Hydraulic Valve Drive with Spring Energy Recovery
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic drive systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in minimizing self-energy consumption while maintaining high variability and reliability, often requiring complex and costly systems with high energy losses due to friction and unbalanced forces.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic drive system utilizing a simple unilateral restoring energy accumulator and energy conversions, with a configuration that minimizes hydraulic losses by allowing variations in speed, precision, and uniformity, enabling full variability in valve control and energy recovery through a pressure-controlled system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex hydraulic systems are used to achieve full variability in valve control, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of energy storage from complex hydraulic systems by using a simple spring mechanism. The spring is removed from traditional camshaft designs and applied independently to the drive piston, providing the necessary energy for valve closure without requiring complex hydraulic control circuits or multiple actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded drive piston serves itself by automatically converting stored elastic energy into mechanical work for valve closure. The system uses the natural elastic properties of the spring to provide the closing force, eliminating the need for external energy sources or complex control systems while maintaining full variability in valve timing and duration.
2Reliability
If traditional spring mechanisms are used for valve closure, then reliability is improved, but self-energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static spring mechanism into a dynamic energy storage system. The spring is pre-compressed to store elastic potential energy, which is then dynamically converted into kinetic energy to drive the valve closure. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain reliable closure while reducing continuous energy consumption compared to traditional constantly-actuated systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the spring from a passive mechanical element to an active energy storage device by controlling its compression parameters. By adjusting the pre-compression level and spring constant, the system optimizes the balance between stored energy (for reliable closure) and energy consumption (during operation).
3Speed
If hydraulic systems operate at high speeds for fast valve response, then speed is improved, but energy losses due to friction increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex hydraulic actuation systems with a simplified mechanical spring-driven mechanism. The spring directly converts elastic energy to mechanical motion, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluid circulation, pumps, and high-pressure actuators. This substitution dramatically reduces frictional losses while maintaining fast valve response through the rapid release of stored elastic energy.
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
The system achieves minimal self-energy consumption and is built with simple, robust elements, maintaining full variability in valve control and reducing energy losses, making it suitable for dynamic applications like internal combustion engines.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (25) acting in the direction of the initial position of the drive piston (23)
Implementation Method 2
by the action of a pressure medium (30)
Data Source
AI summary
In order to ensure a simple, reliable and recuperative operation in a hydraulic drive (10) for accelerating and braking a gas exchange valve (20) of internal combustion engines or other reciprocating engines, it is proposed that a first pressure reservoir (41) for providing a first pressure p1 comprises a restoring energy accumulator, preferably configured as a spring (25), and at least one hydraulic base pressure reservoir (40), which has a lower pressure p0 than the first pressure reservoir (41). In a connecting line (48) between the first hydraulic pressure reservoir (41) and the working cylinder (22), a controllable opening (49) of a first valve (46) comprising at least one check valve (47) is arranged upstream or downstream in the flow path, which allows the pressure medium (30) to flow in the direction of working cylinder (22), but prevents a backflow towards the pressure reservoir (41).In order to also initiate the closing movement or to enable the breaking of the gas exchange valve in a hydraulically simple and reliable manner, in a second connecting line (58) between the first pressure reservoir (41) and the working cylinder (22) there is arranged a controllable opening (59) of a second valve (56) comprising a check valve (57), which prevents a flow in the direction of the working cylinder (22), but allows a return flow in the direction of the pressure reservoir (41).