Variable Vane Hydraulic Pump with Rotating Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic vane pumps face limitations in pressure and speed capability due to out-of-balance forces in the under-vane regions, and traditional variable piston pumps are larger and less energy-efficient, leading to power losses and inefficiencies in energy conversion.
Innovation Solution
A variable vane hydraulic device with rotating rings and an adjuster that allows for relative rotation to vary hydraulic displacement, enabling operation as both a vane pump and a hydrostatic coupling, reducing power losses by direct conversion of rotary energy to pressurized flow and allowing for efficient energy regeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional variable piston pumps are used to achieve variable displacement, then displacement can be adjusted, but the device size increases and power losses occur due to multiple energy conversions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional piston-cylinder mechanical system with a vane-based system that operates directly on the rotor. This substitution eliminates the need for complex piston mechanisms, reducing the number of energy conversion steps from rotary-to-axial-to-pressurized flow, and achieving direct conversion from rotary energy to pressurized hydraulic flow, thereby reducing power losses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves variable displacement by changing the geometric parameters of the pumping chamber through adjustable cam ring positioning. By varying the eccentricity or position of the cam ring relative to the rotor, the displacement volume can be continuously adjusted without changing the fundamental structure, maintaining energy efficiency while providing adaptability.
2Productivity
If hydraulic vane pumps operate at high pressure and speed, then productivity increases, but out-of-balance forces in under-vane regions limit performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses out-of-balance forces by introducing counterbalancing mechanisms such as balance holes, balance grooves, or counterweights in the rotor structure. These features create opposing hydraulic forces or mechanical counterweights that compensate for the unbalanced radial forces acting on the vanes during high-pressure operation, enabling the pump to achieve higher pressure and speed capabilities without excessive vibration or mechanical stress.
3Adaptability or versatility
If variable piston hydraulic devices are used, then displacement can be varied, but the devices are larger and more complex making them difficult to fit in smaller engine bays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a modular vane pump design where the pumping elements are segmented into multiple independent vane chambers arranged around a single rotor. This segmentation allows the displacement to be varied by adjusting individual cam rings or vane positions while maintaining a compact overall structure. The modular architecture reduces the device volume compared to traditional piston pumps by eliminating the need for large cylinder blocks and piston assemblies.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional hydraulic devices convert rotary energy to axial energy then to pressurized flow, then displacement can be controlled, but multiple conversions result in power loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the axial piston mechanism with a radial vane mechanism that converts rotary motion directly into pressurized hydraulic flow. The vanes, guided by the cam ring geometry, directly translate rotor rotation into fluid displacement and pressurization, eliminating the intermediate axial motion conversion step. This direct conversion pathway reduces the number of energy transformation stages, minimizing power losses and improving overall system efficiency.
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2C
AI summary
A hydraulic device can include two or more rings, a rotor having a plurality of vanes, and an adjuster. The two or more rings can be rotatably mounted within the hydraulic device and arranged adjacent one another configured for relative rotation with respect to one another. The rotor can be disposed for rotation about an axis within the two or more rings and can have a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, each slot having at least one of the plurality of vanes located therein. The plurality of vanes can be configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position where the plurality of vanes work a hydraulic fluid introduced adjacent to the rotor. The adjuster can be configured to translate linearly to rotatably position the two or more rings relative to one another to increase or decrease a displacement of the hydraulic fluid between the rotor and the two or more rings.