With Control Means For Structure Storing Work Driving Energy (e.g., Accumulator, Etc.) Patents (Class 60/413)
  • Patent number: 11885104
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic system for a work machine. The system comprising: a main hydraulic machine connected to an output shaft of an engine of the work machine for providing power to working hydraulics of the work machine; a main pressure line connecting the main hydraulic machine to the working hydraulics; a support hydraulic machine connected to the output shaft; a hydraulic accumulator; a discharge valve connected between the accumulator and an input side of the support hydraulic machine; a charge valve connected between an output side of the support hydraulic machine and the hydraulic accumulator to selectively allow a flow from the support hydraulic machine to the hydraulic accumulator; a flow support valve connected between the output side of the support hydraulic machine and the main pressure line to selectively allow a flow from the support hydraulic machine to the main pressure line; and a hydraulic tank connected to the input side of the support hydraulic machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventor: Valentin Pause
  • Patent number: 11808251
    Abstract: Embodiments presented provide for a high efficiency electrical production system that utilizes a pump and windmill system to produce electrical energy through hydro power and wind action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: GARTECH, LLC
    Inventors: Gary Pendleton, Gary Warren Stratulate
  • Patent number: 11801932
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanically rotating an aircraft about its center-of-gravity (CG) are disclosed. The system can enable the rear, or main, landing gear to squat, while the nose landing gear raises to generate a positive pitch angle for the aircraft for takeoff or landing. The system can also enable the nose gear and main gear to return to a relatively level fuselage attitude for ground operations. The system can include one or more hydraulically linked hydraulic cylinders to control the overall height of the nose gear and the main gear. Because the hydraulic cylinders are linked, a change on the length of the nose cylinder generates a proportional, and opposite, change in the length of the main cylinder, and vice-versa. A method and control system for monitoring and controlling the relative positions of the nose gear and main gear is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: JETZERO, INC.
    Inventors: Ewald Schuster, Jennifer Whitlock, Joshua B Long, Cristina Donastorg, Brendan Kennelly, Mark A. Page
  • Patent number: 11680385
    Abstract: A ride control valve includes a valve housing (30) having a main spool (32) longitudinally displaceably arranged in the valve housing, a balance spool (34), and fluid passage points for a pressure supply (P), a tank return line (T), an accumulator (14) and a boom cylinder unit (10). The balance spool (34) continuously balances the pressure between the fluid ports of the accumulator (14) and the boom cylinder unit (10). The main spool (32) is controlled by the operator and initially interconnects these fluid ports of the accumulator (14) and the boom cylinder unit (10), starting from a closed fluid connection, via a restricted fluid connection, to a fully opened fluid connection, or disconnects them from each other in reverse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: HYDAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Frank Brownson, Scott Thomas Rhamey, Aaron Shetler
  • Patent number: 11619026
    Abstract: A motor grader having ride control for dampening machine bounce using a DCM assembly rotatably coupled to and suspended from a frame of the motor grader is disclosed. Each lift cylinder for the DCM may have an associated ride control circuit with an accumulator, a ride control conduit fluidly connected to a carry end of the lift cylinder and having a flow restriction element, and a ride control accumulator valve fluidly connected to the accumulator and the ride control conduit and operable to either block or allow fluid communication between the carry end and the accumulator through the flow restriction element. Each rid control circuit may also include a head end valve fluidly connected to between the head end of the lift cylinder and a low pressure fluid reservoir and operable to block or allow fluid communication between the head end and the low pressure fluid reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lane Fulcher, Timothy A. Evans, Travis N. Richards, Yongtao Li
  • Patent number: 11618232
    Abstract: An electro-hydrostatic drive for realizing a rapid movement during a rapid movement phase, a force-building movement during a force-building movement phase. The apparatus comprises a hydro-machine with variable volume and/or rotational speed, driven by an electric motor, for providing a volume-stream of a hydraulic fluid, a first cylinder with a piston chamber, an rod chamber, and a plunger rod, a reservoir, a pressure source, a relief valve, a check valve, a fluid connection between the piston chamber and the hydro-machine, a fluid connection between the rod chamber and the hydro-machine, a fluid connection between the piston chamber and the reservoir, a fluid connection between the rod-chamber-side port of the hydro-machine and the reservoir, a fluid connection, through the relief valve, between the reservoir and the pressure source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Moog GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Becher, Werner Haendle, Achim Helbig, Christoph Boes
  • Patent number: 11603868
