A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.

A carrier for a motor subassembly of a hydraulic motor is provided that enables multiple components of the motor subassembly to be temporarily bundled into a compact and easy-to-transport motor subassembly kit. The carrier is a non-hydraulically-functioning member that is configured to have one or more features that mimic a corresponding one or more features of a hydraulically-functioning motor housing to which motor subassembly is intended to be coupled for forming the hydraulic motor. The carrier may have a body with a recessed portion that is configured to receive and/or enclose one or more components of the motor subassembly, and which may cooperate with the one or more motor subassembly components to temporarily secure and bundle the motor subassembly as a compact kit, thereby facilitating transportation and handling of the subassembly components.

At least one pressure exchange unit with a hollow cylindrical body, a piston sliding in the body, the piston including a piston head separating the interior of the cylindrical body into a downstream chamber and an upstream chamber, the downstream chamber being provided with a device for the admission and discharge of water to be treated, the upstream chamber being provided with a five-way distributor linkage including, for hydraulic balancing, two pressurized liquid supply orifices, two orifices for the evacuation of the liquid and an opening in communication with the upstream chamber.

A renewable energy and waste heat harvesting system is disclosed. The system includes an accumulator unit having a high pressure accumulator and a low pressure accumulator. At least one piston is mounted for reciprocation in the high pressure accumulator. The accumulator unit is configured to receive, store, and transfer energy from the hydraulic fluid to the energy storage media. The system collects energy from a renewable energy source and transfers the collected energy using the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The system further includes one or more rotational directional control valves, in which at least one rotational directional control valve is positioned on each side of the accumulator unit. Each rotational directional control valve includes multiple ports. The system also includes one or more variable displacement hydraulic rotational units. At least one variable displacement hydraulic rotational unit is positioned adjacent each of the rotational directional control valves.

A renewable energy and waste heat harvesting system is disclosed. The system includes an accumulator unit having a high pressure accumulator and a low pressure accumulator. At least one piston is mounted for reciprocation in the high pressure accumulator. The accumulator unit is configured to receive, store, and transfer energy from the hydraulic fluid to the energy storage media. The system collects energy from a renewable energy source and transfers the collected energy using the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The system further includes one or more rotational directional control valves, in which at least one rotational directional control valve is positioned on each side of the accumulator unit. Each rotational directional control valve includes multiple ports. The system also includes one or more variable displacement hydraulic rotational units. At least one variable displacement hydraulic rotational unit is positioned adjacent each of the rotational directional control valves.

A device having a hybrid hydraulic-electric architecture includes a hydraulic pump/motor having first and second ports, and an electric motor. The device is configured to connect to two or more pressure rails, each pressure rail containing hydraulic fluid at a different pressure than the other pressure rails. A flow of hydraulic fluid from one of the pressure rails is driven through the hydraulic pump/motor, and a pressure difference exists between the first and second ports. The electric motor is configured to control a flow rate of the flow of hydraulic fluid and/or the pressure difference.

A carrier for a motor subassembly of a hydraulic motor is provided that enables multiple components of the motor subassembly to be temporarily bundled into a compact and easy-to-transport motor subassembly kit. The carrier is a non-hydraulically-functioning member that is configured to have one or more features that mimic a corresponding one or more features of a hydraulically-functioning motor housing to which motor subassembly is intended to be coupled for forming the hydraulic motor. The carrier may have a body with a recessed portion that is configured to receive and/or enclose one or more components of the motor subassembly, and which may cooperate with the one or more motor subassembly components to temporarily secure and bundle the motor subassembly as a compact kit, thereby facilitating transportation and handling of the subassembly components.

A piston assembly for a transmission includes a piston and a washer connected to the piston. In one embodiment, the washer includes a circumferential ring that extends continuously about an inner diameter, wherein a cavity is defined between the piston and the washer. A bearing element is retained and centered on the washer by the circumferential ring.

A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.

A linear energy harvesting device that includes a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when it is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor drives an electric generator that produces electricity. Both the motor and generator are central to the device housing. Exemplary configurations are disclosed such as monotube, twin-tube, tri-tube and rotary based designs that each incorporates an integrated energy harvesting apparatus. By varying the electrical characteristics on an internal generator, the kinematic characteristics of the energy harvesting apparatus can be dynamically altered. In another mode, the apparatus can be used as an actuator to create linear movement. Applications include vehicle suspension systems (to act as the primary damper component), railcar bogie dampers, or industrial applications such as machinery dampers and wave energy harvesters, and electro-hydraulic actuators.