Distributed Platform Hydraulics for Aerial Work Pressure Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing hydraulic systems in aerial work platforms suffer from significant energy loss and waste due to long pipelines and structural limitations, leading to inefficient energy consumption, especially in varying oil viscosities across different seasons.

Innovation Solution

A distributed hydraulic power system is implemented, where a platform power unit on the work platform independently supplies oil to the platform cylinder circuits, eliminating long pipelines and integrating high-efficiency electro-hydraulic components to reduce energy losses and improve efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a centralized substructure oil pump supplies hydraulic oil through long pipelines to the work platform, then the hydraulic system can be simplified in structure, but energy loss increases significantly due to the long pipeline distance and structural limitations of the boom drag chain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic system structureVSAvoidhydraulic oil energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic system is divided into two independent segments: the substructure hydraulic system for boom operations and the platform hydraulic system for platform operations. Each segment has its own power unit and control system, allowing independent optimization of each segment's efficiency without compromising overall system simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A platform-specific power unit acts as an intermediary between the substructure pump and the platform actuators. This intermediary receives hydraulic oil from the substructure system and re-pumps it locally at the platform, eliminating the need for long pipelines running through the boom drag chain and reducing energy loss in the transmission path

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If the pipeline specification is increased to reduce energy loss, then energy efficiency improves, but the structural limitations of the boom drag chain prevent selecting a large specification for the pipeline

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepipeline energy lossVSAvoidpipeline specification constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The platform hydraulic system extracts the oil supply function from the long pipeline running through the boom drag chain. By installing a platform power unit directly on the work platform, the system eliminates the need for large-diameter pipelines through the drag chain, removing the constraint imposed by the drag chain's structural limitations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If hydraulic oil is supplied through long pipelines around the boom drag chain, then the system can operate with a single substructure pump, but pressure redundancy and waste occur when multiple platform actions are performed simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump configurationVSAvoidenergy consumption efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic system is segmented into independent control zones: the substructure system controls boom operations while the platform system controls platform operations. Each segment has its own power unit that can operate independently, allowing simultaneous operations without pressure conflicts and eliminating the need for one system to compensate for another's pressure requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The platform power unit provides dynamic, localized pressure generation that adapts to real-time platform operation needs. When multiple platform actuators operate simultaneously, the local power unit can provide the necessary pressure without being constrained by the pressure requirements of distant boom operations, enabling more efficient energy utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 system reduces energy consumption by avoiding complex hydraulic pipeline connections and pressure redundancy, enhancing energy efficiency and response speed while maintaining smooth operations across varying loads and platform orientations.

Implementation Method 1

The motor pump sucks hydraulic oil from the platform hydraulic oil tank and pumps the hydraulic oil to the oil circuit of the fly jib luffing cylinder, the oil circuit of the platform swing cylinder, and the oil circuit of the platform leveling cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pumping: Pump

Implementation Method 2

a platform cylinder hydraulic circuit, comprising an oil circuit of a fly jib luffing cylinder, an oil circuit of a platform swing cylinder, and an oil circuit of a platform leveling cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic transmission: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP4700251A1Working platform hydraulic system and electric aerial work platform
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 ZOOMLION INTELLIGENT ACCESS MASCH CO LTD
  • EP4700251A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4700251A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4700251A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present application relates to the field of aerial work machinery and discloses a work platform hydraulic system and an electric aerial work platform. The work platform hydraulic system includes a platform cylinder hydraulic circuit and a platform power unit that is arranged on the work platform to supply oil independently to the hydraulic circuit. In the electric aerial work platform using this hydraulic system, a substructure oil pump supplying oil to the main boom working circuit and the platform power unit are independently and distributively distributed. This distributed arrangement enables the platform cylinder hydraulic circuit to be independently supplied with oil by the platform power unit, separating the work platform hydraulic system from other action hydraulic systems. The combination of small-flow and high-pressure platform actions with large-flow and low-pressure actions ensures no pressure redundancy and waste, improving energy efficiency, avoiding complex hydraulic pipeline connections, and achieving long-distance energy transmission.