Hydraulic Cylinder Fine Pull Control Under Contraction Load

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing hydraulic drive systems for construction machines, such as hydraulic excavators, face challenges in achieving precise control of the flow rate and action speed of hydraulic cylinders during fine operations, especially when external loads are applied, leading to reduced operability and accuracy in tasks like fine control of the claw tip position or tilting angle.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic drive system with a bidirectional, variable displacement hydraulic pump and a hydraulic cylinder configuration that includes a discharge flow path and valve, controlled by a controller to manage the flow rate of hydraulic working oil, allowing for precise control of the action speed during fine operations by diverting oil to a discharge path when an external load is applied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the hydraulic pump operates at small tilting angles to achieve fine control of the work implement position, then the precision of position control is improved, but the leak amount from the hydraulic pump increases and control accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition control accuracyVSAvoidflow rate control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic system is segmented into multiple independent flow paths: a main flow path through the hydraulic pump and a bypass flow path through the flow control valve. This segmentation allows the pump to operate at optimal angles while the bypass path provides precise flow control for fine operations, resolving the contradiction between pump efficiency and control precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flow control valve acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic cylinder. It provides precise flow rate control for fine position adjustments without requiring the pump to operate at small tilting angles, thereby maintaining both pump reliability and position control accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the control valve divides the hydraulic working oil flow to adjust the flow rate to the hydraulic cylinder, then the flow rate control is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow rate controlVSAvoidhydraulic system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between two flow paths based on operational requirements: the main flow path for normal operations and the bypass flow path for fine control operations. This dynamic configuration allows simple flow rate adjustment through the flow control valve without permanently increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If the hydraulic cylinder returns oil to the hydraulic pump at extremely low speeds during fine control operations, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the flow rate control accuracy deteriorates due to increased pump leak amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidflow rate control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass flow path extracts a portion of the hydraulic oil flow from the main circuit before it reaches the pump. This extracted flow is controlled independently through the flow control valve, allowing precise flow rate control for fine operations while the main circuit maintains optimal pump operation and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration enhances the operability and precision of hydraulic cylinder actions during fine operations by allowing for controlled flow rate adjustments, improving the ability to manage external loads and maintain desired action speeds, even at low flow rates.

Implementation Method 1

a hydraulic pump which is of bidirectional delivery type and bidirectional variable displacement type

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

controls a flow rate of hydraulic working oil discharged from a first hydraulic working oil chamber of the hydraulic cylinder

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow control:

Implementation Method 3

a discharge valve which is disposed in the discharge flow path, and controls a flow rate of hydraulic working oil discharged from a first hydraulic working oil chamber of the hydraulic cylinder to the discharge flow path

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectValve flow control:

Data Source

PatentEP3604823B1Construction machine
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO LTD
  • EP3604823B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3604823B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3604823B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A construction machine includes a bidirectionally tiltable type hydraulic pump 2, a hydraulic cylinder 1 having a cap chamber 1e and a rod chamber 1f, a first flow path 11 connecting the hydraulic pump 2 and the cap chamber 1e, a second flow path 12 connecting the hydraulic pump 2 and the rod chamber 1f, a discharge flow path 16 branched from the first flow path 11, a discharge valve 32 that is disposed in the discharge flow path 16 and controls a discharge rate of hydraulic working oil from the cap chamber 1e to the discharge flow path 16, an operation device 54 that instructs an action of the hydraulic cylinder 1, and a controller 56. The controller 56 controls the hydraulic pump 2 and the discharge valve 32 such that at least a part of hydraulic working oil discharged from the cap chamber 1e is discharged to the discharge flow path 16 when an operation amount of the operation device 54 lies within a fine operation region during a pulling action of the hydraulic cylinder 1 in a state that a load is applied in a contraction direction. Accordingly, operability improves during fine operation of the pulling action of the hydraulic cylinder in the state that the load is applied in the contraction direction.