    Abstract: A pressurizing device includes: a pressurizing unit that pressurizes a pressurized object by supplying a working fluid; a first cylinder mechanism that supplies the working fluid in a first cylinder to the pressurizing unit by output of a first drive source; a second cylinder mechanism that supplies the working fluid in a second cylinder to the pressurizing unit by output of a second drive source; and a control device that controls the first drive source and the second drive source, in which the control device performs transition control to transition to a second supply state of supplying the working fluid from the second cylinder mechanism to the pressurizing unit when satisfying a remaining amount condition of the working fluid in the first cylinder of the first cylinder mechanism in a first supply state of supplying the working fluid from the first cylinder mechanism to the pressurizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Tabata
  • Patent number: 11598354
    Abstract: A hydraulic machine. A boom actuator includes a large chamber and a small chamber. A recovery unit receives fluid discharged from the large chamber and then recovers energy. A recovery line connects the large chamber and the recovery unit. An accumulator is connected to a first point on the recovery line. A discharge valve is disposed on the recovery line between the first point and the recovery unit. A first sensor measures a pressure in the accumulator. A controller controls opening and closing of the discharge valve. The controller performs anti-bouncing control of: determining a target pressure in the accumulator corresponding to a load pressure applied to fluid in the large chamber by a load according to a predetermined correspondence; and controlling the opening and closing of the discharge valve such that the pressure in the accumulator measured by the first sensor reaches the target pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Taerang Jung, Sangkyu Joo, Hoenghwan Ahn, Seonggeun Yun, Seunghyun Lee, Byoungho Lee
  • Patent number: 11591207
    Abstract: The system (10) for the transfer of fluid comprises a tubular fluid transfer line (2) comprising at one of its ends a coupling system (32) adapted to be connected to a target duct (33) for the transfer of fluid, and electrical actuators (11-13) for controlling the movement of the transfer line in space, each via an actuating shaft, characterized in that each of the actuators for controlling the movement of the transfer line comprises an electric motor with an output shaft, a speed reducer, the actuating shaft being rotationally driven by the motor output shaft by means of the speed reducer, which is reversible, so as to enable the actuating shaft to turn when an actuating torque is directly applied to it, and braking means for locking the actuator in position when movement control is in course and that actuator is not activated for that control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Karim Yousfi, Adrien Vannesson, Pierre-Eric Bauwens
  • Patent number: 11585067
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a first supply line connecting a boom control valve and a bottom side of a boom cylinder, a second supply line connecting the boom control valve and a rod side of the boom cylinder, a leveling switch valve having: a first operating position allowing a leveling operation of a working tool; and a first stopping position allowing the leveling operation to stop, a ride controller including: a ride-control switch valve connected to a branched fluid line branched from the first supply line; and an accumulator configured to perform an anti-vibrating operation for suppressing a pressure fluctuation of the boom cylinder, and a drain fluid line to discharge operation fluid in a downstream section extending from the leveling switch valve to the rod side of the boom cylinder in the second supply line when the leveling switch valve is switched to the first stopping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuji Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11454002
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive system for a work machine including a hydraulic energy recovery device that is configured to perform load sensing control and accumulates hydraulic fluid that returns from a hydraulic cylinder in operation of lowering a front work implement into an accumulator includes, in order to prevent, when operation other than operation of lowering the front work implement is to be performed, hydraulic energy accumulated in the accumulator from being consumed uselessly, a regeneration selector valve in a hydraulic line for regenerating the hydraulic fluid accumulated in the accumulator into a hydraulic fluid supply line of a main pump. The regeneration selector valve is controlled such that, only when saturation occurs with the main pump, flow from the accumulator to the hydraulic fluid supply line is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Tierra Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiwamu Takahashi, Taihei Maehara, Takeshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 11441293
    Abstract: An adjustable ride control circuit and method that includes a head valve that controls flow between a boom cylinder head intake and an accumulator, and a rod float valve that controls flow between a boom cylinder rod intake and tank, where the rod float valve is electronically adjustable and proportionally controls flow restriction. A controller controls ride control activation, and adjustment of the head and rod float valves. When ride control is activated, the head valve allows flow between the head intake and the accumulator, and the controller automatically adjusts the rod float valve. When ride control is deactivated, the head valve blocks flow between the head intake and the accumulator, and the rod float valve blocks flow between the rod intake and tank. An enable valve can control positioning of the head valve. A flow selector can select manual or automatic adjustment of the rod float valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott R. Stahle, Grant R. Henn
