Modular Hydraulic Rotary Manifold with Interchangeable Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydraulic rotary manifolds are custom-built for specific tools and lack flexibility to accommodate various work tools and fluids, particularly those incompatible with the manifold material, leading to increased operational costs and limited application versatility.
Innovation Solution
A modular hydraulic rotary manifold design featuring a core manifold with removable spindle-mounted and barrel-mounted manifolds, allowing for customizable fluid flow paths and the integration of secondary fluid conduits, valves, and electrical connectors, enabling compatibility with diverse tools and fluids without the need for custom construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a custom-built hydraulic rotary manifold is designed for a specific work tool, then the manifold can be optimized for that particular application, but the manifold cannot be used with other tools or fluids, leading to increased operational costs and reduced versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is divided into a core manifold body and interchangeable manifold assemblies. Each manifold assembly can be removed and replaced with another assembly configured for a different tool or fluid type, allowing a single core manifold to serve multiple applications without requiring custom construction for each tool.
Solution Approach 2:
The core manifold body is designed with universal features including standardized mounting interfaces, multiple port configurations, and the ability to accommodate different manifold assemblies. This universal design allows the same core manifold to be used across various applications by simply changing the manifold assemblies.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the manifold walls are made of the same material as the manifold itself (typically carbon steel), then the manifold structure is simple and cost-effective, but the walls are not suitable for fluids that are incompatible with the manifold material
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid handling path is segmented from the main manifold body through the use of interchangeable manifold assemblies. These assemblies can be made from materials compatible with specific fluids (such as stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant materials) while the core manifold body can remain as standard carbon steel, allowing material selection to match fluid requirements without complicating the overall manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different material qualities are applied to different parts of the system. The core manifold body uses standard carbon steel for structural purposes, while the interchangeable manifold assemblies use materials with appropriate local quality characteristics (corrosion resistance, chemical compatibility) matched to the specific fluid requirements of each application.
3Productivity
If a single core manifold is used for multiple applications with removable manifolds, then operational costs are reduced and versatility is enhanced, but the device requires modular assembly and disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a permanent core manifold and removable manifold assemblies with standardized interfaces. The modular design allows quick attachment and detachment of assemblies without complex tools or procedures, making the assembly operations simple and efficient despite the modular nature.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold assemblies are pre-configured with specific port arrangements, seal types, and material compositions suitable for particular applications. This preliminary configuration allows operators to simply select and install the appropriate pre-prepared assembly for each tool or fluid type, eliminating the need for on-site customization or complex assembly procedures.
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 modular design reduces operational costs by allowing a single core manifold to be adapted for multiple applications, supports the use of incompatible fluids through secondary conduits, and integrates pressure relief and electrical connectivity, enhancing versatility and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a seal between the portion of the spindle conduit and the barrel-mounted manifold, the seal permitting rotation between the spindle conduit and the barrel-mounted manifold about the central axis
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic rotary manifold has a core manifold having a barrel and a rotatable spindle inserted in the barrel. The core manifold is common to a variety of different configurations involving removable spindle-mounted and barrel-mounted manifolds, which may be removably mounted on the core manifold and exchanged for other removable manifolds to provide different hydraulic fluid flow paths in the rotary manifold using the common core manifold. The rotary manifold permits retrofitting a secondary fluid flow path to use a secondary fluid in conjunction with a work tool mounted on the rotary manifold. The rotary manifold permits mounting a rotary position encoder on a barrel-side of the rotary manifold permitting the use of the common core manifold when a rotary position encoder is desired. Electronically actuated cartridge valves may be integrated into the core manifold and/or removable manifolds to provide further customization of the hydraulic fluid flow paths in the rotary manifold and/or to provide cross-over relief paths within the rotary manifold itself.