HYDRAULIC CONTROL BLOCK AND METHOD FOR MAKING A CONTROL BLOCK and application of a control block

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a hydraulic control block, comprising the following steps: a. manufacturing a first part (100) of the control block, comprising a plurality of bores and / or channels (101), by machining or by casting; b. manufacturing a second part (11) of the control block on the first part of the control block by additive manufacturing, wherein the second part (11) of the control block comprises at least one hydraulic line, wherein between steps a. and b. a section of the hydraulic line is milled into the first part (100) and wherein in step b. the hydraulic line (11) is manufactured by additive manufacturing on this section of the hydraulic line, wherein the second part (11) of the control block connects at least two of the plurality of the bores or channels (101) of the first part (100).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of manufacturing methods for producing a hydraulic control block. In particular, the present invention also relates to a control block that is manufactured using this method. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Hydraulic control blocks are found in numerous everyday applications. One example is mobile hydraulics, which controls machines, systems, and attachments in the construction, agricultural, and logistics sectors. It goes without saying that these are extremely robust applications, such as excavators or large tractors with enormous plowshares in agriculture. Despite these high demands, users require relatively lightweight and compact control blocks. Depending on the specific requirements, a control block made of materials such as aluminum, cast iron, or steel is suitable.

[0003] The interior of a control block, with all its connections and ductwork, is a complex structure. In particular, complex bores are made in the block to bypass existing pipes, resulting in extensive piping.

[0004] To create complex line connections, more and more control blocks are now being used that are manufactured using additive manufacturing, as this allows for greater freedom in the number and complexity of the connections.

[0005] However, such control blocks have several disadvantages compared to control blocks manufactured by machining or casting. A first disadvantage is that the stability of such a control block is not always sufficient. A second disadvantage is that the manufacturing time increases enormously, which could hinder mass production. At the same time, the production costs of such a control block are significantly higher compared to control blocks manufactured using conventional methods.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a control block and a control block that makes it possible to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, an objective of the present invention is to find an economical solution for a hydraulic circuit that enables hydraulic circuitry in a small space. SUMMARY

[0007] The present invention is based on the idea of ​​combining a conventional process (such as casting or machining) with additive manufacturing.

[0008] Claim 1 describes a method according to the present invention which makes it possible to combine two different technologies to produce a

[0009] Claim 7 claims a hydraulic control block that differs from control blocks known from the prior art. This claim is described as a method because this is the only way to describe the features that are new compared to the prior art. List of characters

[0010] The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying figure, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical parts and / or to similar parts and / or to corresponding parts of the system. Regarding the figures: Fig. Figure 1 shows a representation of the scheme of a valve block according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present invention is described below with reference to certain embodiments as shown in the accompanying figure. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described in the detailed description below; rather, the described embodiments merely illustrate some aspects of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

[0012] Further modifications and variations of the present invention are obvious to a person skilled in the art. The present description therefore encompasses all modifications and / or variations of the present invention whose scope of protection is defined by the claims.

[0013] Fig. Figure 1 describes a control block that was manufactured according to a method of the present invention.

[0014] The control block comprises a first part 100, which has a plurality of insert bores and channels 101. The bores can be manufactured, for example, according to DIN 2434, ISO 4401 and ISO 7368. The present invention is not limited to a specific type of bore and can be applied to a generic control block.

[0015] At least one valve 99 (screw-in valves and, if necessary, screw-on valves) can be arranged on the first part of the control block.

[0016] A second part 11 of the control block is arranged on the first part 100. The second part 11 comprises at least one connection between two of the insert bores or channels 101 of the first part 100. In the Fig. For example, two connections 11 are shown in Figure 1.

[0017] The first part 100 of the control block can be manufactured by machining or casting. These methods are standard procedures used today for the manufacture of a control block. In this context, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be applied to control blocks that have already been manufactured and possibly already in use.

[0018] The second part 11 of the control block is manufactured using additive manufacturing. This solution allows additive manufacturing to be used to create the connections between the bores or channels 101. This enables great flexibility in the design of the connections, as additive manufacturing is very easy to perform.

[0019] The control block can therefore be designed to be very compact, because even if not all lines can be accommodated in the block, additive manufacturing can be used to create these connections.

[0020] A wiring diagram (connection of individual valves or hydraulic components) can also be printed onto an existing control block, allowing for the economical implementation of such complex wiring configurations. Pure 3D printing would therefore not be necessary.

[0021] The hydraulic line can include at least one curved flow gallery, wherein the curved flow gallery follows a non-linear path in three-dimensional space, such that the flow gallery is curved in the hydraulic control block and the curvature of the flow gallery varies along most of the length of the gallery.

[0022] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a section of the hydraulic line 11 can be milled into the first part 100, so that the hydraulic line is manufactured on this section of the hydraulic line by means of additive manufacturing.

[0023] A hydraulic control block manufactured using the described method is also protected by this patent application. Such a control block differs from known control blocks in that, in this control block, a main body is manufactured using a conventional method, while additional elements on a surface of the main body are manufactured using additive manufacturing. It is clear to those skilled in the art that the physical properties of an element manufactured using additive manufacturing differ from the physical properties of an element manufactured by casting or machining.

[0024] Such a control block can be used, for example, in a subsea actuator.

[0025] While the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments described above, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that it is possible to implement various modifications, variations and improvements of the present invention in light of the teaching described above and within the scope of the attached claims without deviating from the scope of protection of the invention.

[0026] Furthermore, the areas in which experts are likely to be knowledgeable have not been described here in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the described invention.

[0027] Accordingly, the invention should not be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Claims

[1] A method for producing a hydraulic control block, the method comprising the following steps: a. producing a first part (100) of the control block, which comprises a plurality of bores and / or channels (101), by machining or by casting; b. Manufacturing a second part (11) of the control block on the first part of the control block by means of additive manufacturing. [2] The method of claim 1, wherein the second part (11) of the control block connects at least two of the plurality of insert bores or channels (101) of the first part (100). [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second part (11) of the control block comprises at least one hydraulic line. [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein between steps a. and b. a section of the hydraulic line is milled on the first part (100) and wherein in step b. the hydraulic line (11) is manufactured by additive manufacturing on this section of the hydraulic line. [5] The method of claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least one hydraulic conduit comprises at least one curved flow gallery. [6] The method of claim 5, wherein the curved flow gallery follows a non-linear path in three-dimensional space such that the flow gallery is curved in the hydraulic control block and the curvature of the flow gallery varies along most of the length of the gallery. [7] Hydraulic control block manufactured by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. [8] Application of a control block according to claim 7 to a subsea actuator.

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