System and method of driving and controlling pneumatic and hydraulic systems

• US 8,323,151 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2010
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Capacity (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Capacity (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roberts, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US12/686,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20100113221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 477/168, 180/306, 180/307
• US Class Current: 477/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1886 Controlling power supply to auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/15 Pneumatic energy storages, e.g. pressure air tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Systems and methods of driving and controlling pneumatic and hydraulic devices and, more particularly, to a system and method of driving a hydraulic pump via one output shaft of a motor, and driving a pneumatic compressor via another output shaft of the motor via a clutch. When a user control is engaged, a control system causes the motor to operate at a higher speed, driving the hydraulic pump faster to produce additional hydraulic pressure. When a low air pressure condition is sensed in the pneumatic system, the control system causes the motor to operate at the higher speed and engages the clutch, allowing the pneumatic compressor to supply additional air pressure.

Claims

1. A vehicle power system comprising:

a variable speed motor, said motor having first and second output shafts and normally operating in a standard RPM mode;

a hydraulic pump powered by said first output shaft wherein a first number of gallons per minute (GPM) of hydraulic fluid flow from said hydraulic pump is directed to power a first vehicle system, and wherein the remaining hydraulic fluid flow is selectively diverted to power a second vehicle system;

a pneumatic compressor connected to said second output shaft by a clutch, said clutch selectively engaging the second output shaft to power the pneumatic compressor, wherein said clutch is adapted to selectively engage the second output shaft with the pneumatic compressor when low air pressure is detected in a pneumatic system reservoir; and

a user control operable to initiate a high RPM mode of said motor, wherein the high RPM mode causes said motor to operate at a higher RPM than said standard RPM mode, said high RPM mode increasing power provided to the hydraulic pump to cause an increase in the hydraulic pressure flowing to said second vehicle system, thereby providing added power to the second vehicle system.

2. The vehicle power system of claim 1 wherein the variable speed motor is a dual speed motor having a standard RPM mode and a high RPM mode.

3. The vehicle power system of claim 1 wherein the first number of GPM of hydraulic fluid flow which is diverted to power the first vehicle system is approximately four GPM.

4. The vehicle power system of claim 1 wherein the first vehicle system is a power steering system.

5. The vehicle power system of claim 1 wherein the second vehicle system is a 5th Wheel lift system.

6. The vehicle power system of claim 1 including a pressure sensor for detecting low air pressure in the vehicle pneumatic system reservoir.

7. The vehicle power system of claim 1 wherein the user control is engaged when the second vehicle system requires an increased hydraulic flow rate for increased hydraulic power.

8. The vehicle power system of claim 1 wherein a detection of low air pressure engages the high RPM mode in the motor.

9. A method of powering vehicle systems comprising:

running a variable speed motor in a standard RPM mode;

powering a hydraulic pump by a first output shaft of said motor;

directing a first number of GPM of hydraulic fluid flow to power a first vehicle system;

selectively diverting the remaining hydraulic fluid flow to power a second vehicle system;

running said motor in a high RPM mode upon the engagement of a user control, said high RPM mode increasing the GPM output by the hydraulic pump to provide additional hydraulic power to said second vehicle system;

monitoring air pressure in a pneumatic system reservoir; and

connecting a pneumatic compressor to a second output shaft of said motor via a clutch to power said compressor when a low air pressure condition is detected.

10. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein said motor is a dual speed motor having a standard RPM speed and a high RPM speed.

11. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein said first number of GPM which is diverted to said first vehicle system is approximately four GPM.

12. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein said first vehicle system is a power steering system.

13. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein the second vehicle system is a 5th Wheel lift system.

14. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein the pneumatic system is a pneumatic braking system.

15. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein the user control is engaged when the second vehicle system requires an increased hydraulic flow rate for increased hydraulic power.

16. The method of powering vehicle systems of claim 9 wherein a low air pressure condition also causes the motor to run in said high RPM mode.

17. A vehicle power system comprising:

a first vehicle system powered by a hydraulic pump, a first number of GPM of hydraulic fluid flow generated by said hydraulic pump being directed to said first vehicle system;

a second vehicle system powered by said hydraulic pump, the remaining GPM of hydraulic fluid flow after said first number of GPM has been directed to said first vehicle system being selectively diverted to said second vehicle system; and

a user control operable to switch a variable speed motor from a standard RPM mode to a high RPM mode, said high RPM mode causing said motor to operate at a higher RPM than said standard RPM mode, wherein said motor powers said hydraulic pump and said high RPM mode increases power provided to the hydraulic pump to cause an increase in the hydraulic pressure generated by said hydraulic pump, thereby providing added power to the second vehicle system.

18. The system of claim 17 further including:

a clutch connected to a pneumatic pump; and

an air pressure sensor for detecting air pressure within a high pressure compressed air reservoir, said air pressure sensor operable to cause said clutch to selectively engage said motor to drive said pneumatic compressor pump when a low air pressure state is detected within said reservoir thereby powering said pneumatic compressor to replenish the air pressure within said reservoir.