US-12618399-B2 - Hydraulic piston pump assemblies

US12618399B2US 12618399 B2US12618399 B2US 12618399B2US-12618399-B2

Abstract

Hydraulic piston pump assemblies are disclosed herein. The hydraulic piston pump assemblies may include a hydraulic unit base that includes a plurality of pump pistons to output hydraulic fluids with different characteristics that can be selectively used based on load conditions.

Inventors

Dustin Nielson
Maggie Hu

Assignees

Roadtek Enterprises Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240322

Claims (19)

1 . A hydraulic piston pump assembly, comprising: a hydraulic unit base having therein a piston cavity, a small piston outlet channel, and a medium piston outlet channel, the small piston outlet channel and the medium piston outlet channel each connected to a respective fluid inlet and a respective fluid outlet; a dual pump piston slidably disposed in the piston cavity, the dual pump piston comprising a small piston and a medium piston connected to the small piston along a longitudinal axis of the dual pump piston, the small piston having a smaller displacement volume than a displacement volume of the medium piston, a small piston fluid space formed at a periphery of the small piston and a medium piston fluid space formed at a periphery of the medium piston, wherein the small piston outlet channel is connected to the small piston fluid space and the medium piston outlet channel is connected to the medium piston fluid space, wherein the small and medium pistons are axially coupled at a single plane, the single plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the dual pump piston; a small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the small piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the small piston outlet channel to form a small piston temporary storage cavity between the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the small piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the small piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the small piston outlet channel, and wherein the small piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the small piston fluid space of the small piston; and a medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the medium piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the medium piston outlet channel to form a medium piston temporary storage cavity between the medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the medium piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the medium piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the medium piston outlet channel, and wherein the medium piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the medium piston fluid space of the medium piston; wherein the piston cavity, the small piston outlet channel, and the medium piston outlet channel each have a respective elongated cavity shape having a respective longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis of the small piston outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the medium piston outlet channel are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the piston cavity.
2 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston cavity has a closed end and an opened end opposite of the closed end, the dual pump piston extending at least partially out of the opened end of the piston cavity into a drive cavity, wherein the drive cavity includes an eccentric wheel to drive the dual pump piston.
3 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a spring in the piston cavity to urge the dual pump piston to at least partially extend out of the opened end of the piston cavity.
4 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a motor connected to the eccentric wheel to cause the eccentric wheel to rotate to drive the dual pump piston.
5 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 2 , wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a first overflow channel including a small piston safety valve that is set to open when the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is closed and when hydraulic fluid pressure in the small piston fluid space exceeds a cracking pressure of the small piston safety valve at which the small piston safety valve opens.
6 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a second overflow channel including a medium piston safety valve that is set to open when the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is closed and when hydraulic fluid pressure in the medium piston fluid space exceeds a cracking pressure of the medium piston safety valve at which the medium piston safety valve opens.
7 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cracking pressure of the medium piston safety valve is less than the cracking pressure of the small piston safety valve.
8 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 2 , wherein the dual pump piston has a first end and a second end opposite of the first end, wherein the first end extends at least partially out of the opened end of the piston cavity, the small piston positioned further away from the first end of the dual pump piston than the medium piston.
9 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve is set to open at a lower pressure than the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve.
10 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 9 , wherein the medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve is set to open at a lower pressure than the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve.
11 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve is a first check valve that includes a first ball and a first spring, the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is a second check valve that includes a second ball and a second spring, the medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve is a third check valve that includes a third ball and a third spring, and the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is a fourth check valve that includes a fourth ball and fourth spring.
