Modular Hydraulic Distributor Assembly With Leak-Safe Standardized Modules

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Modular hydraulic distributors face challenges in flexibility, assembly complexity, increased manufacturing costs, and leakage issues due to the need for various threaded parts and non-standardized components, limiting their use and stock management.

Innovation Solution

A modular hydraulic distributor design featuring removable modules with internally housed valve means, threaded elements for easy assembly, and O-ring sealing to prevent leakage, allowing for flexible configuration and standardization of components to reduce production costs and enhance stock management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If modular distributors are used to increase flexibility and reduce costs, then adaptability and manufacturing cost improve, but assembly complexity and leakage risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic distributor is divided into multiple interchangeable modules, each containing a body with integrated valve means, activation means, and sealing elements. This segmentation allows flexible configuration while maintaining standardized connection interfaces that simplify assembly and reduce complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each module is designed with universal features including standardized coupling surfaces, threaded elements, and sealing arrangements that can be used across different module types. This universality enables interchangeable assembly while maintaining consistent assembly procedures and reducing the variety of components needed.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If various threaded parts are used for module fixation, then assembly flexibility improves, but manufacturing cost and stock management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly flexibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single standardized threaded element design is used across all modules, replacing the need for various sizes and types of threaded parts. This standardization reduces manufacturing costs and simplifies stock management while maintaining assembly flexibility through the modular architecture.

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

Solution Approach 2:

All modules use identical threaded elements with the same dimensions, thread pitch, and mounting configuration. This homogeneity eliminates the need for multiple threaded part variants, reducing both manufacturing complexity and inventory requirements while preserving the ability to assemble different module configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

3Ease of manufacture

If modular design is implemented to reduce component count, then manufacturing cost decreases, but leakage risk between modules increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidleakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function is merged into the module body itself through integrated sealing surfaces and embedded sealing elements (such as O-rings) that are part of the module construction. This integration ensures consistent sealing quality while reducing the number of separate sealing components that need to be assembled and managed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Identical sealing arrangements and coupling surface designs are used across all modules, ensuring consistent sealing performance throughout the assembly. This uniformity in sealing design reduces leakage risk while simplifying manufacturing and quality control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #33Homogeneity

Data Source

PatentEP3762617B1Hydraulic distributor
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 OILCOMP SRL
  • EP3762617B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3762617B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3762617B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The hydraulic distributor (1) comprises: a plurality of modules (2) connected to each other in a removable manner, where each of the modules (2) comprises a relative body (3) provided with: at least one supply channel (4) connectable to a supply source of a work fluid under pressure, at least one discharge channel (5) connectable to a discharge tank, at least a first and a second command line (6, 7) connectable to a relative user point (C), valve means (8) operable to regulate the flow of the work fluid towards the command lines (6, 7), activation means (9) for activating the valve means (8); mutual connecting means (11) of the modules (2) which comprise, for each of the modules (2), at least one threaded element (12) which engages in a removable manner with the threaded elements (12) of the adjacent modules (2) for their mutual fixing, where the threaded elements are separate from the channels (4, 5); and wherein the valve means (8) are contained inside the relative body (3) of each of said modules (2) and are positioned between the channels (4, 5) and the command lines (6, 7).