초록 ▼

A hydraulic drive assists to increase the acceleration rate of a turbocharger impeller/turbine shaft assembly and provide a secondary means of driving the compressor impeller at lower engine speeds where exhaust gases alone does not generate adequate shaft speeds to create significant induction boos

A hydraulic drive assists to increase the acceleration rate of a turbocharger impeller/turbine shaft assembly and provide a secondary means of driving the compressor impeller at lower engine speeds where exhaust gases alone does not generate adequate shaft speeds to create significant induction boost. The hydraulic circuit includes a dual displacement motor, which provides high torque for acceleration yet converts to a single motor for high-speed operation. When the exhaust driven turbine function allows compressor speeds, beyond which the hydraulic system can contribute, a slip clutch allows disengagement of the hydraulic drive. The hydraulic circuit is integrated with the power steering circuit to conserve energy and supportive components such as lines and reservoir. In an alternative embodiment, there is no turbocharger and the hydraulic drive provides means of forced induction air alone.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hydraulically driven forced air induction system operative to boost inlet air pressure of a vehicle combustion system, said system comprising: a centrifugal compressor operative to compress combustion system inlet air;a first positive displacement hydraulic motor including an output drive shaft

1. A hydraulically driven forced air induction system operative to boost inlet air pressure of a vehicle combustion system, said system comprising: a centrifugal compressor operative to compress combustion system inlet air;a first positive displacement hydraulic motor including an output drive shaft drivingly engaging said centrifugal compressor through a speed increaser mechanism operative to drive said centrifugal compressor at a rotational rate exceeding the rate of said first motor output drive shaft;a second positive displacement hydraulic motor including an output drive shaft arranged to engage and drive said speed increaser mechanism to drive said centrifugal compressor at a rotational rate exceeding the rate of said second motor output drive shaft; anda hydraulic control circuit operative to change the output speed of the speed increaser mechanism to the compressor as a function of vehicle demand by restricting inlet flow to either or both of said motors and/or bypassing flow around either or both of said motors,wherein said hydraulic control circuit includes a flow control and a pressure relief mechanism operable to host a hydraulically assisted steering system positioned in series configuration downstream of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors and series or parallel restrictions associated with said forced air induction system. 2. A hydraulically driven forced air induction system operative to boost inlet air pressure of a vehicle internal combustion system, said system comprising: a centrifugal compressor disposed within a compressor housing operative to compress system inlet air; anda positive displacement hydraulic motor drivingly engaging an axle of said centrifugal compressor through a speed increaser mechanism operative to drive said centrifugal compressor at a rotational rate exceeding an instantaneous rotational rate of said positive displacement hydraulic motor,wherein said speed increaser mechanism is housed in an enclosure containing hydraulic fluid, and/or comprising a hydraulic fluid reservoir, in which the centrifugal compressor is integrated, andwherein said centrifugal compressor axle passes through a first circumferential restriction exiting said speed increaser mechanism enclosure, entering a volume which is substantially vented to atmosphere and then passing through a second circumferential restriction as it enters the compressor housing. 3. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 2, wherein said centrifugal compressor or said speed increaser have a shaft housed in an extended vertical walled enclosure which passes upward from the centrifugal compressor through the oil volume to engage said speed increaser above the level of the oil. 4. A hydraulically driven forced air induction system operative to boost inlet air pressure of a vehicle combustion system, said air induction system comprising: a centrifugal compressor operative to compress system inlet air;a plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors, each positive displacement hydraulic motor having a characteristic displacement or torque/pressure relationship to said centrifugal compressor and drivingly engage said centrifugal compressor through a speed increaser mechanism;a single hydraulic circuit operable to selectively restrict direct hydraulic fluid flow to one or more of said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors and to selectively bypass at least one of said positive displacement hydraulic motors; anda hydraulic circuit control mechanism operative to sense a vehicle operator demand and to sequentially decrement an aggregate characteristic displacement or torque/pressure relationship of said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors to said centrifugal compressor in response to an increase in operator demand. 5. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein said centrifugal compressor comprises a portion of a turbocharger system including a turbine and compressor wheel carried for rotation on a common shaft, said turbine driven by exhaust gas from said combustion system for effecting rotation of said compressor wheel to compress said system inlet air. 6. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 5, further comprising an escapement mechanism interconnecting said positive displacement hydraulic motors to said centrifugal compressor, and to enable the turbine to turn the centrifugal compressor at a rotational rate higher than provided by combination of said positive displacement motors and said speed increaser mechanism. 7. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein said single hydraulic circuit includes a flow control and a pressure relief mechanism operable to host a hydraulically assisted steering system positioned in series configuration downstream of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors and series or parallel restrictions associated with said forced air induction system. 8. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, further comprising an hydraulic system fluid reservoir, wherein said speed increaser mechanism is housed in a cavity formed by a portion of said hydraulic system reservoir. 9. