Gas Spring Charging With One-Way Valve for Full Tank Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic systems for machines like backhoe loaders and excavators are inefficient in transferring gas from a pressurized storage tank to a gas spring, as they rely on pressure equalization, leaving gas in the tank at a fixed pressure, limiting the amount of gas that can be transferred.
Innovation Solution
A gas spring arrangement with a piston head moveable within a cylinder, connected to a gas storage tank via a gas supply conduit and valve assembly, where the piston head increases the volume of the gas chamber to decrease pressure in the tank, allowing gas to flow into the cylinder, and the valve assembly is configured to prevent gas return during charging, ensuring efficient gas transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pressure equalisation is used to transfer gas from storage tank to gas spring, then the system is simple to operate, but the amount of gas transferred is limited and efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A valve assembly is introduced as an intermediary component in the gas supply conduit to control and direct gas flow from the storage tank to the gas spring. The valve assembly includes a valve body with a valve seat and a valve member that can be moved to different positions to control flow direction, enabling complete gas transfer while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is designed to be movable between different positions (first position for charging, second position for use) to dynamically control gas flow direction. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to switch between gas transfer mode and normal operation mode, maximizing gas utilization efficiency.
2Device complexity
If the gas storage tank volume is fixed, then the tank structure is simple, but gas remains in the tank at equalised pressure limiting transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly acts as a mediator between the fixed-volume storage tank and the gas spring, enabling complete gas transfer by controlling flow direction. The valve member can be positioned to allow gas to flow from the tank to the gas spring while preventing backflow, ensuring that even with a fixed tank volume, all gas can be transferred to the gas spring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow direction parameter through the movable valve member, allowing gas to be completely transferred from the storage tank to the gas spring. By controlling the valve positions, the system optimizes gas transfer efficiency without needing to change the physical parameters of the fixed-volume tank.
3Productivity
If gas can flow freely between storage tank and gas spring, then gas can be transferred, but gas returns from cylinder to tank during charging reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly serves as a one-way gatekeeper that allows gas to flow from the storage tank to the gas spring during charging but prevents gas from returning to the tank. The valve member is positioned to block the return path, ensuring unidirectional gas flow and preventing energy loss from gas that would otherwise need to be re-transferred.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing free bidirectional flow and then managing the return, the system inverts the approach by using the valve assembly to permit only unidirectional flow from tank to spring during charging. This prevents the harmful reverse flow before it can occur, eliminating gas loss entirely.
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 method allows for the efficient transfer of gas from the storage tank to the gas spring, maximizing the amount of gas used for energy recovery and operation of the work tool, improving the overall efficiency of the hydraulic system.
Implementation Method 1
moving the piston head in the cylinder to increase the volume of the first gas chamber to decrease a gas pressure in the at least one gas storage tank such that gas moves from the at least one gas storage tank into the cylinder
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method of operating a machine comprising a work tool and an apparatus mounted thereto. The apparatus comprises a gas spring arrangement comprising a first gas chamber defined by a piston head moveably mounted inside a cylinder and a gas supply apparatus comprising at least one gas storage tank having a fixed volume and containing a gas. The storage tank is fluidly connected by a gas supply conduit to the cylinder. The method comprises a charging step for drawing gas from the at least one storage tank into the cylinder, comprising moving the piston head to increase the volume of the first gas chamber to decrease a gas pressure in the storage tank such that gas moves from the storage tank into the cylinder and preventing return of gas from the cylinder to the at least one storage tank during the charging step.