IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,331,761
Granted Patent B2
US 12,331,761 · App. 17/503,428 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Recycling secondary reservoir

Inventors: Brett D. McClain (Hudson, IA); Benjamin E. Shores (Cedar Falls, IA); Marcus L. Kuhl (Cedar Falls, IA)
Assignee: Deere & Company
F15B1/26F15B21/041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,331,761
App. No.
17/503,428
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A recycling secondary reservoir of a hydraulic system is charged with clean fluid from a primary hydraulic circuit. The secondary reservoir maintains clean fluid for use by a backup pump to cycle a hydraulic device. The secondary reservoir recaptures fluid used by the backup pump to maintain clean fluid that can be reused an indefinite number of times.

Claims (34)

1. A system, comprising:

a primary hydraulic system having a primary pump and a primary reservoir; and

a secondary hydraulic system having:

a secondary reservoir that retains a hydraulic fluid received from the primary hydraulic system; and

a secondary pump that operates a hydraulic device using the hydraulic fluid from the secondary reservoir,

wherein the hydraulic fluid returns to the secondary reservoir after the hydraulic device is operated via the secondary hydraulic system,

wherein the hydraulic fluid maintained by the secondary reservoir, once charged by the primary hydraulic system, is isolated from the primary hydraulic system, and

wherein the primary hydraulic system operates the hydraulic device while charging the secondary reservoir.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the primary system includes a filter and the hydraulic fluid received at the secondary reservoir has been cleaned by the filter.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the secondary reservoir retains clean hydraulic fluid to operate the hydraulic device and recaptures the clean hydraulic fluid after the hydraulic device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic device is a hydraulic park device of a vehicle.

5. A method, comprising:

supplying a secondary reservoir with a hydraulic fluid from a primary reservoir;

utilizing the hydraulic fluid from the secondary reservoir to cycle a hydraulic device;

recapturing the hydraulic fluid at the secondary reservoir after cycling the hydraulic device; and

operating the hydraulic device from the primary reservoir when a primary power source is available,

wherein the hydraulic fluid is isolated from the primary reservoir once the secondary reservoir is supplied.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic fluid from the primary reservoir is cleaned by a filter of the primary before being received by the secondary reservoir.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hydraulic device is a hydraulic parking device of a vehicle.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising utilizing the hydraulic fluid from the secondary reservoir for a plurality of cycles of the hydraulic device.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising preventing the hydraulic fluid from the secondary reservoir from being utilized for uses other than to cycle the hydraulic device after an initial charge.

10. A hydraulic system for a vehicle, comprising:

a primary circuit that includes:

a primary pump;

a primary reservoir; and

a filter;

a secondary circuit that includes:

a secondary reservoir; and

a secondary pump; and

a hydraulic device operatively coupled to the primary circuit and the secondary circuit,

wherein the secondary reservoir is charged with hydraulic fluid from the primary reservoir of the primary circuit,

wherein the secondary circuit is utilized to operate the hydraulic device, and wherein, when the secondary reservoir is charged, the hydraulic fluid in the secondary reservoir is isolated from the primary circuit.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a primary power source, wherein the secondary circuit is utilized to operate the hydraulic device when the primary power source is unavailable.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the hydraulic fluid is cleaned by the filter of the primary circuit before being received by the secondary reservoir.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: MCCLAIN, BRETT D.; SHORES, BENJAMIN E.; KUHL, MARCUS L.
To: DEERE & COMPANY
Reel/Frame 057989/0474 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230118512A1 · Apr 20, 2023
References Cited (8)
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Machine Translation of DE-112011105277-T5 Apr. 2014 Merged with the Original Reference. [cited by examiner]
German Search Report dated Jun. 7, 2023 for Application Serial No. 102022208470.5 (10 pages). [cited by applicant]