Emergency Steering Hydraulics for Excavator Backup Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wheeled excavators face difficulties in operating the steering device when a problem occurs in the hydraulic oil supply unit, requiring excessive physical force from the driver due to insufficient hydraulic oil supply.
Innovation Solution
An emergency steering system that includes an emergency steering device, a display unit, and a control unit to selectively supply hydraulic oil to the steering device, providing status information and ensuring the system's operability even in emergency situations by using a pump and switching valve to manage hydraulic oil flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hydraulic oil supply unit operates normally, then the steering device can be operated easily with hydraulic assistance, but if a problem occurs in the hydraulic oil supply unit, the driver must exert excessive physical force to operate the steering device
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency steering device is pre-configured with a separate hydraulic pump and switching valve that can be activated when the main hydraulic supply fails. This preliminary preparation ensures that an alternative hydraulic supply path is ready to be engaged, allowing the driver to maintain steering control without excessive physical force even when the primary hydraulic system fails.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching valve acts as an intermediary component that can redirect hydraulic oil flow between the main hydraulic supply unit and the emergency steering device. When the main hydraulic supply fails, the switching valve mediates the transition to the emergency hydraulic pump, ensuring continuous hydraulic assistance for steering operation.
2Reliability
If a separate emergency steering device is added to provide backup hydraulic supply, then steering can be maintained during hydraulic failures, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency steering device shares the same basic structure and components with the main steering system, using identical steering cylinders and hydraulic lines. This multi-functionality approach allows the emergency device to perform the same steering function as the main system while minimizing additional complexity through component reuse and standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency steering device is designed to be automatically activated through the switching valve when hydraulic pressure from the main supply drops below a threshold level. This self-service mechanism reduces the need for complex control systems and manual intervention, as the system automatically transitions to emergency mode when needed.
3Reliability
If the emergency steering device is continuously monitored and checked upon engine startup, then the system availability can be ensured, but additional control and monitoring components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the operational status of both the main hydraulic supply unit and the emergency steering device by detecting hydraulic pressure levels and component functionality. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about system status, enabling the control unit to determine when to switch between normal and emergency modes and to notify the driver of the current operational state through the display unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs an automatic status check of the emergency steering device upon engine startup before normal operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the emergency system is functional and ready for use, identifying any potential failures early so that the driver is aware of the system's availability status before it is critically needed.
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
Enables the steering device to operate without requiring excessive physical force from the driver and ensures the emergency steering system's availability upon engine startup, effectively addressing hydraulic oil supply issues in wheeled excavators.
Implementation Method 1
a pump operated by the engine to discharge hydraulic oil
Implementation Method 2
hydraulic oil supplied from the pump to the steering device through the switching valve
Implementation Method 3
a switching valve capable of selectively supplying hydraulic oil from the pump to the steering device
Implementation Method 4
a first check valve that is opened in one direction by the hydraulic oil supplied from the pump to the steering device
Implementation Method 5
a second information unit that provides information on hydraulic oil supplied from the steering pump to the steering device, where the second information unit may be a pressure switch that is selectively operated according to a preset steering pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an emergency steering system (101) for a wheeled excavator, which is installed on the wheeled excavator including an engine (100), a steering device (200) for steering wheels, and a steering pump (300) operated by the engine (100) to supply hydraulic oil to the steering device (200). The emergency steering system (101) comprises: an emergency steering device (400) configured to selectively supply hydraulic oil to the steering device (200); a display unit (700) that provides operating status information of the emergency steering device (400); and a control unit (500) that checks status of the emergency steering device (400) and causes the display unit (700) to output the status upon startup of the engine (100).