Patent ID: 8161741
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: F02C,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for optimizing the efficiency of hydraulic actuation systems and suitable for use in the conservation of energy resources, the apparatus comprising: a working actuator having a working cylinder and a working piston disposed for reciprocating movement in the working cylinder, the working piston defining at least in part between a first side thereof and the working cylinder a working chamber having an effective working piston surface area upon which the application of a working pressure of working fluid in the working chamber produces a working force on the first side of the working piston acting in a first direction; a pressure vessel having an interior region fluidically coupled to the working actuator and defining in part therewith the working chamber, movement of the working piston in a second direction, opposite the first direction, causing a reduction in the volume of the working chamber and compression of a gas contained in the working chamber or movement of the working piston in the first direction causing an increase in the volume of the working chamber and expansion of a gas contained in the working chamber; a hydraulic actuator coupled to the working piston, the hydraulic actuator including a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic piston disposed for reciprocating movement in the hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic piston dividing the hydraulic cylinder into, and defining therewith, a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber, the first hydraulic chamber having a first hydraulic fluid port and having a first effective hydraulic piston surface area upon which the application of a hydraulic pressure of hydraulic fluid in the first hydraulic chamber produces a first hydraulic force on the hydraulic piston acting in the second direction, the second hydraulic chamber having a second hydraulic fluid port and having a second effective hydraulic piston surface area upon which the application of the hydraulic pressure of hydraulic fluid in the second hydraulic chamber produces a second hydraulic force on the hydraulic piston acting in the first direction, the second effective hydraulic piston area being less than the first effective hydraulic piston area and the second hydraulic force being less than the first hydraulic force; and a hydraulic controller fluidically coupleable to the first hydraulic fluid port, the second hydraulic fluid port, and to pressurized hydraulic fluid, the hydraulic controller operable in a first operating state in which the pressurized hydraulic fluid is fluidically coupled to the first hydraulic fluid port but not the second hydraulic fluid port, a second operating state in which the pressurized hydraulic fluid is fluidically coupled to the second hydraulic fluid port but not the first hydraulic fluid port, a third operating state in which the pressurized hydraulic fluid is fluidically coupled both to the first hydraulic fluid port and the second hydraulic fluid port, and a fourth operating state in which the pressurized hydraulic fluid is fluidically isolated from the first hydraulic port and the second hydraulic port, the hydraulic controller being operable with pressurized hydraulic fluid having the hydraulic pressure to cause the hydraulic actuator to produce a selected hydraulic actuator force on the working piston: a) in the first operating state the hydraulic actuator force acting in the second direction and being approximately equal to the first hydraulic force, b) in the second operating state the hydraulic actuator force acting in the first direction and being approximately equal to the second hydraulic force, and c) in the third operating state the hydraulic actuator force acting in the second direction and being approximately equal to the difference between the first hydraulic force and the second hydraulic force, whereby operation of the hydraulic controller to produce a hydraulic actuator force in the second direction that is greater than the working force results in the working piston and the hydraulic piston moving in the second direction and operation of the hydraulic controller to produce a hydraulic actuator force in the second direction that is less than the working force results in the working piston and the hydraulic piston moving in the first direction.