Hydraulic Thick Material Valve Switching With Metered Fluid Volumes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thick matter valves face challenges in simultaneously achieving high switching forces and short switching times, making it difficult to operate them quickly and reliably between multiple switching states, and they cannot utilize the end positions of control cylinders as stops.
Innovation Solution
A thick matter valve system that uses a metering cylinder to supply defined volumes of hydraulic fluid to a control cylinder, allowing the valve member to switch between multiple states without the need for feedback or additional actuators, enabling rapid and controlled transitions between switching states by moving a metering piston between end positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high switching forces are applied to operate the valve, then the valve can be operated reliably, but the switching time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The control cylinder is divided into multiple control chambers (first control chamber and second control chamber) that can be independently filled with hydraulic fluid. This segmentation allows the valve member to be switched through multiple intermediate positions rather than requiring a single large-force movement, thereby reducing the required switching force while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The metering cylinder pre-fills the control chambers with hydraulic fluid before the actual switching operation. By preliminarily positioning the hydraulic fluid in the appropriate chambers, the system prepares the valve for switching in advance, reducing the time and force needed during the actual switching moment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve is designed with multiple switching states, then flow control versatility is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metering cylinder serves multiple functions: it acts as both the actuating cylinder for the valve member and the metering device for controlling hydraulic fluid volume. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve multiple switching states without requiring separate feedback sensors, position detectors, or additional control actuators for each state, thereby maintaining simplicity while providing versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses itself to control the switching process. The metering cylinder's piston movement directly determines the volume of hydraulic fluid supplied to the control chambers, which in turn determines the valve member's position. This self-contained mechanism eliminates the need for external feedback systems or monitoring devices, reducing overall system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If a feedback system is implemented to control the valve states, then switching precision is improved, but the system complexity and number of actuators increase
Solution Approach 1:
The metering cylinder automatically controls the hydraulic fluid volume based on its piston position, eliminating the need for external feedback systems. The piston's movement directly determines the fluid volume supplied to the control chambers, creating a self-regulating mechanism that achieves precise switching without additional sensors or actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic fluid acts as an intermediary that transfers the control action from the metering cylinder to the valve member. By precisely controlling the volume of hydraulic fluid supplied to each control chamber, the system achieves accurate positioning of the valve member without requiring direct mechanical connection or electronic feedback mechanisms.
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 system allows for quick and reliable switching between multiple states with high forces and short switching times, eliminating the need for complex feedback systems and additional actuators, and can be designed to control the flow of thick matter in pumps and pipe diverters.
Implementation Method 1
a defined volume of hydraulic fluid is supplied from a metering cylinder to a control cylinder in order to drive a control piston arranged in the control cylinder such that the control piston moves the valve member from the first switching position to the second switching position
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for actuating a valve for thick matter, wherein, in a first switching operation, a valve element (26) is switched between a first switching state (A) and a second switching state (B) by a first volume of hydraulic fluid being supplied to a control cylinder (28, 29), and wherein, in a second switching operation, the valve element is switched between the second switching state (B) and a third switching state (C) by a second volume of hydraulic fluid being supplied to a control cylinder (28, 29). The first volume of hydraulic fluid is supplied to the control cylinder (28, 29) by a metering piston of a metering cylinder (33, 34, 35) being displaced from a first end position to a second end position. The second volume of hydraulic fluid is supplied to the control cylinder (28, 29) by a metering piston of a metering cylinder (33, 34, 35) being displaced from a first end position to a second end position. The invention also relates to a corresponding valve (25) for thick matter.