HYDRAULIC DRIVE SYSTEM

• US 20090193801A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concentric Rockford Inc. (Concentric AB)
• Original Assignee: George Kadlicko
• Inventors: Kadlicko, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/413
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 1/024 used as a supplementary power source, e.g. to store energy in idle periods to balance pump load
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 11/17 using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/14 Energy-recuperation means
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20523 Internal combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20546 variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20561 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20569 capable of working as pump and motor
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/20576 with multiple pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/212 the pressure sources being accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/27 Directional control by means of the pressure source
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6303 using input signals
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/633 representing a state of the prime mover, e.g. torque or rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6333 representing a state of the pressure source, e.g. swash plate angle
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6652 Control of the pressure source, e.g. control of the swash plate angle
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6653 Pressure control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6656 Closed loop control, i.e. control using feedback
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7053 Double-acting output members
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/7054 Having equal piston areas
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/88 Control measures for saving energy
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 7/001 With multiple inputs, e.g. for dual control
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 7/005 : With rotary or crank input
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hydraulic drive system for an actuator uses a pair of pressure compensated hydraulic machines to control flow to and from the drive chambers of the actuator by varying the controlled pressure of one of the machines. The machines are mechanically coupled to permit energy recovery and charge an accumulator to store supplies energy. The drive system may be combined with other services including a transmission for incorporation in a vehicle. The transmission uses a pressure compensated supply and torque control of the wheels.

Claims

1. A hydraulic transmission comprising a first rotary hydraulic machine to be driven by a prime mover, at least one hydraulic drive unit, a hydraulic conduit connecting said first machine and said drive unit, a control operable to control delivery of fluid between said first rotary machine and said drive unit, an additional variable capacity machine mechanically connected to said first machine to supply fluid to an accumulator and a sensor to monitor rotational speed of said first machine, said control operable top vary the capacity of said additional machine and thereby maintain said rotational speed at a desired level.

2. The transmission according to claim 1 wherein said additional machine is reversible to move between a pumping mode in which energy is absorbed from said first machine and a motoring mode in which energy is delivered to said first machine.

3. The transmission according to claim 2 wherein the capacity of said additional machine in either mode is modulated to maintain said rotational speed at a desired level.

4. The transmission according to claim 3 wherein said capacity is increased in either mode when said speed departs from said desired level.

5. The transmission according to claim 3 wherein the capacity of said additional machine is minimized when said rotational speed is at said desired level.

6. The transmission according to claim 3 wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine and said control operates to reduce fuel supply to said engine upon an increase in said rotational speed prior to modulation of the capacity of said additional machine.

7. The transmission according to claim 6 wherein said first machine is a variable capacity machine and has a pressure compensating control to vary the capacity of said machine to maintain a predetermined pressure in said conduit.

8. A method of operating a hydraulic transmission having a first rotary hydraulic machine to be driven by a prime mover, at least one hydraulic drive unit, a hydraulic conduit connecting said first machine and said drive unit, a control operable to control delivery of fluid between said first rotary machine and said drive unit, an additional variable capacity machine mechanically connected to said first machine to supply fluid to an accumulator and a sensor to monitor rotational speed of said first machine, said method comprising the steps of monitoring said speed of rotation and varying the capacity of said additional machine to maintain said speed at said desired level.

9. The method according to claim 8 including the step of minimizing the capacity of said additional machine when said speed is at said desired level.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said additional machine is reversible and said method includes the steps of conditioning said additional machine to a pumping mode if said speed exceeds said desired level and conditioning said additional machine to a motoring mode if said speed is below said desired level.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said prime mover is an internal combustion engine and said method includes the step of reducing fuel supply to said engine upon said speed exceeding said desired level prior to conditioning said additional machine to a pumping mode.

12. The method according to claim 11 including the step of conditioning said additional machine to a motoring mode to provide energy from said accumulator prior to increasing the supply of fuel to said engine.

13. A hydraulic transmission for a vehicle having a pair of drive members to propel the vehicle, said transmission comprising a first variable capacity reversible hydraulic machine to be driven by a prime mover, a plurality of variable capacity reversible hydraulic drive units, each associated with a respective one of the drive members, a hydraulic conduit connecting said first machine and said drive units, a pressure compensating control operable on said first machine to vary the capacity thereof and maintain a predetermined pressure in said conduit and an external control operable upon said drive units and vary the capacity thereof to vary the torque generated by respective ones of said drive units and a sensor associated with each of said drive members to determine the rotational speed thereof, said external control being operable to vary the capacity of respective ones of said drive units and change between a driving condition in which said drive unit consumes fluid in said conduit and a braking condition in which it delivers fluid to said conduit, and said pressure compensating control being operable to cause said first machine to reverse the mode of operation to maintain said predetermined pressure in said conduit, said control monitoring the relative speeds of rotation of said drive members and adjusting the capacity of said drive units to maintain a predetermined relationship therebetween.

14. The transmission according to claim 13 wherein with said drive units in a drive condition, said control operates to reduce the capacity of one of said drive units when said sensor detects that rotation of said one drive unit exceeds that established by said predetermined relationship.

15. The transmission according to claim 13 wherein with said drive units in a braking condition, said control operates to reduce the capacity of one of said drive units when said sensor detects that rotation of said one drive unit is less than that established by said predetermined relationship.

16. The transmission according to claim 13 wherein said control may vary said predetermined relationship and thereby effect steering of said vehicle.