The field to which the disclosure generally relates to includes combined heat storage and pressure storage accumulators.
Vehicles may include devices such as, but not limited to, transmissions and/or engines which utilize hydraulic fluids.
A number of variations include an accumulator constructed and arranged to store pressurized hydraulic fluid and a thermal containment device surrounding at least a portion of the accumulator constructed and arranged to reduce the loss of heat from hydraulic fluid stored in the accumulator.
Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosing variations within the scope of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Select examples of variations within the scope of the invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses.
Referring now to
Referring now to
A vehicle is typically started after a long period of time which may be several hours or even overnight wherein the engine has not been running and the transmission oil in the vehicle is close to the ambient temperature. Time is required to heat a typical transmission fluid (oil) during operation. The viscosity of the transmission fluid is directly related to its temperature. As the temperature of the transmission fluid increases the viscosity decreases resulting in an increase in the transmission efficiency.
Referring now to
The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.
Variation 1 may include a product comprising: an accumulator having an outer housing carrying an accumulator mechanism, and a thermal containment device comprising an outer shell spaced away from the housing of the accumulator.
Variation 2 may include a product as set forth in Variation 1 wherein an insulating space may be defined between the outer shell and the housing.
Variation 3 may include a product as set forth in Variation 2 wherein the insulating space is under vacuum.
Variation 4 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 2-3 further comprising an insulating gas in the insulating space.
Variation 5 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 2-4 further comprising an insulating liquid in the insulating space.
Variation 6 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 2-5 further comprising an insulating material foam or solid particles in the insulating space.
Variation 7 may include a product as set forth in any of Variations 2-6 further comprising an insulating material including at least one a solid structure in the insulating space.
Variation 8 may include a product as set forth in Variation 7 wherein the at least one a solid structure comprises a plurality of fibers bound together.
Variation 9 may include a product as set forth in Variation 7 wherein the at least one a solid structure comprises carbon dust.
Variation 10 may include a product comprising an accumulator constructed and arranged to store pressurized hydraulic fluid and a thermal containment device surrounding at least a portion of the accumulator constructed and arranged to reduce the loss of heat from hydraulic fluid stored in the accumulator
Variation 11 may include a method comprising: a vehicle, a vehicle component, hydraulic fluid, and an accumulator constructed and arranged to store pressurized hydraulic fluid and having a thermal containment device surrounding a portion of the accumulator; operating the vehicle so that the vehicle component warms the hydraulic fluid; and pumping warm hydraulic fluid into the accumulator and storing at least a portion of the warm hydraulic fluid in the accumulator in a pressurized and warm state; shutting down the vehicle; thereafter starting the vehicle, and releasing warm hydraulic fluid from the accumulator into the vehicle component.
Variation 12 may include a product as set forth in Variation 11 wherein the vehicle component is a transmission.
Variation 13 may include a product as set forth in Variation 11 wherein the vehicle component is a combustion engine. The above description of select variations within the scope of the invention is merely illustrative in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/030,327 filed Jul. 29, 2014.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2015/040679 | 7/16/2015 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62030327 | Jul 2014 | US |