Abstract: A piston-in-piston non-compressible unit is disclosed that utilizes an elastic volume to store and release energy with each stroke by varying the non-compressible fluid volumes in and out of the hydraulic unit.

Abstract: A hydraulic device having: a housing; a bore of the housing having a first piston positioned therein for a first reciprocal motion within the bore along a bore axis; a mechanical element coupled to the first piston for either driving the first reciprocal motion or being driven by the first reciprocal motion; a second piston positioned in the bore for a second reciprocal motion within the bore along the bore axis; a hydraulic fluid chamber of the bore positioned between the first piston and the second piston, the hydraulic fluid chamber having a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet; a chamber of the bore positioned between the second piston and a wall of the housing, the chamber for having a resilient element therein; a separator partition dividing the hydraulic fluid chamber into a first hydraulic fluid chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber, the separator partition positioned in the bore between the hydraulic fluid inlet and the second piston, the separator partition having a first fluid

Abstract: A hydraulic device having: a housing; a bore of the housing having a first piston positioned therein for a first reciprocal motion within the bore along a bore axis; a mechanical element coupled to the first piston for either driving the first reciprocal motion or being driven by the first reciprocal motion; a second piston positioned in the bore for a second reciprocal motion within the bore along the bore axis; a hydraulic fluid chamber of the bore positioned between the first piston and the second piston, the hydraulic fluid chamber having a hydraulic fluid inlet and a hydraulic fluid outlet; a chamber of the bore positioned between the second piston and a wall of the housing, the chamber for having a resilient element therein; a separator partition dividing the hydraulic fluid chamber into a first hydraulic fluid chamber and a second hydraulic fluid chamber, the separator partition positioned in the bore between the hydraulic fluid inlet and the second piston, the separator partition having a first fluid

Abstract: A piston unit is disclosed that utilizes an elastic volume to store and release energy with each stroke by varying the hydraulic fluid volumes in and out of the hydraulic unit.

Abstract: A gear hub assembly is disclosed that has a sealed housing that includes an input gear and an output gear that are meshed together to provide a gear pump to move fluid between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on opposite sides of engagement of the input and output gear. The housing defines an axle shaft-receiving aperture and a wheel spindle-receiving aperture to allow the gear hub assembly to transmit torque from a vehicle axle shaft to a wheel spindle while operating as a gear pump. The fluid inlet and outlets can be coupled to a hydraulic system to provide braking (or kinetic energy recovery) by restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid which in turn resists rotation of the gears in the gear hub, and thus can act to slow the vehicle.

Abstract: A gear hub assembly is disclosed that has a sealed housing that includes an input gear and an output gear that are meshed together to provide a gear pump to move fluid between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on opposite sides of engagement of the input and output gear. The housing defines an axle shaft-receiving aperture and a wheel spindle-receiving aperture to allow the gear hub assembly to transmit torque from a vehicle axle shaft to a wheel spindle while operating as a gear pump. The fluid inlet and outlets can be coupled to a hydraulic system to provide braking (or kinetic energy recovery) by restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid which in turn resists rotation of the gears in the gear hub, and thus can act to slow the vehicle.

Abstract: A piston-in-piston hydraulic unit is disclosed that utilises an elastic volume to store and release energy with each stroke by varying the hydraulic fluid volumes in and out of the hydraulic unit.

Abstract: A multi-cluster gear device operable to function as a pump, a motor or operable to alternate between a pump and a motor.

Abstract: An air pump is provided that is configured to move and compress air into an air storage vessel at high pressure. The air pump is operable to move large volumes of air against low resistance for rapid filling of an air storage vessel.

Abstract: A piston unit is disclosed that utilises an elastic volume to store and release energy with each stroke by varying the hydraulic fluid volumes in and out of the hydraulic unit.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio system for use in a reciprocating-piston engine. The system allows the compression ratio in a combustion cylinder of the engine to be varied by varying the distance from a combustion chamber facing surface of a piston to the center of pivotal connection of a connecting rod to a crankshaft. The distance is varied responsive to the supply and withdrawal of pressurized hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid is supplied and discharged by a slave pump pivotally connected to the connecting rod at a first end and pivotally connected to a stationary point at a second end. The slave pump supplies and withdraws hydraulic fluid responsive to the rotation of the crankshaft and a hydraulic backpressure controlled using a pressure control valve.

