Hydraulic Flow Control with Consumer Prioritization Under Supply Deficit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic control arrangements fail to prioritize the supply of hydraulic pressure medium to certain consumers over others during a supply deficit, leading to uneven distribution of pressure medium flow rates among multiple hydraulic consumers.
Innovation Solution
The hydraulic control arrangement adjusts the ratios of throughflow cross sections of variable metering restrictors based on control signals to preferentially supply pressure medium to certain consumers, allowing for increased flow to priority consumers and reduced flow to lower-priority consumers during a supply deficit, while ensuring a minimum flow to all consumers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the hydraulic pump operates at maximum conveying capacity to satisfy total demand, then the total pressure medium flow rate is maximized, but individual consumers cannot receive prioritized flow rates during supply deficit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels to different hydraulic consumers. During supply deficit, the control device differentiates flow distribution based on consumer priority, allowing critical consumers to receive sufficient flow while non-critical consumers receive reduced flow. This resolves the contradiction by enabling prioritization (improving adaptability) while maintaining total flow maximization through the pump's full capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic flow distribution where the throughflow cross-sections of variable metering restrictors are continuously adjusted based on real-time supply conditions and consumer priorities. During supply deficit, the system dynamically reallocates flow from lower-priority to higher-priority consumers, resolving the contradiction between maximizing total flow and enabling prioritization by making the distribution adaptive rather than static.
2Reliability
If variable metering restrictors are actuated with control signals to maintain predefined flow rate ratios, then individual consumer flow rates are maintained, but during supply deficit no prioritization occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback control where the control device continuously monitors the actual conveying flow rate of the hydraulic pump and compares it with the sum of demanded flow rates. When supply deficit is detected, the control device adjusts the throughflow cross-sections of variable metering restrictors based on consumer priorities. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by maintaining flow stability for prioritized consumers while adapting the overall distribution to supply conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from fixed predefined flow rate ratios to priority-based dynamic ratios. During supply deficit, the control device modifies the throughflow cross-section ratios of variable metering restrictors according to consumer priorities rather than maintaining predetermined ratios. This parameter change enables both flow stability for critical consumers and adaptability to supply deficits.
3Productivity
If the hydraulic pump conveys the sum of all individual pressure medium flow rates, then total demand is met under sufficient supply conditions, but during supply deficit the highest load pressure consumer receives insufficient flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hydraulic consumers into different priority groups (e.g., high-priority and low-priority consumers). During supply deficit, the control device ensures that high-priority consumers receive their required flow rates while low-priority consumers receive reduced flow. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining total conveying capacity utilization while guaranteeing minimum flow to prioritized consumers through differentiated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining priority levels and minimum flow requirements for each hydraulic consumer before supply deficits occur. The control device is pre-programmed with priority information, enabling it to immediately reallocate flow during supply deficit without delay. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by ensuring high-priority consumers receive guaranteed flow while maintaining overall system productivity.
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 ensures that priority hydraulic consumers receive a greater pressure medium flow rate than lower-priority consumers during a supply deficit, maintaining system stability and ensuring that all consumers receive a minimum flow rate, even when the total demand exceeds the hydraulic pump's maximum conveying capacity.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure downstream of the respective variable metering restrictor, and which can be acted on in a closing direction by the highest load pressure or by a pressure derived therefrom
Implementation Method 2
a pressure balance arranged downstream of the variable metering restrictor, which pressure balance can be acted on in an opening direction by the pressure downstream of the respective variable metering restrictor and can be acted on in a closing direction by the highest load pressure or by a pressure derived therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic control arrangement for simultaneously supplying at least two hydraulic consumers with predefinable individual pressure medium flow rates includes a hydraulic pump having an adjustable swept volume, and at least two valve arrangements each including a variable metering restrictor and a pressure balance arranged downstream of the variable metering restrictor. Each pressure balance is configured to be acted on in an opening direction by pressure downstream of the respective variable metering restrictor and to be acted on in a closing direction by a highest load pressure or by a pressure derived therefrom. Each valve arrangement is arranged between a pump line, which leads away from the hydraulic pump, and a consumer of the at least two hydraulic consumers. The arrangement further includes an electronic control device, by which the hydraulic pump is actuatable such that it conveys a sum of the predefinable individual pressure medium flow rates.