Valve Subassembly with Adjustable Pump Valves for Fluid Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive systems with valve subassemblies connected to multiple pumps face challenges in efficiently distributing pressurized fluid to actuators, particularly when the maximum delivery flow is insufficient, leading to prioritization issues and potential damage from excessive fluid supply.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a valve subassembly with a single pump line and a separate constantly adjustable pump valve for each additional pump line, allowing for prioritization and regulation of pressurized fluid distribution to actuators, with features like non-return valves, pressure limitation, and adjustable orifices to prevent fluid exchange and ensure optimal actuator operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple pumps are used to supply pressurized fluid to actuators, then the delivery flow increases, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pump lines into multiple segments (first pump line directly connected to pump, second pump line connected via pump valve) to enable selective supply to different actuators. This segmentation allows a single pump to serve multiple functions that would otherwise require multiple pumps, reducing system complexity while maintaining adequate delivery flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump valve is designed with adjustable orifices that can be dynamically configured to regulate flow distribution. This dynamic adjustability allows the system to adapt flow distribution to match varying actuator demands, enabling a single pump to efficiently supply multiple actuators without requiring multiple fixed pump systems.
2Quantity of substance
If the pump delivery flow is increased to supply all actuators, then all actuators can be supplied adequately, but actuators may receive excessive fluid supply leading to damage
Solution Approach 1:
Each second pump line is equipped with its own adjustable orifice in the pump valve, allowing independent flow regulation for each actuator. This local quality control ensures that each actuator receives precisely the flow it needs, preventing excessive fluid supply to any individual actuator while maintaining adequate total delivery flow to all actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable orifices in the pump valve enable dynamic change of flow parameters for each pump line. By adjusting the orifice sizes, the system can optimize the flow distribution parameters to match actuator requirements, preventing harmful excessive flow while ensuring adequate supply, thus eliminating the need to increase overall pump delivery flow beyond necessary levels.
3Device complexity
If a single pump is used to supply multiple actuators, then the system complexity reduces, but the delivery flow becomes insufficient to supply all actuators adequately
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable orifices in the pump valve enable dynamic flow distribution that adapts to varying actuator demands. This dynamic capability allows a single pump to efficiently allocate its delivery flow to multiple actuators based on their instantaneous requirements, effectively overcoming the limitation of insufficient flow that would otherwise necessitate multiple pumps.
Solution Approach 2:
By providing adjustable orifices for each pump line, the system can change flow parameters to optimize distribution. This parameter adjustment capability enables a single pump to achieve adequate supply to all actuators by dynamically matching flow rates to actuator needs, eliminating the requirement for increased pump capacity or multiple pumps.
4Quantity of substance
If pump lines are connected in parallel to multiple pumps, then fluid can be supplied to multiple actuators, but fluid exchange between pump lines cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the pump lines such that the first pump line is directly connected to the pump while the second pump line is connected through a pump valve with adjustable orifices. This segmentation creates controlled flow paths that prevent uncontrolled fluid exchange between lines, while still enabling the single pump to supply multiple actuators through the regulated second pump line.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve subassembly includes a pump connection location, a tank connection location, and two constantly adjustable direction control valves each with first and second operating connection locations and an input connection location. A first valve group includes one direction control valve whose input is connected in parallel to two separate pump lines such that pressurized fluid is directed exclusively from the two pump lines to the control connection location. The two pump lines include a maximum of a first pump line and each remaining pump line is a second pump line. The maximum one first pump line is directly connected to the pump connection location in fluid terms, and a separate constantly adjustable pump valve is associated with each second pump line. Pressurized fluid is directed from the pump connection location via the pump valve into the associated second pump line.