Hydraulic Pressure Amplifier With Stored Boost for Intermittent Peaks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standardized onboard hydraulic supply systems in work vehicles become inefficient due to the need to support a wide range of auxiliary power-consuming systems and intermittent high-pressure demands, leading to oversized pumps that consume excessive power and experience energy loss through pressure drops.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic fluid pressure amplifier system that uses a boost cylinder assembly, energy storage device, and working cylinder assembly to increase the pressure of a received hydraulic fluid from a nominal pressure to a higher amplified pressure, utilizing the nominal pressure of the source fluid to power the system and deliver the higher pressure to hydraulic consumers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic fluid delivery system is sized to provide the aggregate of maximum overall volumes and maximum overall pressures required by all systems, then all systems can be supported simultaneously, but the pump consumes large amounts of sustained power even when high pressure is needed only intermittently
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a pump controller to operate the pump in intermittent cycles rather than continuously. The controller monitors hydraulic fluid pressure and activates the pump only when pressure drops below a threshold, allowing the system to support all hydraulic consumers reliably while minimizing sustained power consumption during periods when high pressure is not immediately needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-pressurizes a storage tank to a predetermined pressure level during off-peak times when power consumption can be lower. This stored pressurized fluid is then available for immediate delivery to hydraulic consumers during high-demand periods, eliminating the need for the pump to run at full power continuously.
2Power
If a large variable pump capable of delivering required aggregate pressures and flows is specified, then peak power loading is supported, but the system remains inefficient when peak demands are short-lived and infrequently experienced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of running a large variable pump continuously at reduced efficiency, the system uses periodic pump operation combined with a storage tank. The pump delivers high power during brief charging cycles to pressurize the storage tank, then allows the stored energy to serve during extended non-peak periods, dramatically reducing overall energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage tank acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the pump and the hydraulic consumers. It absorbs the pump's output during charging phases and releases it during discharge phases, decoupling the pump's operation from the consumers' demand patterns and eliminating the need for the pump to continuously match variable demand.
3Quantity of substance
If high pressure hydraulic fluid is dumped over relief and directed to lubrication and cooling systems, then volume requirements are met, but energy is lost as pressure drops from high to low
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the high-pressure fluid delivery function into a separate pressurization system with a storage tank. Instead of dumping high-pressure fluid and recirculating it through a relief valve, the system directly delivers the required volume of pressurized fluid to lubrication and cooling systems, eliminating the wasteful pressure drop and associated energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage tank system provides self-service by maintaining a reservoir of pressurized fluid that can be directly delivered to consumers without requiring continuous pump operation or pressure reduction. The system serves its own volume delivery needs efficiently by using the stored energy rather than continuously converting high pressure to low pressure.
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 efficiently raises the hydraulic fluid pressure, reducing the need for additional pumps or motors and minimizing energy loss, allowing for efficient operation of hydraulic systems in work vehicles by delivering pressurized fluid at up to five times the nominal pressure, thus optimizing energy use and system performance.
Implementation Method 1
movement of the boost cylinder piston from the retracted position to the extended position compresses a source hydraulic fluid in a blind side volume of the boost cylinder from a nominal fluid pressure to a higher or amplified fluid pressure
Implementation Method 2
The energy storage device is in fluid communication with the blind side volume of the boost cylinder for receiving and storing the pressurized hydraulic fluid compressed from the nominal fluid pressure to the higher or amplified fluid pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic fluid pressure amplifier system includes a boost cylinder assembly, an energy storage device in fluid communication with the boost cylinder assembly, and a working cylinder assembly. The boost cylinder assembly includes a boost cylinder and a boost cylinder piston movable relative to the boost cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein movement of the boost cylinder piston from the retraced position to the extended position compresses a hydraulic fluid in a blind side volume of the boost cylinder from a nominal fluid pressure to an amplified high fluid pressure greater than the nominal fluid pressure. The energy storage device receives the hydraulic fluid compressed from the nominal fluid pressure to the amplified high fluid pressure. The working cylinder assembly is operatively connected with the boost cylinder assembly and is selectively operable for effecting the movement of the boost cylinder piston.