12 . A hydraulic piston pump assembly, comprising: a hydraulic unit base having therein a piston cavity, a small piston outlet channel, and a medium piston outlet channel, the small piston outlet channel and the medium piston outlet channel each connected to a respective fluid inlet and a respective fluid outlet; a dual pump piston slidably disposed in the piston cavity, the dual pump piston comprising a small piston and a medium piston connected to the small piston along a longitudinal axis of the dual pump piston, the small piston having a smaller displacement volume than a displacement volume of the medium piston, a small piston fluid space formed at a periphery of the small piston and a medium piston fluid space formed at a periphery of the medium piston, wherein the small piston outlet channel is connected to the small piston fluid space and the medium piston outlet channel is connected to the medium piston fluid space; a small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the small piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the small piston outlet channel to form a small piston temporary storage cavity between the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the small piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the small piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the small piston outlet channel, and wherein the small piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the small piston fluid space of the small piston; and a medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the medium piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the medium piston outlet channel to form a medium piston temporary storage cavity between the medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the medium piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the medium piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the medium piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the medium piston outlet channel, and wherein the medium piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the medium piston fluid space of the medium piston; wherein the piston cavity has a closed end and an opened end opposite of the closed end, the dual pump piston extending at least partially out of the opened end of the piston cavity into a drive cavity, wherein the drive cavity includes an eccentric wheel to drive the dual pump piston; wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a first overflow channel including a small piston safety valve that is set to open when the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is closed and when hydraulic fluid pressure in the small piston fluid space exceeds a cracking pressure of the small piston safety valve at which the small piston safety valve opens; wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a second overflow channel including a medium piston safety valve that is set to open when the medium piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is closed and when hydraulic fluid pressure in the medium piston fluid space exceeds a cracking pressure of the medium piston safety valve at which the medium piston safety valve opens; wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a large piston cavity having a larger volume than the piston cavity, the large piston cavity having a closed end and an opened end connected to the drive cavity, and a large piston slidably disposed in the large piston cavity and extending at least partially out of the opened end of the large piston cavity into the drive cavity.
13 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a spring in the large piston cavity to urge the large piston to at least partially extend out of the opened end of the large piston cavity.
14 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 12 , wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a large piston outlet channel connected to a respective fluid inlet and a respective fluid outlet, the large piston outlet channel further includes a large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the large piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the large piston outlet channel to form a large piston temporary storage cavity between the large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the large piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the large piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the large piston outlet channel, and wherein the large piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the large piston cavity.
15 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 14 , wherein the large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve is set to open at a lower pressure than the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve.
16 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 14 , wherein the large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve is a first check valve that includes a first ball and a first spring and the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is a second check valve that includes a second ball and a second spring.
17 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic unit base further includes a third overflow channel connected to the large piston cavity, the third overflow channel connected to the large piston cavity including a large piston safety valve that is set to open when the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve is closed and when the hydraulic fluid pressure in the large piston cavity exceeds a cracking pressure of the large piston safety valve.
18 . The hydraulic piston pump assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cracking pressure for the large piston safety valve is lower than the cracking pressure of the medium piston safety valve.
19 . A hydraulic piston pump assembly, comprising: a hydraulic unit base having therein a first piston cavity and a second piston cavity, a drive cavity connected to the first and second piston cavities, a small piston outlet channel, and a large piston outlet channel, the small piston outlet channel and the large piston outlet channel each connected to a respective fluid inlet and a respective fluid outlet, the first piston cavity being connected to a side of the drive cavity opposite from another side of the drive cavity where the second piston cavity is connected to the drive cavity; a small piston slidably disposed in the first piston cavity and a large piston slidably disposed in the second piston cavity, the small piston having a smaller displacement volume than the displacement volume of the large piston; an eccentric wheel included in the drive cavity to drive the small piston and the large piston; a small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the small piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the small piston outlet channel