Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses including systems and methods that can be used for operating a hydrokinetic turbine such as along one or more flow channels of a river for power generation is disclosed. The hydrokinetic turbine can be positioned within the one or more flow channels or can be shaped to form one or more flows and can be turned by the flow of the river.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are disclosed that comprise or utilize a hydraulic vane device. This device can be configured with a ring and/or a rotor shaped and positioned relative to one another to provide the hydraulic vane device with four or more chambers in which the vanes of the device can work a hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses are disclosed that include a plurality of hydraulic vaned devices arranged in-line with one another such as along a drive line of a vehicle. Various system operation modes achieved by such devices in the in-line arrangement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic device is disclosed. The hydraulic device can include a rotor, a plurality of vanes and a ring. The ring can include a suction cavity and a pressure cavity. The suction cavity and pressure cavity can be configured for ingress and egress of a hydraulic fluid through the ring. The ring can include a suction port defined entirely by the ring and in fluid communication with the suction cavity. The suction port can be configured to receive hydraulic fluid from a first region between the ring and the rotor. The ring can include a pressure port defined entirely by the ring and in fluid communication with the pressure cavity. The pressure port can be configured to allow for passage of the hydraulic fluid from the pressure cavity to a second region between the ring and the rotor.

Abstract: Hydraulic devices are shown and described that can include a rotor, vanes and a ring. The rotor can be disposed for rotation about an axis. The plurality of vanes can each include a vane step. Each of the plurality of vanes can be moveable relative to the rotor between a retracted position and an extended position where the plurality of vanes work a hydraulic fluid introduced adjacent the rotor. A roller can be mounted to a tip of each of the plurality of vanes. The ring can be disposed at least partially around the rotor. The rotor can include one or more passages for ingress or egress of a hydraulic fluid to or from a region adjacent the vane step and defined by at least the rotor and the vane step.

Abstract: An example includes a hydraulically controllable coupling to couple a rotating input and to an output to rotate, or to decouple the input and the output, with coupling and decoupling modes selected by switching a hydraulic device such as a vane pump between a pumping mode and a mode in which it does not pump. In an example, the system cooperates with a transmission to increase the number of possible gear ratios in some examples.

Abstract: Various designs for hydraulic devices are disclosed including hydraulic devices that can include a rotor and a ring are disclosed. The rotor can be disposed for rotation about an axis and can have a plurality of plurality of vanes extending therefrom. The ring can be disposed at least partially around the rotor and the ring, and the rotor can be in communication with a port for ingress or egress of the hydraulic fluid to or from adjacent the rotor. The ring defines a cavity adjacent to and in communication with the port, the cavity allows the hydraulic fluid to be disposed adjacent at least one of the plurality of vanes when the at least one of the plurality of vanes is transiting the port.

Abstract: Various vehicle systems capable of different operation modes are disclosed. According to one example, the system can include at least one input shaft, at least one output shaft, a plurality of hydraulic devices, and one or more accessories. The plurality of hydraulic devices can be configured to be operable as vane pumps in a retracted vane mode of operation and can be configured to be operable as a hydraulic couplings to couple the at least one input shaft with the at least one output shaft in a vane extended mode of operation. The plurality of hydraulic devices can be simultaneously operable as the hydraulic couplings and the vane pumps. The one or more accessories can be in fluid communication with the plurality of hydraulic devices and can be configured to receive a hydraulic fluid pumped from one or more the plurality of hydraulic devices when operating as the vane pumps.

Abstract: A hydraulic device can include two or more rings, a rotor having a plurality of vanes, and an adjuster. The two or more rings can be rotatably mounted within the hydraulic device and arranged adjacent one another configured for relative rotation with respect to one another. The rotor can be disposed for rotation about an axis within the two or more rings and can have a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, each slot having at least one of the plurality of vanes located therein. The plurality of vanes can be configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position where the plurality of vanes work a hydraulic fluid introduced adjacent to the rotor. The adjuster can be configured to translate linearly to rotatably position the two or more rings relative to one another to increase or decrease a displacement of the hydraulic fluid between the rotor and the two or more rings.

Abstract: An example includes a hydraulically controllable coupling to couple a rotating input and to an output to rotate, or to decouple the input and the output, with coupling and decoupling modes selected by switching a hydraulic device such as a vane pump between a pumping mode and a mode in which it does not pump. In an example, the system cooperates with a transmission to increase the number of possible gear ratios in some examples.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump or motor includes a body having a chamber and a rotor rotatably mounted within the chamber. The chamber and rotor are shaped to define one or more rise regions, fall regions, major dwell regions and minor dwell regions between walls of the chamber and the rotor. The rotor has a plurality of slots and vanes located in each slot. Each vane is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the vanes are unable to work the hydraulic fluid introduced into the chamber whereas they are able to work the hydraulic fluid introduced into the chamber in the extended position. A vane retaining member that is selectively actuable enables the vanes to be retained in the retracted position.

Abstract: An example includes a hydraulically controllable coupling to couple a rotating input and to an output to rotate, or to decouple the input and the output, with coupling and decoupling modes selected by switching a hydraulic device such as a vane pump between a pumping mode and a mode in which it does not pump. In an example, the system cooperates with a transmission to increase the number of possible gear ratios in some examples.