  • Patent number: 11427987
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for operating a hydraulic fall-back support of a work machine including at least one hydraulic fall-back support cylinder for tracking and limiting movements of a boom of the work machine and a hydraulic pump by means of which the fall-back support cylinder and at least one further hydraulic consumer can be supplied with hydraulic fluid. A stop valve having a blocking position and a passage position is connected between the hydraulic pump and the fall-back support cylinder, by means of which the stop valve and a load-bearing cylinder space of the fall-back support cylinder is blockable and a hydraulic store connected to the load-bearing cylinder space is provided between the stop valve and the fall-back support cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Furxer, Markus Schwarzhans
  • Patent number: 11401692
    Abstract: A hydraulic system includes a hydraulic mechanism that includes a first and a second chamber. The hydraulic system includes a control valve fluidly connected to the first chamber and a pressure sensor that is configured to measure the fluid pressure in the first chamber. The hydraulic system includes a processing unit connected to the control valve. The processing unit is configured to control a hydraulic fluid flow rate to and from the first chamber of the hydraulic mechanism via the control valve to provide a shock absorption response. The hydraulic fluid flow rate is based at least in part on a pressure measurement received from the pressure sensor. The shock absorption response is based on a simulated hydraulic accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions II Technology A/S
    Inventors: Michael Berne Rannow, Meng Wang
  • Patent number: 11313419
    Abstract: A power transmitting component can include a friction clutch, a ram, a pump, a fluid storage device and a valve. The ram can have a piston chamber and a piston movable therein between a first and second position to engage the friction clutch. A first inlet/outlet of the pump can be fluidly coupled to a reservoir. The fluid storage device can hold pressurized hydraulic fluid. The valve can be fluidly coupled with the piston chamber, a second inlet/outlet of the pump, and the fluid storage device. When in a first mode, the valve can permit fluid communication between the pump and the fluid storage device, inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the pump, and inhibit fluid communication between the piston chamber and the fluid storage device. When in a second mode, the valve can permit fluid communication between the pump, the fluid storage device, and the piston chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Kleinhardt, John C. Hibbler, Charles G. Stuart
  • Patent number: 11255429
    Abstract: A series hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle may have: a hydraulic circuit with a first hydraulic displacement unit in fluid communication with a second hydraulic displacement unit, a hydraulic actuator, and a hydraulic accumulator assembly. The hydraulic accumulator assembly is selectively in fluid communication with the hydraulic circuit via at least one controllable circuit valve. The hydraulic accumulator assembly is selectively in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuator via at least one controllable actuator valve, such that the hydraulic accumulator assembly is configured to be selectively fluidly connected with and to be selectively fluidly disconnected from the hydraulic actuator via the at least one actuator valve independently of a control position of the at least one circuit valve. A method of operating the system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Carlos Maximiliano Giorgio Bort, Davide Moser, Giulio Ornella
  • Patent number: 11162243
    Abstract: A remote controlled demolition robot (10) comprising a controller (17) and at least one actuator (12) controlled through a hydraulic system (400) comprising at least one valve (13a) and a hydraulic gas accumulator (440), wherein the controller (17) is configured to determine a fluid flow in the hydraulic system (400), determine if the determined fluid flow in the hydraulic system is above a first threshold, and if so discharge the accumulator (440) to provide power to the actuator (12); and determine if the determined fluid flow in the hydraulic system is below a second threshold, and if so charge the accumulator (440) for buffering power in the hydraulic system (400).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventor: Tommy Olsson
  • Patent number: 11128136
    Abstract: An integrated hybrid energy recovery and storage system for recovering and storing energy from multiple energy sources is disclosed. The system includes an accumulator unit having a high pressure accumulator and a low pressure accumulator. At least one piston is mounted for reciprocation in the high pressure accumulator. The accumulator unit is configured to receive, store, and transfer energy from the hydraulic fluid to the energy storage media. The system further includes two or more rotational directional control valves, in which at least one rotational directional control valve is positioned on each side of the accumulator unit. Each rotational directional control valve includes multiple ports. The system also includes two or more variable displacement hydraulic rotational units. At least one variable displacement hydraulic rotational unit is positioned adjacent each of the rotational directional control valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: A & A International, LLC
