Hydraulic Fluid Recirculation With Bypass Flushing of Trapped Oil
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic fluid systems face challenges in effectively recirculating hydraulic fluid, leading to contamination and increased wear on components, particularly due to the mixing of old and new hydraulic fluid and the trapping of fluid within sub-circuits.
Innovation Solution
The proposed apparatus and method involve a hydraulic system with a sub-circuit that includes a hydraulic motor and lines connected to a fluid switching valve. A controller commands the fluid switching valve and a piston-bypass valve to manage the flow of hydraulic fluid, ensuring that old fluid is flushed out and replaced with filtered fluid, thereby maintaining cleanliness and reducing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If hydraulic fluid is circulated through the hydraulic motor and lines, then the system can operate continuously, but old hydraulic fluid becomes trapped and mixes with new fluid causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary flushing action by activating the bypass valve to circulate hydraulic fluid through the filter and into the reservoir before normal operation begins. This preliminary action removes trapped old fluid from the sub-circuit, preventing contamination when continuous operation resumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards old contaminated hydraulic fluid by routing it through the bypass valve and filter directly to the reservoir, separating it from the clean fluid circulation path. This allows the old fluid to be removed and replaced with fresh filtered fluid, recovering system cleanliness without stopping operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a filter is used to remove contaminants, then fluid cleanliness improves, but the filter can become clogged and reduce system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass valve enables partial filtration by allowing all hydraulic fluid to pass through the filter periodically, rather than requiring the filter to handle 100% of the flow continuously. This excessive action of filtering beyond normal requirements prevents clogging while maintaining cleanliness.
Solution Approach 2:
The bypass valve acts as an intermediary that redirects hydraulic fluid flow between the normal circuit and the filter-reservoir path. This mediator allows the filter to be activated periodically without being in the continuous flow path, preventing clogging while maintaining its cleaning function.
3Device complexity
If the system operates without flushing old fluid, then the system structure remains simple, but component wear increases due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The bypass valve extracts the fluid flushing function from the main hydraulic circuit, creating a separate parallel path for removing old fluid. This extraction allows the flushing operation to be performed independently without complicating the main power transmission circuit, maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.
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 solution enhances the cleanliness of hydraulic fluid, reduces wear on components, and improves the efficiency of hydraulic fluid recirculation, leading to extended component lifetimes and reduced servicing needs.
Implementation Method 1
a pump for pressurizing hydraulic fluid from a reservoir for circulation around the system
Implementation Method 2
heat exchanger that can use a variety of heat exchange fluids such as engine coolant or air to cool the hydraulic fluid during operation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for recirculating hydraulic fluid includes commanding a fluid switching valve to a first actuating position where pressurized hydraulic fluid moves a piston; detecting when the piston has completed a first stroke; delay commanding the fluid switching valve to a second actuating position, a bypass valve to a bypass position, or a hydraulic pump to stop pressurizing hydraulic fluid, the piston-bypass valve is open such that hydraulic fluid is fluidly communicated into a sub-circuit through an entry port and through the piston-bypass valve wherein a quantity of hydraulic fluid is flushed out of the sub-circuit through an exit port; and command the fluid switching valve to the second actuating position, the bypass valve to the bypass position, or the hydraulic pump to stop pressurizing the hydraulic fluid.