Hydraulic Cylinder Flow Control via Segmented Valves
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic devices face inefficiencies and maintenance challenges due to dynamic torque changes, vibration, and noise issues, particularly in axial piston pump designs, and limited control over main pistons in radial piston designs, leading to increased maintenance costs and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic device with a plurality of cylinders and flow control valves that allow for precise control of piston operation, enabling per-piston locking and unlocking, and variable flow management, reducing vibration and noise, and improving operational efficiency by switching between locked and unlocked states based on fluid pressure thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If axial piston pump designs use variable angle rotating drive plates to dynamically change fluid flow, then flow adaptability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic device divides the piston-cylinder arrangements into independently controllable groups, with each group having its own flow control valve. This segmentation allows selective activation of pistons based on flow demands, achieving variable flow capability without complex mechanical structures like variable angle drive plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical variable angle rotating drive plate system with a valve-controlled fluid distribution system. Instead of mechanically varying piston angles, the invention uses flow control valves to selectively connect piston groups to the fluid circuit, achieving flow variation through valve control rather than mechanical geometry changes.
2Productivity
If radial piston designs use common galleries to control groups of main pistons, then flow control capability is improved, but operational precision deteriorates due to group-based control limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic device divides the piston-cylinder arrangements into independently controllable groups, with each group having its own flow control valve. This segmentation allows selective activation of pistons based on flow demands, achieving variable flow capability without complex mechanical structures like variable angle drive plates.
3Ease of operation
If distributors are embedded in the main shaft with internal channels, then fluid distribution is improved, but structural integrity and shaft size are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is extracted from the main shaft and implemented as a separate, rotatable component. This removes the embedded channels from the shaft structure, preserving the shaft's structural integrity and avoiding the need to increase shaft diameter to accommodate internal fluid passages.
Solution Approach 2:
A separate distributor component acts as an intermediary between the main shaft and the piston-cylinder arrangements. This mediator handles all fluid distribution functions, allowing the main shaft to focus solely on mechanical power transmission without compromised structural integrity.
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 solution enhances operational efficiency, reduces maintenance costs, and minimizes vibration and noise by allowing for precise control of hydraulic fluid flow and piston operation, adapting to dynamic torque changes effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid pressure sensing device for supplying a pressure signal generated from a fluid pressure of the first common output gallery to the first flow control valve for operating the first flow control valve between the open state and the closed state; wherein when the pressure signal represents the fluid pressure as exceeding a specified maximum pressure threshold, the first flow control valve is operated from the closed state to the open state
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic device having a plurality of cylinders for distributing a flow of hydraulic fluid between a reservoir and a load, the device comprising: a housing having the plurality of cylinders with a plurality of corresponding pistons configured for reciprocation of a constant stroke length; an input port of the housing fluidly connected to each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, the input port facilitating introduction of the hydraulic fluid into said each cylinder; an output port of the housing connected to said each cylinder, the output port facilitating the ejection of the hydraulic fluid from said each cylinder during the reciprocation, the output port configured for fluidly coupling said each cylinder to the load; and a distributor coupled to a main shaft of the hydraulic device, such that the distributor rotates in conjunction with the main shaft, the distributor having a distributor body including a first port configured for fluid communication with the input port and a second port configured for fluid communication with the output port; wherein the first port and the second port are fluidly coupled to the input port and the output port external to a shaft body of the main shaft.