    Inventors: Horia Abaitancei, Cornel Mihai, Stefan Ioana
  • Patent number: 11118604
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a hydraulic system for a hydro-mechanical machine comprising a rotary mechanism. The hydraulic system includes a primary accumulator configured to receive and store high-pressure fluid in response to stopping of the rotary mechanism. A control system coupled to the primary accumulator through a hydraulic supply circuit is configured to enable passage of the high-pressure fluid stored in the primary accumulator to a rotary control valve configured to control the rotary mechanism, through the hydraulic supply circuit, based on a predefined pressure threshold associated with the primary accumulator. A secondary accumulator coupled to the primary accumulator and the control system via the hydraulic supply circuit is configured to store surplus high-pressure fluid provided by the primary accumulator through the hydraulic supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: L&T TECHNOLOGY SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Atul Chandra Tripathi, Shailendra J Shrivastava
  • Patent number: 11105324
    Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement includes a working pump for conveying a hydraulic medium in a direction of a hydraulic working load, a hydraulic tank comprising a tank outlet hydraulically connected to an inlet side of the working pump, and an auxiliary pump mounted in the hydraulic tank. A hydraulic flow of the hydraulic medium flows in the direction of the tank outlet in dependence on a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Meid, Manuel Billich
  • Patent number: 11060372
    Abstract: A subsea energy storage for well control equipment, wherein stored energy near a well on the sea floor monitors and activates well control equipment independently of, or in conjunction with, hydraulic energy. Energy to the subsea energy storage can be supplied by surface umbilical, remotely-operated vehicle, or by subsea electrical generation from stored hydraulic energy. Stored electrical energy may also recharge stored hydraulic energy. A subsea control system is configured to record data, compare the data to predetermined event signatures, and operate the well control equipment with stored electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: 1169997 Ontario Ltd. Operating as Aspin Kemp & Associates, Transocean Sedco Forex Ventures Limited
    Inventors: Edward Peter Kenneth Bourgeau, Jason Aspin
  • Patent number: 11035391
    Abstract: A linear drive system, in particular for a closure unit of a blow mold installation, with a simpler and more compact structure, a higher retraction and expansion speed in rapid mode, higher forces in power mode, and reduced energy consumption, than the prior art includes a cylinder arrangement which brings about a retraction and extension movement in rapid mode by separate hydraulically active faces which are independent of a larger hydraulically active face which is acted on with pressurized hydraulic fluid only in power mode. During the extension movement in power mode, however, the hydraulically active faces cooperate which contributes to high forces with a compact structure of the drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: KAUTEX MASCHINENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Arndt Wellenberg, Minka Tschekorsky Orloff
  • Patent number: 10995475
    Abstract: A hydraulic circuit (11) of a hydraulic excavator (1) is provided with a main hydraulic circuit (11A) including a boom cylinder (5D), a pilot hydraulic circuit (11B) for operating the boom cylinder (5D) and a recovery hydraulic circuit (11C) including an accumulator (29). In this case, the recovery hydraulic circuit (11C) is provided with a recovery control valve (31) that recovers pressurized oil discharged from the boom cylinder (5D) to the accumulator (29), a main supply control valve (34) for supplying pressurized oil accumulated in the accumulator (29) to the main hydraulic circuit (11A) and a pilot supply control valve (37) for supplying pressurized oil accumulated in the accumulator (29) to the pilot hydraulic circuit (11B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Hijikata, Yasutaka Tsuruga, Kouji Ishikawa, Kiwamu Takahashi, Masatoshi Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10988167
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes a steering shaft 10 including an input shaft 11, an intermediate shaft 13 connected through a first torsion bar 12 to the input shaft, and an output shaft 15 connected through a second torsion bar 14 to the intermediate shaft; a hollow motor 30 to provide a rotational force to the intermediate shaft; and a control device 60 including a microcomputer, and including an output shaft rotation angle presuming section 63 to presume an output shaft rotation angle ?g based on signals of an input shaft rotation angle ?h and an intermediate shaft rotation angle ?m, a torsion spring constant g1 and g2 of the first and second torsion bars; and a motor drive control section 69 to control the hollow motor based on the output shaft rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE STEERING SYSTEM JAPAN LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10830347
