Open-Center Hydraulic Valve Control for Adaptive Flow Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional open center hydraulic systems suffer from inefficient fluid flow management due to the mutual dependency of valve assembly functionalities and fixed relative relations between spool valve and meter-in/meter-out valve areas, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic valve control unit with a processor and memory that determines and adjusts the opening area values of actuator and shunt valves based on user input data, allowing for independent control and optimizing fluid flow according to operational modes and sensor data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional valve assemblies use fixed relative relations between spool valve and meter-in/meter-out valve areas, then manufacturing is simplified, but fluid flow efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of valve openings where the shunt valve and actuator valves can independently adjust their opening areas based on real-time operational conditions. The control unit receives sensor data about pump output flow and dynamically determines optimal opening area values for each valve, replacing the fixed mechanical relationship with a dynamic, adaptive control system that optimizes fluid flow efficiency while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Device complexity
If valve assembly functionalities are mutually dependent, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the valve control system into independent controllable units. Each actuator valve and the shunt valve can be controlled independently by the control unit based on specific operational requirements. This segmentation allows each valve to be optimized for its specific function while the overall system maintains coordinated operation through the central control unit, thereby achieving both simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit dynamically changes operational parameters (opening area values) for each valve based on sensor data about pump output flow and operational mode. This parameter adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to different working conditions without increasing physical complexity, as the same hardware can operate in multiple optimized states through electronic control.
3Stability of the object's composition
If pump provides relatively constant fluid flow, then system stability is improved, but fluid flow efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors monitor the actual pump output flow and feed this information to the control unit. The control unit compares the actual flow with the desired flow (based on operational mode and valve positions) and dynamically adjusts the shunt valve opening area to compensate for variations in pump output. This feedback mechanism maintains system stability while optimizing fluid flow efficiency by ensuring the actual flow matches the required flow under varying operational conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic valve control unit is for an open center hydraulic system including a pump, a shunt valve and one or more actuator valves coupled to the shunt valve. Each actuator valve controls a corresponding actuator's position. The hydraulic valve control unit has a processor and a memory, containing instructions executable by the processor, and is configured to obtain user input data indicative of a desired actuator's position, determining opening area values of the one or more actuator valves using a predetermined relation dependent on the user input data, determining an opening area value of the shunt valve using the predetermined relation dependent on the user input data, controlling the shunt valve based on the opening area value of the shunt valve, and controlling the one or more actuator valves based on the opening area values of the one or more actuator valves.