Electro-hydraulic propulsion system combined power module
A vehicle drive system, comprises a battery, a power unit in a housing, which itself comprises at least one electric motor/generator, capable of being driven as a motor by the battery or of charging the battery as a generator, at least one hydraulic motor/pump, capable of being driven by the electric motor/generator to pressurize hydraulic fluid, or of being driven by pressurized hydraulic fluid to power the motor generator as a generator, a hydraulic rail communicating the pump, a directional control valves communicating with the hydraulic rail, at least one accumulator for storing pressurized hydraulic fluid, wheel drives capable of being driven by pressurized hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic circuit connecting the directional control valves of the motor housing to the accumulator and wheel drives, and a control system for controlling the operation of the battery, power unit and wheel drives.
1. A vehicle drive system, comprising
a battery;
a main power unit in a housing, comprising:
two independent electric motor/generator, capable of being driven as a motor by the battery or of charging the battery as a generator;
at least one hydraulic motor/pump, capable of being driven by the electric motor/generator to pressurize hydraulic fluid, or of being driven by pressurized hydraulic fluid to power the motor generator as a generator;
a hydraulic rail communicating the pump; and
directional control valves communicating with the hydraulic rail;
two independent electric motor/generators, each electric motor/generator capable of being driven as a motor by the battery or of charging the battery as a generator, each electric motor/generator connected to a separate hydraulic motor/pump, the independent electric motor/generators and their connected hydraulic motor/pumps capable of acting independently;
two hydraulic motor/pumps, each coupled to a respective electric motor/generator, capable of being driven by the respective electric motor/generator to pressurize hydraulic fluid, or of being driven by pressurized hydraulic fluid to power the motor/generator as a generator;
a hydraulic rail communicating with the hydraulic motor/pumps directional control valves;
at least one accumulator for storing pressurized hydraulic fluid;
wheel drives capable of being driven by pressurized hydraulic fluid;
a hydraulic circuit connecting the directional control valves of the motor housing to the accumulator and wheel drives; and
a control system for controlling the operation of the battery, power unit and wheel drives.
2. The vehicle drive system, according to claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic rail communicates with more than one valve.
3. The vehicle drive system, according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed from an integral body, with bores for the one or more motor/generators, and at least one directional control valve located within the body.