    Abstract: A hydraulic driveline for a vehicle may have a main hydraulic circuit with a first hydraulic displacement unit and a second hydraulic displacement unit. The driveline may have a hydraulic accumulator assembly which is selectively fluidly connected to the main hydraulic circuit by one or more controllable valves of a first group of valves. The driveline may also have a first secondary module that has a first fluid communication of the hydraulic accumulator assembly with a first secondary hydraulic load of the hydraulic driveline. The first fluid communication may be one or more controllable valves that allow connecting the hydraulic accumulator assembly with the first secondary load or separating the hydraulic accumulator assembly from the first secondary load and that belong to a second group of valves. The controllable valves of the second group of valves are controllable independently of the controllable valves of the first group of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DANA ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Carlos Maximiliano Giorgio Bort, Davide Moser, Giulio Ornella
  • Patent number: 10827678
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a frame, and a lifting unit configured to vary a height of an operating unit with respect to a supporting surface for the machine. The lifting unit includes hydraulic cylinder with a liner and first and second pistons both slidingly housed inside the liner and arranged in series to define first and second chambers inside the liner, wherein the first and second pistons are controllable independently. The lifting unit includes a pressure stabilizer in fluid connection with the first chamber and that controls a pressure in the first chamber so that the first piston moves therein as a force generated on the first piston varies. A second control element for the second chamber carries out a volumetric control of the second chamber to control a position of the second piston regardless of a pressure inside the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: ROC GROUP S.R.L.
    Inventor: Raffaele Ubaldi
  • Patent number: 10801181
    Abstract: An energy regeneration device capable of controlling flow of a working fluid discharged from an actuator while regenerating energy from the working fluid, and a work machine including the foregoing device, include a boom cylinder, an inertial fluid container, an oil tank, an accumulator, a low-pressure-side opening/closing device, and a high-pressure-side opening/closing device. A calculation unit calculates a duty ratio for opening/closing the low-pressure-side opening/closing device and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device in accordance with a desired flow rate of a hydraulic fluid discharged from the boom cylinder. A regeneration control unit selects alternately the low-pressure-side opening/closing device and the high-pressure-side opening/closing device as a destination with which the inertial fluid container communicates in accordance with the calculated duty ratio, and supplies the discharged hydraulic fluid to an accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maekawa, Naoki Sugano
  • Patent number: 10801616
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive, as a whole system, includes two fluidic displacement units (1, 3), which can be adjusted at least in respect of the volumetric flow. One unit is coupled to an input (9). The other unit is coupled to an output (11). The units can be connected to each other in the manner of a closed fluidic circuit, to which a storage circuit (23) is connected. The storage circuit has at least one storage device (33), is divided into a low-pressure side (27) and a high-pressure side (25), and has a valve control (17) for controlling the whole system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HYDAC SYSTEMS & SERVICES GMBH
    Inventor: Kenny Hinsberger
  • Patent number: 10788020
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a crane and a plurality of blocks, where the crane is operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation (via stacking of the blocks) to store electrical energy as potential energy of the blocks, and then operable to move blocks from a higher elevation to a lower elevation (via unstacking of the blocks) to generate electricity based on the kinetic energy of the block when lowered (e.g., by gravity). The energy storage system can, for example, store electricity generated from solar power as potential energy in the stacked blocks during daytime hours when solar power is available, and can convert the potential energy in the stacked blocks into electricity during nighttime hours when solar energy is not available, and deliver the converted electricity to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Energy Vault, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, William Gross
  • Patent number: 10752226
    Abstract: A brake device having a hydraulic booster stage for a hydraulic motor vehicle brake system is provided, which brake device, within normal boosting operation, can be operated both in an autonomous, driver-independent actuation mode with electronic control and in a manual actuation mode controlled by the driver, and outside normal boosting operation, can be operated in an emergency mode with a non-boosted actuation force generated by the driver alone, in the case of which brake device it is proposed that, within normal boosting operation, each actuation mode is assigned a dedicated piston in a booster housing of the booster stage, which piston is acted on directly with the boosting force and transmits this mechanically to components connected functionally downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Falk Petzold, Adrian Messner, Manfred Rüffer, Michael Jürging
