Auxiliary Hydraulic System Flow Management for Construction Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic systems in construction machines, such as excavators, face significant power loss and disruptions when auxiliary systems, like those powering brushes or snow blowers, draw heavily from main hydraulic systems, leading to inefficiencies in primary functions like steering and implement operations.
Innovation Solution
The hydraulic system incorporates a boost system and steering system that are sized to provide both full function and auxiliary support, utilizing available flow from actuator systems and selectively communicating with an auxiliary system to minimize power loss and disruptions, with a selector manifold actively managing flow and pressure demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If auxiliary system draws heavily from main hydraulic system, then auxiliary function is satisfied, but primary functions experience disruptions and power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into a main hydraulic system for primary functions and a separate auxiliary hydraulic system for auxiliary functions. The auxiliary system includes its own pump and reservoir, allowing it to operate independently without drawing flow from the main system, thereby eliminating disruptions to primary functions while maintaining auxiliary productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If auxiliary system draws flow from main hydraulic system, then auxiliary function is enabled, but power loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the hydraulic systems and providing a dedicated pump for the auxiliary system, the invention eliminates the power loss associated with drawing flow from the main hydraulic system. The auxiliary pump only needs to provide sufficient power for auxiliary functions, not compete with primary functions for available power.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary hydraulic system is self-sufficient with its own pump and reservoir, generating its own hydraulic power rather than consuming power from the main system. This self-service approach eliminates the parasitic power loss that would otherwise occur when the auxiliary system draws flow from the main hydraulic system.
3Reliability
If boost system is sized for full boost function, then boost performance is maintained, but auxiliary flow availability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is divided into separate circuits: the boost system maintains its dedicated circuit for full boost performance, while the auxiliary system has its own separate circuit with dedicated pump and reservoir. This segmentation allows both systems to operate at full capacity simultaneously without competing for flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The main hydraulic pump serves multiple functions by providing flow to both the boost system and the auxiliary system through separate circuits. The auxiliary pump supplements this by providing additional dedicated flow to the auxiliary circuit, ensuring both boost and auxiliary functions can operate at full capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic system includes one or more hydraulic subsystems that have a source of additional flow for supplying an auxiliary system. The hydraulic system may include one or more actuator systems, a boost system, and a further hydraulic system, such as a steering system. The source of additional flow for supplying the auxiliary system may include: sizing the boost system for providing both full boost function and auxiliary function, sizing the steering system for providing both full steering function and auxiliary function, utilizing available flow from an unused actuator function, and/or utilizing a selector manifold for actively selecting the source of auxiliary flow based on the flow and pressure demands of the respective hydraulic systems. Such a hydraulic system enables flow to be available to an auxiliary function regardless of the flow requirements for the actuator functions and/or other vehicle functions, while also minimizing interactions and flow disruptions to the various hydraulic subsystems.