SHARED POWER STREET SWEEPER

• US 20130277127A1
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Burnier, Timothy A., Padgett, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,010,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/53.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/06 from the transmission power take-off transmissions having power-take-off B60K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/08 comprising more than one engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/053 having vertical axes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19014 Plural prime movers selectively coupled to common output

Abstract

A power delivery system for a vehicle is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power delivery system includes a chassis engine configured to power driving functions of the vehicle and an auxiliary engine configured to power non-driving hydraulic functions of the vehicle. The power delivery system may also include a power boost system comprising a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor in fluid communication with each other. The hydraulic pump may be coupled to a power output of the chassis engine while the hydraulic motor may be coupled to a power output of the auxiliary engine. In one embodiment, the power delivery system has a power sharing mode in which power is transferred from the chassis engine power output to the auxiliary engine power output via the hydraulic pump and motor such that the non-driving hydraulic functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

Claims

1. A power delivery system for a vehicle, the power delivery system comprising:

(a) a chassis engine configured to power driving functions of the vehicle;

(b) an auxiliary engine configured to power non-driving functions of the vehicle; and

(c) a power boost system comprising;

i. a first power transmission device coupled to a power output of the chassis engine;

ii. a second power transmission device in power communication with the first power transmission device, the second power transmission device being coupled to a power output of the auxiliary engine;

(d) the power delivery system having a first power sharing mode in which power is transferred from the chassis engine power output to the auxiliary engine power output via the first and second power transmission devices such that the non-driving functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

2. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the power delivery system has a second power sharing mode in which power is transferred from the auxiliary engine power output to the chassis engine power output via the first and second power transmission devices such that the driving functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

3. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first and second power transmission devices are hydraulic devices.

4. The power delivery system of claim 3, wherein the first power transmission device is a hydraulic pump and the second power transmission device is a hydraulic motor.

5. The power delivery system of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second power transmission devices are configured to operate as a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump.

6. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the chassis engine power output is a power take-off unit.

7. The power delivery system of claim 6, wherein the chassis engine power take-off unit is connected to a transmission driven by the chassis engine.

8. The power delivery system of claim 7, wherein the chassis engine power take-off unit includes a clutch.

9. The power delivery system of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary engine power output is a power take-off unit.

10. The power delivery system of claim 9, wherein the auxiliary engine power take-off unit is connected to the auxiliary engine.

11. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the power boost system further comprises an energy storage device for storing energy developed during vehicle braking.

12. The power delivery system of claim 11, wherein the energy storage device is an accumulator.

13. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the power delivery system further includes a non-power sharing mode wherein power from the chassis engine is prevented from being transferred to the auxiliary engine.

14. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first and second power transmission devices are pneumatic devices.

15. The power delivery system of claim 1, wherein the first and second power transmission devices are electric devices.

16. A street sweeping vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

(a) a vehicle chassis;

(b) a chassis engine supported by the vehicle chassis, the chassis engine being configured to power driving functions of the vehicle;

(c) an auxiliary engine supported by the vehicle chassis, the auxiliary engine being configured to power at least one powered non-driving function; and

(d) a power boost system comprising;

i. a first power transmission device coupled to a power output of the chassis engine;

ii. a second power transmission device in power communication with the first power transmission device, the second power transmission device being coupled to a power output of the auxiliary engine;

(e) the street sweeping vehicle having a first power sharing mode in which power is transferred from the chassis engine power output to the auxiliary engine power output via the first and second power transmission devices such that the non-driving functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

17. The street sweeping vehicle of claim 16, wherein the street sweeping vehicle has a second power sharing mode in which power is transferred from the auxiliary engine power output to the chassis engine power output via the first and second power transmission devices such that the driving functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

18. The street sweeping vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first and second power transmission devices are hydraulic devices.

19. The street sweeping vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first power transmission device is a hydraulic pump and the second power transmission device is a hydraulic motor.

20. The street sweeping vehicle of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second power transmission devices are configured to operate as a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump.

21. The street sweeping vehicle of claim 20, wherein the at least one non-driving function powered by the auxiliary engine is a hydraulically powered function.

22. The street sweeping vehicle of claim 18, wherein the at least one non-driving function powered by the auxiliary engine one or more of a broom and a fan.

23. The power delivery system of claim 18, wherein the power delivery system further includes a non-power sharing mode wherein power from the chassis engine is prevented from being transferred to the auxiliary engine.

24. The power delivery system of claim 18, wherein the maximum output capacity of the auxiliary engine is less than the maximum input power requirements for the at least one powered non-driving function.

25. A method for powering at least one non-driving function of a vehicle with a chassis engine and an auxiliary engine, the method including:

(a) providing a first power transmission device and a second power transmission device;

(b) coupling a first power transmission device to a power output of the chassis engine;

(c) coupling a second power transmission device to a power output of the auxiliary engine, the auxiliary engine being configured to power the at least one non-driving function;

(d) placing the first and second power transmission devices in power communication with each other; and

(e) transferring power from the chassis engine power output to the auxiliary engine power output via the first and second power transmission devices such that the non-driving functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

26. The method for powering at least one non-driving function of a vehicle of claim 25, wherein the step of providing the first and second power transmission devices includes providing hydraulic devices.

27. The method for powering at least one non-driving function of a vehicle of claim 25, wherein the step of providing hydraulic devices includes providing a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump.

28. The method for powering at least one non-driving function of a vehicle of claim 25, further comprising the step of:

(a) transferring power from the auxiliary engine power output to the chassis engine power output via the first and second power transmission devices such that the driving functions of the vehicle are simultaneously powered by the chassis engine and the auxiliary engine.

29. The method for powering at least one non-driving function of a vehicle of claim 28, wherein the step of providing the first and second power transmission devices includes providing hydraulic devices.

30. The method for powering at least one non-driving function of a vehicle of claim 29, wherein the step of providing hydraulic devices includes providing a hydraulic piston-type device configured to operate as a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump.