Hydraulic Valve Manifold Layout for Excavator Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hydraulic excavator systems face challenges in securing space for efficient detachment, attachment, and maintenance of control valves and revolving hydraulic motors due to the numerous hydraulic pipes surrounding the control valve device, leading to lower operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design reconfigures the control valve device to include a manifold with control valves mounted on its front surface and pipe joint ports, positioned rearward of the revolving hydraulic motor, creating dedicated spaces for operational work, such as the first space for the closed-circuit control valve device and the second space for the open-circuit control valve device, allowing for improved access and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If numerous hydraulic pipes are arranged around the control valve device to connect the hydraulic pump, control valve device, and hydraulic actuators, then the hydraulic system can operate all functions (traveling, revolving, working mechanism), but the space for detaching and attaching control valves and revolving hydraulic motors becomes difficult to secure, reducing operational efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hydraulic system into separate closed-circuit and open-circuit systems. The closed-circuit system serves the working mechanism (boom, arm, bucket cylinders) while the open-circuit system serves the traveling device. This segmentation reduces the number of pipes needed around the control valve device, creating space for maintenance operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control valve device is positioned in the width direction (lateral dimension) rather than only in the front-rear direction. By arranging the control valve device laterally on the upper revolving structure, the patent creates accessible space for maintenance while maintaining all hydraulic connections through optimized pipe routing in multiple spatial dimensions.
2Loss of energy
If a closed circuit system is used to reduce energy loss, then energy efficiency improves, but the number of hydraulic pipes and closed-circuit components increases, making the system more complex and harder to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a hybrid hydraulic system where a single hydraulic pump serves both closed-circuit and open-circuit functions. The pump can supply pressurized oil to the closed-circuit system for the working mechanism while also supporting the open-circuit system for the traveling device. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of pumps and associated piping, simplifying the overall system while maintaining energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A manifold (33) of a closed-circuit control valve device (32) disposed rearward of a left revolving hydraulic motor (8) includes a valve attachment area (33E) provided at a central portion of the manifold (33) in the right-and-left direction and including a control valve (34) mounted therein and a pipe attachment area (33F) provided outward of the valve attachment area (33E) in the right-and-left direction and including a closed-circuit actuator side pipe (47) mounted therein. A manifold (42) of an open-circuit control valve device (41) disposed rearward of a right revolving hydraulic motor (9) includes a valve attachment area (42E) provided at a central portion of the manifold (42) in the right-and-left direction and mounted a control valve (43) and a pipe attachment area (42F) provided outward of the valve attachment area (42E) in the right-and-left direction and mounted an open-circuit actuator side pipe (48).