The effect of reducing the pressure losses of hydraulic oil used in construction machinery and tractor on fuel savings

Directional control valves, which are used to control the equipment connected to the tractor, control of the rockshaft mechanism and the movement of the various equipments. In these systems, hydraulic oil is directed through directional control valves. These valves provide the desired movement by controlling the flow and pressure of the oil. Directional control valves are generally spool type valves. However, directional control valves cause certain pressure losses by design. In order to reduce the pressure losses of control valves, using smooth surfaces, designing more efficient flow channels are methods used to reduce pressure losses. But these methods increase the initial investment cost and cause the price to be very expensive compared to their equivalents under mass production in serial conditions. Pressure losses increase the energy consumed in the pump and thus fuel consumption. Especially at high pump flow rates, energy and fuel consumption increases significantly as pressure losses will increase even more. In this study, it is aimed to reduce the pressure loss in tractor and construction machine valves by separating the oil flow with the help of a unloading valve in the neutral position. This study is thought to make an important contribution to fuel saving and increasing hydraulic system efficiency in tractors and construction machines. This contribution was evaluated together with the analysis and the general working principle of control valves was presented in detail. The reduction in pressure losses with the new design and its contribution to fuel saving was calculated.