  • Patent number: 10738442
    Abstract: A remote controlled demolition robot (10) comprising a controller (17) and at least one control switch (24, 25, 26) for providing a control signal that is received by the controller (17), wherein the controller (17) is configured to control the operation of a corresponding robot part (10a, 11, 14, 15). The controller (17) is further configured to: receive a pressure sensor reading from a pressure sensor (13b) for a proportional hydraulic valve (13a), said pressure sensor reading indicating a standby pressure; provide the control signal to the valve (13a); and increase a signal level of the control signal provided to the valve (13a) until a change in the pressure is detected; determine a starting offset for the valve (13a), said starting offset corresponding to the current signal level of the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Tommy Olsson, Fredrik Theander
  • Patent number: 10731670
    Abstract: A hydraulic arrangement includes a pump for delivering a hydraulic medium in a direction of a hydraulic working load. The pump includes an adjusting input for adjusting a delivery flow thereof. The arrangement also includes an accumulator unit hydraulically coupled on an output side to the pump and a charging valve unit hydraulically coupled on the output side of the pump between the pump and the accumulator unit. The charging valve unit is configured to function as a disconnectable hydraulic connection between the pump and the accumulator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Meid, Sebastian Traut
  • Patent number: 10696157
    Abstract: A transmission system includes a power take-off for driving an implement and a hydrostatic unit for transmitting power from the engine to the power take-off. The hydrostatic unit includes a first hydraulic power unit having a first connection line and a second connection line, and a second hydraulic power unit having a first connection line and a second connection line. The hydrostatic unit also includes a valve for connecting the first hydraulic power unit and the second hydraulic power unit, the valve being positionable at least in a first position, in a second position and in a neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Alessandro Benevelli
  • Patent number: 10690151
    Abstract: Device for recovering hydraulic energy in a machine comprising at least a first differential cylinder-piston assembly having a differential cylinder with a separate rod and base side, at least a second differential cylinder-piston assembly having a differential cylinder with a separate rod and base side, and at least one hydraulic accumulator that can be hydraulically connected to at least one of the differential cylinder-piston assemblies, wherein the differential cylinder-piston assemblies are mechanically coupled to one another, and wherein the potential energy of at least one of the differential cylinder-piston assemblies retracting under a compressive load can at least partially be stored in the hydraulic accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-MINING EQUIPMENT COLMAR SAS
    Inventors: Philipp Hahn, Volker Gliniorz, Guillaume Bonnetot
  • Patent number: 10655297
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for moving an implement of a working machine includes a hydraulic cylinder with a cylinder and a piston which is adapted to move in the cylinder to thereby move the implement relative to a body structure of the working machine, and an actuator pump arranged to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder having a first port and a second port adapted to be in fluid communication with the actuator pump, the hydraulic cylinder and the actuator pump being arranged so that the hydraulic cylinder is directly controlled by the actuator pump so that the rate of movement of the piston of the hydraulic cylinder is purely pump controlled, the hydraulic system further including a hydraulic accumulator for suspension of the implement, which hydraulic accumulator is arranged to be selectively connectable to the first port, the hydraulic system further including a further pump in addition to the actuator pump, the hydraulic accumulator being arranged to be pressurised by the f
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Patrik Stener, Johan Lillemets
  • Patent number: 10619726
    Abstract: A hydraulic system (1) of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle includes a hydraulic pump (2) powered by a drive engine for supplying pressure to the hydraulic system (1). A hydraulic reservoir (10) by which, when the drive engine is at rest, a pressure drop in a main pressure circuit (7) of the hydraulic system (1) can at least be delayed. The hydraulic reservoir (10) is connected to the main pressure circuit (7) by way of an orifice (14) or a throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Alexander Paul, Bernd Lutz
  • Patent number: 10619734
    Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission for a traction drive includes a variable-displacement pump and one or more motors coupled to one another in a closed hydraulic circuit. A braking operation is introduced into the traction drive via the hydrostatic transmission, and is controlled in closed-loop fashion by an electronic control unit. A braking torque is controlled in closed-loop fashion indirectly by a swept volume of the secondary unit, for which purpose one or two closed-loop controllers are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Witte, Martin Behm
  • Patent number: 10584449
