Integrated Hydraulic Supply Unit for Compact Machine Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of hydraulic circuits for hydraulic machines is complex due to the need for separate connections of the pump drive and hydraulic pipes, making assembly tedious, especially when integrated into vehicles with numerous components.

Innovation Solution

A power supply unit that integrates the pump device and hydraulic valve device within a single housing, featuring mechanical and hydraulic ports, allowing for compact and simplified connections to the hydraulic machine, reducing external fluid connections and pressure drops.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the pump device and hydraulic valve device are installed separately with individual connections, then the installation flexibility is higher, but the assembly process becomes tedious and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidconnection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pump device and hydraulic valve device into a single integrated power supply unit with a common housing. The pump device and hydraulic valve device are positioned within the same housing and share common fluid conduits, eliminating the need for separate external connections. This integration directly resolves the technical contradiction by simplifying the assembly process while maintaining functional separation of the pump and valve devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple external fluid lines and fittings are used for connections, then the system is more adaptable to different configurations, but pressure losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure lossVSAvoidconnection configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the hydraulic valve device directly within the pump housing, allowing fluid to flow internally between the pump outlet and valve inputs without external piping. This internal fluid path elimination reduces the number of fittings and external lines, thereby minimizing pressure losses while maintaining system adaptability through the valve device's internal configuration options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Area of stationary object

If the pump and valve devices are mounted separately, then the maintenance of individual components is easier, but the overall system footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem footprintVSAvoidcomponent maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the hydraulic valve device within the housing that contains the pump device, creating a nested arrangement where the valve device occupies internal space within the pump housing. This nesting approach minimizes the overall system footprint by utilizing the existing housing volume, while the modular design allows for selective removal and maintenance of individual components without requiring complete system disassembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3685075B1Supply unit for at least one hydraulic machine
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 POCLAIN HYDRAULICS IND
  • EP3685075B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3685075B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3685075B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The supply unit (10) comprises a casing (11) containing a pump device (14) and having a motion input (Ml) for mechanically driving the pump device, and a first and a second hydraulic power port (HP1, HP2). The casing contains a hydraulic valve device (16) for selective connection between the pump device (14) and the hydraulic power ports (HP1, HP2). The unit is configured for connection to control means (20) of the hydraulic valve device (16) and for adoption of a resting state in which the first and second hydraulic power ports (HP1, HP2) are subject to a common resting pressure and an activated state in which the first and second hydraulic power ports are respectively subject to a high pressure and a low pressure of the pump device.