Swash Plate Lever Sensing for Flexible Hydraulic Pump Layouts

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Solution Overview

Problem

The direct transmission of swash plate rotation to detectors in variable displacement hydraulic pumps and motors restricts design flexibility due to the need for concentric arrangement with the tilt axis, limiting design options.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a lever supported by the housing that rotates with the swash plate and a sensor to detect the lever's displacement, allowing for accurate tilt angle detection without requiring concentric alignment with the swash plate's tilt axis, thereby reducing design restrictions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the rotation of the swash plate is directly transmitted to the detector, then the tilt angle can be detected, but the transmission mechanism must be concentrically arranged with the tilt axis, which restricts design flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetilt angle detection accuracyVSAvoiddesign flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A lever is introduced as an intermediary component between the swash plate and the detector. The lever rotates in conjunction with the tilting of the swash plate, converting the swash plate's tilt motion into lever rotation. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the requirement for direct concentric arrangement, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection accuracy and design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the direct mechanical transmission system with a lever-based rotational conversion system. Instead of directly transmitting swash plate rotation to the detector through a concentric mechanism, the lever converts the tilt displacement into rotation, allowing the detector to be positioned independently from the swash plate tilt axis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a lever is used to convert swash plate displacement into rotation, then design restriction is reduced, but the system must accurately detect lever displacement to maintain detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign freedomVSAvoiddisplacement detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The detector (such as a potentiometer) provides feedback on the lever's displacement or rotational position. This feedback mechanism allows the system to accurately determine the swash plate tilt angle based on lever position, ensuring measurement precision is maintained despite the added mechanical conversion stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach enables high-accuracy detection of the swash plate's tilt angle while reducing the influence of micro-vibrations and providing design flexibility, allowing for more compact and versatile hydraulic pump and motor designs.

Implementation Method 1

a lever supported by a housing and configured to rotate in conjunction of tilting of the swash plate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11293417B2Hydraulic pump and motor

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 KOMATSU LTD

AI summary

A variable displacement hydraulic pump or motor includes: a swash plate; a lever supported by a housing and configured to rotate in conjunction of tilting of the swash plate; and a sensor configured to detect a displacement amount of the lever.