Supplemental Hydraulic Pump Control for Low-Speed Flow Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tractor hydraulic systems with variable displacement, pressure, and flow-compensated pumps experience reduced implement performance at lower engine speeds due to decreased hydraulic flow, leading to increased parasitic power losses when additional flow is not needed, as the supplemental pump operates at elevated pressure levels continuously.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic system with a supplemental pump that operates in a standby condition at lower flow and switches to higher flow when necessary, based on swashplate angle thresholds, providing additional flow on demand to primary circuits through selective valve control, thereby optimizing flow distribution and reducing unnecessary power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a supplemental pump operates continuously at elevated pressure levels to provide additional hydraulic flow, then implement performance at lower engine speeds is improved, but parasitic power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental pump's flow rate is made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust between standby condition (lower flow) and use condition (higher flow) based on real-time system demands detected by pressure sensors and flow meters, thereby maintaining implement performance while minimizing parasitic power losses during non-demand periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters of the supplemental pump based on detected system conditions, switching between two distinct operational states (standby and use conditions) with different flow rates and pressure levels, optimizing the balance between productivity and energy consumption
2Quantity of substance
If the supplemental pump operates at higher flow continuously to ensure sufficient hydraulic supply, then flow availability is improved, but system efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental pump transitions from static continuous high-flow operation to dynamic variable-flow operation, adjusting its output based on actual system needs as detected by sensors, ensuring adequate hydraulic supply only when required while improving overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system monitors its own flow and pressure conditions using integrated sensors and automatically controls the supplemental pump's operation accordingly, enabling the system to self-regulate flow availability and efficiency without external intervention
3Reliability
If the supplemental pump operates continuously to maintain pressure, then system reliability is improved, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental pump operates periodically rather than continuously, switching between standby and use conditions based on detected system demands, thereby maintaining system reliability through on-demand operation while significantly reducing noise generation during standby periods
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic system for a work vehicle includes a first pump with a first swashplate providing a first flow in a first circuit and a second pump with a second swashplate providing a second flow in a second circuit. A supplemental pump with a supplemental swashplate provides a supplemental flow to a supplemental circuit. A first valve selectively enables flow from the supplemental circuit to the first circuit. A second valve selectively enables flow from the supplemental circuit to the second circuit. A controller determines to operate the supplemental pump in one of a standby condition and a use condition based in part on a first angle of the first swashplate and a second angle of the second swashplate.