Hydraulic Steering Control Paths to Prevent Opposite Valve Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic steering devices suffer from functional reliability issues due to malfunctions in control components, leading to incorrect steering motions and potentially dangerous driving situations.
Innovation Solution
A control device with separate and independent control paths for steering setpoints and switching signals, utilizing distinct sensors and switches to ensure that faulty components do not simultaneously affect both paths, preventing incorrect steering motions by isolating the magnet operating devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single control path is used for steering setpoints, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential malfunctions affecting both control and switching functions
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is divided into two independent control paths: a first control path for steering setpoints and a second control path for switching signals. This segmentation ensures that a malfunction in one path does not affect the other, thereby improving functional reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If the same sensors are used for both control and switching functions, then the quantity of components is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates as a single faulty sensor can cause incorrect steering motions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different sensors to different control paths: first sensors detect steering setpoint values for the first control path, while second sensors detect switching signals for the second control path. This segmentation of sensing functions ensures that a faulty sensor in one path cannot cause incorrect steering motions, improving safety while using a reasonable number of components.
3Reliability
If the control unit simultaneously manages both steering setpoints and switching signals, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential simultaneous malfunction of both functions
Solution Approach 1:
The control device employs separate control paths where the first control path processes steering setpoints and the second control path processes switching signals independently. This segmentation ensures that malfunctions in one path do not simultaneously affect both control and switching functions, thereby improving operational reliability while maintaining a structured but manageable system 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
Enhances operational reliability by preventing simultaneous operation of magnet operating devices in opposite directions, thereby ensuring accurate and safe steering control.
Implementation Method 1
an electrically operable directional valve, which can be electrically actuated as a function of steering setpoint values
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a control device for a hydraulic steering device, having a control input device and an electrically operable valve for actuating a steering actuator of the steering device, which valve can be electrically actuated as a function of steering setpoint values detected at the control input device via at least one first control path between the control input device and the valve, wherein the control device is set up in such a way that the relevant first control paths can be deactivated as a function of steering setpoint values detected at the control input device via respective second control paths, which are assigned to this relevant first control path and differ at least partially from the respective first control paths when this first control path is active, or can be activated when this first control path is deactivated.