Hydraulic Control Valve Internal Fluid Feedback Pathway

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic control valves for differential working cylinders with six external connections are complex and costly to produce and assemble, and require additional external line connections and directional control valves for holding force functionality, increasing overall design effort.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic control valve design with a standard four-connection housing pattern, incorporating a fifth internal annular channel and a non-return valve, allows for fluid feedback and switching to holding force mode without external connections, using a standard control piston and internal shut-off valve for control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a control valve with six external connections is used to enable fluid feedback from small displacement to large displacement, then differential action is achieved, but production cost and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedifferential actionVSAvoidnumber of external connections
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of six external connections into a standard four-connection valve housing by creating internal fluid pathways. The fifth internal annular channel and internal bridge merge multiple connection functions internally, eliminating the need for six separate external ports while maintaining the differential action capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional external connection layout to a three-dimensional internal fluid pathway structure. By routing fluid through internal channels and bridges within the valve housing, the design achieves complex fluid feedback without requiring additional external connection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If external line connections are added to the control valve, then fluid feedback functionality is achieved, but assembly complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid feedback functionalityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the fluid feedback functionality directly into the valve housing by creating internal annular channels and bridges. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate external line connections, reducing assembly steps and production complexity while maintaining full fluid feedback capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Force

If a directional control valve is added for holding force functionality, then full holding force is achieved, but design effort and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding forceVSAvoidnumber of control valves
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the control piston with multiple piston collars that can perform both directional control and holding force functions. The same control piston structure provides universal functionality, eliminating the need for a separate directional control valve while achieving full holding force capability through its positioning in different annular channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If a standard four-connection valve housing is used, then production cost is reduced, but fluid feedback from small to large displacement becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidfluid feedback capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compensates for the limited external connections by creating a complex three-dimensional internal fluid pathway structure. The fifth internal annular channel and internal bridge system route fluid through the valve housing interior, achieving fluid feedback capability without requiring additional external connection points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design simplifies production and assembly, eliminates the need for external line connections, and enables switching to full holding force at any piston position with minimal additional expense, using a standard valve housing and internal controls.

Implementation Method 1

which is connected to the annular space associated with connection (A) via an internal bridge (30), with a non-return valve (42) inside the valve in the connecting borehole (40) having a flow direction towards the annular space associated with port (A)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-return valve mechanism: Valve

Implementation Method 2

a spool is longitudinally displaceable in a bore of the valve housing; Piston collars are formed on the control piston by means of recesses formed in the control piston

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic fluid displacement: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

an internal bridge is formed in the valve housing, which enables a connection between the annular space belonging to port (B) and the annular space belonging to port (A)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pathway connection:

Data Source

PatentEP2350461B1Hydraulic control valve for a one-sided operating differential cylinder
Publication Date: 2013.01.16 PARKER HANNIFIN MFG GERMANY GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2350461B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2350461B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a hydraulic control valve for controlling a  double-action operating cylinder exhibiting a piston having a one-sided piston rod, wherein the control valve, which has a piston slide valve design, exhibits four external connections P, A, B, T, and a device is provided for recovering the fluid that is forced out of the small stroke capacity of the operating cylinder upon moving the piston rod out and conducted to connection B of the control valve into the large stroke capacity of the operating cylinder, characterized in that a fifth internal annular channel V, connected to the connection B at an allocated control position of the control piston (26), is designed in the valve housing (21), connected via an internal bridge (30) designed in the valve housing (21) to the annular space (23) belonging to connection A, and in that the recess (28) in the control piston (26) forming the connection between the connections A and T is sized at least twice as large as the connections P and A or B and the recesses (28) connecting B and V in the affected control position of the valve piston (26).