Optimization and Design Principles of a Minimal-Weight, Wearable Hydraulic Power Supply

Abstract

The field of wearable hydraulics for human-assistive devices is expanding. One of the major challenges facing development of these systems is creating lightweight, portable power units. This project’s goal was to develop design strategies and guidelines with the use of analytical modeling to minimize the weight of portable hydraulic power supplies in the range of 50-350 W. Steady-state, analytical models were developed and validated for a system containing a lithium-polymer battery, brushless DC motor, and axial-piston pump. Component parameters such as motor size, pump size, and swashplate angle were varied to develop four design guidelines that can be used by designers to minimize system weight. First, the smallest electric motor that can provide the required torque and speed may not result in minimum system weight. Second, cooling systems do not reduce overall system weight. Third, the gearbox between the electric motor and pump should be eliminated to reduce system weight. Fourth, iterative modeling is necessary to determine the various range of component parameters necessary to result in a minimal-weight system. The analytical model developed takes inputs of desired flowrate, pressure, and runtime, and outputs the combination of pump size, swashplate angle, and motor size that results in a minimal-weight system. The four design principles and the computer simulation are tools that can be used to either design a fully-custom, weight-optimized power supply or to aid in the selection of commercially available components for a low-weight power supply.