Oil Level Control Device for Operator Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
In operator vehicles, the main tank of the hydraulic fluid supply circuit contains excess oil, leading to significant energy dissipation due to the agitation of oil, which is not proportionally reduced by existing control systems.
Innovation Solution
A control device with an auxiliary tank and control valve system that manages oil levels by redirecting excess oil to the auxiliary tank during low demand and releasing it back to the main tank as needed, using check and relief valves to maintain optimal oil levels and reduce energy dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the main tank contains abundant oil to ensure sufficient lubrication and hydraulic operation, then the reliability of vehicle operations is improved, but the energy dissipation due to oil agitation increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single main tank into two separate tanks: a main tank for lubrication and an auxiliary tank for hydraulic operations. This segmentation allows each tank to maintain optimal oil levels independently, reducing unnecessary oil agitation in the main tank while ensuring sufficient oil is available in the auxiliary tank for hydraulic operations when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an auxiliary tank as an intermediary between the main tank and the hydraulic system. This auxiliary tank acts as a buffer that stores hydraulic oil separately, mediating between the main lubrication system and the hydraulic actuators, thereby preventing excess oil from being agitated in the main tank while ensuring hydraulic operations can proceed when required.
2Loss of energy
If the oil level in the main tank is reduced to minimize energy dissipation, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the availability of oil for hydraulic actuators may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary tank is pre-filled with hydraulic oil in advance, preparing the system for future hydraulic operations. This preliminary action ensures that when hydraulic actuators need to operate, sufficient oil is already available in the auxiliary tank without requiring the main tank to maintain excess oil levels that would cause continuous agitation and energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary tank serves as an intermediary reservoir that decouples the main lubrication system from the hydraulic system. It maintains a dedicated supply of hydraulic oil independent of the main tank level, ensuring actuator availability while allowing the main tank to operate at lower, more energy-efficient levels.
3Reliability
If a traditional oil level control system is implemented, then the oil level can be maintained, but the system complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs passive flow control mechanisms where oil naturally flows from the main tank to the auxiliary tank through gravity and pressure differentials. The auxiliary tank automatically maintains its oil level through these self-regulating flows, eliminating the need for complex active control systems, sensors, or additional mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows excess oil to naturally settle in the auxiliary tank and automatically returns oil to the main tank when needed through the interconnected piping and valve system. This passive recovery mechanism maintains oil levels without requiring active pumping or complex control electronics.
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 allows for precise control of oil levels, reducing energy dissipation and maintaining sufficient oil for vehicle operations without occupying additional space, and can be easily integrated into vehicles not originally designed for this feature.
Implementation Method 1
At least a relief valve 7 is arranged on the auxiliary tank 5 such as to enable discharge of the operating fluid towards the main tank 4 should a predetermined level be exceeded
Implementation Method 2
An auxiliary conduit, provided with a check valve, is arranged in parallel with the lubrication circuit
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
An oil level control device in a main tank of a supply circuit, the supply circuit comprising: a main tank (4); a first pump (1) which, in aspiration, is connected to the main tank (4); a main hydraulic circuit (100), which is connected in inlet to the delivery of said charge pump 1 and in outlet is connected to the main tank (4); a first auxiliary conduit (11), an auxiliary tank (5) which receives oil from the first auxiliary conduit (11) and which in discharge is placed in communication with the main tank (4); at least a control valve (8), predisposed to control sending of oil from the first auxiliary conduit (11) to the auxiliary tank (5) or from the auxiliary tank (5) to the main tank (4).