Boat Drive Hydraulic Steering Unit with Throttling Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic steering units for boat drives face issues with check valve stuttering due to external water flow forces, leading to inefficient steering and increased energy consumption, which can result in overheating.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating first and second throttling devices with hydraulic resistors, such as nozzles, in the line arrangements to control volume flow independently of external forces, ensuring reliable check valve opening and reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If recirculation valves are used to adjust pump output and prevent check valve stuttering, then steering reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases and heat generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the throttling function from the pump output control and places it locally at the check valves through throttling devices. This allows the pump to operate at constant output without energy waste, while still preventing check valve stuttering by controlling flow at the critical location.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces throttling devices as intermediary elements between the hydraulic lines and the tank. These devices mediate the flow to maintain sufficient back pressure at the check valves, preventing stuttering without requiring continuous pump output adjustment and associated energy consumption.
2Reliability
If recirculation valves are used to control pump output, then check valve opening reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the flow control function from the complex pump output control system and implements it through simple throttling devices directly at the check valve locations, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The throttling devices automatically provide the necessary flow restriction and back pressure control at the check valves without requiring external control systems or complex valve arrangements, making the system self-regulating.
3Measurement precision
If pump output is continuously controlled to prevent stuttering, then steering precision is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potential harm of unrestricted flow (which causes check valve stuttering) into a beneficial controlled flow through throttling devices. The throttling creates necessary back pressure to prevent stuttering while minimizing energy waste and heat generation by only restricting flow when needed at the check valve locations.
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 solution prevents check valve stuttering, allows precise boat steering, reduces energy consumption and heat generation, and enables a more compact and cost-effective hydraulic steering unit design.
Implementation Method 1
the first line arrangement has a first throttling device acting in the direction of flow to the tank and that the second line arrangement has a second throttling device acting in the direction of flow to the tank
Implementation Method 2
the first line arrangement has a first check valve that is opened when pressure is applied to the second line arrangement
Data Source
AI summary
A boat drive hydraulic steering unit has a steering cylinder unit, pump and tank. The cylinder unit has a first chamber, piston and second chamber. The pump is connected to the first and second chambers by respective first and second line. The first chamber is connected to the tank via the first line arrangement when the second chamber is pressurized, by the first line arrangement having a first check valve which opens when the second line arrangement is pressurized. The second chamber is connected to the tank via the second line arrangement when the first chamber is pressurized, by the second line arrangement having a second check valve which opens when the first line arrangement is pressurized. The first and second line arrangements have respective first and second throttling devices acting in the direction of flow towards the tank. A boat drive may include the steering unit.