Hydraulic Priority Valve with Bypass for Multi-Consumer Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic load-sensing systems require multiple priority valves to manage three priority levels, leading to increased construction costs and complexity, and often result in undersupply to lower-priority consumers during system undersupply.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic arrangement with a load-pressure-controlled priority valve that connects the second and third consumers via a connecting line, ensuring the second consumer receives a minimum volume flow even if the priority valve is closed, while the first consumer maintains maximum flow and the third consumer receives reduced flow, implementing three priority levels with a single priority valve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple priority valves are used to control three priority levels, then the supply priority control reliability is improved, but the construction cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply priority control reliabilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple priority valves into a single priority valve by introducing a bypass line with flow control means. The bypass line allows the second consumer to receive a minimum volume flow even when the priority valve is closed, effectively merging the control functions that would otherwise require separate valves for each priority level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single priority valve is designed to control multiple priority levels simultaneously. By combining it with the bypass line and flow control means, the system achieves three-level priority control (first consumer with highest priority, second consumer with intermediate priority receiving minimum flow, third consumer with lowest priority) using one valve instead of multiple dedicated valves.

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

2Reliability

If multiple priority valves are used to control three priority levels, then the supply priority control reliability is improved, but the construction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupply priority control reliabilityVSAvoidconstruction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple priority valves into a single priority valve system with a bypass line. This reduction in the number of valves directly lowers construction costs while maintaining the reliability of priority control through the intelligent bypass design that ensures minimum flow to the second consumer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If lower-priority consumers are combined in one priority level to reduce components, then the device complexity is reduced, but the supply reliability to individual consumers deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconstruction complexityVSAvoidsupply reliability to individual consumers
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different flow conditions to different consumers based on their priority levels. The bypass line with flow control means ensures the second consumer receives a guaranteed minimum volume flow, while the third consumer receives the remaining flow. This localized flow differentiation maintains supply reliability for each consumer despite combining control functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the volume flow distribution by creating a dedicated bypass path for the second consumer that is separated from the main flow path to the third consumer. This segmentation ensures that the second consumer's minimum flow requirement is independently satisfied, preventing supply conflicts even though only one priority valve is used.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the priority valve is closed to ensure first consumer supply, then the first consumer supply priority is maintained, but the second and third consumers may be undersupplied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefirst consumer supply priorityVSAvoidvolume flow to second and third consumers
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass line acts as an intermediary path that allows volume flow to reach the second consumer independently of the priority valve position. When the priority valve closes to prioritize the first consumer, the bypass line with its flow control means ensures the second consumer still receives a minimum volume flow, mediating between the conflicting supply requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration ensures reliable supply to higher-priority consumers, minimizes construction costs and complexity, and guarantees a minimum supply to the second consumer, while maintaining maximum supply to the first consumer, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art systems.

Implementation Method 1

between the hydraulic pump and the connecting line in the supply line to the third consumer there is a load-pressure-controlled priority valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure control: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

in the supply line to the third consumer means which reduce the volume flow are arranged on the second consumer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow throttling: Pressure Drop

Implementation Method 3

the connection line also having means which block a volume flow from the second supply line in the direction of the third supply line

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOne-way flow control: Valve

Data Source

PatentEP2287472B1Hydraulic assembly
Publication Date: 2016.02.17 DEERE & CO
  • EP2287472B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2287472B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A hydraulic arrangement (12) comprises a hydraulic pump (21) and at least one first, second and third consumer (30, 32, 34) supplied by the hydraulic pump (21) via respective load pressure lines (43, 46, 48, 52, 54) on demand, wherein each consumer (30, 32, 34) is hydraulically connected in parallel to the hydraulic pump (21) by at least one control valve (36, 38, 40) via its own supply line (24, 26, 28) and the first consumer (30) is assigned a first-stage supply priority, the second consumer (32) a second-stage supply priority subordinate to the first stage and the third consumer (34) a third-stage supply priority subordinate to the second stage.In order to create a cost-effective priority control system for the hydraulic consumers (30, 32, 34), it is proposed that, for controlling the supply priority levels, the supply lines (26, 28) of the second and third consumers (32, 34) are connected via a connecting line (60), and that a load-pressure-controlled priority valve (66) is arranged between the hydraulic pump (21) and the connecting line (60) in the supply line (28) to the third consumer (34), and that flow-reducing means (58) are arranged in the supply line (26) to the second consumer (32), wherein the connecting line (60) further includes means (62) that block a flow from the second supply line (26) towards the third supply line (28).