Hydraulic Gear Pump Tooth Sealing for Closed-Loop Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid pumping systems in industrial applications face inefficiencies due to the inability to precisely control flow and pressure, leading to increased energy consumption and complexity, with open-loop systems being prone to contamination and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A fluid pumping system incorporating a variable-speed and/or variable-torque pump, proportional control valves, and a controller that synchronizes the operation of the pump and valves to precisely control flow and pressure, forming a closed-loop system with reduced accumulator sizes and lower cavitation risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a conventional hydraulic pump is run at full speed or constant speed to ensure adequate pressure, then the system maintains sufficient pressure for flow control devices, but energy consumption increases and the pump does not respond precisely to flow demand changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a constant-speed pump to a variable-speed pump that can dynamically adjust its rotational speed based on real-time flow and pressure demands. The pump motor speed is continuously modulated to match the actual system requirements, eliminating the need to run at full speed constantly while maintaining adequate pressure during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through sensors that continuously monitor flow and pressure parameters, feeding this information back to the controller which then adjusts the pump speed accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the pump to respond precisely to changing system demands, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining required pressure levels.
2Measurement precision
If flow control devices are added to precisely control flow in the system, then flow control precision improves, but system complexity increases and additional hydraulic fluid is required for hydraulic controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical hydraulic control systems with an electrically-controlled variable-speed pump system. Instead of using complex hydraulic control circuits and valves that require additional hydraulic fluid, the system uses electronic speed control of the pump motor to achieve precise flow control, thereby reducing mechanical complexity and eliminating the need for separate hydraulic control fluid.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable-speed pump serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both pressure generation and flow control in a single integrated component. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate flow control devices and hydraulic control systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precise control capabilities.
3Reliability
If an open-loop hydraulic system with a large fluid reservoir is used, then the system can maintain fluid temperature and prevent cavitation, but the system becomes susceptible to contamination and requires complicated connecting components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the large open-loop fluid reservoir from the system by implementing a closed-loop hydraulic system. The hydraulic fluid is recirculated directly from the actuator back to the pump inlet through controlled pathways, removing the need for a large storage reservoir and thereby reducing contamination risks associated with open systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces controlled fluid pathways and filtration systems as intermediaries between the pump and actuator in a closed-loop configuration. These intermediary components enable the system to maintain cavitation prevention through proper fluid management while protecting against contamination through controlled circulation and filtration, eliminating the need for large open reservoirs.
4Measurement precision
If the pump speed is varied to precisely control flow, then flow control precision improves, but the pump inertia makes it impractical to respond quickly to flow demand changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the variable-speed pump control with proportional control valves in an integrated system. The pump speed is varied to provide precise flow control, while the proportional valves provide rapid response capability by quickly adjusting flow distribution. This combination allows the system to achieve both precision and speed, overcoming the limitation of pump inertia.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses preliminary action by pre-positioning the pump at optimal speed settings and using proportional valves that can rapidly respond to control signals. The proportional valves are ready to immediately adjust flow distribution when demand changes occur, compensating for any delay in pump speed adjustment and enabling quick response to flow demand changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic gear pump with a first gear having a plurality of first gear teeth and a second gear having a plurality of second gear teeth. The hydraulic system also includes a control valve and a control circuit. The control circuit controls the pump to adjust at least one of a flow in the hydraulic system to a flow set point or a pressure in the hydraulic system to a pressure set point, and concurrently establishes an opening of the control valve to adjust at least one of the flow to the flow set point or the pressure to the pressure set point. The control circuit establishes a position of a first tooth relative to a position of a second tooth to seal a fluid path from the outlet of the hydraulic gear pump to the inlet of the hydraulic gear pump.