Hydraulic Control Valve Layout With Integrated Pilot Oil Relay

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic control devices for small-sized work machines do not effectively compactly configure the piping of pilot oil while driving control valves under electrical control.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic control device with a flow passage portion that includes a first piping portion for pilot oil and a relay portion connecting drive valves to the first piping portion, allowing for compact configuration and electrical control of control valves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If each control valve is driven by electrical control in a small-sized work machine, then the control precision and automation are improved, but the piping arrangement space becomes insufficient and the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical control of control valvesVSAvoidarrangement space of piping
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The relay portion is integrated into the valve body of each control valve, with the drive valve embedded within the valve body structure. This nesting arrangement allows the piping components to be housed within the existing valve structure, significantly reducing the external piping arrangement space while maintaining electrical control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the relay portion (piping component) with the valve body, and the drive valve with the valve body, creating a integrated assembly. This combining of multiple components into a unified structure reduces the overall space required for piping arrangement while enabling electrical control of the control valves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Extent of automation

If each control valve is driven by electrical control, then the automation level is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical control capabilityVSAvoidpiping system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By nesting the relay portion and drive valve within the valve body structure, the invention reduces the number of separate external components and connections required. This nested arrangement simplifies the overall piping system complexity while maintaining the electrical control capability across multiple control valves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP4438820A1Hydraulic control device and work machine including same
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4438820A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4438820A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4438820A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a hydraulic control device capable of driving each control valve by electric control while compactly constituting the piping of pilot oil, and a work machine including the hydraulic control device. [Solution] The hydraulic control device includes a plurality of control valves and a flow passage portion which is connected to each of the control valves and through which pilot oil flows. Each of the control valves includes a drive valve that drives each of the control valves, and the flow passage portion includes a first piping portion through which the pilot oil flows and a relay portion that connects each drive valve and the first piping portion.