A Novel Digital Hydraulic Valve Package: A Fast and Small Multiphysics Design

Abstract

Digital hydraulics provide high fault tolerance, fast and exact control, and energy efficiency. The biggest problems with digital electrohydraulics are the size of the valve package and the lack of suitable, direct-operated on/off seat valves. To improve the performance of digital electrohydraulics, the size of the current commercial solenoid valves should be reduced by half. In addition, the response time should be reduced and the operating frequency increased. These requirements constitute the goals of this thesis. In this thesis project, two types of valves and a valve package using bistable magnetic actuators were designed, analysed, built and measured. The thesis demonstrates that the objectives were achieved and competitive designs were found by applying new bistable valve geometries, multiphysics modelling, and careful elaboration of designs.