to form a small piston temporary storage cavity between the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the small piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the small piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the small piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the small piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the small piston outlet channel, and wherein the small piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the first piston cavity; and a large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and a large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve disposed in series in the large piston outlet channel between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet connected to the large piston outlet channel to form a large piston temporary storage cavity between the large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve, wherein the large piston low-pressure one-way outlet valve and the large piston high-pressure one-way outlet valve are oriented in the large piston outlet channel such that a fluid can flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet of the large piston outlet channel but cannot flow in an opposite direction from the fluid outlet to the fluid inlet of the large piston outlet channel, and wherein the large piston temporary storage cavity is connected to the second piston cavity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application is a co-pending application to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/614,471 entitled Hydraulic Fluid Release Valve Assemblies, naming as inventors Dustin Nielson and Maggie Hu, filed on Mar. 22, 2024, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/614,420 entitled Hydraulic Jack Assemblies, naming as inventors Dustin Nielson and Maggie Hu, filed on Mar. 22, 2024, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,098,060, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND Field of the Embodiments The present disclosure relates to pumps and, more particularly, to hydraulic piston pump assemblies. Description of the Related Art A hydraulic jack typically comprises a pump that drives a hydraulic fluid, such as oil, from a hydraulic fluid reservoir into a hydraulic cylinder containing a ram rod (or simply “ram”) during a load-lifting operation. During a lifting operation, the ram pushes upwards a lifting arm with a saddle that sits on the end of the lifting arm. The saddle is typically placed underneath the load so that the ram through the lifting arm and the saddle pushes the load upwards during the lifting operation. To lower the load, the hydraulic fluid contained in the hydraulic cylinder is discharged back to the hydraulic fluid reservoir by opening a release valve between the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic fluid. Existing hydraulic jacks can be divided into electric and manual types. The electric type uses a motor to drive an electric pump to inject the hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder for lifting loads and the manual type uses a manual pump that requires the operator to manually and repeatedly press the pump to inject the hydraulic fluid into the hydraulic cylinder for lifting loads. During a load-lowering operation performed by either the electric types or the manual types of hydraulic jacks, a hydraulic fluid release valve that is located in a hydraulic fluid return channel between the hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic fluid reservoir (hereinafter “hydraulic fluid tank”) will be opened so that the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder, which may be under high pressure, can flow to the hydraulic fluid tank. Such an operation normally requires the operator to manually open the hydraulic fluid release valve to lower the lift arm assembly of the hydraulic jack regardless of whether the hydraulic jack is a manual or electric type of hydraulic jack. The hydraulic fluid release valves that are used in conventional hydraulic jacks are opened and closed manually using a twisted motion of the jack handle or the release valve itself. It is by manual power and not by electric power that such operations are typically performed. That is, the conventional hydraulic fluid release valves that are commonly used in such situations are typically opened and closed manually by an operator when the operator manually employs certain components to push the valve pin away from the valve seat to open the hydraulic fluid release valve and fluidly connect the hydraulic fluid source (e.g., hydraulic cylinder) to a hydraulic fluid reservoir (e.g., hydraulic fluid tank). As to the pumps of these conventional hydraulic jacks, they often employ a piston pump to inject the hydraulic fluid into a hydraulic cylinder. As noted above, a hydraulic jack can be either manually operated or electrically powered jacks that employ electric pumps. Electric pumps rely on electricity as the power source for running, for example, electric motors to run the pumps. Generally, the amount of hydraulic fluid supplied by an electric pump of a conventional electric hydraulic jack is constant when used, so the lifting speed of the piston is uniform regardless of whether there is a heavy load, a light load, or no load. Further, to maintain the lifting capabilities for heavier loads and to improve the stability during lifting operations, the lifting speed is generally set slower, resulting in the lifting speed being too slow when there is no load or a light load. SUMMARY Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide for hydraulic fluid release valve assemblies. In some embodiments, a hydraulic fluid release valve assembly may include a hydraulic unit base with a hydraulic fluid return channel, and a hydraulic fluid release valve that is at least partially inserted in the hydraulic fluid return channel. The hydraulic fluid release valve assemblies may further include a driving assembly to apply a pushing force on the hydraulic release valve to open the hydraulic fluid release valve, and an electrically powered driver connected to the driving assembly, the electrically powered driver, when actuated, causes the driving assembly to move to apply the pushing force to the hydraulic fluid release valve. In some embodiments, the hydraulic unit base may be a support structure comprised of steel, iron, aluminum, or other metal or alloy. In some embodiments, the hydraulic fluid return channel of t