Dual Hydraulic Circuits for Pressureless Vehicle Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic systems for vehicles require engine shutdown during coupling processes to prevent damage from working pressure, limiting operational efficiency and reliability due to the need for separate mechanical and fluidic coupling steps.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic system with two independent circuits, a vehicle hydraulic circuit and an operating hydraulic circuit, allows for simultaneous mechanical and fluidic coupling without engine shutdown, using a separate hydraulic pump for the Power-Beyond connection to maintain pressure and enable steering and leveling during coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the engine is switched off during coupling to depressurize hydraulic pumps, then coupling safety is improved, but operational efficiency and productivity deteriorate due to separate mechanical and fluidic coupling steps
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is divided into two independent circuits: a vehicle hydraulic circuit with a vehicle hydraulic pump for mechanical coupling, and an operating hydraulic circuit with an operating hydraulic pump for fluidic Power-Beyond coupling. This segmentation allows each circuit to operate independently, enabling simultaneous mechanical and fluidic coupling without engine shutdown, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle hydraulic circuit acts as an intermediary system that provides a separate hydraulic source for mechanical coupling operations. By introducing this intermediate circuit with its own pump, the system can maintain engine operation while providing the necessary hydraulic pressure for safe mechanical coupling, eliminating the need to shut off the engine
2Device complexity
If a single hydraulic pump is used for both vehicle hydraulics and Power-Beyond coupling, then device complexity is reduced, but operational reliability deteriorates due to pressure conflicts during coupling
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into two independent circuits with separate pumps: the vehicle hydraulic circuit for mechanical coupling operations and the operating hydraulic circuit for Power-Beyond coupling. This segmentation eliminates pressure conflicts by providing independent hydraulic sources, ensuring operational reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Each hydraulic circuit is designed to perform specific functions independently: the vehicle hydraulic circuit handles mechanical coupling tasks while the operating hydraulic circuit handles fluidic Power-Beyond coupling. This multi-functional design allows the system to perform multiple operations simultaneously without interference, improving reliability without significantly increasing overall complexity
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
This design enhances operational reliability and efficiency by allowing pressureless coupling at 20 bar standby pressure, reducing the risk of damage and enabling simultaneous mechanical and fluidic connections, thus improving the overall coupling process.
Implementation Method 1
The operating hydraulic circuit (121) is designed independently from the vehicle hydraulic circuit (122) and has its own hydraulic pump (129). The advantage here is that the vehicle hydraulic circuit (122) is used on the one hand to establish the coupling between the vehicle and an add-on unit... In contrast to the prior art, in which only one hydraulic pump is employed and the Power-Beyond connection is controlled by a valve, the design according to the disclosure enables considerably higher performance and a significantly improved efficiency.
Implementation Method 2
This is important because the vehicle is to be steered and also raised or lowered during the connection and coupling process in order to match the level of add-on unit with the level of the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
Hydraulic system (120) for a vehicle comprising a vehicle hydraulic circuit (122) among others for the hydraulic supply of connecting means of an automatic coupling means, wherein the connecting means is designed to connect a coupling means (31) of the vehicle with a correspondingly designed coupling means (32) of an add-on unit and an operating hydraulic circuit (121) for supplying at least one Power-Beyond coupling, wherein the vehicle hydraulic circuit and the operating hydraulic circuit are designed independent of one another and each having a hydraulic pump.