Abstract: A regenerative brake system and a variable displacement pump/motor for use therein. Each cylinder of the pump/motor having a main piston and a second piston between which is defined a space for hydraulic fluid, and a resilient element acting on the second piston to bias it toward the main piston. Variable displacement is achieved by controlling a volume of pressurized fluid that is injected and exhausted between the main and second pistons. Brake, drive and neutral modes of operation of the pump/motor are achieved by controlling the timing (relative to a drive shaft phase) of the injection and exhaust of the fluid. Regeneration is achieved by storing pressurized fluid generated by the pump/motor in an accumulator in brake mode and using the stored pressurized fluid to power the pump/motor in drive mode.

Abstract: A regeneration system for use in a vehicle having a reciprocating-piston engine. The regeneration system captures energy (e.g. braking energy), stores the energy, and subsequently uses the stored energy to generate motive power for the vehicle. The motive power can be generated in conjunction with motive power provided by the engine. The regeneration system comprises a variable displacement pump/motor that is connected to a connecting rod in each cylinder of the engine. The pump/motor comprises a fluid chamber, a primary piston mechanically coupled to the connecting rod and a slave piston coupled to the primary piston via resilient means. A control unit controls a plurality of valves to direct the exchange of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the pump/motor and a hydraulic accumulator in synchronous timing with the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A variable compression ratio system for use in a reciprocating-piston engine. The system allows the compression ratio in a combustion cylinder of the engine to be varied by varying the distance from a combustion chamber facing surface of a piston to the center of pivotal connection of a connecting rod to a crankshaft. The distance is varied responsive to the supply and withdrawal of pressurized hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid is supplied and discharged by a slave pump pivotally connected to the connecting rod at a first end and pivotally connected to a stationary point at a second end. The slave pump supplies and withdraws hydraulic fluid responsive to the rotation of the crankshaft and a hydraulic backpressure controlled using a pressure control valve.

Abstract: A regeneration system for use in a vehicle having a reciprocating-piston engine. The regeneration system captures energy (e.g. braking energy), stores the energy, and subsequently uses the stored energy to generate motive power for the vehicle. The motive power can be generated in conjunction with motive power provided by the engine. The regeneration system comprises a variable displacement pump/motor that is connected to a connecting rod in each cylinder of the engine. The pump/motor comprises a fluid chamber, a primary piston mechanically coupled to the connecting rod and a slave piston coupled to the primary piston via resilient means. A control unit controls a plurality of valves to direct the exchange of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the pump/motor and a hydraulic accumulator in synchronous timing with the operation of the engine.

Abstract: A regenerative brake system and a variable displacement pump/motor for use therein. Each cylinder of the pump/motor having a main piston and a second piston between which is defined a space for hydraulic fluid, and a resilient element acting on the second piston to bias it toward the main piston. Variable displacement is achieved by controlling a volume of pressurized fluid that is injected and exhausted between the main and second pistons. Brake, drive and neutral modes of operation of the pump/motor are achieved by controlling the timing (relative to a drive shaft phase) of the injection and exhaust of the fluid. Regeneration is achieved by storing pressurized fluid generated by the pump/motor in an accumulator in brake mode and using the stored pressurized fluid to power the pump/motor in drive mode.

Abstract: A regenerative brake system and a variable displacement pump/motor for use therein. Each cylinder of the pump/motor having a main piston and a second piston between which is defined a space for hydraulic fluid, and a resilient element acting on the second piston to bias it toward the main piston. Variable displacement is achieved by controlling a volume of pressurized fluid that is injected and exhausted between the main and second pistons. Brake, drive and neutral modes of operation of the pump/motor are achieved by controlling the timing (relative to a drive shaft phase) of the injection and exhaust of the fluid. Regeneration is achieved by storing pressurized fluid generated by the pump/motor in an accumulator in brake mode and using the stored pressurized fluid to power the pump/motor in drive mode.