Excavator Hydraulic Flow Control for Stable Swing and Arm Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shovels destabilize arm motion during complex operations involving swing and arm closing when the bucket is not in contact with the excavation object, leading to insufficient pressing force from the swing hydraulic motor.

Innovation Solution

A shovel design incorporating a control device that adjusts the opening area of a control valve based on work details, using sensors and actuators to stabilize motion during complex operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the flow rate of hydraulic oil to the arm cylinder is reduced to increase swing hydraulic motor flow rate, then the pressing force from the swing hydraulic motor is improved, but the motion stability of the arm is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing forceVSAvoidmotion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control valve opening area variable rather than fixed. The control device dynamically adjusts the opening area of the control valve in the second conduit based on detected work conditions (such as whether the bucket is contacting the excavation object). This allows the system to optimize hydraulic oil distribution in real-time, increasing flow to the swing hydraulic motor when needed while maintaining sufficient flow to the arm cylinder for stability, thereby resolving the contradiction between pressing force and motion stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If hydraulic oil is supplied preferentially to the swing hydraulic motor, then the pressing force is improved, but the arm motion becomes unstable when the bucket is not contacting the excavation object

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressing forceVSAvoidoperation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to detect work conditions (such as bucket contact status with the excavation object) and feeding this information back to the control device. The control device then adjusts the control valve opening area accordingly. When the bucket is not contacting the excavation object, the system maintains larger opening area to ensure stable arm motion; when contact is detected, it reduces the opening area to prioritize swing hydraulic motor flow rate and pressing force, thus resolving the contradiction between pressing force and operation reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If the control valve opening area is reduced to stabilize swing operation, then the swing performance is improved, but the arm cylinder receives insufficient hydraulic oil flow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswing performanceVSAvoidhydraulic oil flow rate
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the control valve opening area variable rather than fixed. The control device dynamically adjusts the opening area of the control valve in the second conduit based on detected work conditions (such as whether the bucket is contacting the excavation object). This allows the system to optimize hydraulic oil distribution in real-time, increasing flow to the swing hydraulic motor when needed while maintaining sufficient flow to the arm cylinder for stability, thereby resolving the contradiction between pressing force and motion stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3943674B1excavator
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY
  • EP3943674B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3943674B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3943674B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shovel (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a left main pump (14L), an arm cylinder (8), a swing hydraulic motor (2A), a directional control valve (173) corresponding to the swing hydraulic motor (2A), a directional control valve (176L) corresponding to the arm cylinder (8), a left center bypass conduit (40L) connecting the left main pump (14L) and the directional control valve (173), a control valve (177) installed in a left parallel conduit (42L) connecting the left center bypass conduit (40L) and the directional control valve (176L), and a controller (30) configured to control the opening area of the control valve (177) according to information on work details.