Hydraulic Pump Switching for Multi-Valve Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic systems for motor vehicles face inefficiencies due to the use of pressure accumulators, which result in energy loss and complex construction, and systems without accumulators require precise coordination of pump and valve actuation to maintain drivability.
Innovation Solution
A method that switches the pump between normal and enhanced operation based on total power requirements, eliminating the need for a pressure accumulator by setting pressure thresholds and using valves as pressure relief valves, allowing independent actuation of the pump and valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a pressure accumulator is used to maintain high pressure, then the system can provide high pressure when needed, but energy is lost and the construction becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts pump operation between normal and enhanced modes based on total power requirements. The pump controller monitors the sum of power requirements of all hydraulic consumers and switches between operation modes accordingly, making the pressure supply system adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by switching the pump between normal operation (with pressure thresholds) and enhanced operation (permanent driving). In enhanced operation, the pump operates continuously at higher capacity, and valves are temporarily operated as pressure relief valves when system pressure reaches threshold values, fundamentally changing how pressure is maintained.
2Stress or pressure
If a pressure accumulator is used, then high pressure is maintained, but the system construction becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the pressure accumulator from the hydraulic system. By removing this component entirely and replacing it with a smart pump control strategy that switches between normal and enhanced operation, the system achieves the same pressure maintenance function with simpler construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump serves multiple functions: in normal operation it maintains pressure within thresholds, and in enhanced operation it provides high pressure continuously. The same pump hardware performs different operational roles based on system needs, eliminating the need for separate pressure accumulation components.
3Power
If the pump is permanently driven in enhanced operation, then high power requirements are met, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between normal and enhanced pump operation based on real-time monitoring of total power requirements from all hydraulic consumers. The pump operates in enhanced mode only when the sum of individual consumer power requirements exceeds a threshold, making energy consumption adaptive to actual demand.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump controller periodically determines the total power requirement of hydraulic consumers at regular time intervals and switches between operation modes accordingly. This periodic assessment ensures the pump operates in high-energy enhanced mode only when necessary, rather than continuously.
Data Source
AI summary
A method actuates a hydraulic system for an actuation device of a motor vehicle. The hydraulic system has a pump and multiple valves which are each arranged between a system rail connected to a pump outlet and a hydraulic consumer. The pump is switched between a normal operation and an enhanced operation according to an existing total energy demand of the hydraulic consumers. In normal operation, the pump is driven when the system pressure is below a lower pressure threshold and switched off when the system pressure is above an upper pressure threshold. In the enhanced operation, the pump is permanently driven and each of the valves is operated according to an individual energy demand of the respective hydraulic consumer as soon as the system pressure achieves or exceeds a threshold value.