Integrated Control Valve for Compact Quick Hitch Cylinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid pressure control devices for quick hitch cylinders in construction machines require two valve housings, leading to an enlarged valve block and increased space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A control valve design that integrates the pilot pressure control valve and main pump functions within a single valve housing, eliminating the need for a dedicated valve housing to guide working oil for extending the quick hitch cylinder, thereby reducing the overall size of the valve block.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated valve housing is used to guide working oil for extending the quick hitch cylinder, then the control function is reliable, but the valve block size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the quick hitch control valve and the dedicated working oil guiding valve into a single integrated valve housing. The valve body contains multiple ports (P, T, A1, A2, B1, B2) and internal passages that combine the functions of both control valves, eliminating the need for separate stacked valve housings while maintaining reliable control of the quick hitch cylinder extension and retraction
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated valve housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls the quick hitch cylinder extension and retraction, guides working oil for cylinder extension, and provides pilot pressure control all within a single component. This multi-functional design reduces the overall valve block size while preserving all necessary control functions
2Adaptability or versatility
If two valve housings are stacked to supply and discharge working oil to the quick hitch cylinder, then the control function is complete, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple valve functions into a single integrated valve housing, reducing the component count from two separate valve housings to one. The unified valve body contains all necessary internal passages and ports to perform both quick hitch control and working oil guidance functions that previously required separate components
3Ease of manufacture
If valve housings are stacked to configure the valve block, then the assembly is modular, but the overall space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple valve functions into a single compact valve housing design, eliminating the need for stacked modular valve housings. This integration significantly reduces the overall footprint and area occupied by the valve block while maintaining manufacturability through standardized port configurations and internal passage designs
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 allows for a compact configuration of the valve block, reducing space requirements and decreasing the number of components, which in turn lowers production costs and simplifies the system.
Implementation Method 1
a main pump 10 that discharges working oil
Implementation Method 2
a pilot pump 11 serving as a sub-pump that discharges working oil having a lower pressure than that of the main pump 10
Implementation Method 3
a control valve 100 that controls supplying and discharging of the working oil with respect to the quick hitch cylinder 1
Implementation Method 4
a quick hitch cylinder 1 that is to control extending and contracting of the quick hitch cylinder 1
Data Source
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AI summary
An object of the present invention is to reduce the space required for the valve block. A control valve (100) includes a valve housing (54) having a spool hole (53) in which a spool (51) is inserted slidably, a second cylinder port (72) communicating with a anti-rod side chamber (5) of a quick hitch cylinder (1), a pilot port (73) provided to communicate with a pilot pump (11) and configured to communicate with the second cylinder port (72) when no pilot pressure is guided to a pilot chamber (50). The pilot port (73) is formed to open on a plane (54c, 54d, 54e) other than a stacked plane (54a, 54b) on which an adjacent valve housing (21, 22) is stacked, among outer planes of the valve housing (54).