Hydraulic Steering Conduit Branching for Redundant Hose Failure Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic steering systems in heavy machinery require redundancy for safety and legal compliance, but existing solutions with multiple hydraulic pumps and hoses are costly and cumbersome, especially when using flexible hoses.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic steering system with a single steering unit and multiple directly connected conduits, including fluid branch connections that diverge to indirectly connected conduits with flow influencing means, providing redundancy and safety while reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two steering units and two steering actuating pistons are used to meet redundancy requirements, then safety and legal compliance are improved, but system cost and mechanical complexity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into multiple independent conduits (first and second hydraulic conduits) that can operate independently. Each conduit has its own fluid flow influencing means, allowing the system to maintain functionality even if one conduit fails, thus achieving redundancy without duplicating the entire steering unit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-conduit architecture to a multi-conduit architecture by adding spatial dimensionality to the hydraulic fluid transmission path. This allows redundant fluid transmission paths without requiring duplicate steering units or actuators, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety
2Ease of operation
If flexible hoses are used in hydraulic steering systems, then ease of installation and flexibility are improved, but safety and legal compliance are worsened due to failure risks
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible hose system is divided into multiple independent hydraulic conduits with separate fluid flow influencing means. This segmentation ensures that a failure in one hose does not compromise the entire steering system, maintaining safety while preserving the installation flexibility of flexible hoses
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundant hydraulic conduits and fluid flow influencing means as a preventive measure against hose failure. This prior cushioning approach ensures that even if flexible hoses fail, the steering system maintains safety through the remaining intact conduits
3Device complexity
If a single steering unit with single actuating piston is used, then cost and mechanical complexity are improved, but safety and legal compliance are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
While maintaining a single steering unit and actuating piston, the patent segments the hydraulic fluid transmission into multiple independent conduits. This allows the system to achieve redundancy and meet safety requirements without duplicating the steering unit or actuator, thus avoiding increased mechanical complexity
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
Ensures high safety and compliance with legal requirements while minimizing costs by maintaining system functionality in case of conduit failures, allowing for flexible hose usage and reduced mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
small actuating forces can be translated into large steering forces that actuate on the axles/wheels of the vehicle, thanks to the hydraulic system
Implementation Method 2
the at least two indirectly connected hydraulic conduits comprise at least one fluid flow influencing means, respectively
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a hydraulic steering system (1, 47, 54, 62) that includes a hydraulic steering unit (3) and a plurality of directly connected hydraulic conduits (18, 22, 42, 61). The directly connected hydraulic conduits (18, 22, 42, 61) are directly connected to the hydraulic steering unit (3). At least one of the directly connected hydraulic conduits (18, 22, 42, 61) includes a fluid branch connection (21, 23, 41) that diverges at least one of the directly connected hydraulic conduits (18, 22, 42, 61) to at least two indirectly connected hydraulic conduits (14, 15, 28, 29, 35, 36). The at least two indirectly connected hydraulic conduits (14, 15, 28, 29, 35, 36) include at least one fluid flow influencing means (19, 20, 26, 27, 37, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51), respectively.