Eaton Corporation

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Danfoss Power Solutions Ii Technology A/s

Timothy Isaac Meehan

Michael William Olson

David Loren Makis

Don Rulon Draper

Jay Paul Lucas

Benjamin Maxfield Hoxie

Michael J Voigt

Brian Lewis Van Batavia

David S Remba

A hydraulic system for a mobile work vehicle is configurable in a hybrid mode and a hydrostatic mode. The hydraulic system includes a pump/motor, a propel circuit, a pump, a hydraulic accumulator, and an accessory circuit. The pump/motor is adapted to exchange power with a drive train of the mobile work vehicle. The propel circuit is adapted to exchange hydraulic fluid power with the pump/motor. The pump is adapted to transfer power from a prime mover of the mobile work vehicle to the propel circuit. The hydraulic accumulator is adapted to exchange hydraulic fluid power via an accumulator isolation valve with the propel circuit when the hydraulic system is configured in the hybrid mode. The accessory circuit is adapted to receive hydraulic fluid power from the hydraulic accumulator, at least when the hydraulic system is configured in the hydrostatic mode and the accumulator isolation valve is closed.

Hydraulic hybrid propel circuit with hydrostatic option and method of operation

A method of propelling a vehicle with a hybrid mode and a hydrostatic mode includes determining if a current propulsion mode is hybrid and if a selected mode is hydrostatic. A first transition mode is entered if the selected mode is hydrostatic and the current mode is hybrid. An engine-pump displacement target is set in the first transition mode. The method may include determining if the current mode is hybrid, hydrostatic, or a no-propulsion mode and if the selected mode is hybrid, hydrostatic, or no-propulsion. The engine-pump displacement target may be matched to a system consumption and an accumulator isolation valve closed when an engine-pump output matches the system consumption in the first transition mode. The method may include entering a second transition mode if the selected mode is hybrid and the current mode is hydrostatic. A method of configuring a propulsion mode from hybrid to hydrostatic includes configuring a drive motor displacement target to full displacement, matching a pump displacement to system consumption, and closing an accumulator isolation valve when a pump flow output matches the system consumption.

A hydraulic circuit architecture for a work vehicle includes a pump, a work circuit, a propel circuit, and a circuit selector. The work circuit is connected to an actuator for driving a work component of the work vehicle. The propel circuit includes a motor that is adapted to be connected to a drive train of the work vehicle. The propel circuit also includes an accumulator. The circuit selector selectively connects the pump to the work circuit and the propel circuit. The hydraulic circuit architecture is operable in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the propel circuit is connected to the pump and the work circuit is disconnected from the pump. In the second mode, the work circuit is connected to the pump and the propel circuit is disconnected from the pump. When the hydraulic circuit architecture is in the second mode, stored energy from the accumulator can be used to drive the motor to cause propulsion of the work vehicle.

Propel circuit and work circuit combinations for a work machine

A method for operating a work attachment of a work machine with a single input is disclosed. In one step of the method, an indication is received that operation of a work circuit in a hydraulic system is to be activated. Upon this indication, the hydraulic system may be placed in a work circuit primary mode in which a pump is placed in fluid communication with the work circuit. The method also includes receiving a lifting lever position and correlating the lifting lever position to a required lifting speed. The method further includes automatically controlling at least two of an engine speed, a pump displacement, and a lifting control valve to satisfy the required lifting speed. Additionally, the operation of the engine speed, pump displacement and lifting control valve may be sequentially staged in pre-defined zones of operation.

Method for obtaining a full range of lift speeds using a single input

A method for pressurizing a roll pocket of a displacement assembly of a fluid device includes providing a fluid device having a displacement assembly. The displacement assembly includes a ring defining a central bore and roll pockets disposed about the central bore. Rolls are disposed in the roll pockets. A rotor is disposed in the central bore. The ring, the rolls and the rotor define a plurality of expanding and contracting volume chambers. Fluid is communicated from a first port of the fluid device and a second port of the fluid device to each of the roll pockets so that when the volume chamber immediately before one of the roll pockets and the volume chamber immediately after that roll pocket are both in fluid communication with one of the first and second ports, that roll pocket is in fluid communication with the other of the first and second ports.

Fluid device with roll pockets alternatingly pressurized at different pressures

A vehicle drivetrain has a first driver, a first clutch to selectively couple the first driver with an engine, an energy storage device coupled to the first driver, a second driver coupled to the energy storage device and connected to a driveshaft, and a second clutch that selectively couples the first and second drivers. In one embodiment, the first clutch is opened and the second clutch is closed during a vehicle operating condition requiring high torque, the first clutch is closed and the second clutch is opened during a transient vehicle operating condition, and the first clutch and the second clutch are closed during a steady-state vehicle operating condition. Additional clutches may be included to reduce energy losses or provide multiple mechanical ratios. The drivers themselves may be pumps, motors, generators, combined pump/motors, or combined motor/generators, making the invention suitable for both hydraulic implementation and electric implementation.

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Waconia, MN, United States of America

Timothy Isaac Meehan