Vehicular drive system using stored fluid power for improved efficiency
OwnerRoy M. Howellinventor
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Abstract
A road vehicle drive system using a crankless, unthrottled internal combustion engine directly powering its wheels hydrostatically to eliminate wasteful idling and part-throttle operation so that fuel use and harmful emissions are much reduced in a lighter, less costly vehicle retaining the operational convenience of conventional systems.
Claims10
A vehicular drive system including an unthrottled internal combustion powered unit having crankless reciprocating piston means pumping hydraulic fluid intermittently into a high pressure accumulator, an accumulator pressure adjustment means, a valve actuating means controlling the pumping rate of the reciprocating piston means high pressure accumulator shut-off valve means for leakage control, an accelerator controlled variable volume hydraulic motor, a low pressure accumulator storing discharge fluid from said hydraulic motor, a sensor/computer/hydraulic processor means for sequencing:
- (i) adjustment of fluid pressures in said accumulators in response to ambient atmospheric conditions,
- (ii) reciprocation of said reciprocating piston means to achieve synchronization and combustible mixture induction,
- (iii) release of a compression initiating valve and provision of an ignition spark,
- (iv) operation of said shut-off valve means for leakage control and accumulator pressure loss prevention.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.