Bi-Directional Hydraulic Power Unit With Balanced Flow Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional prime mover systems experience hydraulic lock due to unbalanced fluid flow, leading to inefficiencies and energy loss, particularly in sealed systems requiring precise bi-directional motion, as they often require variable reservoirs and additional components like pressure regulators and solenoids.

Innovation Solution

A bi-directional power unit system with a reservoir flow balancing compensator technique that minimizes the need for these components by ensuring balanced fluid flow through the use of selective control valves, a compensator tank, and pressure measuring devices, allowing for thermal expansion and compression, thereby reducing energy requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If conventional prime mover systems use unbalanced fluid flow design, then the system structure is simpler, but hydraulic lock occurs and energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts fluid flow distribution between the prime mover inlet and outlet ports based on operational requirements, enabling the prime mover to adapt to varying flow conditions and eliminate hydraulic lock while maintaining bi-directional movement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow balance parameter by selectively controlling fluid flow paths, transforming the fixed unbalanced flow design into a variable balanced flow system that prevents hydraulic lock and improves energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional systems use variable reservoirs and additional components, then flow balance can be achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow balance controlVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs multiple functions including flow balancing, pressure regulation, and bi-directional movement control through a unified selective valve mechanism, eliminating the need for separate variable reservoirs and multiple specialized components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary components such as variable reservoirs and pressure regulators from the system by implementing flow balance control directly within the prime mover structure through selective valve mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If sealed systems require precise bi-directional motion, then movement precision is improved, but hydraulic lock occurs due to unbalanced flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement precisionVSAvoidhydraulic lock

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors fluid flow conditions and automatically adjusts valve positions to balance flow between inlet and outlet ports, preventing hydraulic lock from occurring during precise bi-directional motion operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves efficient and controlled bi-directional motion by directly managing fluid flow between the prime mover and the moving device, reducing energy loss and eliminating the need for large variable reservoirs and additional plumbing, enhancing system efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The reservoir is vented, sealed, pressure compensated, preloaded and/or expandable and allows for unbalanced flow to and from the mechanical (user) device and allows for thermal expansion or compression

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11326626B2Prime mover system and methods utilizing balanced flow within bi-directional power units

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 A O INT II

AI summary

Systems, methods and devices are described providing a selective hydraulic or electrically powered prime mover that is a bi-directional power unit system, including movement within a device used to compress and/or expand a fluid and provide fluid movement. The use of a hydraulic power unit is involved and comprises at least a pump or other fluid moving device, a first set of selective control valves delivering pressurized fluid to the device(s), and a second set of selective control valves returning unpressurized fluid from the device(s), a reservoir comprising a compensator tank, a port for operation at ambient pressure, and a pressure measuring device measuring ambient pressure allowing for unbalanced flow to and from the device as well as thermal expansion or compression. The use of a multiport and in some cases a swashplate pump that incorporates the features and functions of several valves for the system is also described.