealing effect of the accumulator 200.

[0032] like Figure 3 The diagram illustrates an accumulator 200 for a hydraulic piston pump according to another embodiment of this application, comprising a piston assembly 300, wherein an elastomer 201 of another embodiment is shown. For example, the elastomer 201 may be formed as two or more substantially cylindrical rubber bodies arranged sequentially along an axial direction. It is understood that the axial direction refers to the direction of reciprocating motion of the pistons during operation of the hydraulic piston pump. The elastomer 201 may include a central portion 201a and a peripheral portion 201b, wherein the profile and / or diameter of the central portion 201a may be smaller than the profile and / or diameter of the peripheral portion 201b. As shown, such an elastomer 201 may be formed in a dumbbell shape.

[0033] The accumulator 200 may further include a guide 202. The guide 202 may be configured to fluidly communicate the lubricating fluid passage in the ball head of the plunger 104 and the hydraulic oil chamber of the plunger. For example, the guide 202 may be configured to be hollow. In this way, the interface between the ball head of the plunger 104 and the slipper of the plunger pump can be lubricated. The guide 202 may be configured to guide the elastic body 201 to elastically expand and contract axially and to constrain (or even prevent) the elastic body 201 from swaying in the radial direction. As shown in FIG2, the guide 202 may be formed as a guide post. The guide post extends through the interior of the elastic body 201, thereby guiding the expansion and contraction of the elastic body 201 in the axial direction. It is understood that other suitable guide structures and / or shapes are also conceivable.

[0034] The accumulator 200 may further include a retainer 203. The retainer 203 is configured to hold the elastomer 201 (e.g., by interference fit) to the plunger 104, that is, to prevent the elastomer 201 from detaching from the plunger 104. The retainer 203 may be held within the plunger 104, for example, by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. For example, as shown in FIG2, the retainer 203 is configured as an annular or circular structure. Accordingly, the plunger 104 has a structure that mates with the retainer 203, such as a retaining ring. The snap-fit ​​connection may be, for example, a rotary connection or a press-fit connection.

[0035] The retainer 203 can also retain the elastomer 201 to the plunger 104 by other means, such as welding.

[0036] The accumulator 200 may further include a pressure-bearing member 204. The pressure-bearing member 204 is disposed between the elastomer 201 and the retainer 203 and configured to apply hydraulic pressure to the elastomer 201. Alternatively, the pressure-bearing member 204 may also be mounted to the outer periphery of the guide 201, and form a sealing interface relative to the guide 201, for example, by tightly fitting against the guide 201, or by applying an additional sealing element (e.g., a sealing ring, more specifically, a rubber sealing ring). In this way, hydraulic fluid operating in the hydraulic plunger pump 100 can be prevented from entering the interior of the accumulator 200, especially from contacting and contaminating the elastomer 201. One possibility is that the pressure-bearing member 204 may have a flange abutting against the retainer 203 (specifically, the inner surface of the retainer 203 facing the elastomer 201), and an extension connected to the flange and extending toward the interior of the elastomer 201. The extension may be configured to surround the outer periphery of the guide 202.

[0037] This application also relates to a plunger assembly 300, which includes an accumulator 200 and a plunger 104 as disclosed in this application, the accumulator 200 being disposed inside the plunger 104.

[0038] In addition, this application also relates to a hydraulic plunger pump 100, which includes the plunger assembly 300 or accumulator 200 as described above.

[0039] As used herein, the term "comprising" is open-ended and includes one or more of the stated features, elements, components, or functions, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, functions, or combinations thereof.

[0040] The foregoing description of embodiments of this application is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Within the scope of this application, it will be understood that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives listed in the foregoing paragraphs, claims, and / or description and figures, particularly their individual features, can be carried out independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be carried out in any manner and / or combined, unless such features are incompatible. It will be understood that many modifications and variations are available to those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described to properly explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the various embodiments of the invention and the various modifications suitable for the intended particular use. The applicant reserves the right to accordingly amend any originally filed claims or file any new claims, including amending any originally filed claims to dependent on and / or incorporate any features of any other claim, even if not originally claimed in this way.

Claims

1. An accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump, characterized in that The accumulator is configured to be positioned within the plunger (104) of the hydraulic plunger pump (100) and includes: An elastomer (201) capable of elastic deformation; The accumulator (200) is configured to absorb and store pressure energy when the plunger (104) ejects hydraulic fluid, and to release the pressure energy when the plunger (104) draws in hydraulic fluid.

2. An accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to claim 1, characterized in that The accumulator (200) also includes a guide (202) which can be configured to fluidly communicate a lubricating fluid passage in the ball head of the plunger (104) with the hydraulic oil chamber of the plunger.

3. The accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The guide (202) is configured to guide the elastomer (201) to elastically stretch and contract along the axial direction and to constrain the swaying of the elastomer (201) in the radial direction.

4. An accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to claim 2, characterized in that The accumulator (200) further includes a retainer (203) configured to retain the elastomer (201) inside the plunger (104).

5. An accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to claim 4, characterized in that The accumulator (200) also includes a pressure bearing (204) disposed between the elastomer (201) and the retainer (203) and configured to apply pressure of hydraulic fluid in the plunger chamber to the elastomer (201).

6. Accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that The elastic body (201) is a cylindrical helical spring.

7. Accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that The elastomer (201) is formed into two or more cylindrical rubber bodies arranged sequentially along the axial direction, wherein the axial direction refers to the direction of reciprocating motion of the plunger (104) in the working state of the hydraulic plunger pump (100).

8. An accumulator for a hydraulic piston pump according to any one of claims 2-5, characterized in that, The guide (202) is a guide post that passes through the interior of the elastic body (201) to guide the elastic body (201) to extend and retract in the axial direction. The axial direction refers to the direction of reciprocating motion of the plunger (104) in the working state of the hydraulic plunger pump (100).

9. A plunger assembly characterized by, include: The accumulator (200) for a hydraulic piston pump according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the accumulator (200) can be held inside the piston (104) by means of a retainer (203) by a snap-fit ​​method, wherein the retainer (203) has an annular structure and the piston (104) has a retaining ring structure that mates with the annular structure.

10. A hydraulic piston pump characterized by include: An accumulator (200) for a hydraulic piston pump according to any one of claims 1-8 or a piston assembly according to claim 9.

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