Hydraulic Boom Vibration Control via Counter-Balance Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-road and on-road vehicles equipped with booms often experience undesirable dynamic behavior due to their length and mass, leading to vibrations from starting and stopping loads, momentum of pumped concrete, wind loads, and other external factors, which can result in safety issues and decreased productivity.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic system incorporating a pair of counter-balance valves and a selection valve arrangement that dynamically pressurizes and depressurizes chambers of a hydraulic cylinder to counteract vibrations, while ensuring safety by locking chambers to prevent uncommanded movement and drifting, and can be retrofitted to existing systems without requiring electrical signals or power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If counter-balance valves are used to prevent uncommanded movement, then safety is improved, but boom vibrations are exacerbated
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the counter-balance valve function into two separate valves: one dedicated to safety/counter-balance and another dedicated to vibration control. This segmentation allows each valve to optimize its specific function without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between safety protection and vibration reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
A selection valve arrangement acts as an intermediary between the hydraulic supply and the two counter-balance valves. This intermediary selectively directs pressurized fluid to either the safety valve or the vibration control valve based on operational needs, enabling independent control of safety and vibration functions.
2Reliability
If traditional counter-balance valves are used, then uncommanded movement is prevented, but additional sensors and electrical systems are required
Solution Approach 1:
The selection valve arrangement and counter-balance valves operate using purely hydraulic principles, sensing pressure differentials and flow conditions automatically. The system self-regulates fluid distribution without requiring external electrical signals or electronic sensors, eliminating the need for additional electrical systems while maintaining protection functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic control systems with a purely hydraulic control mechanism. The selection valve uses hydraulic pressure differentials to automatically route fluid to the appropriate counter-balance valve, substituting mechanical/hydraulic intelligence for electronic sensors and control circuits.
3Stability of the object's composition
If hydraulic fluid is pressurized to counteract vibrations, then boom stability is improved, but risk of uncommanded movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the stability control function from the safety locking function by using dedicated valves for each purpose. The vibration control valve manages pressurization for stability, while the safety counter-balance valve maintains protection against uncommanded movement, allowing both functions to coexist without conflict.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection valve arrangement mediates between the hydraulic supply and the counter-balance valves, ensuring that pressurization for vibration control does not compromise safety. It selectively activates the appropriate valve based on system conditions, maintaining both stability and protection.
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
The system effectively reduces boom vibrations across a wide range of operating conditions with minimal sensors, improving the performance and reliability of boom systems by mitigating the effects of external disturbances and ensuring protection against hydraulic system failures.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic pressure must be applied to both of the counter-balance valves 300, 400. The hydraulic pressure applied to one of the counter-balance valves 300, 400 is delivered to a corresponding one of the ports 122, 124 of the hydraulic cylinder 110 thereby urging a piston 120 of the hydraulic cylinder 110 to move.
Implementation Method 2
By requiring hydraulic pressure at the counter-balance valve 300, 400 corresponding to the port 122, 124 that is releasing the hydraulic fluid, a failure of a hydraulic line, a valve, a pump, etc. that supplies or receives the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder 110 will not result in uncommanded movement of the hydraulic cylinder 110.
Implementation Method 3
the first control valve is adapted to fluctuate a first hydraulic fluid flow to the first chamber and thereby cause the hydraulic cylinder to produce a first vibratory response
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic system (600) and method for reducing boom dynamics of a boom (30), while providing counter-balance valve protection, includes a hydraulic cylinder (110), first and second counter-balance valves (300, 400), first and second control valves (700, 800), and a selection valve set (850). The selection valve set is adapted to self-configure to a first configuration and to a second configuration when a net load (90) is supported by a first chamber (116, 118) and a second chamber (118, 116) of the hydraulic cylinder, respectively. When the selection valve set is enabled in the first and second configurations, the second and first control valve may fluctuate hydraulic fluid flow to the second and first chamber, respectively, to produce a vibratory response (950) that counters environmental vibrations (960) of the boom. When the selection valve set is not enabled, the first and second counter-balance valves are adapted to provide the hydraulic cylinder with conventional counter-balance valve protection.