This page is dedicated to
demonstrate the potential of
our system to promote a typical
Fluid Power Distributor
An Expert System to assist
in the Design of Hydraulic Systems
The KEOHPS Hydraulic Module is an Expert System which assists the designer to rapidly create design alternatives for Hydraulic Systems.
The system provides a training facility for students (or new engineers) and an empowering tool for experienced designers.
More technical information on this system is available at the KEOHPS' website.
The system functionality can be listed on the following items:
Besides the above listed functions, there is a NEW feature on our system, the KEOHPS PathFinder.
With this new feature, once the user has access to the different hydraulic system diagrams, automatically generated as WEB pages which can also be viewed via an INTERNET browser, he/she can ALSO access specific information regarding the following components:
The links currently implemented on our system will be continuosly changed and are presented only for DEMONSTRATION purpose. For example, regarding ACCUMULATOR the KEOHPS System points to information related to:
And for FILTER, the system presents:
The information is categorized by COMPONENT and ATTRIBUTE as presented in the examples above. Thus the KEOHPS System offers a "great leap" from PRELIMINARY to DETAILED design of hydraulic systems.
It should be pointed out that the above mentioned components are already implemented, and through a proper customization with a MANUFACTURER/ DISTRIBUTOR PARTNER the system will provide even more precise information, possibly accessing electronic catalogue or database.
ATTENTION: In order to better understand this feature, check the following links system1 and system2. These diagrams and their corresponding circuit descriptions with the component links were AUTOMATICALLY created by the KEOHPS system. Explore the solutions through the levels of SYSTEM to CIRCUIT to COMPONENT, and see how the KEOHPS PathFinder can promote your products.
SYSTEM DEMONSTRATIONS
The KEOHPS' system has been demonstrated at many key events in the field of engineering and fluid power, some of them include, IFPE- International Fluid Power Exposition (Chicago, April 2000) and EXPO2000- (Hannover, Germany July 2000). Besides these events there were different publications on industrial and academic means regarding the KEOHPS' system, such as the Fluid Power Journal (Jan/Fev 2000) and more recently, the Hydraulic & Pneumatic Magazine, September issue.
HOW DOES THE KEOHPS SYSTEM WORK?
All interaction of the user is performed in a very simple form, through dialog boxes, as shown in the figure below. The system is based on the fact that the functionality of a hydraulic system is decomposed in smaller blocks, i.e. its actuation and power supply circuits.
The system is composed of a set of rules that define the necessary circuits based on the Load Attributes, as defined by the user on the Load Definition Window.
As can been seen, the user defines general mechanical attributes of the load, i.e. virtually no knowledge on fluid power is required to use the system.
Thus, the system handles the design information in a higher level, namely the circuits, before considering the components. This manner of organizing information reflects the way experts think when they design fluid power systems. The system has as users, engineering students or new professionals and expert designers.
Use of Internet Technology
| As depicted on this figure, the interaction between the user and the
prototype system is very ease. It combines the user friendliness of an
INTERNET display, the capacity of the system to promptly create, from specific
knowledge of hydraulics, a semantic network among different objects (systems,
circuits and components), generating a series of HTML files, and the user's
capacity to perform highly cognitive tasks, such as to compare functional
solutions and perform design decisions.
Thus the system allows the user to navigate through the circuits, investigating the aspects of each alternative, including an explanation of its choice and corresponding component list, also prompted as WEB pages generated on-fly. See example below. |
 |
System Explanation
The first window presents an input option where you include your general data.
Important: On a customized version, this window will present information from the specific distributor (i.e. YOUR COMPANY). Alternatively, it may also allow input for the user's location. For example, if the user is located in the state of Florida, the output will access specific websites of the distributor in that state.
SELECT DIRECTORY
In order to organize the system ouputs, you can select or create a directory (up to 8 characters) on the window below.
The system concentrates on the conceptual and preliminary stages of the design process. In the context of hydraulics, it means to generate feasible design solutions with some support for the user's choice (conceptual stage) and basic sizing of components (preliminary stage).
These attributes are included in a high-level language, which means that general attributes, such as position, reaction and type of control can be defined without requiring specific knowledge of hydraulics.
Check the generated systems using the option View Systems on the Menu, this option shows the names of the circuits (sub-system) within each system. In order to see the systems diagrams, click on the button Launch Browser.
ATTENTION, after each system operation that redefines the HTML files, you should use the RELOAD (or REFRESH) button on the browser to guarantee that you are seeing the UPDATED FILES.
In the system output, special attention is given to the circuit presentation, for it includes a symbolic representation, textual description and explanation of the choice for a specific configuration as function of a corresponding load attributes, in case of actuation circuit, or as consequence of power demands, for the power supply unit.
Another system feature to contribute for training in hydraulics is the characteristic of evaluating different power units. To use this facility, check the alternatives for power supply unit on the CIRCUIT1 file.
After comparing the alternatives, you can change the power supply unit for all systems. In order to perform this, simply select the on the option View Systems click on the button Change Power Supply.
Once you choose an option, the Replace Power Supply button is activated. After the choice, the system automatically redefines all system diagrams and component lists.
This facility, that analyzes and redefines a very important factor in the design process, gives more freedom to the designer and introduces a Concurrent Engineering perspective to the design process, both aspects collaborate to train in hydraulics.
The designer can use the option Weighting Tool to add qualitative weights to certain attributes of the design, to enable the alternative systems to be ranked. This intends to support the decision making process.
The resulted ranking can be verified on the browser using the option Design Information.
Up to this point, the designs are purely conceptual. Here, you can choose to size the systems by entering values for certain load attributes such as maximum static force extended and stroke. For this, use the option Size Circuits:
Before actually sizing the circuits, you must select the pressure supply. Some aspects about Supply Pressure Definition can also find here.
The system provides a range to your choice. After selecting the pressure setup, you must include the load quantitative attributes, according to the next window.
On the above window, and its equivalent for rotational loads, the attribute "static" considers the load on a steady condition, while the "dynamic" qualifier relates to a moving situation.
Once you define quantitative attributes for the load set, and specify how the loads interact with themselves. the system performs basic sizing of all circuits. Thus, it also contributes to quicken the design process, releasing the designer from executing algorithmic tasks.
The fluid selection module offers two alternatives, in the first one, User Guide Selection, the user is presented with all available options in the fact base. Thus, based on their attributes (application, no-applicable, pressure range, etc.) the user selects the best option for the design. In the second alternative, Key Words Selection, the user is requested to enter a set of key words (e.g. fire, environment, anti-corrosion, etc.), then the system searches for the options according to this set.
In order to check the procedure described above, subscribe to our mailing list, and test the system.
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Any suggestions or comments about the system, please contact us:
Technical information on this system is available at the KEOHPS
WebSite.
© 1999-2000 KEOHPS
