Patent ID: 7856816

Claim:
A hydraulic system for storing and releasing hydraulic fluid comprising: a high pressure storage device; a low pressure storage device; a pump for converting between mechanical energy and hydraulic energy, the pump fluidly connected to the high pressure storage device and the low pressure storage device; a motor for converting between hydraulic energy and mechanical energy, the motor fluidly connected to the high pressure storage device and the low pressure storage device; a first selectively rotating shaft associated with mechanical energy and operably connected to the motor, a second selectively rotating shaft associated with mechanical energy; and a clutch for selectively connecting the second shaft to the pump, the clutch is operable to decouple the second selectively rotating shaft from the pump when the control valve is adjusted to fluidly connect the high pressure storage device to the motor; and a control valve having a first port fluidly connected to the high pressure storage device, a second port fluidly connected to the pump, and a third port fluidly connected to the motor, the control valve operable for selectively distributing high pressure fluid between the pump, motor and high pressure storage device.