Crawler Steering Hydraulics for Work Implement Operability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Crawler-type work machines with work implements may experience insufficient hydraulic fluid distribution, leading to deteriorated operability when the hydraulic pressure supply unit for the turning motor is also used for the work implement.
Innovation Solution
A crawler-type work machine equipped with left and right steering brakes, a turning motor, work implement cylinders, a hydraulic pressure supply unit, and a controller that executes a hydraulic fluid amount control to reduce the hydraulic fluid supplied to the turning motor when the work implement cylinders are driven.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hydraulic pressure supply unit supplies hydraulic fluid to both the turning motor and work implement cylinders, then the turning function is enabled, but the operability of the work implement deteriorates due to insufficient hydraulic fluid distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic pressure supply unit dynamically adjusts the hydraulic fluid supply amount to the turning motor based on the operation state of the work implement cylinders. When work implement cylinders are operating, the supply amount to the turning motor is reduced, and when they are not operating, the supply amount is increased. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptable to different operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of hydraulic fluid supply amount to the turning motor based on the operation state of the work implement cylinders. The controller modifies this parameter in real-time, reducing it when work implement cylinders are active and increasing it when they are idle, thereby optimizing the distribution of hydraulic fluid between the turning motor and work implement cylinders.
2Device complexity
If a single hydraulic pressure supply unit is used for both turning motor and work implement cylinders, then the device complexity is reduced, but the hydraulic fluid amount available to each component becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple static hydraulic supply units, the invention employs a single dynamic supply unit that adjusts its output based on real-time operational needs. The controller monitors the state of work implement cylinders and dynamically modulates the hydraulic fluid supply to the turning motor, ensuring adequate fluid availability for both components without increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic pressure supply unit automatically adjusts its own output based on feedback from the system state. The controller enables the supply unit to self-regulate the hydraulic fluid distribution between the turning motor and work implement cylinders, eliminating the need for additional independent supply units while maintaining sufficient fluid availability for each component.
Data Source
AI summary
A crawler-type work machine includes left and right steering brakes configured to brake left and right output shafts, a turning motor configured to produce a rotation speed difference between the left and right output shafts, work implement cylinders configured to drive a work implement attached to a vehicle body, a hydraulic pressure supply unit configured to supply hydraulic fluid to the turning motor and the work implement cylinders, and a controller configured to control the hydraulic pressure supply unit. The controller is configured to execute a hydraulic fluid amount control in order to reduce the hydraulic fluid amount supplied from the hydraulic pressure supply unit to the turning motor when the work implement cylinders are driven while the turning motor is rotating.