Hydraulic clutches, gearboxes, transmissions, and energy recovery systems

Abstract

An automobile or other wheeled vehicle includes various hydraulic components, including a hydraulic gearbox, transmission, clutch, and brake energy recovery system. Such hydraulic components supplement or replace traditional mechanical components of the automobile or other wheeled vehicle to improve the overall operational efficiency thereof.

1 . An automotive transmission, comprising:
 a drive shaft;   a driven shaft;   a hydraulic pump coupled to the drive shaft, the hydraulic pump driven by the drive shaft;   a hydraulic motor coupled to the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic motor driving the driven shaft; and   a hydraulically-powered clutch adjustable between an engaged position, in which the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to the driven shaft, and a disengaged position, in which the drive shaft is not mechanically coupled to the driven shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The automotive transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second hydraulic pump coupled to the drive shaft, the second hydraulic pump driven by the drive shaft; and   a second hydraulic motor coupled to the second hydraulic pump, the second hydraulic motor driven by the second hydraulic pump, and the second hydraulic motor driving the driven shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The automotive transmission of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a high-pressure hydraulic accumulator hydraulically coupled to receive hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump and hydraulically coupled to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor; and   a low-pressure hydraulic accumulator hydraulically coupled to receive hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic motor and hydraulically coupled to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic pump.   
     
     
         4 . The automotive transmission of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a relief valve hydraulically coupled to the high-pressure hydraulic accumulator and to the low-pressure hydraulic accumulator.   
     
     
         5 . The automotive transmission of  claim 1  wherein the drive shaft is rigidly coupled to a planetary gear holder of a planetary gear set, wherein the driven shaft is rigidly coupled to a sun gear of the planetary gear set, and wherein the automotive transmission further comprises:
 a planetary ring gear of the planetary gear set; and 
 a plurality of planet gears of the planetary gear set, the planet gears rotatably coupled to the planetary gear holder. 
 
     
     
         6 . The automotive transmission of  claim 5  wherein the planetary ring gear is coupled to drive operation of the hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         7 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A wheeled vehicle including a brake energy recovery system comprising:
 a gearbox;   a first clutch mechanically coupled to an output of the gearbox;   a first hydraulic pump mechanically coupled to an output of the first clutch;   a first flow control valve hydraulically coupled to an inlet of the first hydraulic pump and to an outlet of the first hydraulic pump;   a hydraulic accumulator hydraulically coupled to the first flow control valve;   a second flow control valve hydraulically coupled to the hydraulic accumulator;   a second hydraulic pump having an inlet hydraulically coupled to the second flow control valve and an outlet hydraulically coupled to the second flow control valve;   a second clutch mechanically coupled to the second hydraulic pump; and   a differential mechanically coupled to an output of the second clutch.   
     
     
         30 . The wheeled vehicle of  claim 29 , wherein a drive shaft mechanically couples the gearbox to the differential. 
     
     
         31 . The wheeled vehicle of  claim 29 , wherein the gearbox is coupled to the differential without a drive shaft. 
     
     
         32 . The wheeled vehicle of  claim 29  wherein the differential is mechanically coupled to a front axle of the wheeled vehicle. 
     
     
         33 . The wheeled vehicle of  claim 29 , wherein the differential is mechanically coupled to a rear axle of the wheeled vehicle. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . An automotive gearbox, comprising:
 a hydraulic accumulator hydraulically coupled to a brake energy recovery system;   a gear; and   a hydraulic clutch coupled to the gear, the hydraulic clutch including comprising:
 a drive shaft; 
 an input disc coupled to an end of the drive shaft; 
 a driven shaft; 
 an output disc coupled to an end of the driven shaft; 
 a hydraulic cylinder located inside the output disc; and 
 a hydraulic piston located inside the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic piston hydraulically adjustable between a first position, in which the hydraulic piston rotationally locks the driven shaft to the drive shaft, and a second position, in which the hydraulic piston does not rotationally lock the driven shaft to the drive shaft.