    Abstract: A hydraulic system may selectively operate in a charging mode or a driving mode, and may include a charging component, an accumulator, an input pump/motor, and an output motor. The charging component may charge an accumulator during operation in the charging mode. The accumulator may store pressure medium during operation in the charging mode, and may supply stored pressure medium to the input pump/motor during operation in the driving mode. The input pump/motor may supply pressure medium to at least the accumulator during operation in the charging mode, and may supply pressure medium to the output motor during at least operation in the driving mode. The output motor may provide output torque based on pressure medium supplied by the input pump/motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Todd M. Jennings
  • Patent number: 10533499
    Abstract: A seal plate body has a first the zone including three bolt hole ears and an oil passage ear. A second zone includes four bolt hole ears. A third zone includes six bolt ears and one alignment pin ear. A fourth zone has three bolt hole ears. A fifth zone includes five bolt hole ears and one oil passage ear. A sixth zone includes three bolt hole ears and one alignment pin ear. Each of the bolt hole ears includes a bolt hole, and each of the oil passage ears includes an oil passage hole. An integrated drive generator and a method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Derek R. Hochstetler, Ted A. Martin, Duane C. Johnson, Glenn C. Lemmers
  • Patent number: 10422285
    Abstract: Emergency start-up device for a turboshaft engine of a helicopter, comprising: a hydraulic motor which is mechanically connected to said turboshaft engine; a hydropneumatic store which is connected to said hydraulic motor by a hydraulic circuit for supplying pressurized liquid to said hydraulic motor; and a hydraulic valve which has controlled quick opening, arranged on the hydraulic circuit between said store and said hydraulic motor, and is suitable for being placed on command at least in an open position in which the liquid can supply said hydraulic motor, or in a closed position in which said hydraulic motor is no longer supplied with pressurized liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN HELICOPTER ENGINES
    Inventors: Romain Thiriet, Bertrand Moine, Camel Serghine, François Porel
  • Patent number: 10413354
    Abstract: An end effector for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members (2), (3), movable between an open position in which the jaw members are disposed in a spaced relation relative to one another, and a closed position in which the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. One or more spring members (15), (16), (17), (18), (19) are connected between the first and second jaw members (2), (3), such that moving the jaw members from their open position to their closed position causes the one or more spring members to compress. The one or more spring members have a fully compressed condition such that when in their fully compressed condition they form stop members to maintain the first and second jaw members (2), (3), at a predetermined spacing one from the other when in their closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GYRUS MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael John Hagland
  • Patent number: 10359056
    Abstract: Provided is an energy storage structure, comprising a housing and a piston. An accommodating cavity and a piston cylinder part communicating with each other are arranged within the housing. The piston is slidably and sealingly arranged within the piston cylinder part for transferring impact energy. A self-pressure of an energy storage medium, arranged within the accommodating cavity and the piston cylinder part, acts on the piston, tending to push the piston to move. An energy storage structure provided by the present invention has a simple structure, is convenient for use, and can ensure that a thrust or impact force remains unchanged or slightly changes during operation, to achieve stable release of potential energy. Moreover, the adjustment of the thrust or impact force can be achieved by changing the temperature of the energy storage medium in the accommodating cavity, thereby achieving change in total impact energy of the energy storage structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Inventor: Fugang Yang
  • Patent number: 10350957
    Abstract: A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system is disclosed. The suspension system includes an actuator body, a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, a plurality of sensors, an energy storage facility, and a controller. The method includes disposing an active suspension system in a vehicle between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, detecting a wheel event requiring control of the active suspension; and sourcing energy from the energy storage facility and delivering it to the electric motor in response to the wheel event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ClearMotion, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary Martin Anderson, Marco Giovanardi, Clive Tucker, Jonathan R. Leehey, Colin Patrick O'Shea, Johannes Schneider, Vladimir Gorelik, Richard Anthony Zuckerman, Patrick W. Neil, Tyson David Sawyer, Ross J. Wendell
  • Patent number: 10316605
    Abstract: A subsea energy storage for well control equipment, wherein stored energy near a well on the sea floor monitors and activates well control equipment independently of, or in conjunction with, hydraulic energy. Energy to the subsea energy storage can be supplied by surface umbilical, remotely-operated vehicle, or by subsea electrical generation from stored hydraulic energy. Stored electrical energy may also recharge stored hydraulic energy. A subsea control system is configured to record data, compare the data to predetermined event signatures, and operate the well control equipment with stored electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: Transocean Sedco Forex Ventures Limited, Aspin Kemp & Associates Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Edward P. K. Bourgeau, Jason Aspin
