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US 9,874,270 B2Granted
Hydrostatic torque converter and torque amplifier
AssigneeMathers Hydraulics Technologies Pty Ltd
InventorNorman Ian Mathers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example includes a hydraulically controllable coupling to couple a rotating input and to an output to rotate, or to decouple the input and the output, with coupling and decoupling modes selected by switching a hydraulic device such as a vane pump between a pumping mode and a mode in which it does not pump. In an example, the system cooperates with a transmission to increase the number of possible gear ratios in some examples.
Claims18
A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a hydraulic coupling having a body and at least a first vane configured for movement relative to the body, the hydraulic coupling adapted to retain the first vane in a retracted vane mode of operation and to release the first vane in a vane extended mode of operation in which the first vane extends to meet the body to hydraulically work fluid when the first vane is moved with respect to the body;
- an input shaft and an output shaft coupled to rotate together by the hydraulic coupling in the vane extended mode of operation, and the input shaft and output shaft are free to rotate with respect to one another in the vane retracted mode of operation;
- and
- a hydraulic pump motor coupled to the output shaft, the hydraulic pump motor including a pump motor port in fluid communication with the hydraulic coupling configured to selectively deliver an amount of fluid at a discharge pressure, the pump motor receives fluid from the hydraulic coupling to propel the output shaft in the vane extended mode of operation.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a hydraulic device configured as both a coupling and a vane pump and a pump selectively coupled to a shaft with the hydraulic device;
- and
- flowing a pressurized hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic device to the pump motor.
A vehicle system comprising:
- a hydraulic coupling having a body and at least a first vane configured for movement relative to the body, the hydraulic coupling adapted to retain the first vane in a retracted vane mode of operation and to release the first vane in a vane extended mode of operation in which the first vane extends to meet the body to hydraulically work fluid when the first vane is moved with respect to the body;
- an input shaft and an output shaft coupled to rotate together by the hydraulic coupling in the vane extended mode of operation, and the input shaft and output shaft are free to rotate with respect to one another in the vane retracted mode of operation;
- a motor pump coupled to the output shaft;
- a torque producer coupled to the input shaft;
- and
- a transmission coupled to the output shaft, wherein the coupling is disposed between the torque producer and the transmission and is in fluid communication with and drives the motor pump in the vane extended mode of operation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.