Electro-hydraulic hybrid system

Abstract

An electro-hydraulic hybrid system for a vehicle utilizes both the advantages of the hydraulic hybrid system and the electric hybrid system to maximize the collection of energy lost during a braking process and to provide launch assists in an acceleration process. The electro-hydraulic hybrid system includes an ECU that controls the electro-hydraulic hybrid system, a hydraulic drive pump, an accumulator, a hydraulic reservoir, a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, a power converter, and a battery. The hydraulic reservoir is in fluid communication with the accumulator through the hydraulic drive pump that functions as the main component of the hydraulic regenerative braking system. The hydraulic reservoir is also in fluid communication with the accumulator through the hydraulic pump that acts as the main component of the electro-hydraulic inter-conversion unit along with the electric motor, the at least one battery, and power converter that are electrically connected to each other.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 an electronic control unit (ECU) operating on a processor and including one or more algorithms that are configured to receive a brake pedal displacement value, to compare the brake pedal displacement value with a stored brake activation value and to enter a braking mode of operation when the brake pedal displacement value exceeds the stored brake activation value;   the ECU further including one or more algorithms that are configured to receive an accelerator pedal displacement value and to compare the accelerator pedal displacement value with a stored launch activation value and to enter an acceleration mode of operation when the accelerator pedal displacement value exceeds the stored launch activation value; and   the ECU further including one or more algorithms that are configured to generate a hydraulic drive pump actuation control to transfer fluid from a hydraulic reservoir to an accumulator using energy from a drive shaft in the braking mode of operation and a control to transfer the fluid from the accumulator to the hydraulic reservoir in the acceleration mode of operation.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the ECU is configured to receive an accumulator pressure value. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising a hydraulic drive pump control unit configured to receive the hydraulic drive pump actuation control and to actuate a hydraulic drive pump in response. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the control to transfer the fluid from the accumulator to the hydraulic reservoir comprises a hydraulic pump actuation control. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising a hydraulic pump configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to transfer the fluid from the accumulator to the hydraulic reservoir. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising a hydraulic drive pump configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to transfer the fluid from the hydraulic reservoir to the accumulator using the energy from the drive shaft in the braking mode of operation. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising a hydraulic reservoir configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to store the fluid from the accumulator in the acceleration mode of operation. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising a hydraulic cooler configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to provide cooling for the fluid. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising an accumulator configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to store the fluid from the hydraulic reservoir in the braking mode of operation. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the accumulator further comprises a pressure sensor configured to generate an accumulator pressure signal and to transmit the accumulator pressure signal to the ECU. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 26  further comprising a hydraulic drive pump control unit configured to receive the hydraulic drive pump actuation control and to actuate the hydraulic drive pump in response. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising a hydraulic pump control unit configured to receive the hydraulic pump actuation control and to actuate a hydraulic pump in response. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28  further comprising a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal and wherein the ECU is configured to actuate the hydraulic cooler in response to the temperature signal. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 25  further comprising an electric generator coupled to the hydraulic pump and configured to generate electric current in response to actuation of the hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 26  wherein the hydraulic drive pump further comprises a rotor coupled to the drive shaft. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35  wherein the hydraulic drive pump further comprises a swash plate coupled to the rotor. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the hydraulic drive pump further comprises a plurality of pistons coupled to the swash plate. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36  wherein the hydraulic drive pump further comprises an actuation unit coupled to the swash plate and configured to control a pitch of the swash plate. 
     
     
         39 . A system comprising:
 an electronic control unit (ECU) operating on a processor and including one or more algorithms that are configured to enter a braking mode of operation when a brake pedal displacement value exceeds a stored brake activation value;   the ECU further including one or more algorithms that are configured to receive an accelerator pedal displacement value and to enter an acceleration mode of operation when the accelerator pedal displacement value exceeds a stored launch activation value; and   a hydraulic pump comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a swash plate coupled to the rotor; 
 a plurality of pistons coupled to the swash plate; and 
 an actuation unit coupled to the swash plate and configured to control a pitch of the swash plate; and 
   wherein the ECU is configured to control the actuation unit to change the pitch of the swash plate.   
     
     
         40 . A system comprising:
 an electronic control unit (ECU) operating on a processor and including one or more algorithms that are configured to receive a brake pedal displacement value, to compare the brake pedal displacement value with a stored brake activation value and to enter a braking mode of operation when the brake pedal displacement value exceeds the stored brake activation value;   the ECU further including one or more algorithms that are configured to receive an accelerator pedal displacement value and to compare the accelerator pedal displacement value with a stored launch activation value and to enter an acceleration mode of operation when the accelerator pedal displacement value exceeds the stored launch activation value;   the ECU further including one or more algorithms that are configured to generate a hydraulic drive pump actuation control to transfer fluid from a hydraulic reservoir to an accumulator using energy from a drive shaft in the braking mode of operation and a control to transfer the fluid from the accumulator to the hydraulic reservoir in the acceleration mode of operation;   the ECU configured to receive an accumulator pressure value;   a hydraulic drive pump control unit configured to receive the hydraulic drive pump actuation control and to actuate a hydraulic drive pump in response;   wherein the control to transfer the fluid from the accumulator to the hydraulic reservoir comprises a hydraulic pump actuation control;   a hydraulic pump configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to transfer the fluid from the accumulator to the hydraulic reservoir, the hydraulic pump further comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a swash plate coupled to the rotor; 
 a plurality of pistons coupled to the swash plate; and 
 an actuation unit coupled to the swash plate and configured to control a pitch of the swash plate; 
   a hydraulic drive pump configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to transfer the fluid from the hydraulic reservoir to the accumulator using the energy from the drive shaft in the braking mode of operation;   a hydraulic reservoir configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to store the fluid from the accumulator in the acceleration mode of operation;   a hydraulic cooler configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to provide cooling for the fluid;   an accumulator configured to be retrofitted onto a vehicle to store the fluid from the hydraulic reservoir in the braking mode of operation;   wherein the accumulator further comprises a pressure sensor configured to generate an accumulator pressure signal and to transmit the accumulator pressure signal to the ECU;   a hydraulic drive pump control unit configured to receive the hydraulic drive pump actuation control and to actuate the hydraulic drive pump in response;   a hydraulic pump control unit configured to receive the hydraulic pump actuation control and to actuate a hydraulic pump in response;   a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature signal and wherein the ECU is configured to actuate the hydraulic cooler in response to the temperature signal; and   an electric generator coupled to the hydraulic pump and configured to generate electric current in response to actuation of the hydraulic pump.