Hydraulic Engine Starting Assist for Cold-Start Construction Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines, such as excavators, face difficulties in starting their engines in low outside temperatures due to deteriorated battery lubrication and efficiency, leading to increased manufacturing costs when trying to enhance startability by increasing battery capacity.
Innovation Solution
A construction machine starting assist system that utilizes a hydraulic pump, accumulator, and hydraulic motor to store and discharge hydraulic oil for assistive starting torque, eliminating the need for a starter motor and reducing battery capacity requirements, with a controller managing the system to ensure efficient engine starting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the battery capacity is increased to improve cold startability, then the engine starting reliability in low temperatures is improved, but the manufacturing cost of the construction machine is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the hydraulic system (accumulator and hydraulic motor) with the engine starting system. The accumulator, which is part of the hydraulic system, stores hydraulic energy that is used to drive the hydraulic motor for engine starting. This merging allows the hydraulic system to serve dual purposes: normal hydraulic operations and engine starting assistance, thereby improving cold startability without requiring a larger battery or incurring additional manufacturing costs for a dedicated starting system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic energy storage and transmission principles. The accumulator stores hydraulic fluid under pressure, and the hydraulic motor converts this stored hydraulic energy into mechanical torque to assist engine starting. This hydraulic approach provides high torque output suitable for cold starting conditions without the need for increased battery capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing cost
2Reliability
If the battery capacity is increased to improve cold startability, then the engine starting reliability in low temperatures is improved, but the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic accumulator serves multiple functions: it provides hydraulic energy for engine starting, stores energy from hydraulic operations, and assists in cold starting conditions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate, complex starting system with large batteries and additional components, thereby improving reliability while maintaining or reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system serves itself by using the accumulator's stored energy to assist engine starting. The system automatically utilizes the stored hydraulic energy when starting conditions are detected, without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. This self-service capability simplifies the overall device complexity while ensuring reliable cold starting
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
Improves cold startability of construction machines by using stored hydraulic oil for starting torque, reducing manufacturing costs and enabling independent engine starting without a starter motor, even in low temperatures or when the starter motor is faulty.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic motor which is operated by hydraulic oil discharged from the charging valve
Implementation Method 2
an accumulator which is charged with the hydraulic oil supplied from the regeneration valve
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic motor which is operated by hydraulic oil discharged from the charging valve
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a construction machine starting assist system including: an engine of a construction machine; an input unit which receives a key-on signal and a key-off signal of the engine; a hydraulic pump which is operated by the engine; an actuator which is operated by hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump; a regeneration valve which is switched so that a part or an entirety of the hydraulic oil returned from the actuator and a part or an entirety of the hydraulic oil discharged from the hydraulic pump are supplied for regeneration; an accumulator which is charged with the hydraulic oil supplied from the regeneration valve; a charging valve which is controlled so that the hydraulic oil is discharged from the accumulator when the key-on signal is inputted into the input unit; and a hydraulic motor which is operated by the hydraulic oil discharged from the charging valve, in which the hydraulic motor is connected to the engine and assists in starting the engine.