Hydraulic Machine Flushing Circuit Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic machines face challenges in efficiently cooling the internal volume, as current scanning systems either fail to scan the entire volume or require additional pipes that complicate access and increase maintenance risks.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic machine with an internal volume scanning circuit that includes a primary flow and a secondary flow, both calibrated to ensure comprehensive scanning without the need for additional fluid input and output orifices beyond the proximal portion, thereby maintaining a simplified structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional pipes are added to distribute sweeping fluid to different portions of the hydraulic machine, then the sweeping coverage of the internal volume is improved, but the device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesweeping coverageVSAvoidpipe distribution system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the internal volume into three distinct portions (proximal, middle, and distal) and creates separate sweeping circuits for each portion. Each circuit has its own inlet and outlet pipes, allowing independent sweeping of each segment. This segmentation enables comprehensive coverage of the entire internal volume while maintaining manageable complexity by treating each portion as a separate controllable unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sweeping fluid serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the internal volume components, lubricates moving parts, and removes heat from all three portions of the hydraulic machine. The same fluid circuit system handles both cooling and lubrication needs across the entire device, reducing the need for separate dedicated systems for each function.

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

2Temperature

If additional pipes are added to distribute sweeping fluid, then the cooling effectiveness of the internal volume is improved, but the ease of operation and maintenance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidaccessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the internal volume into three portions with separate sweeping circuits, the patent enables targeted cooling of specific areas that generate the most heat (such as the distal portion with bearings and the middle portion with the hydrocouple). This segmentation allows operators to control sweeping fluid flow to specific regions based on thermal conditions, improving cooling effectiveness while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the internal volume is not adequately swept, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the temperature control and component protection deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesweeping circuit structureVSAvoidinternal volume temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced sweeping coverage to specific portions of the internal volume based on their thermal characteristics. The distal portion with bearings and the middle portion with the hydrocouple receive dedicated sweeping circuits that target their specific cooling needs. This localized approach ensures that areas generating the most heat receive proportionally more cooling attention without requiring uniform complexity throughout the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 proposed solution effectively cools and lubricates all portions of the hydraulic machine, ensuring that the internal volume is adequately scanned, even in areas distant from the scanning fluid's entry and exit points, thus preventing overheating and premature wear.

Implementation Method 1

The working fluid circulating in the closed loop circuit and which passes through the various components of a hydraulic circuit such as pumps, motors, conduits and various regulating components tends to heat up, in particular due to friction between the various internal elements of the hydraulic machine 100 and pressure losses.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a scavenging circuit configured so as to form a primary scavenging flow circulating from the inlet orifice successively in the proximal portion, in the middle portion and in the distal portion of the hydraulic machine, then in the middle portion and in the proximal portion to the outlet orifice

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

ensuring that the internal volume is adequately scanned, even in areas distant from the scanning fluid's entry and exit points, thus preventing overheating and premature wear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP4341551B1Improved flushing circuit for a hydraulic machine
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 POCLAIN HYDRAULICS IND
  • EP4341551B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4341551B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4341551B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a hydraulic machine (100) comprising an improved flushing circuit for causing a primary flushing flow (F1) to circulate from an inlet (210) successively into a proximal portion (110), a mid portion (120) and a distal portion (130) of the hydraulic machine (100), then into the mid portion (120) and the proximal portion (110) as far as an outlet (220).