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US 8,261,865 B2Granted
Regenerative suspension with accumulator systems and methods
AssigneePhysics Lab of Lake Havasu, LLC
InventorJames A. Stansbury, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In exemplary embodiments, a regenerative suspension system replaces or complements a standard shock absorber on a vehicle. A pump attaches via a hose to a central accumulator cylinder that is mounted on a vehicle. Pressurized fluid, air, or other material charges the accumulator. The Pressurized fluid, air, or other material is controllably released via a valve in order to perform work.
Claims21
A system comprising:
- a manifold;
- a pump that is coupled to the manifold and transfers a pressurized fluid through the manifold to a hydraulic accumulator that is coupled to the manifold, wherein the pump comprises a piston coupled to a bucket associated with a tractor, and wherein the pump transfers the pressurized fluid to the hydraulic accumulator as the bucket is lowered;
- a hydraulic motor that is coupled to the manifold and receives the pressurized fluid from the hydraulic accumulator and rotates in response to the receiving the pressurized fluid;
- and
- an alternator that is coupled to the hydraulic motor and receives a rotational energy of the hydraulic motor.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a manifold;
- a pump that is coupled to the manifold and transfers a pressurized fluid through the manifold to a hydraulic fluid storage unit that is coupled to the manifold, wherein the pump comprises a piston coupled to a bucket associate with a tractor, and wherein the pump transfers the pressurized fluid to the hydraulic fluid storage unit as the bucket is lowered;
- a hydraulic motor that is coupled to the manifold and receives the pressurized fluid from the hydraulic fluid storage unit and rotates in response to the receiving the pressurized fluid;
- and
- a planetary gearing system coupled between the hydraulic motor and an alternator that transfers a rotational energy of the hydraulic motor to the alternator.
2 more elements
A kit comprising:
- a manifold;
- a hydraulic accumulator that is configured to couple to the manifold;
- a pump that is configured to couple to the manifold, wherein the pump comprises a piston that is configured to couple to a bucket associated with a tractor, and wherein the pump is further configured to transfer a pressurized fluid through the manifold to the hydraulic accumulator as the bucket is lowered;
- and
- a hydraulic motor that is configured to couple to the hydraulic accumulator through the manifold, wherein the hydraulic motor is further configured to receive the pressurized from the hydraulic accumulator and rotate in response to the receiving the pressurized fluid.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- delivering, by a pump and through a manifold coupled to a hydraulic accumulator, a pressurized fluid to the hydraulic accumulator, wherein the pump comprises a piston coupled to a bucket associated with a tractor, and wherein the pump delivers the pressurized fluid to the hydraulic accumulator as the bucket is lowered;
- controllably releasing, through the manifold and from the hydraulic accumulator, the pressurized fluid to a hydraulic motor;
- wherein the hydraulic motor rotates in response to the releasing;
- and
- wherein a rotational energy of the hydraulic motor is transferred to an alternator.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.