Confluence Valve Hydraulic Circuit for Simpler Actuator Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic circuits in existing technologies have complex structures requiring numerous components, leading to increased fabrication costs, reduced productivity, and complicated repairs.
Innovation Solution
A simplified hydraulic circuit design incorporating a confluence valve system with specific fluid passages and control valves that allow for efficient fluid flow management, including a confluence valve that directs working fluid from one supply to another when certain control valves are in non-neutral positions, reducing the complexity and enhancing operational reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hydraulic circuits use multiple separate control valves for each working fluid supply, then each actuator can be controlled independently, but the circuit structure becomes complex and requires numerous components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions into a single integrated control valve assembly. The first and second control valves are positioned within the same valve body, sharing common fluid passages and control mechanisms. This merging reduces the total number of separate components while maintaining the ability to independently control multiple actuators through coordinated valve operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve assembly is designed with multi-functional capability, where the same valve body and associated passages serve multiple purposes: controlling flow from the first working fluid supply, controlling flow from the second working fluid supply, and enabling confluence of fluids. This universal design reduces component count while maintaining independent actuator control capability.
2Reliability
If conventional hydraulic circuits use numerous separate components, then functional requirements are met, but fabrication costs increase and repairs become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple control valves and fluid passages into a single manufactured assembly, the patent reduces fabrication costs associated with manufacturing multiple separate components. The integrated design allows for economies of scale in production and reduces assembly complexity, while still meeting all functional requirements for controlling multiple actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent design facilitates easier repair by enabling modular replacement of the integrated control valve assembly as a single unit. If failure occurs, the entire assembly can be replaced without disassembling and repairing individual internal components, reducing repair time and complexity while maintaining system reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hydraulic circuits use multiple separate components, then operational flexibility is achieved, but productivity decreases due to complex assembly and repair
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated control valve assembly maintains operational flexibility for controlling multiple actuators independently while significantly improving productivity during assembly and repair. The pre-integrated design reduces on-site assembly steps and allows for quicker installation and maintenance operations compared to assembling multiple separate valve components.
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 proposed design simplifies the hydraulic circuit structure, reduces component count, lowers fabrication costs, and improves repairability while maintaining operational reliability and efficiency in supplying pressurized fluid to multiple actuators.
Implementation Method 1
When the first control valve and the second control valve are in non-neutral positions, respectively, the fifth fluid passage and the second fluid passage may be closed, thereby generating a first pressure within the fifth portion of the fifth fluid passage and a second pressure within the second portion of the second fluid passage, so that the first pressure is applied to the first valve through the fourth fluid passage to move the first valve to close the third fluid passage and the second pressure is applied to the confluence valve through the first fluid passage to move the confluence valve to a confluence position.
Implementation Method 2
the first pressure is applied to the first valve through the fourth fluid passage to move the first valve to close the third fluid passage
Data Source
AI summary
When a first control valve and a second control valve are in non-neutral positions, respectively, a fifth fluid passage and a second fluid passage are closed, thereby generating a first pressure within a fifth portion of the fifth fluid passage and a second pressure within a second portion of the second fluid passage, so that the first pressure is applied to a first valve through a fourth fluid passage to move the first valve to close the third fluid passage and a second pressure is applied to the confluence valve through a first fluid passage to move the confluence valve to a confluence position. When the confluence valve is in the confluence position, the confluence valve directs working fluid from a first working fluid supply to the second control valve.