Kinetic energy recovery system for a machine

A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) for a machine having a prime mover, and a swing motor and an actuator therein, the KERS comprising:

• a KERS selection valve fluidly connected to a hydraulic motor/pump via a hydraulic motor/pump conduit, the KERS selection valve operated to:
• selectively receive hydraulic energy from the swing motor via a swing-motor conduit and the actuator via an actuator conduit, the actuator conduit being separate from the swing-motor conduit, when the hydraulic motor/pump is actuated as a hydraulic motor;
• and
• selectively supply hydraulic energy to the swing motor via the swing-motor conduit and to the actuator via the actuator conduit when the hydraulic motor/pump is actuated as a hydraulic pump;
• the hydraulic motor/pump disposed in fluid communication with a fluid source via a fluid source conduit, the hydraulic motor/pump configured to output pressurized fluid via the hydraulic motor/pump conduit to the KERS selection valve for selectively operating the swing motor or the actuator based on the selective operation of the KERS selection valve, wherein a first shaft operably and mechanically attached to the hydraulic motor/pump is configured to be operatively rotated by a flow of fluid returning, via the KERS selection valve, from the swing motor or the actuator back to the fluid source via the hydraulic motor/pump;
• a gearing arrangement configured to selectively couple with the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump with the help of a first clutch, and
• a flywheel coupled to the gearing arrangement, the flywheel configured to store drive power generated by the hydraulic motor/pump from the return flow of fluid when the first clutch couples the gearing arrangement with the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump;
• and
• a second clutch disposed between the gearing arrangement and a second shaft associated with the prime mover of the machine, the second clutch configured to selectively couple the gearing arrangement with the second shaft, wherein the first clutch is selectively operable for facilitating a transfer of drive power from the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump to the flywheel via the gearing arrangement, and wherein the second clutch is selectively operable for transferring stored drive power from the flywheel to the second shaft via the gearing arrangement.

A machine comprising:

• a frame;
• a body mounted on the frame and having a prime mover disposed therein;
• a swing motor configured to operably rotate the body relative to the frame;
• a linkage pivotally mounted on the body;
• an actuator configured to operably pivot the linkage relative to the body;
• a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) operable to selectively receive drive power from a hydraulic motor/pump disposed in fluid communication with the swing motor and the actuator of the machine, and selectively transfer stored drive power to the prime mover in driving the swing motor and the actuator, wherein the KERS includes:
• a KERS selection valve fluidly connected to the hydraulic motor/pump via a hydraulic motor/pump conduit, the KERS selection valve operated to:
• selectively receive hydraulic energy from the swing motor via a swing-motor conduit and the actuator via an actuator conduit, the actuator conduit being separate from the swing-motor conduit, when the hydraulic motor/pump is actuated as a hydraulic motor;
• and
• selectively supply hydraulic energy to the swing motor via the swing-motor conduit and to the actuator via the actuator conduit when the hydraulic motor/pump is actuated as a hydraulic pump;
• the hydraulic motor/pump being disposed in fluid communication with a fluid source via a fluid source conduit, the hydraulic motor/pump configured to output pressurized fluid via the hydraulic motor/pump conduit for operating the swing motor and the actuator based on the selective operation of the KERS selection valve, wherein a first shaft operably and mechanically attached to the hydraulic motor/pump is configured to be operatively rotated by a flow of fluid returning, via the KERS selection valve, at least one of:
• the swing motor and the actuator back to the fluid source via the hydraulic motor/pump;
• a flywheel configured to selectively couple with the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump with the help of a first clutch, the flywheel configured to store drive power generated by the hydraulic motor/pump from the return flow of fluid when the first clutch couples the flywheel with the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump;
• and
• a gearing arrangement coupled to the flywheel and configured to selectively engage with a second shaft associated with the prime mover of the machine, the gearing arrangement being selectively engaged to the second shaft with the help of a second clutch, wherein the first clutch is selectively operable for facilitating a transfer of drive power from the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump to the flywheel, and wherein the second clutch is selectively operable for transferring stored drive power from the flywheel to the second shaft associated with the prime mover.