Abstract: A system for braking the wheels of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle includes a brake pedal having a range of pedal displacement including a deadband displacement range, an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure, a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure, a pump/motor having variable volumetric displacement connected to the accumulator and reservoir, and driveably connected to the wheels; a system responsive to brake pedal displacement in the deadband range for placing the pump/motor in a pump state wherein the pump/motor is driven by the wheels and pumps fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator; and a control valve for changing the volumetric displacement of the pump/motor in response to displacement of the brake pedal.

Abstract: A system for replenishing a source of pressurized fluid for use in driving the wheels of a motor vehicle includes an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure; a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure; an engine driveably connected to the wheels and having a variable torque output; a pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels, including an inlet and an outlet, and having a variable volumetric displacement for pumping fluid between the accumulator and the reservoir; and a controller for determining a current cruise charge pressure limit for the accumulator, determining a desired magnitude of pump/motor torque with which to pump fluid to the accumulator, determining a desired magnitude of engine torque with which to drive the pump/motor at the desired magnitude of pump/motor torque, and controlling the engine to produce the desired magnitude of engine torque, to drive the pump/motor in a pumping mode at the desired magnitude of pump/motor torque, and to pump fluid to the accumulator from

Abstract: A system according to this invention opposes creep in a hydraulic hybrid motor vehicle. An accumulator contains fluid at high pressure, and a reservoir contains fluid at lower pressure. An engine produces positive torque at the wheels during an engine idle condition, and a pump/motor, driveably connected to the wheels and the engine, has a variable volumetric displacement pumps fluid to the accumulator from the reservoir. A control system determines a magnitude of negative torque transmitted from the wheels to the pump/motor that would exceed the magnitude of positive torque, determines the volumetric displacement of the pump/motor corresponding to the magnitude of negative torque, changes the displacement of the pump/motor to the required displacement, and operates the pump/motor as a pump driven by negative torque from the wheels to pump fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator.

Abstract: A motor vehicle powertrain system according to this invention controls the magnitudes of torque produced by multiple power sources that drive the vehicle wheels. The system includes a source of pressurized fluid, and a pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels, which is driven in a motoring mode by fluid from the fluid source and has a variable volumetric displacement that changes in response to displacement of the accelerator pedal. An engine, driveably connected to the wheels, includes a throttle that opens and closes in response to displacement of the accelerator pedal. A controller controls operation of the engine and pump/motor such that they produce torque at various magnitudes.

Abstract: A system for transmitting power hydraulically to and from the wheels of a motor vehicle includes an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure, a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure, and a pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels and having a variable volumetric displacement for pumping fluid between the accumulator and the reservoir. A first circuit connects the inlet to the reservoir and the outlet to the accumulator. A second circuit includes a first path having a low flow rate capacity, a second path having a higher flow rate capacity. A controller switches between pumping operation and motoring operation, opens and closes the first path during motoring operation, and reduces the displacement before switching between pumping operation and motoring operation.

Abstract: A system according to this invention for transmitting power hydraulically to and from the wheels of a motor vehicle includes an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure, a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure, and a pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels and having an inlet, an outlet, and a variable volumetric displacement for pumping fluid between the accumulator and the reservoir. A first circuit connects the inlet to the reservoir and the outlet to the accumulator. A second circuit, which connects the inlet to the accumulator and the outlet to the reservoir, includes a first path having a low flow rate capacity, a second path having a higher flow rate capacity. A controller switches between pumping operation and motoring operation, opens and closes the first path during motoring operation, and reduces the displacement before switching between pumping operation and motoring operation.

Abstract: A system according to this invention opposes creep in a hydraulic hybrid motor vehicle. An accumulator contains fluid at high pressure, and a reservoir contains fluid at lower pressure. An engine produces positive torque at the wheels during an engine idle condition, and a pump/motor, driveably connected to the wheels and the engine, has a variable volumetric displacement pumps fluid to the accumulator from the reservoir. A control system determines a magnitude of negative torque transmitted from the wheels to the pump/motor that would exceed the magnitude of positive torque, determines the volumetric displacement of the pump/motor corresponding to the magnitude of negative torque, changes the displacement of the pump/motor to the required displacement, and operates the pump/motor as a pump driven by negative torque from the wheels to pump fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator.

Abstract: A motor vehicle powertrain system according to this invention controls the magnitudes of torque produced by multiple power sources that drive the vehicle wheels. The system includes a source of pressurized fluid, and a pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels, which is driven in a motoring mode by fluid from the fluid source and has a variable volumetric displacement that changes in response to displacement of the accelerator pedal. An engine, driveably connected to the wheels, includes a throttle that opens and closes in response to displacement of the accelerator pedal. A controller controls operation of the engine and pump/motor such that they produce torque at various magnitudes.

Abstract: A system for braking the wheels of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle includes a brake pedal having a range of pedal displacement including a deadband displacement range, an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure, a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure, a pump/motor having variable volumetric displacement connected to the accumulator and reservoir, and driveably connected to the wheels; a system responsive to brake pedal displacement in the deadband range for placing the pump/motor in a pump state wherein the pump/motor is driven by the wheels and pumps fluid from the reservoir to the accumulator; and a control valve for changing the volumetric displacement of the pump/motor in response to displacement of the brake pedal.

Abstract: A system for replenishing a source of pressurized fluid for use in driving the wheels of a motor vehicle includes an accumulator containing fluid at relatively high pressure; a reservoir containing fluid at lower pressure; an engine driveably connected to the wheels and having a variable torque output; a pump/motor driveably connected to the wheels, including an inlet and an outlet, and having a variable volumetric displacement for pumping fluid between the accumulator and the reservoir; and a controller for determining a current cruise charge pressure limit for the accumulator, determining a desired magnitude of pump/motor torque with which to pump fluid to the accumulator, determining a desired magnitude of engine torque with which to drive the pump/motor at the desired magnitude of pump/motor torque, and controlling the engine to produce the desired magnitude of engine torque, to drive the pump/motor in a pumping mode at the desired magnitude of pump/motor torque, and to pump fluid to the accumulator from