Excavator Hydraulic Bleed Valve Control for Pressure Pulsation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shovels with hydraulic actuators do not effectively control the pulsation of hydraulic oil pressure within the hydraulic circuit, limiting operational stability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a bleed valve and a control device that adjusts the opening area of the bleed valve based on the magnitude of pressure pulsation in the hydraulic oil, allowing for the regulation of the bleed flow rate to manage pressure pulsation and reduce unnecessary hydraulic energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single cut valve is used to control the bleed off of directional control valves, then turning operability is stabilized, but the pulsation of hydraulic oil pressure cannot be controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturning operabilityVSAvoidpressure pulsation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single cut valve into multiple independent cut valves, each corresponding to a specific hydraulic actuator. This segmentation allows independent control of bleed-off for each actuator, enabling precise control of pressure pulsation while maintaining turning operability. The multiple cut valves work in conjunction with their respective directional control valves to manage hydraulic flow and pressure independently for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the opening degree parameter of the cut valves based on detected pressure pulsation levels. When pressure pulsation exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control device adjusts the opening degree of the cut valves to increase bleed-off and reduce pulsation. This parameter adjustment allows the system to respond adaptively to pressure conditions while maintaining stable turning operability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the opening area of the bleed valve is increased to control pressure pulsation, then pressure pulsation is reduced, but hydraulic energy is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure pulsationVSAvoidhydraulic energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic control of the bleed valve opening area based on real-time pressure pulsation detection. The control device continuously monitors pressure pulsation and adjusts the bleed valve opening degree accordingly, increasing it only when pulsation exceeds thresholds and decreasing it when pulsation is within acceptable ranges. This dynamic adjustment minimizes hydraulic energy waste while effectively controlling pressure pulsation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where the control device receives detection results from pressure sensors and adjusts the bleed valve opening degree accordingly. The feedback loop compares actual pressure pulsation with predetermined thresholds and modifies the bleed valve position to maintain optimal pressure conditions, thereby reducing energy waste while controlling pulsation effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution enables effective control of hydraulic oil pressure pulsation, enhancing operational stability and reducing energy wastage by dynamically adjusting the bleed flow rate in response to pressure fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

a bleed valve configured to control the flow rate of a portion of the hydraulic oil discharged by the hydraulic pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic flow control:

Implementation Method 2

a control device configured to control the opening area of the bleed valve in accordance with the magnitude of pulsation in the pressure of hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure pulsation control:

Data Source

PatentEP3594507B1shovel
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY
  • EP3594507B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3594507B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3594507B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shovel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower traveling body (1), an upper turning body (3) turnably mounted on the lower traveling body (1), a main pump (14) mounted on the upper turning body (3), a hydraulic actuator configured to be driven with hydraulic oil discharged by the main pump (14), a bleed valve (177) configured to control the flow rate of a portion of the hydraulic oil discharged by the hydraulic pump (14), the portion flowing to a hydraulic oil tank without going through the hydraulic actuator, and a controller (30) configured to control the opening area of the bleed valve (177) in accordance with the magnitude of pulsation in the pressure of hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic pump (14) to the hydraulic actuator.