Hydraulic Pump Merge Control for Stable Multi-Actuator Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic drive devices with a single pump may supply hydraulic devices at insufficient flow rates when multiple devices are operated simultaneously, particularly affecting those with greater loads.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic drive device with multiple pumps, a merge passage, a flow rate control valve, and a pressure compensation valve on the third hydraulic device side, ensuring sufficient fluid supply to all devices by adjusting flow rates and maintaining pressure differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pump is used to drive multiple hydraulic devices, then the device complexity is reduced, but the flow rate supply to hydraulic devices becomes insufficient when multiple devices are operated simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into multiple independent pump units (first pump, second pump, third pump), each capable of independently supplying hydraulic fluid to different hydraulic devices. This segmentation allows each pump to dedicatedly serve specific devices, ensuring sufficient flow rate supply even when multiple devices operate simultaneously, while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
2Manufacturing precision
If pressure compensation valve and flow rate control valve are provided for each hydraulic device, then the flow rate control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure compensation valve and flow rate control valve are merged into a single integrated valve unit that serves multiple hydraulic devices. This merged valve configuration maintains precise flow rate control capability while reducing the total number of valves in the system, thereby balancing control precision with system complexity reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve unit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of serving multiple hydraulic devices (first, second, and third hydraulic devices) through a single configuration. This universal valve design allows one valve unit to perform the functions previously requiring multiple separate valves, reducing device complexity while maintaining control precision across all devices.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple pumps are used to ensure sufficient flow rate, then the flow rate supply is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into multiple independent pump units (first pump, second pump, third pump), each capable of independently supplying hydraulic fluid to different hydraulic devices. This segmentation allows each pump to dedicatedly serve specific devices, ensuring sufficient flow rate supply even when multiple devices operate simultaneously, while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
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
Prevents insufficient fluid supply to any hydraulic device when operated simultaneously, reduces component count, and allows easy manufacturing by separating control valve blocks.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure compensation valve that is provided on a side of the third hydraulic device relative to a merge point at which the streams of the working fluid join together in the merge passage and maintains an upstream-downstream pressure difference of the flow rate control valve at a predetermined pressure
Implementation Method 2
a flow rate control valve that is connected to the merge passage and the third hydraulic device and controls a flow rate of the working fluid flowing from the merge passage to the third hydraulic device by adjusting an opening degree of the flow rate control valve according to a flow rate control signal
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic drive device drives at least first to third hydraulic devices by supplying a working fluid to the hydraulic devices. The hydraulic drive device includes at least first and second pumps respectively connected to the first and second hydraulic devices, a merge passage that is connected to the pumps and in which streams of the working fluid discharged from the pumps join together, a flow rate control valve that is connected to the merge passage and the third hydraulic device and controls the flow rate of the working fluid flowing from the merge passage to the third hydraulic device by adjusting an opening degree thereof according to a control signal, and a pressure compensation valve that is provided on a third hydraulic device side relative to a merge point at which the streams join together and maintains a pressure difference of the control valve at a predetermined pressure.