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 8, wherein a portion of said speed increaser mechanism is disposed above an operating fluid level in said hydraulic system fluid reservoir. 10. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein said centrifugal compressor is drivingly engaged by an exhaust driven turbocharger. 11. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors is of gerotor or epicycloidal construction. 12. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein said speed increaser mechanism comprises either a two stage helical gear mechanism or a reverse worm drive. 13. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors has an output including drive gears engaging a common gear associated with the speed increaser mechanism. 14. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, further comprising an overriding clutch interconnecting at least one of said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors with said speed increaser mechanism. 15. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, further comprising a vehicle operator control system including a control module configured to receive discrete input signals from at least one of a host vehicle throttle position sensor, a host vehicle clutch position sensor and a host vehicle brake pedal position sensor, said vehicle operator control system operative to change an operational state of said centrifugal compressor in response to a signal from the host vehicle clutch position sensor and/or the host vehicle brake pedal position sensor, and in advance of an anticipated host vehicle throttle actuation. 16. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 15, wherein said vehicle operator control system further comprises a vehicle performance mode select switch operable to establish a “sport mode” of control wherein said vehicle operator control system is operative to alter an operational state of said centrifugal compressor solely in response a host vehicle throttle actuation, and an “economy mode” of control wherein said vehicle operator control system is operative to alter an operational state of said centrifugal compressor in response to a signal from the host vehicle clutch position sensor and/or the host vehicle brake pedal position sensor. 17. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors comprise a first positive displacement hydraulic motor having a first characteristic displacement and a second positive displacement hydraulic motor having a second characteristic displacement, and wherein said hydraulic circuit control mechanism is operative to restrict fluid flow to only one of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors. 18. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 17, wherein one of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors has a characteristic displacement 1.5 to 2.5 times the characteristic displacement of the other of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors, and the hydraulic control mechanism is operative to direct fluid flow to both of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors initially upon start-up, and to restrict fluid flow to one of the said first and second fixed hydraulic motors as speed increases. 19. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 17, wherein one of the first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors has a characteristic displacement 1.5 to 2.5 times the characteristic displacement of the other of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors, and the hydraulic circuit control mechanism is operative to initially direct fluid flow to both of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors upon sensing said vehicle operator demand, and subsequently to limit fluid flow to the smaller positive displacement hydraulic motor at steady state. 20. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 17, wherein said first characteristic displacement of said first positive displacement hydraulic motor is equal to or less than said second characteristic displacement of said second positive displacement hydraulic motor, and wherein said hydraulic circuit control mechanism is operative to restrict fluid flow to only said first positive displacement hydraulic motor. 21. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 20, wherein said first characteristic displacement of said first positive displacement hydraulic motor is less than 70% of said second characteristic displacement of said second positive displacement hydraulic motor. 22. The hydraulically driven forced air induction system of claim 4, further comprising: a portion of a turbocharger system including a turbine and compressor wheel carried for rotation on a common shaft, said turbine driven by exhaust gas from said combustion system for effecting rotation of said compressor wheel to compress said system inlet air; andan escapement mechanism interconnecting said speed increaser mechanism to said compressor wheel, said escapement mechanism operative to allow said turbine to turn said compressor wheel at a rotational rate higher than provided by combination of said motors and speed increaser mechanism,wherein hydraulic fluid flow to said plurality of positive displacement hydraulic motors and said single hydraulic circuit comprise an upper hydraulic load in a series circuit arrangement driven by a single hydraulic pump in which a host vehicle power steering system comprises a lower hydraulic load of said circuit,wherein said air induction system further comprises a hydraulic system reservoir, wherein said speed increaser mechanism is disposed in a cavity formed by a portion of the hydraulic system reservoir,wherein a portion of the speed increaser mechanism is packaged above the operating fluid level in the hydraulic system reservoir,wherein the shaft comprising the output of the speed increaser and axle for the centrifugal compressor passes through a circumferential restriction leaving the reservoir and another circumferential restriction entering the compressor enclosure with a region open to or substantially vented to atmosphere in between,wherein the hydraulic control circuit includes a mechanism which restricts the flow to only one of the two positive displacement motors,wherein the displacement of the restricted motor is equal to or less than that of said other said motor,wherein the displacement of the restricted motor is less than 70% of that of the unrestricted motor, andwherein one of said two fixed hydraulic motors has a displacement 1.5 to 2.5 times the displacement of the smaller and the hydraulic circuit control mechanism directs flow to both motors initially upon start-up, and as speed of the output becomes limited by flow availability, flow is restricted to one of the two motors.