  • Patent number: 10226826
    Abstract: A hydraulic power tool includes a housing defining a cylinder, a piston at least partially positioned within the cylinder and movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a reservoir containing hydraulic fluid, a pump for transferring hydraulic fluid in the reservoir to the cylinder, causing the piston to move from the retracted position toward the extended position, a return valve defining a rotational axis and positioned between the cylinder and the reservoir, and a valve actuator driven by the pump for opening the return valve, thereby fluidly communicating the cylinder and the reservoir, in response to a predetermined pressure being reached in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sean T. Kehoe, James G. Ballard, Troy C. Thorson, Marc S. D'Antuono, Alex Huber
  • Patent number: 10151080
    Abstract: A hydraulic control for an attachment on a work vehicle. The attachment is mounted on the chassis of the work vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position. A hydraulic cylinder is operable to power movement of the attachment. A fluid circuit communicates with the hydraulic cylinder and is configured to carry hydraulic fluid. A fluid reservoir is in communication with the fluid circuit. Accumulators that are in communication with the fluid circuit automatically store and release hydraulic fluid in response to movement of the attachment. A valve assembly controls fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the fluid circuit in response to movement of the attachment to its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Cody L. Sewell
  • Patent number: 10145463
    Abstract: A cooling and lubricating device for a transmission for a wind turbine includes a transmission oil tank for storing transmission oil for the transmission, a transmission oil line system for carrying the transmission oil between the transmission oil tank and the transmission, a hydraulic oil tank for storing hydraulic oil, a hydraulic oil line system for carrying the hydraulic oil, a hydraulic oil conveying device for conveying the hydraulic oil through the hydraulic oil line system, an energy accumulator for at least temporarily maintaining a pressure within the hydraulic oil line system, the energy accumulator chargeable using the hydraulic oil conveyed by the hydraulic oil conveying device; and a transmission oil conveying device coupled to the hydraulic oil line system and to the transmission oil line system and configured to be driven by the hydraulic oil in order to convey the transmission oil to the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ibrahim Doertoluk, Udo Froehlich, Bernd Schnurr, Detlef Boehm
  • Patent number: 10145086
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) blocks and adjusts a pressure for a hydraulically controllable actuator (12), particularly a lifting unit (16) of a machine (18). The apparatus (10) allows a working chamber (20, 22) to be selectively connected to a pressure supply unit (94) having a storage device (34) or to a discharge end (66), in particular a reservoir end, by a valve unit (38). In a controlling position of the valve unit (38), when the storage pressure in the storage device (34) is greater than the working pressure in the working chamber (20) of the actuator (12), the storage pressure is relieved in the direction of the discharge end (66) until the working pressure has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC SYSTEM GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz-Peter Huth
  • Patent number: 10077071
    Abstract: An electrical system controller that sends an electrical current disable signal to an electrical switch for an electric vehicle's power steering pump motor upon a speed sensor providing input to the controller when the electric vehicle becomes stationary. A vehicle door position sensor senses when a door of the electric vehicle changes from open to closed and provides a door-open-to-closed input signal to the controller. The controller sends a signal to the electrical switch to reactivate a supply of electrical current supply to the power steering pump motor when a vehicle door position sensor senses that a door of the electric vehicle has changed from open to closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Thomson Power Inc.
    Inventor: David Oldridge
  • Patent number: 10072680
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the energy-optimized hydraulic control of at least one double-action working cylinder of a work machine comprising a hydraulic pressure transducer which is hydraulically connected to a first piston surface of the working cylinder, to a second piston surface of the working cylinder and to at least one pressure accumulator, wherein the pressure transducer is configured such that the hydraulic energy of a high-pressure volume flow conveyed by the first piston surface to the pressure transducer can be stored completely or at least partially by the at least one connected pressure accumulator and such that the cylinder chamber of the second piston surface of the working cylinder can be filled with a low-pressure volume flow by the pressure transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS
    Inventors: Philipp Hahn, Volker Gliniorz, Guillaume Bonnetot