Open-Center Hydraulic Valve Layout for Shorter Hoses and Rupture Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open center hydraulic systems face issues such as mutual dependency of valve assembly functionality, excessive use of hydraulic hoses due to centralized valve configuration, and increased complexity and cost from line rupture protection mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The proposed open center hydraulic system incorporates a shunt valve, actuator valves, and a hydraulic valve control unit that adapt opening areas based on user input data and predetermined relations, along with a dampening accumulator and function valve to direct fluid flow, reducing the need for dedicated connectors and enhancing system flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If valves of all hydraulic functions are centralized at one point, then control functionality is consolidated, but a large amount of hydraulic hoses is required to connect each hydraulic function to a respective valve
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic valve system is segmented into multiple distributed valve assemblies, with each valve assembly containing a shunt valve and actuator valve coupled together. This segmentation allows valves to be positioned closer to the actuators they control, reducing the length and quantity of hydraulic hoses required while maintaining centralized control functionality through the coupled valve design.
2Reliability
If line rupture protection valves, check valves or burst pipe protection valves are introduced, then uncontrolled cylinder movement is prevented, but additional complexity and cost is added to the hydraulic system
Solution Approach 1:
The shunt valve and actuator valve are merged into a single coupled valve assembly where the actuator valve is integrated with the shunt valve. This merging provides inherent protection against uncontrolled cylinder movement through the coupled design while reducing overall system complexity by eliminating the need for separate line rupture protection valves, check valves, or burst pipe protection valves.
3Ease of operation
If a part of the total flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump is always provided to dual action hydraulic actuators, then actuators can be controlled, but waste of hydraulic flow occurs when other forces such as gravity are sufficient to move the actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator valve is designed with dynamic opening area control that can be adjusted based on operational conditions. The valve opening area is adapted according to user input data and predetermined relations, allowing the system to reduce or stop hydraulic fluid flow to dual action actuators when external forces like gravity are sufficient to move the actuator, thereby eliminating waste of hydraulic flow while maintaining ease of operation when control is needed.
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 design reduces the length of hydraulic connectors, minimizes system complexity and cost, and prevents uncontrolled cylinder movement during pipe ruptures, while allowing for efficient fluid flow management and operation as either double or single action actuators with optional load dampening.
Implementation Method 1
a dampening accumulator and a function valve comprising a first function port coupled to the corresponding first hydraulic actuator
Implementation Method 2
dampening accumulator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention relates to An open center hydraulic system (100), the open center hydraulic system (100) comprising a tank configured to hold hydraulic fluid, a pump configured to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid from the tank, a shunt valve configured to adapt an first opening area between a first input port and a first output port of the shunt valve dependent on a first control signal, wherein the first input port is coupled to the pump and the first output port is coupled to the tank, a first actuator valve coupled to the first input port and configured to adapt a second opening area of the first actuator valve dependent on a second control signal, a hydraulic valve control unit configured to determine a first opening area value and a second opening area value based on user input data and a predetermined relation dependent on the user input data,sending the first control signal, indicative of the first opening area value and sending the second control signal indicative of the second opening area value.