Apparatus and method for controlling kinetics of torque converter for hoist drum drive of crane

In a crane:

• a hoist drum rotatable in hoist and lower directions;
• a prime mover for driving said hoist drum;
• a controlled kinetics torque converter operatively connected between said prime mover and said hoist drum;
• a "power down" drive assembly operatively connected between said prime mover and said hoist drum and including a clutch;
• clutch control means to selectively engage and disengage said clutch;
• and
• control means for supplying a variable density working fluid to said torque converter and for maintaining said working fluid at a pressure sufficient to inhibit cavitation in said working fluid, said control means further including means to selectively vary the density of said working fluid.

In a crane:

• a hoist drum rotatable in "hoist" and "lower" directions;
• a prime mover for driving said hoist drum;
• a controlled kinetics torque converter operatively connected between said prime mover and said hoist drum, said torque converter having a torus therein;
• a "power down" drive assembly operatively connected between said prime mover and said hoist drum and including a clutch;
• clutch control means to selectively engage and disengage said clutch;
• and
• control means for said controlled kinetics torque converter including:
• first means for supplying a liquid to said torus;
• means for selectively regulating said first means to vary the volume of liquid supplied to said torus;
• second means for supplying compressed gas to said torus at a predetermined rate;
• and
• third means for removing fluid from said torus at a fixed rate.

In combination:

• a torque converter having a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port;
• a first fixed displacement pump having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• a first supply line connected between said outlet port of said first pump and said fluid inlet port of said torque converter;
• an air compressor having an outlet port;
• a second supply line connected between said outlet port of said air compressor and a point in said first supply line;
• an air pressure regulator valve connected in said second supply line between said air compressor and said point;
• a selectively operable gate valve connected in said first supply line between said first pump and said point;
• an oil flow regulator valve having an inlet port, an exhaust port, and a pressure port, said inlet port being connected to said first supply line between said first pump and said gate valve, said pressure port being connected to said first supply line between said point and said fluid inlet port of said torque converter;
• a second fixed displacement pump having an inlet port and an outlet port;
• and
• a fluid exhaust line connected between said fluid outlet port of said torque converter and said inlet port of said second pump.

A method of operating and controlling a torque converter having an impeller and a turbine comprising the steps of:

• supplying a variable density working fluid to said torque converter at a predetermined volumetric rate;
• maintaining the working fluid above a predetermined pressure level to inhibit cavitation in said working fluid;
• varying the density of the working fluid supplied to said torque converter to effect regulation of the power output of the latter;
• and
• removing the working fluid from said torque converter at a fixed volumetric rate which is less than the maximum predetermined volumetric rate.

A method of operating and controlling a torque converter having an impeller and a turbine comprising the steps of:

• supplying a mixture of liquid and gas to said torque converter to provide a working fluid therefor;
• maintaining said mixture above a predetermined pressure level to inhibit cavitation of said working fluid;
• and
• selectively varying the proportion between the volume of liquid and gas to vary the density of said working fluid to thereby vary the output of the torque converter.

A method of operating and controlling a torque converter having an impeller and a turbine comprising the steps of:

• supplying liquid to said torque converter;
• supplying gas to said torque converter above a predetermined pressure and at a fixed volumetric rate;
• selectively varying the volumetric rate at which liquid is supplied to said torque converter to regulate the output of said torque converter;
• and
• removing the mixture of liquid and gas from said torque converter at a fixed volumetric rate which is less than the maximum volumetric rate at which liquid can be supplied to said torque converter.