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US 12,196,297 B2Granted
Hydromechanical systems and devices
AssigneeMathers Hydraulics Technologies Pty Ltd
InventorNorman Ian Mathers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and apparatuses are disclosed that include a plurality of hydraulic vaned devices arranged in-line with one another such as along a drive line of a vehicle. Various system operation modes achieved by such devices in the in-line arrangement are also disclosed.
Claims18
A system comprising:
- a plurality of hydraulic devices comprising at least four hydraulic devices arranged in-line in a series arrangement with one another with one or more shafts, each of the plurality of hydraulic devices comprising:
- a rotor disposed for rotation about an axis;
- a plurality of vanes, each of the plurality of vanes moveable relative to the rotor between a retracted position and an extended position where the plurality of vanes are configured to work a hydraulic fluid introduced adjacent the rotor;
- and
- a ring disposed at least partially around the rotor;
- a torque generating device coupled to one or more of the plurality of hydraulic devices via the one or more shafts;
- and
- an energy storage device in fluid communication with the plurality of hydraulic devices;
- wherein the system includes a plurality of operation modes controlling the plurality of hydraulic devices including a starter motor mode where the plurality of vanes of less than all of the at least four hydraulic devices are in the extended position and the less than all of the at least four hydraulic devices are provided with a hydraulic fluid from the energy storage device to create an angular velocity that is transferred to and used to start the torque generating device via the one or more shafts.
6 more elements
A vehicle system comprising:
- a torque generating device;
- a drive line comprised of one or more shafts including an input shaft;
- and
- a plurality of hydraulic devices arranged in series along the drive line and coupled to the torque generating device via the drive line, wherein each of the plurality of hydraulic devices is configured to be simultaneously operable in a vane capture mode during idle of the torque generating device, wherein the vane capture mode prevents vanes of the plurality of hydraulic devices from extending by locking the vanes in a retracted position thereby preventing any pumping or motoring.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a plurality of hydraulic devices comprising between four and eight hydraulic devices arranged in series along a driveline of a bus, each of the plurality of hydraulic devices are configured to be selectively operable as one of a hydraulic coupling and a vane pump;
- and
- controlling the plurality of hydraulic devices and one or more accessories to operate together as either a hydraulic coupling or a vane pump in various operation modes including at least one of a torque amplification mode, a starter motor mode where less than all of the plurality of hydraulic devices are selectively operable to start a torque generating device, a drive assist mode, an engine regenerative recharge mode and a regenerative recharge breaking mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.