This invention relates to hydraulic energy storage and management systems. In particular, this invention relates to a hydraulic energy management system that has a reconfigurable energy storage and release capability that adjusts to varying available energy input and power demand output requirements. The hydraulic energy management system can be resized by a hydraulic bridge circuit to permit hydraulic power units to be added or removed, both physically and operationally, to capture available energy over time, adjust to peak demand cycles, and maintain power output in the event of a failure of a portion of the system.

An agricultural vehicle having a chassis, wheels, a power unit, and a header. The header has a center section, at least one wing section extending laterally from the center section, and a wing section support. The center section is movable relative to the chassis, the wing section is movable relative to the center section, and the wing support is movable relative to the wing section. The combine has a control system that is configured to determine that the combine is configured to drive at a road-driving speed, and in response to such determination: operate a center section actuator to move the center section to a raised center section position, operate a wing section actuator to move the wing section to a raised wing section position, and operate a wing support actuator to move the wing support to a raised wing support position.

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.

Described herein is a fluid circuit device. The device incorporates at least one pressure balancing valve located between at least two fluid volumes that can be in a pressure differential arrangement wherein the at least one pressure balancing valve acts to address a pressure differential by opening a fluid volume or volumes to a third pressure equalising volume. In use, the fluid circuit device may in one embodiment be used in an energy absorbtion apparatus.

A fluid pump inlet stabilizer dampener includes a deformable diaphragm separating an enclosure into a gas chamber and a liquid chamber; and a piston coupled to the deformable diaphragm and being movable with respect to a valve housing, wherein the piston is configured to be positioned in at least first, second, and third positions, wherein in the first position a first fluid flow path from a pressurized gas inlet port to the gas chamber is open, in the second position the first fluid flow path is closed, and in the third position the first fluid flow path is closed and a second fluid flow path that activates a venturi vacuum generator is open.

Provided is a hydraulic machine. A pump pressurizes fluid using power provided by a power source. An actuator works using the pressurized fluid from the pump. A recovery part recovers energy from fluid discharged from the actuator. A first operator input device receives a desired input from an operator to select an eco-mode or a boost mode. The recovery part includes an accumulator storing hydraulic energy by receiving the fluid discharged from the actuator and an assist unit assisting the power source using the hydraulic energy stored in the accumulator. The controller controls the pump such that output power of the pump does not exceed Plmax when the eco-mode is selected or the assist unit does not assist the power source and that the output power does not exceed P2max when the boost mode is selected and the assist unit assists the power source, where Plmax < P2max.

A fail-safe actuation system comprising an actuator having first and second chambers, a working circuit with a motor/pump device configured to actuate the actuator in an operative state, and a safety circuit configured to move the actuator into the safety position in a failure state, the safety circuit having a tank that holds pressurized fluid and that, in the failure state, is automatically connected to the first chamber via a switching valve, and having a drain valve that, in the failure state, is moved into a through-flow position in order to drain fluid out of the second chamber, the safety circuit configured such that, in the operative state, an inflow into the actuator—in a manner that is decoupled from the tank—is established by the working circuit, and, in the failure state, an inflow from the tank into the first chamber—in a manner that is completely decoupled from the working circuit—is created by the safety circuit, whereby a short-circuit fluid connection is provided between the first and second chambers that, in the failure state, is through-connected in order to generate a short-circuit flow between the first and second chambers.

A closed loop, self-priming hydraulic system comprising a reciprocating, hydraulic piston pump, a high pressure loop and a low pressure loop is disclosed. The reciprocating, hydraulic piston pump comprises a first piston operating in a first piston bore and a second piston operating in a second piston bore. The high pressure loop is defined by a high pressure accumulator that is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first piston bore and an outlet of the second piston bore. The low pressure loop is defined by a low pressure accumulator that is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second piston bore and an outlet of the first piston bore. The closed-loop, self-priming hydraulic system manipulates a hydraulic fluid to convert energy from one form to another.

A closed loop, self-priming hydraulic system comprising a reciprocating, hydraulic piston pump, a high pressure loop and a low pressure loop is disclosed. The reciprocating, hydraulic piston pump comprises a first piston operating in a first piston bore and a second piston operating in a second piston bore. The high pressure loop is defined by a high pressure accumulator that is fluidly connected to an inlet of the first piston bore and an outlet of the second piston bore. The low pressure loop is defined by a low pressure accumulator that is fluidly connected to an inlet of the second piston bore and an outlet of the first piston bore. The closed-loop, self-priming hydraulic system manipulates a hydraulic fluid to convert energy from one form to another.

An annular tube (or other shape) of elastomeric cellular material comprising elastomeric closed cells having gas infused therein is supported by structures protruding from the bottom surface of a suction stabilizer's head and/or by structures within the interior volume of the annular body of the suction stabilizer, preferably with spacing between the outer diameter of the annular tube of the cellular material and the inner walls of the suction stabilizer body. The gas-infused closed cell material may thus be employed in new suction stabilizer or pulsation dampener or to retrofit existing suction stabilizers or pulsation dampeners designed for a gas-filled bladder.