Hydraulic Pump Bladder Relief Assembly for Overpressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic pumps for tools lack efficient mechanisms for pressurizing, maintaining, and releasing hydraulic fluid, particularly in single acting, cordless systems, which can lead to overpressure events and inefficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A single acting, cordless hydraulic pump with a bladder that includes a bladder relief assembly with a control element that moves to relieve pressure when it reaches a set pressure, and a release valve for controlling fluid flow between the work port and the bladder, allowing for adjustable pressure relief and safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic pump is designed without an integrated pressure relief mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but overpressure events occur leading to safety issues and reliability problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure relief valve and fill cap into a single integrated assembly. The relief valve is positioned within the fill cap structure, allowing both functions (filling and pressure relief) to be performed through one component rather than separate mechanisms. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliable pressure relief functionality to prevent overpressure events
Solution Approach 2:
The fill cap serves multiple functions: it allows hydraulic fluid filling, acts as a pressure relief valve activation point, and provides a user interface for pressure control. By making the fill cap multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for separate dedicated pressure relief components, thereby reducing device complexity while ensuring reliability through integrated pressure management
2Ease of operation
If a bladder relief assembly with control element is integrated into the fill cap, then the pressure relief functionality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control element of the relief valve is integrated into the fill cap assembly, allowing users to operate pressure relief through the same interface used for filling. This merging of control functions into a single accessible location improves ease of operation while the integrated design prevents the need for additional separate control mechanisms that would increase complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The relief valve is designed to automatically activate when pressure reaches a predetermined level, without requiring continuous user intervention. The control element within the fill cap assembly enables this self-regulating pressure relief function, improving ease of operation by allowing automatic pressure management while maintaining a simple overall structure through the integrated design
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 enables efficient pressurization and pressure relief in hydraulic tools, preventing overpressure events and ensuring safe and effective operation of hydraulic tools, while also being compact and battery-powered for portability.
Implementation Method 1
The control element can move from the first position to the second position when the pressure in the bladder reaches a set pressure
Implementation Method 2
a pump assembly that pumps hydraulic fluid from the bladder to the work port via an outlet line
Implementation Method 3
a release valve positioned between the work port and the bladder to control fluid flow between the work port and the bladder
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic pump includes a housing including a work port, a bladder that stores hydraulic fluid, and a pump assembly that pumps hydraulic fluid from the bladder to the work port. The bladder includes a bladder relief assembly with a control element that is moveable between a first position that seals the bladder to the atmosphere and a second position that opens the bladder to the atmosphere to relieve a pressure within the bladder. The control element moves from the first position to the second position when the pressure in the bladder reaches a set pressure.