Hydraulic Valve Control Without Compensators in Work Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic systems in work vehicles often experience excessive energy consumption due to compensator valves creating unnecessary pressure drops, which reduces fuel economy and increases the load on the pump.
Innovation Solution
A system with first and second hydraulic loads in parallel, each with a flow control valve and pressure sensors, where a computing system controls the flow control valves based on input signals and pressure data to optimize hydraulic fluid flow without compensator valves, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If compensator valves are used to maintain predetermined pressure drop across flow control valves, then pressure control is improved, but energy consumption increases and pump load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the compensator valve from the hydraulic system entirely. Instead of using a compensator valve to maintain pressure drop, the system uses a computing device that receives pressure sensor data and controls the flow control valve based on this data, thereby eliminating the energy-wasting component while maintaining pressure control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compensator valve with an electronic control system consisting of pressure sensors and a computing device. The computing device processes pressure data and sends control signals to the flow control valve, substituting mechanical pressure compensation with electronic sensing and control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If compensator valves are used to maintain pressure drop across flow control valves, then pressure stability is improved, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where pressure sensors continuously monitor the actual pressure in the hydraulic lines and send this data to the computing device. The computing device then adjusts the flow control valve based on this feedback to maintain stable pressure, replacing the passive mechanical compensation with active electronic feedback control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compensator valve with an electronic control system consisting of pressure sensors and a computing device. The computing device processes pressure data and sends control signals to the flow control valve, substituting mechanical pressure compensation with electronic sensing and control.
3Stress or pressure
If compensator valves are used in parallel hydraulic loads, then pressure control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device performs multiple functions: it receives pressure sensor data, determines which hydraulic line has greater pressure, controls the flow control valve based on pressure conditions, and manages the overall hydraulic system operation. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate compensator valves for each parallel load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple compensator valves into a single computing device that centrally controls the flow control valve based on pressure data from sensors in parallel hydraulic lines. This consolidation reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall 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
This approach allows for efficient hydraulic fluid distribution to each load regardless of the pump's pressure output, reducing the load on the pump and enhancing fuel economy by eliminating the need for compensator valves.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor configured to capture data indicative of a first pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the first hydraulic load by the first flow control valve, a second pressure sensor configured to capture data indicative of a second pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to the second hydraulic load by the second flow control valve
Implementation Method 2
a first flow control valve defining an adjustable orifice, with the first flow control valve fluidly coupled to the first fluid conduit upstream of the first hydraulic load such that the first flow control valve is configured to control a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic load
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle includes computing system is configured to receive a first and seconds inputs associated with controlling an operation of first and second hydraulic loads. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to control the operation of the first or second flow control valve corresponding to the one of the first or second hydraulic loads associated with the greater hydraulic fluid pressure based on the corresponding received first or second input. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine the first or second pressure of the hydraulic fluid being supplied to another of the first or second hydraulic loads. Moreover, the computing system is configured to control the first or second flow control valve corresponding to the other of the first or second hydraulic loads based on the corresponding received first or second input and the determined first or second pressure.