Circle Drive Hydraulics With Counterbalance Valves Against Shock Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Grading machines face issues with component failure due to excessive forces encountered when the work implement encounters resistance or immovable objects, leading to slippage, excessive heat generation, and wear of clutch and gear train components.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a hydraulic system with dual counterbalance valves and planetary gear assemblies to set a mechanical pressure threshold, preventing the motor from being driven in reverse by external forces and protecting the circle drive system components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the work implement encounters resistance or immovable objects during operation, then the grading machine can handle difficult terrain and materials, but excessive forces are transmitted to the driving arrangement components causing failure
Solution Approach 1:
A hydraulic motor is introduced as an intermediary between the circle drive gear and the work implement. This hydraulic motor acts as a buffer that can absorb and mitigate excessive forces transmitted from the work implement to the driving arrangement, preventing component failure while maintaining the ability to handle difficult terrain and materials.
2Ease of operation
If the circle drive is used to adjust the work implement position, then the blade cutting angle can be controlled, but slippage and excessive heat generation occur when the work implement is under excessive load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the direct mechanical connection between the circle drive gear and the work implement with a hydraulic motor. This substitution eliminates the slippage and excessive heat generation problems associated with mechanical friction under load, while maintaining precise control of the blade cutting angle through hydraulic actuation.
3Force
If the work implement transmits impact forces into the driving arrangement, then the hydraulic motor output shaft is subjected to high loads, but component failure occurs in the driving arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic motor serves as a protective intermediary that absorbs impact forces from the work implement. Its hydraulic fluid cushioning effect and flexible power transmission characteristics prevent these shock loads from being directly transmitted to the circle drive gear and other driving arrangement components, thereby preventing component failure.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic system for operating a circle drive gear of a grading machine includes a pump configured to output pressurized fluid, a directional control valve fluidly coupled to the pump, a bidirectional hydraulic motor located downstream of the directional control valve and fluidly coupled to the directional control valve via hydraulic lines. The hydraulic motor has an output shaft that is configured to be rotationally driven by pressurized fluid output by the pump. Dual counterbalance valves may be disposed within the hydraulic circuit of the directional control valve and hydraulic motor such that any gearbox driven by the hydraulic motor is protected from external opposing forces. Accordingly, motion in the circle drive system is hydraulically locked at the beginning and release of a circle rotation command with the help of fluid pressure in the hydraulic lines.