Hydraulic Drive Unit Air Venting With Gas-Liquid Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing closed-circuit hydraulic drive units with sealed tanks face challenges in removing air accumulation, as previous techniques do not effectively address air release from the tank, leading to air accumulation and potential system inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A closed-circuit hydraulic drive unit design featuring a pump with an air vent port, supply-discharge lines connected to a sealed tank via a valve block and gas-liquid separator, allowing air to be separated and released externally, along with a tank support mechanism for easy maintenance and stress reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sealed tank is used to store hydraulic oil, then the tank structure is simplified and maintenance is easier, but air accumulates in the tank and cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air removal function from the sealed tank by adding a separate air vent port and connecting line with gas-liquid separator. This allows air to be removed from the sealed system without compromising the tank's sealed structure, thus maintaining the simplicity of the tank while eliminating air accumulation problems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary air venting system consisting of the air vent port, connecting line, and gas-liquid separator. This intermediary mechanism mediates between the sealed tank and the external environment, allowing air to be removed while maintaining the sealed nature of the tank for hydraulic oil storage.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If direction switching valves are added to remove air from the closed circuit, then air can be vented, but the unit configuration becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air venting function from the main hydraulic circuit by providing a separate air vent port and dedicated connecting line. This separates the air removal pathway from the hydraulic oil circulation pathway, allowing air to be removed without requiring complex direction switching valves in the main circuit.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the hydraulic system into separate functional pathways: the main hydraulic circuit for oil circulation and a separate air venting circuit with its own port, line, and separator. This segmentation allows each subsystem to perform its function independently without increasing overall system complexity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the pump is disposed upward of the sealed tank, then air can be collected in the pump casing for easier removal, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the equipotential principle by positioning the pump above the tank, allowing air bubbles to naturally rise and collect in the pump casing due to gravity and pressure differential. This creates a natural air collection zone without requiring additional air separation equipment or complex piping arrangements.
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 efficient removal of air from the system, improving operational efficiency and durability by facilitating air venting and maintaining the sealed tank without disassembling the framework, thus preventing air accumulation and enhancing maintenance accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-liquid separator that separates air and the hydraulic oil flowing through the connecting line from each other
Implementation Method 2
a pump including a casing, a pair of pump ports
Implementation Method 3
a suction line that leads the hydraulic oil in the sealed tank to the pump
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic drive unit includes: a pump; a pair of supply-discharge lines; a valve block; a sealed tank; a suction line that leads hydraulic oil in the sealed tank to the pump; a connecting line that connects an air vent port of the pump to the suction line; and a gas-liquid separator that separates air and the hydraulic oil flowing through the connecting line from each other. The pump is disposed upward of the valve block and the sealed tank in a vertical direction.