Hydraulic Arrangement for Agricultural Lifting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic arrangements for agricultural machines are cost-intensive and structurally complex due to the use of multiple hydraulic components, including space-consuming accumulators, which complicate the regulation of lifting mechanisms and ground contact pressure.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic arrangement featuring an electroproportional pressure relief valve in the outflow line, a non-return valve in the inflow line, and sensors that generate control signals for proportional regulation of hydraulic cylinder pressure, allowing for controlled raising, lowering, and pressure setting of attachments, while reducing component complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hydraulic components including accumulators are used to regulate lifting mechanisms and ground contact pressure, then the regulation functions are achieved, but the structural complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hydraulic functions (raising, lowering, ground contact pressure regulation, position compensation) into a single integrated hydraulic circuit. The electroproportional pressure relief valve serves multiple purposes: it regulates chamber pressure for ground contact force control, enables controlled lowering through pressure compensation, and works with the non-return valve to manage bidirectional fluid flow. This merging eliminates the need for separate accumulators and multiple independent control circuits, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining comprehensive regulation capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The electroproportional pressure relief valve is designed as a multi-functional component that performs several roles simultaneously: it acts as a pressure regulator for ground contact force, a flow control element for lowering speed, and a pressure compensation device for position regulation. The non-return valve adds bidirectional flow control capability, enabling the same hydraulic circuit to handle both raising and lowering operations. This universal approach allows a single hydraulic arrangement to replace multiple specialized components, reducing overall system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If accumulators are used in the hydraulic arrangement, then ground contact pressure can be varied, but space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pressure variation function from the traditional accumulator-based system and reassigns it to the electroproportional pressure relief valve. Instead of using a mechanical accumulator to store and release hydraulic fluid for ground contact pressure control, the system uses an electronically controlled pressure relief valve that can dynamically adjust chamber pressure on demand. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky accumulator components while achieving the same ground contact pressure variation capability through electronic control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical accumulator system with an electro-hydraulic control system. The electroproportional pressure relief valve, controlled by electronic signals from sensors and the control unit, substitutes for the mechanical pressure storage and release mechanism of accumulators. This substitution maintains the ability to vary ground contact pressure while eliminating the space-consuming mechanical accumulator components, achieving a more compact and controllable system
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 enables efficient and precise control of lifting mechanisms, including position regulation, vibration damping, and traction management, with reduced structural complexity and cost, by using sensors and electronic control to manage hydraulic fluid flow and pressure.
Implementation Method 1
a first electroproportional pressure relief valve (26) which is arranged in the first outflow line (32)
Implementation Method 2
a first non-return valve (28) closing in the direction of the inflow valve (22) which is arranged in the first inflow line (30)
Implementation Method 3
connected on the inlet side to a hydraulic pump (18)
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic arrangement for regulating a lifting mechanism (12) of an agricultural machine (10) is described. The hydraulic arrangement (16) comprises a hydraulic cylinder (24) having a chamber (50) capable of being acted upon by pressure, a proportionally adjustable inflow valve (22) which is connected on the outlet side via an inflow line (30) to the chamber (50) and which is connected on the inlet side to a hydraulic pump (18, 18′), a first outlet line (32) which makes a connection between the chamber (50) and a hydraulic tank (20), adjustment means (42, 44) for generating an adjustment signal for the hydraulic cylinder (24), and an electronic control unit (40).