Hydraulic Shut-Off Valve with Pressure-Limited Blocking Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Shut-off valves in hydraulic systems, particularly in agricultural machines, experience sudden pressure equalization and jerky movements due to high pressure differences when closing, making controlled opening difficult and leading to abrupt pressure release with negative consequences.

Innovation Solution

A shut-off valve with a blocking device that limits the actuation of the valve slide to an intermediate position based on pressure differences, allowing controlled pressure equalization and reducing dynamics, lifting the blockage only when the pressure difference falls below a predetermined value for smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the shut-off valve is opened fully to reduce flow resistance, then the flow resistance decreases, but the pressure equalization occurs abruptly causing jerky movements and instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflow resistanceVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The valve opening process is segmented into multiple stages: initially limited to an intermediate position by the blocking device, then gradually opened to full position. This segmentation prevents abrupt pressure equalization while maintaining acceptable flow resistance through controlled progression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking device dynamically adapts to pressure differences, automatically limiting the valve opening when pressure differential exceeds a threshold, and releasing the limitation when pressure equalizes. This dynamic control stabilizes the system during pressure transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If the valve slide is actuated quickly to open the valve, then the opening speed increases, but the high opening forces cause stick-slip effect and difficult control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveopening speedVSAvoidcontrol ease
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking device applies partial action by limiting the valve slide movement to an intermediate position during high pressure differential conditions. This partial opening reduces the required opening force while still allowing pressure equalization, making the valve easier to operate without requiring full-force actuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the blocking device limits the valve opening to intermediate position, then the pressure equalization is controlled and stability improves, but the flow resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidflow resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve operation follows a periodic pattern: opened to intermediate position for controlled pressure equalization, then fully opened when pressure stabilizes. This periodic cycling between limited and full opening states maintains system stability while minimizing overall flow resistance through timely transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP2284403B1Blocking valve
Publication Date: 2016.03.02 DEERE & CO
  • EP2284403B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2284403B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2284403B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

A shut-off valve (18) for a hydraulic arrangement (12, 14, 15) is proposed. The shut-off valve (18) comprises an actuated valve spool (22) for setting a closed position and an open position. To ensure flow-controlled pressure equalization when the shut-off valve (18) is opened, it is proposed that a locking device (29) be provided to limit the actuation of the valve spool (22) to an intermediate position between the closed and open positions, in which the opening cross-section of the shut-off valve (18) is only a fraction of the opening cross-section present in the open position.The locking device (29) is designed such that the actuation of the valve slide (22) by the locking device (29) is limited depending on a pressure differential value between a pressure before and after the shut-off valve (18), whereby the limitation can be lifted if a predefinable pressure differential value is undershot.