Hydraulic Return Valve Pressure Boosting for Variable Workpieces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hydraulically operated hand-held devices struggle to efficiently process workpieces of varying sizes and materials due to limitations in handling and pressure control, as existing systems require a predetermined working pressure to operate the return valve, which can be inadequate for diverse materials and sizes.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves increasing the hydraulic pressure acting on the return valve independently of the working process, using a pressure increasing piston that moves to a larger total piston area, allowing the return valve to remain open with reduced pressure, and enabling adjustable working pressures via an adjusting device or interface, allowing for precise control of the hydraulic pressure applied to the workpiece.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the return valve is designed to open at a predetermined working pressure, then the device can operate with a simple pressure control mechanism, but it cannot efficiently process workpieces of varying sizes and materials that require different pressure levels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to process workpieces of varying sizes and materialsVSAvoidpressure control mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The return valve is designed with a pressure increasing piston that dynamically changes the opening pressure based on workpiece requirements. The piston can be positioned at different locations along its stroke to establish different pressure thresholds, allowing the same valve mechanism to adapt to various workpiece sizes and materials without requiring multiple valves or complex electronic controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The opening pressure parameter of the return valve is made variable through the mechanical positioning of the pressure increasing piston. By changing the piston's position or the amount of hydraulic fluid introduced into the piston chamber, the pressure threshold for valve opening can be adjusted to match the specific requirements of different workpieces, thereby achieving versatility through parameter modification rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a high predetermined working pressure is used to ensure the return valve opens reliably, then the valve will open for all workpieces, but it applies excessive pressure to smaller or softer workpieces causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn valve opening reliabilityVSAvoidexcessive pressure damage to workpieces
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a fixed high pressure threshold, the system dynamically adjusts the pressure threshold to match the actual workpiece requirements. The pressure increasing piston allows the opening pressure to be lowered for smaller or softer workpieces while maintaining high pressure capability for larger or harder workpieces, thus eliminating excessive pressure damage while preserving reliable valve operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hydraulic pressure application is made non-uniform through the pressure increasing piston mechanism. The piston creates a localized pressure increase in a specific chamber that selectively affects the return valve opening condition, allowing different pressure levels to be applied to different workpiece types without requiring different hydraulic systems for each workpiece size or material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If the return valve requires a high predetermined pressure to open, then the valve structure can be simple, but the device cannot handle workpieces requiring lower processing pressures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereturn valve structure simplicityVSAvoidhandling capability for different workpiece pressure requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The return valve structure maintains its mechanical simplicity while gaining adaptive capability through the pressure increasing piston. The piston acts as a mechanical amplifier that can generate higher pressures in a localized chamber, allowing the same simple valve structure to respond to both low and high pressure requirements by adjusting the piston position or fluid volume, thus achieving versatility without increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach allows for easier handling of workpieces with different sizes and materials by maintaining the return valve in an open position with lower pressure, enabling precise adjustment of working pressures, thus enhancing the device's versatility and efficiency in processing various materials.

Implementation Method 1

increasing the hydraulic pressure acting on the return valve independently of the working process, using a pressure increasing piston that moves to a larger total piston area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

a return opening for the hydraulic medium is released and the returning hydraulic medium acts on a total piston area of the return valve that is larger than a partial piston area

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic fluid flow: Hydraulic Press

Data Source

PatentEP3261804B1Method for operating a hydraulically operated handheld apparatus and hydraulically operated handheld apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.02.09 GUSTAV KLAUKE GMBH
  • EP3261804B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3261804B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3261804B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a hydraulically operated hand-held device (1), for example a pressing device and/or a hole-punching or punching device, wherein the hand-held device (1) comprises a hydraulic pump, a moving part (4), a fixed part (5) and a return valve (8) with an associated valve seat, wherein furthermore the moving part (4) can be displaced into a working position by a build-up of hydraulic pressure which is produced by filling a hydraulic chamber (6) with hydraulic medium from a storage chamber (3) using the hydraulic pump. It can be achieved that the moving part (4) can be automatically moved back from the working position into an end position by opening the return valve (8), if a predetermined working pressure is reached. Moreover, a pressure sensor can be provided. Provision may also be made for a working scheme to be triggered when a switch is actuated by a hand of a user. In order to allow the machining of different workpieces in particular with regard to size and/or material and/or to simplify handling with a device having a simple construction, it is proposed that the hydraulic pressure acting upon the return valve (8) for triggering a movement of the moving part (4) into the end position is increased independently of reaching the predefined working pressure. The invention further relates to a hydraulically operated hand-held device.