Integrated Gear Pump Housing to Reduce Hydraulic Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic control units and systems face issues with leakage and corrosion due to piecemeal connections, leading to fluid loss and pressure losses, and prior integrated solutions are bulky and require excessive material and weight for protection.
Innovation Solution
An integrated hydraulic control unit design that incorporates a gear pump assembly within a housing with an accumulator and motor, minimizing encasement redundancies, reducing size, and incorporating a flow path section with seals to prevent leakage and protect against corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If piecemeal connections are used in hydraulic control units, then ease of assembly and manufacturing flexibility are improved, but leakage and corrosion increase leading to fluid loss and pressure losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple hydraulic components (gear pump, accumulator, flow control valves, and housing) into a single unified assembly where the gear pump is directly mounted within the housing that also contains the accumulator and flow paths. This merging eliminates piecemeal connections between components, thereby reducing leakage paths and improving reliability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through integrated fabrication or pre-assembled units.
2Reliability
If prior integrated solutions are used, then leakage paths are minimized, but device size becomes large requiring excessive material and weight for protection
Solution Approach 1:
The gear pump assembly is nested within the housing that also accommodates the accumulator and flow control mechanisms. The pump is positioned inside the housing structure, utilizing the internal volume efficiently. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall external dimensions and reduces the amount of protective encasement material needed, thereby reducing weight while maintaining integrated leakage reduction.
3Loss of substance
If integrated gear pump design is implemented, then material use is minimized and leak paths are reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall design is integrated, the patent segments the internal flow paths into distinct channels within the housing, with separate compartments for the accumulator and gear pump. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of internal flow passages using techniques like injection molding or casting, reducing the actual manufacturing complexity despite the integrated appearance. The segmented design also optimizes material distribution, minimizing total material use.
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 integrated design minimizes material use, reduces leak paths, and provides a compact, cost-effective solution that limits fluid leakage and protects the gear pump from external elements while maintaining efficient fluid flow and pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
A gear pump assembly is in the gear pump compartment. The gear pump assembly is configured to draw return fluid from the low pressure reservoir via the supply path and to pump pressurized fluid through the pressurizing path to accumulate in the high pressure reservoir.
Implementation Method 2
The accumulator in the accumulator compartment comprises a movable piston dividing the accumulator compartment into a high pressure reservoir and a low pressure reservoir.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic control unit comprises a housing, an accumulator, a gear pump assembly, and a motor. The housing comprises an accumulator compartment, a gear pump compartment, and a flow path section connecting the gear pump compartment and the accumulator compartment, the flow path section comprising at least a supply path and a pressurizing path. The accumulator in the accumulator compartment comprises a movable piston dividing the accumulator compartment into a high pressure reservoir and a low pressure reservoir. A gear pump assembly is in the gear pump compartment. The gear pump assembly is configured to draw return fluid from the low pressure reservoir via the supply path and to pump pressurized fluid through the pressurizing path to accumulate in the high pressure reservoir. A motor assembly is connected to the gear pump compartment of the housing and is configured to power the gear pump assembly.