System and method for energy recovery

• US 9,096,115 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2011
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ho, Aaron Yun-Ren, RosaNeto, Aristoteles
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikus, Jason
• Application Number:
  US13/298,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 604/14, 604/16, 604/84
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/12 by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2075 of the hybrid type for vehicles in general B60W20/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2217 with energy recovery arrangements, e.g. using accumulators, flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2253 Controlling the travelling speed of vehicles, e.g. adjusting travelling speed according to implement loads, control of hydrostatic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2289 Closed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• 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 21/14 Energy-recuperation means
• 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 2211/212 the pressure sources being accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/27 Directional control by means of the pressure source
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/50527 using cross-pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/88 Control measures for saving energy
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 7/006 Rotary pump input
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/4096 with pressure accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An energy transfer system includes a power transfer mechanism, a first system, and a second system. The first system includes a first pump-motor operatively connecting the first system to the power transfer mechanism and a regenerative system operatively connected to the first pump-motor. The second system is operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism. Power is transferred between systems by the power transfer mechanism. A method of energy transfer is also provided.

Claims

1. An energy transfer system comprising:

a prime mover;

a power transfer mechanism operatively connected to the prime mover;

a first system, the first system including a first pump-motor operatively connecting the first system to the power transfer mechanism, the first pump-motor being selectively driven by and providing power to the power transfer mechanism and being configured to selectively provide and receive a first pressurized fluid, a first operational component operatively connected to the first pump-motor;

a first regenerative system operatively connected to the first pump-motor and being configured to recover regenerated energy from the first system;

a second system, the second system including a second coupling component operatively connecting the second system to the power transfer mechanism, a second operational component operatively connected to the second coupling component, the second operational component being selectively driven by and providing power to the power transfer mechanism;

a second regenerative system operatively connected to the second operational component and being configured to recover regenerated energy from the second system; and

an energy storage system operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism and being configured to store energy including the regenerated energy recovered by the first regenerative system and the second regenerative system.

2. The energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein the first system has a first implement system including a first actuator configured to selectively receive the pressurized fluid from the first pump-motor and to selectively provide the pressurized fluid to the first pump-motor.

3. The energy transfer system of claim 2, wherein the second system has a second implement system including a second pump-motor operatively connecting the second system to the power transfer mechanism, the second pump-motor being selectively driven by and providing power to the power transfer mechanism and being configured to selectively provide and receive a second pressurized fluid, and the first pressurized fluid and the second pressurized fluid being physically separated from each other.

4. The energy transfer system of claim 1, wherein the second system has a propulsion system including a drive mechanism, and a propulsion motor operatively connected to the drive mechanism for driving a tractive component.

5. The energy transfer system of claim 4, wherein the second system further includes a regenerative braking system.

6. The energy transfer system of claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism is a pump-motor and the propulsion motor is hydraulically driven.

7. The energy transfer system of claim 6, wherein the energy storage system is a component of the second system and includes an accumulator.

8. The energy transfer system of claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism is a generator and the propulsion motor is electrically driven.

9. The energy transfer system of claim 8, wherein the energy storage system is a component of the second system and includes a capacitor system.

10. The energy transfer system of claim 1, further including a third system having an electric drive system with a generator, a propulsion motor and an electrical regenerative braking system operatively connected to the generator, the generator further being operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism and the propulsion motor for driving a tractive component, and the third system being selectively driven by and providing power to the power transfer mechanism.

11. A method of operating an energy transfer system having a power transfer mechanism, a first system including a first pump-motor operatively connecting the first system to the power transfer mechanism to selectively be driven by and provide power to the power transfer mechanism, the first pump-motor being configured to selectively provide and receive a first pressurized fluid and a first operational component operatively connected to the first pump-motor, a first regenerative system for recovering regenerated energy from the first system, a second system including a second coupling component operatively connecting the second system to the power transfer mechanism, a second operational component operatively connected to the second coupling component, the second operational component being selectively driven by and providing power to the power transfer mechanism, a second regenerative system operatively connected to the second operational component and being configured to recover regenerated energy from the second system, and an energy storage system operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism and being configured to store energy including the regenerated energy recovered from the first system and the second system, including:

directing a rotational input to the power transfer mechanism from the first system to transfer regenerated energy from the first system to the power transfer mechanism;

directing a rotational output from the power transfer mechanism to the second system to transfer at least some of the regenerated energy from the first system to the second system;

directing a rotational input to the power transfer mechanism from the second system to transfer regenerated energy from the second system to the power transfer mechanism; and

directing a rotational output from the power transfer mechanism to the first system to transfer at least some of the regenerated energy from the second system to the first system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer system includes an energy storage system and further including the step of operatively connecting the energy storage system to the power transfer mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12, further including the step of providing a stored energy rotational input from the energy storage system to the power transfer mechanism to transfer at least some stored energy from the energy storage system to the second system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second system includes the energy storage system and further including storing at least some of the regenerated energy in the energy storage system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer system includes a prime mover operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism and further includes directing a prime mover rotational input to the power transfer mechanism to provide additional rotational input through the power transfer mechanism to the second system.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer system includes a hydraulic actuator, and further including rotating a second pump-motor operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism to direct fluid pressure to one end of the hydraulic actuator.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the regenerative system includes a hydraulic actuator, and further including forcing hydraulic fluid from one end of the hydraulic actuator to the pump-motor to rotate the pump-motor and provide the rotational input to the power transfer mechanism from the first system.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the regenerative system includes a hydraulic regenerative braking system, and further including forcing hydraulic fluid from the regenerative braking system to the pump-motor to provide the rotational input to the power transfer mechanism from the first system.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the energy transfer system includes a third system having an electric drive system with a generator operatively connected to the power transfer mechanism and a propulsion motor for driving a tractive component, and an electrical regenerative braking system operatively connected to the generator, and further including the step of rotating the generator to provide an electrically generated input to the second system.