Abstract: A hydraulic regenerative braking system is provided for using hydraulic fluid to capture energy from a vehicle during a braking event. The system captures kinetic energy from a shaft of the vehicle and stores the kinetic energy as hydraulic potential energy. That is, the system captures rotational energy as hydraulic potential energy in an accumulator. The hydraulic regenerative braking system also discharges the hydraulic potential energy as kinetic energy. During braking, kinetic energy is transferred from the vehicle shaft to a gearbox, and from the gearbox to a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump uses the kinetic energy to pump hydraulic fluid to an accumulator, increasing the hydraulic potential energy stored in the accumulator. During driving, the hydraulic fluid is released from the accumulator to the hydraulic pump, generating kinetic energy that is transferred to the vehicle shaft via the gearbox.

Abstract: A hydraulic hybrid system for implementation in a machine. The system includes a hydraulic system, an energy source, an output, and a transmission. The hydraulic system includes a primary hydraulic pump/motor (primary motor) that is hydraulically coupled to a reservoir and a variable-volume accumulator assembly. The primary motor is configured to charge an accumulator of the variable-volume accumulator assembly with a working fluid when mechanically driven. The storage volume of variable-volume accumulator assembly varies based on a kinetic output condition of the machine. The energy source is configured to produce primary kinetic energy. The output is configured to receive at least a first portion of the primary kinetic energy. The transmission is coupled between the energy source and the output and selectively coupled to the primary motor. The transmission is configured to mechanically drive the primary motor using a second portion of the primary kinetic energy.

Abstract: An example embodiment includes a hydraulic hybrid system. The hydraulic hybrid system includes a hydraulic system, an energy source configured to produce primary kinetic energy, an output configured to receive at least a first portion of the primary kinetic energy, and a transmission coupled between the energy source and the output and selectively coupled to the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes a reservoir, a sequenced accumulator assembly, and a hydraulic pump/motor that is hydraulically coupled to the reservoir and the sequenced accumulator assembly and configured to charge the sequenced accumulator assembly when mechanically driven. The sequenced accumulator assembly includes two or more accumulators, one or more sequence valves, and one or more check valves. The sequenced accumulator assembly is configured to store varying amounts of potential hydraulic energy by introducing and removing one or more of the accumulators from operation.

Abstract: A hydraulic hybrid system for implementation in a machine. The system includes a hydraulic system, an energy source, an output, and a transmission. The hydraulic system includes a primary hydraulic pump/motor (primary motor) that is hydraulically coupled to a reservoir and a variable-volume accumulator assembly. The primary motor is configured to charge an accumulator of the variable-volume accumulator assembly with a working fluid when mechanically driven. The storage volume of variable-volume accumulator assembly varies based on a kinetic output condition of the machine. The energy source is configured to produce primary kinetic energy. The output is configured to receive at least a first portion of the primary kinetic energy. The transmission is coupled between the energy source and the output and selectively coupled to the primary motor. The transmission is configured to mechanically drive the primary motor using a second portion of the primary kinetic energy.