Vehicle drive system and method and idle reduction system and method
First Claim
1. A vehicle drive system for a vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a PTO, the vehicle drive system comprising:
- an electric motor coupled to the PTO for receiving power from the first prime mover through the PTO;
a hydraulic pump in mechanical communication with the electric motor for operating equipment or components,wherein the electric motor can receive power from the first prime mover driven transmission through the PTO, wherein the hydraulic pump can receive power from the electric motor when the electric motor rotates;
a first energy source operable to provide power to or be powered by the electric motor; and
a clutch disposed between the first prime mover driven transmission and the electric motor, wherein when energy from the first energy source is below a threshold, the clutch is engaged, wherein the clutch is disengaged when the hydraulic pump receives power from the electric motor when the first prime mover is off, and wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the electric motor is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO match a ratio of the PTO to allow continuous operation of the equipment or components, thereby reducing abrupt changes in hydraulic pump speed, wherein the PTO is modified to allow a shaft connected to the PTO to spin with low resistance when the electric motor is rotated to power the hydraulic pump.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment relates to a hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a rechargeable power source, and a PTO. The hybrid vehicle drive system further includes a hydraulic motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the PTO and an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the hydraulic motor. The electric motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO. The hydraulic motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO.
269 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A vehicle drive system for a vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a PTO, the vehicle drive system comprising:
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an electric motor coupled to the PTO for receiving power from the first prime mover through the PTO; a hydraulic pump in mechanical communication with the electric motor for operating equipment or components, wherein the electric motor can receive power from the first prime mover driven transmission through the PTO, wherein the hydraulic pump can receive power from the electric motor when the electric motor rotates; a first energy source operable to provide power to or be powered by the electric motor; and a clutch disposed between the first prime mover driven transmission and the electric motor, wherein when energy from the first energy source is below a threshold, the clutch is engaged, wherein the clutch is disengaged when the hydraulic pump receives power from the electric motor when the first prime mover is off, and wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the electric motor is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO match a ratio of the PTO to allow continuous operation of the equipment or components, thereby reducing abrupt changes in hydraulic pump speed, wherein the PTO is modified to allow a shaft connected to the PTO to spin with low resistance when the electric motor is rotated to power the hydraulic pump. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a vehicle drive system comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a second prime mover, a PTO operable to transfer power from the first prime mover driven transmission to the second prime mover, a first energy source operable to provide power to or be powered by the second prime mover, the method comprising:
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powering an accessory through operation of the second prime mover; and engaging a clutch disposed between the first prime mover and the second prime mover to drive the accessory via power from the first prime mover, wherein when energy from the first energy source is below a first threshold, the first prime mover is started and the clutch is engaged, wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the second prime mover is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO match a ratio of the PTO, wherein the accessory is a variable volume displacement pump and wherein the variable volume displacement pump is configured to operate continuously only providing flow if there is a demand, wherein when no demand is present, the variable volume displacement pump provides little or no additional friction or resistance. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A vehicle drive system for a vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a PTO, the vehicle drive system comprising:
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an electric motor coupled to the PTO for receiving power from the first prime mover through the PTO; a hydraulic pump in mechanical communication with the electric motor for operating equipment or components, wherein the electric motor can receive power from the first prime mover driven transmission through the PTO, wherein the hydraulic pump can receive power from the electric motor when the electric motor rotates; and a clutch disposed between the first prime mover driven transmission and the electric motor, wherein the clutch is disengaged when the hydraulic pump receives power from the electric motor when the first prime mover is off, and wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the electric motor is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO match a ratio of the PTO to allow continuous operation of the equipment or components, wherein the PTO is configured to allow a shaft connected to the PTO to spin with low resistance when the electric motor is rotated to power the hydraulic pump.
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21. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle drive system comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a second prime mover, a PTO component operable to transfer power from the first prime mover driven transmission to the second prime mover, a first energy source operable to provide power to or be powered by the second prime mover, the method comprising:
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powering an accessory through operation of the second prime mover; and engaging a clutch disposed between the first prime mover and the second prime mover to drive the accessory via power from the first prime mover wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the second prime mover is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO component match a ratio of the PTO component, wherein the PTO component is modified to allow a shaft connected to the PTO component to spin with low resistance when the second prime mover is rotated to power the accessory.
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22. A vehicle drive system for a vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, and a PTO, the vehicle drive system comprising:
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an electric motor coupled to the PTO configured to receive power from the first prime mover through the PTO; a hydraulic pump in mechanical communication with the electric motor for operating equipment or components, wherein the electric motor is configured to receive power from the first prime mover driven transmission through the PTO, wherein the hydraulic pump can receive power from the electric motor when the electric motor rotates; and a clutch disposed between the first prime mover driven transmission and the electric motor, wherein the clutch is configured to be disengaged when the hydraulic pump receives power from the electric motor, and wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the electric motor is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO match a ratio of the PTO to allow continuous operation of the equipment or components, wherein the PTO is configured to allow a shaft connected to the PTO to spin with low resistance when the electric motor is rotated to power the hydraulic pump.
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23. A method of operating a vehicle drive system comprising a first prime mover, a first prime transmission, a second prime mover, a PTO configured to transfer power from the first prime transmission to the second prime mover, a first energy source configured to provide power to or be powered by the second prime mover, the method comprising:
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powering an accessory through operation of the second prime mover; and engaging a clutch disposed between the first prime mover and the second prime mover to drive the accessory via power from the first prime mover, wherein when energy from the first energy source is below a first threshold, the clutch is engaged, wherein a speed of the first prime mover or the second prime mover is adjusted prior to engagement of the clutch to ensure that input and output speed of the PTO match a ratio of the PTO, wherein the clutch is disengaged to allow a shaft connected to the PTO to spin with low resistance when the second prime mover is rotated to power the accessory using the energy from the first energy source.
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Specification