Vehicle Height Hydraulics With Pressure-Switched Flow Reversal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle hydraulic systems for straddle-type vehicles face limitations in quickly adjusting vehicle height due to slow hydraulic fluid flow and high costs associated with electromagnetic valves in pneumatic systems.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle hydraulic system with a pump capable of forward and reverse rotation operations and a switching valve that adjusts flow direction based on suction and discharge pressures, allowing rapid height adjustments and reducing system costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a screw pump is used in the vehicle hydraulic system, then the system structure is simple, but the hydraulic fluid flow speed is slow and vehicle height adjustment is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem structureVSAvoidhydraulic fluid flow speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The pump rotation direction is made dynamically switchable between forward and reverse directions. The switching valve dynamically changes the hydraulic circuit configuration based on pressure differential signals, enabling the pump to alternately suck and discharge hydraulic fluid. This dynamic operation significantly increases hydraulic fluid flow speed and enables rapid vehicle height adjustment while maintaining system structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Speed

If an exhaust valve (electromagnetic valve) is used in the vehicle pneumatic system, then vehicle height can be quickly adjusted, but the system cost increases due to expensive valves and wiring requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle height adjustment speedVSAvoidsystem cost
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The switching valve operates autonomously based on pressure differential signals from the hydraulic circuit itself. When the pump discharges hydraulic fluid, the discharge pressure opens the switching valve; when the pump sucks hydraulic fluid, the suction pressure closes the switching valve. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for expensive electromagnetic valves and their associated wiring control systems, significantly reducing system cost while maintaining fast vehicle height adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the pump rotates in a single direction, then the pump structure is simple, but the flow direction in the hydraulic circuit cannot be switched for rapid height adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump structureVSAvoidflow direction switching capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pump rotation direction is made dynamically switchable between forward and reverse directions through the switching valve mechanism. The valve responds to pressure differential signals to alternately connect the pump inlet and outlet to different hydraulic circuit paths, enabling the pump to switch between sucking and discharging hydraulic fluid. This dynamic adaptability allows rapid vehicle height adjustment while keeping the pump structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables quick vehicle height adjustments and lowers the overall cost of the hydraulic system by optimizing fluid flow direction switching.

Implementation Method 1

a switching valve configured to switch a flow direction in the hydraulic circuit according to a change in suction pressure and discharge pressure of the pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4647328A1Vehicular hydraulic system, and vehicle height adjustment device comprising this vehicular hydraulic system
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP4647328A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4647328A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4647328A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The vehicle hydraulic system (50) includes a hydraulic circuit (70) connecting a reservoir (60) that stores a hydraulic fluid and a jack chamber (43) of a hydraulic jack (40), a pump (80) interposed in the hydraulic circuit (70), and capable of a forward rotation operation and a reverse rotation operation, and a switching valve (100) configured to switch a flow direction in the hydraulic circuit (70). The switching valve (100) switches a flow direction in the hydraulic circuit (70) according to a change in the suction pressure and the discharge pressure of the pump (80) due to switching between the forward rotation operation and the reverse rotation operation of the pump (80).