Priority Valve Hydraulic Circuit for Agricultural Implement Flow Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydraulic systems for agricultural equipment face challenges in efficiently prioritizing the supply of hydraulic fluid to certain subsystems over others, leading to inefficiencies and performance issues.

Innovation Solution

A hydraulic circuit with an implement priority valve that selectively restricts hydraulic fluid delivery to lower-priority subsystems to ensure adequate flow to higher-priority subsystems, using pressure differentials and a spool mechanism to optimize fluid distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydraulic fluid is supplied to multiple subsystems simultaneously, then all subsystems can operate, but higher-priority subsystems may not receive adequate fluid flow when demand exceeds supply

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance reliability of higher-priority subsystemsVSAvoidoverall system productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic circuit is segmented into priority and non-priority pathways using a priority valve. The priority valve separates fluid flow into two distinct channels: one dedicated to higher-priority subsystems and another to lower-priority subsystems. This segmentation ensures that when total fluid demand exceeds pump capacity, the priority subsystems receive guaranteed flow while non-priority subsystems receive reduced flow, resolving the contradiction between reliability of critical functions and overall system productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If hydraulic fluid flow is restricted to higher-priority subsystems, then their performance is optimized, but lower-priority subsystems receive insufficient fluid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational reliability of priority subsystemsVSAvoidhydraulic fluid quantity available to non-priority subsystems

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The priority valve applies local quality control by differentiating fluid distribution based on subsystem priority. The valve creates different flow conditions in different parts of the hydraulic circuit: full flow capacity is allocated to priority subsystems while non-priority subsystems receive proportionally reduced flow. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by ensuring critical subsystems maintain reliable operation while non-critical subsystems operate with reduced but sufficient fluid quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If existing priority valve components are used, then fluid prioritization is achieved, but system complexity and potential failure points increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid supply prioritization capabilityVSAvoidhydraulic circuit component complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the priority valve functionality directly into the existing hydraulic circuit architecture, combining multiple functions into integrated components. Rather than adding separate complex priority control systems, the invention integrates priority control within the fluid distribution network itself, reducing the number of discrete components while maintaining the prioritization capability. This merging approach resolves the contradiction between achieving reliable fluid prioritization and minimizing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution ensures optimal performance of higher-priority subsystems by proportionally limiting fluid to lower-priority subsystems, maintaining overall hydraulic circuit efficiency and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

using pressure differentials and a spool mechanism to optimize fluid distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3957866B1Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits therefor incorporating one or more priority valves

Publication Date: 2025.07.16 DEERE & CO

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AI summary

Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits for agricultural implements are disclosed herein. An agricultural implement includes a fluid source, a plurality of fluid demand devices, a delivery control valve, and a priority valve. The fluid source is configured to supply hydraulic fluid. The plurality of fluid demand devices are each configured to receive hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source during operation of the agricultural implement. The delivery control valve is fluidly coupled between the fluid source and a first fluid demand device. The delivery control valve is configured to selectively deliver hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source to the first fluid demand device during operation of the agricultural implement. The priority valve is fluidly coupled between the delivery control valve and the first fluid demand device.