Integrated Ride Control Valve for Hydraulic Oscillation Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ride control systems for hydraulic machines require external piping connections and multiple hydraulic components, leading to reduced operational power and inefficient oscillation suppression, especially when handling heavy loads on booms or lift arms over uneven terrain.

Innovation Solution

A ride control system integrated within a main control valve, utilizing a ride control valve section that couples the accumulator to the actuator via a single spool, allowing for internal fluid connections and variable accumulator charging, balancing accumulator pressure with actuator pressure to absorb oscillations without external conduits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional ride control systems use external piping connections and multiple hydraulic components, then the system can provide ride control functionality, but the operational power is reduced and oscillation suppression becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidhydraulic power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the ride control valve section with the main control valve into a single integrated unit. The ride control spool is housed within the main control valve body, and internal fluid passages connect the accumulator to the actuator through the spool positions, eliminating external piping and reducing hydraulic power consumption while maintaining ride control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The main control valve is designed to perform multiple functions: directional control of the actuator and ride control oscillation suppression. The ride control spool integrates with the main control valve's fluid passages, allowing the same hydraulic system to handle both primary actuation and secondary ride control functions without separate dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional ride control systems use multiple hydraulic components and external piping, then the system can suppress oscillations, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoscillation suppression effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of hydraulic components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ride control valve section is merged with the main control valve, combining multiple functions into a single device. The ride control spool is housed within the main control valve body, and internal fluid passages replace external piping, reducing the number of components while maintaining oscillation suppression effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ride control spool is nested within the main control valve body. The spool is movably disposed inside the valve body, utilizing the existing structural space. This nesting approach reduces overall system complexity by eliminating separate external valve housings and connections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If the ride control spool is movably disposed within the valve body to selectively couple multiple ports, then the system achieves efficient oscillation suppression, but the valve body design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveride control responsivenessVSAvoidvalve body design
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control valve is segmented into functional sections: a directional control section and a ride control valve section. The ride control spool is a distinct movable component within the valve body that can be independently actuated. This segmentation allows complex functionality to be achieved through coordinated movement of separate spool sections while maintaining a unified valve body structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ride control spool is designed to be movably disposed within the valve body, allowing it to dynamically transition between different positions (first position, second position, third position) to selectively couple different fluid passages. This dynamic capability enables responsive ride control by adapting fluid connections based on real-time oscillation conditions without requiring complex fixed routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution enhances operational efficiency by minimizing hydraulic power consumption and allowing seamless integration into existing hydraulic systems, providing effective oscillation suppression and improved ride quality without external piping, enabling smoother operation on rough terrain.

Implementation Method 1

balancing accumulator pressure with actuator pressure to absorb oscillations

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

an accumulator and a control valve having a work port configured to couple to the actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAccumulator: Hydraulic Accumulator

Data Source

PatentEP4293235A1Systems and methods for hydraulic ride control
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 HUSCO INT INC
  • EP4293235A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4293235A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4293235A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ride control valve includes a valve body defining a work passage, a pump passage, a tank passage, and an accumulator passage configure to couple to an accumulator. A ride control spool is movably disposed within the valve body and configured to move between a first ride control position to discharge the accumulator, a second ride control position configured to charge the accumulator at a variable charge rate, a third ride control configured to balance the accumulator pressure with the work passage pressure, and a fourth ride control position configured to couple the accumulator to the work passage. A pressure balancing spool is movably disposed within the ride control spool to selectively couple the accumulator passage with each of the pump passage and the tank passage to balance the accumulator pressure. The ride control valve is configured couple to a directional control valve without external conduit.