Hydraulic Grip Control Unit Flow Divider Bypass Circuit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic grip control units with independent gripping arms driven hydraulically fail to maintain synchronism under all operating conditions, especially at lower oil flows, leading to movement desynchronization and increased costs due to high nominal flow requirements.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic grip control unit with a flow divider having a nominal flow lower than the system's nominal flow, combined with a bypass circuit that automatically switches between operative and non-operative configurations based on flow requirements, ensuring synchronism and efficient operation across varying conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a flow divider with high nominal flow equal to the nominal flow of the system is used, then the total cost of the unit is considerably affected (increased), but the synchronism of the arms is maintained at nominal flow conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronism of arms movementVSAvoidtotal cost of the unit

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a bypass circuit that can dynamically switch between operative and non-operative configurations based on flow requirements. When the main circuit requires flow less than the divider's nominal flow, the bypass activates to maintain synchronism; when flow requirements exceed the divider's capacity, the bypass deactivates. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing a lower-cost, lower-nominal-flow divider to maintain reliability across varying operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If a flow divider with nominal flow lower than the system's nominal flow is used, then the cost is reduced, but the apportionment error becomes considerable at lower oil flows causing lack of synchronism

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecost of the unitVSAvoidsynchronism of arms movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass circuit acts as an intermediary element that compensates for the flow divider's limitation. When the divider causes apportionment errors at low flows, the bypass provides an alternative flow path that restores balanced distribution to the cylinders. This intermediary mechanism allows the use of a lower-cost divider while maintaining synchronism reliability across the full range of operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If the system works with oil flows considerably lower than the nominal flow, then energy consumption is reduced, but the apportionment error committed by the divider becomes considerable causing lack of sync

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsynchronism of arms movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts to varying flow conditions through the bypass circuit. At low energy consumption conditions (low oil flows), the bypass activates to correct the divider's apportionment errors and maintain synchronism. At high energy consumption conditions (high oil flows), the bypass deactivates as the divider operates within its optimal range. This dynamic response allows energy-efficient operation without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 maintains synchronism between gripping arms at lower flows and reduces operational costs by optimizing fluid distribution, allowing flexible and economical operation of the grip control unit.

Implementation Method 1

a flow divider connected along said supply circuit between said source and said cylinders to apportion the flow of the circuit between the cylinders in parallel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic fluid flow distribution: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

a by-pass circuit connected in parallel with said divider which can take on an operative configuration in which it can be traveled by fluid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic bypass flow: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentUS7553120B2Hydraulic control unit for the arms of a grip and grip including said hydraulic unit

Publication Date: 2009.06.30 AURAMO

AI summary

A hydraulic grip-control unit provided with at least two gripping arms driven hydraulically to seize loads while cooperating with a striker arm of the grip with the control unit in use being connected hydraulically between a hydraulic fluid source under pressure and hydraulic cylinders each of which drives a gripping arm to form a closed supply circuit in which the source feeds fluid to the cylinders connected hydraulically in parallel and with the unit including a flow divider connected along said supply circuit between said source and said cylinders to apportion the flow of the circuit between the cylinders in parallel. The divider has a nominal flow lower than the nominal flow of the control unit with the control unit also including a by-pass circuit connected in parallel to said divider, which can take on an operative configuration in which it can be traveled by fluid and a nonoperative configuration in which it cannot be traveled by the fluid with the control unit including automatic by-pass circuit piloting means designed to pilot it in the non-operative configuration when the flow required by the supply circuit is substantially lower than the nominal flow of the divider and in the operative configuration when said required flow is substantially higher than that of the divider.