Bidirectional Pump Hydraulic System for Watercraft Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance of onboard hydraulic systems in watercraft is time-consuming, costly, and messy, particularly when filling, bleeding, and purging oily fluids, and existing portable equipment is expensive and often requires professional services.
Innovation Solution
An independent hydraulic system that can be fluidly connected to another hydraulic system to facilitate filling, bleeding, and purging, using a bidirectional pump, valve unit, and connectors to enable fluid flow between systems, allowing for efficient maintenance by a single operator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If portable filling/bleeding/purging equipment is used for hydraulic system maintenance, then the hydraulic system can be maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming, costly, and messy
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system uses its own pump to perform filling, bleeding, and purging operations on another hydraulic system, eliminating the need for external portable equipment. The system serves itself by utilizing its existing hydraulic pump and fluid reservoir to maintain other hydraulic systems on the watercraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates the primary hydraulic system during normal operation and also serves as a portable filling/bleeding/purging device for maintaining other hydraulic systems. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated maintenance equipment.
2Ease of repair
If portable filling/bleeding/purging equipment is used, then hydraulic maintenance is possible, but the cost increases due to expensive equipment and professional services
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system uses its own pump to perform filling, bleeding, and purging operations on another hydraulic system, eliminating the need for external portable equipment. The system serves itself by utilizing its existing hydraulic pump and fluid reservoir to maintain other hydraulic systems on the watercraft.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of investing in expensive portable maintenance equipment, the system uses the existing hydraulic pump and standard hydraulic fluid already present in the system, which are inexpensive relative to dedicated maintenance equipment.
3Ease of repair
If traditional hydraulic maintenance methods are used, then fluid replacement is possible, but the process is messy due to oily hydraulic fluids
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system uses its own pump to perform filling, bleeding, and purging operations on another hydraulic system, eliminating the need for external portable equipment. The system serves itself by utilizing its existing hydraulic pump and fluid reservoir to maintain other hydraulic systems on the watercraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a controlled fluid transfer process through connectors and valves to move hydraulic fluid between systems in a contained manner, preventing spills and messiness that occur with traditional open maintenance methods.
4Reliability
If independent hydraulic systems are used for different watercraft operations, then system independence is achieved, but maintenance becomes more complex requiring multiple systems
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pump is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates the primary hydraulic system during normal operation and also serves as a portable filling/bleeding/purging device for maintaining other hydraulic systems. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated maintenance equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines the maintenance function with the existing hydraulic system by using the same pump and fluid reservoir for both operational and maintenance purposes, reducing overall system complexity despite having multiple independent hydraulic systems.
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
Enables quick, clean, and simple maintenance of hydraulic systems, reducing costs and operational time, as the system allows for fluid flow between connected hydraulic systems for filling, bleeding, and purging, improving responsiveness and reducing damage from air presence.
Implementation Method 1
a bidirectional pump, valve unit, and connectors to enable fluid flow between systems
Data Source
AI summary
An independent hydraulic system for operating at least one first system used in the operation of a watercraft and adapted to be fluidly connected to one other independent hydraulic system for operating at least one second system used in the operation of the watercraft, so that actuating a driving actuator part of the independent hydraulic system, causes a flow of fluid to flow from the independent hydraulic system to the other independent hydraulic system.