Emergency Control Unit for Electric Hydraulic Pump

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Solution Overview

Problem

Construction machines equipped with electric hydraulic pumps face operational failures when the electronic control unit malfunctions, limiting their ability to perform high-load work and risking engine stall, as existing emergency control units can only maintain low-load operations.

Innovation Solution

An emergency control unit with a logic circuit that selectively controls the electric hydraulic pumps, allowing for different load settings by switching control signals between regular power sources and electronic control unit paths, enabling the pumps to operate at appropriate flow quantities for both low and high load work.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electronic control unit is used to control the electric hydraulic pump, then the construction machine can perform normal operations, but when the electronic control unit fails, the machine cannot operate at all

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an emergency control unit that serves as a backup control system for the electric hydraulic pump. This unit is prepared in advance with basic control functionality to take over when the main electronic control unit fails, ensuring the machine can still perform essential operations without complete system failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The emergency control unit is designed as a simpler, more robust control system compared to the main electronic control unit. It uses basic switching mechanisms rather than complex electronic circuits, making it less prone to failure and easier to maintain, though with limited functionality compared to the full electronic control system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Power

If the emergency control unit drives both electric hydraulic pumps for high load work, then the machine can perform high-load operations, but the engine may stall due to excessive load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic power outputVSAvoidengine operation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency control unit incorporates dynamic control capability that allows selective operation of one or both electric hydraulic pumps based on actual workload requirements. The control system can adjust the number of active pumps to match the load demands, preventing engine overload while maintaining the ability to perform high-load operations when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables dynamic adjustment of operational parameters including the number of active pumps and their respective output levels. By changing these parameters based on actual work requirements, the system can optimize the balance between power output and engine load, avoiding stall conditions while maintaining operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the emergency control unit drives both electric hydraulic pumps simultaneously, then the flow quantity increases for high-load work, but the engine may stall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic flow outputVSAvoidengine power capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the electric hydraulic pumps based on actual workload requirements. It can switch between operating one pump or two pumps, and adjust their output levels, to match the hydraulic flow demand with the engine's available power capacity, preventing overload while maintaining productivity when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic change of operational parameters including the number of active pumps and their output levels. This enables the hydraulic flow output to be adjusted to match the engine's power capacity under different operating conditions, optimizing the balance between productivity and engine load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If the emergency control unit provides only basic control functions, then the system remains simple and reliable, but the machine cannot perform high-load work

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidhydraulic power output
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency control unit, while maintaining basic control functionality and simplicity, incorporates dynamic adjustment capability that allows it to activate one or both electric hydraulic pumps based on workload requirements. This enables the system to deliver high power output when needed without requiring complex control electronics, bridging the gap between simplicity and performance capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2657539B1Hydraulic system for construction machine including emergency control unit for electric hydraulic pump
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 DOOSAN INFRACORE CO LTD
  • EP2657539B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2657539B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2657539B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a hydraulic system for a construction machine which uses an electric hydraulic pump, and more particularly, to a hydraulic system including an emergency control unit for temporarily driving the construction machine when an electronic control unit controlling the electric hydraulic pumps fails to operate. To this end, disclosed is the hydraulic system including the electric hydraulic pump, the electric control unit for controlling the electric hydraulic pump, and the emergency control unit, which operates when the electric control unit fails to operate, so as to temporarily control the electric hydraulic pump in accordance with to a predetermined condition, which can effectively respond to a low load work corresponding to predetermined pressure (P1) and to a high load work corresponding to higher pressure (P2), by selectively operating the emergency control unit according to different optional conditions, based on the amount of load (low load, high load) of the working machine that is required when the electric control unit fails to operate.