Electro-hydraulic system for recovering and reusing potential energy
First Claim
1. A hydraulic system comprising:
- a hydraulic actuator;
a pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator;
a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator and configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator;
a motor drivingly connected to the pump and fluidly connected to the first accumulator, the motor being configured to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the pump; and
a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator, the first discharge valve being configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the pump when an actuator pressure associated with the fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator is less than an accumulator pressure associated with the stored fluid in the first accumulator, and a difference between the accumulator and actuator pressures is smaller than a threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic actuator, a pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator, and a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator. The first accumulator is configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic system also includes a motor drivingly connected to the pump and fluidly connected to the first accumulator. The motor is configured to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the pump. The hydraulic system further includes a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator. The first discharge valve is configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the pump.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A hydraulic system comprising:
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a hydraulic actuator; a pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator; a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator and configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator; a motor drivingly connected to the pump and fluidly connected to the first accumulator, the motor being configured to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the pump; and a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator, the first discharge valve being configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the pump when an actuator pressure associated with the fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator is less than an accumulator pressure associated with the stored fluid in the first accumulator, and a difference between the accumulator and actuator pressures is smaller than a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of recovering and reusing energy with a hydraulic system, the method comprising:
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directing fluid from a hydraulic actuator to a first accumulator to store fluid in the first accumulator; determining an accumulator pressure associated with the fluid stored in the first accumulator; determining an actuator pressure associated with fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator; directing the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without circulating the stored fluid from the first accumulator through a pump when the actuator pressure is less than the accumulator pressure, and a difference between the accumulator and actuator pressures is smaller than a threshold; and directing the stored fluid from the first accumulator to a motor driving the pump when a condition associated with the accumulator and actuator pressures is satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A hydraulic system comprising:
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a hydraulic actuator; a first pump configured to supply fluid to the hydraulic actuator; a power source configured to supply power to drive the first pump; a first accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator and configured to store fluid received from the hydraulic actuator; a device drivingly connected to the first pump, the device being configured to operate in a first mode as a motor to receive the stored fluid from the first accumulator to drive the first pump, and configured to operate in a second mode as a second pump to supply pressurized fluid to the first accumulator; and a first discharge valve fluidly connected between the first accumulator and the hydraulic actuator, the first discharge valve being configured to supply the stored fluid from the first accumulator to the hydraulic actuator without the stored fluid from the first accumulator circulating through the first pump when an actuator pressure associated with the fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator is less than an accumulator pressure associated with the stored fluid in the first accumulator, and a difference between the accumulator and actuator pressures is smaller than a threshold. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification