Systems, methods, and apparatuses for operating a machine using energy stored in a compress gas are disclosed. Energy stored in the compressed gas may be used to pressurize a fluid, such as transmission fluid, and the pressurized fluid may be used to effectuate an operation of the machine, such as a transmission, and the operation of the machine may involve shifting of a transmission. The gas may be compressed with another fluid that is different from the fluid used to operate the machine, and the two fluid may be prevented from being mixed together.

A system for a vehicle is disclosed. The system may include an accumulator, a pump, and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to braking of the vehicle, close a line pressure regulator to isolate the accumulator and pump from a transmission pressure line demand, and operate the pump to charge the accumulator without satisfying any of the demand, and responsive to a tip-in event, open the line pressure regulator and operate the accumulator and pump to satisfy the demand.

A vehicle drive device includes a control portion that is allowed to execute a control mode that controls multiple hydraulic elements to cause a vehicle in a stop state of an engine to start moving. The control mode starts controlling part of the multiple hydraulic elements before the engine is started, by using oil pressure accumulated in an accumulator (S8). The control mode starts controlling the rest of the multiple hydraulic elements by using oil pressure that is provided after the engine is started (S16).

A control apparatus for a vehicle that including a drive-force transmitting apparatus and a hydraulic control unit. The drive-force transmitting apparatus defines a drive-force transmitting path through which a drive force is to be transmitted by a continuously-variable transmission mechanism when the drive-force transmitting path is established by engagement of an engagement device. An electromagnetic valve of the hydraulic control unit regulates a hydraulic pressure supplied to the electromagnetic valve via a hydraulic passage, such that the regulated hydraulic pressure is supplied toward the engagement device. An accumulator of the hydraulic control unit is connected to the hydraulic passage, so as to store the hydraulic pressure that flows through the hydraulic passage. The control apparatus calculates, based on a storage state of the hydraulic pressure in the accumulator, an input torque inputted to the continuously-variable transmission mechanism when the engagement device is in a releasing process state.

A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission has clutches, a circuit configured to transport fluid to the clutches, a pump configured to circulate the fluid through the circuit, and an accumulator disposed along the circuit. The controller is programmed to, responsive to an engine start and a fluid temperature being less than a temperature threshold, discharge the accumulator to prime the pump.

A transmission includes an accumulator to hold one of more shift elements in an engaged state while an engine is off. The transmission also includes a hydraulic park system that disengages park in response to engagement of two shift elements. In some circumstance, draining the accumulator in an uncontrolled manner in the presence of a failed valve may lead to unintentionally disengaging park. To avoid this, the accumulator is discharged in a controlled manner. Fluid is first transferred from the accumulator to a shift element apply chamber. Then, the fluid is vented from the shift element apply chamber.

A transmission assembly including a clutch system, an accumulator, and a controller is provided. The clutch system may include a flow source. The accumulator may be selectively in communication with the flow source via a solenoid valve. The controller may be programmed to, responsive to detection of a vehicle stop and the accumulator charged below a predetermined threshold, output a command to open the solenoid valve to rapidly charge the accumulator from the flow source. The predetermined threshold may be an accumulator pressure between 700 kPa and 900 kPa. The controller may be further programmed to, responsive to detection of the accumulator being charged to or above the predetermined threshold, output a shut down command to an engine in communication with the transmission assembly and to output a close command to the solenoid valve. The flow source may be a pump out circuit or a line pressure circuit.

A hydraulic control unit that delivers hydraulic fluid to a limited slip differential includes a hydraulic control unit housing, a motor and a pump. The hydraulic control unit housing has a manifold housing portion and an accumulator housing portion. The manifold housing portion defines a fluid pathway arrangement for communicating fluid along at least a first fluid pathway. The accumulator housing portion houses an accumulator assembly having a biasing assembly and a piston. The accumulator housing portion and manifold housing portion cooperate to form an accumulator chamber that houses the biasing assembly. The motor is disposed on the first side of the manifold housing portion. The pump is disposed on a second side of the manifold portion, opposite the first side. The pump is configured to pump fluid into the accumulator chamber of the accumulator housing portion.

A hydraulic control unit of a vehicle drive system including an automatic transmission, and an oil pump device, includes: a first electromagnetic valve; a second electromagnetic valve; first and second oil passages; a third oil passage; a manual valve operated to connect and disconnect the first and third oil passages and a drain oil passage to and from each other, in response to an operation of a manually operated shifting device by a vehicle operator, such that the first oil passage is connected to the third oil passage when the shifting device is placed in a first operating position, while the first oil passage is connected to the drain oil passage when the shifting device is placed in a second operating position; an accumulator connected to the first oil passage; and a check valve provided in the second oil passage.

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a functional state of a pressure-driven actuator which comprises an actuator compartment defined at least in portions by a flexibly deformable wall, the actuator being actuated by applying pressure to the actuator compartment by means of an operating pressure supply, a work process being carried out to actuate the actuator, which process is accompanied by the actuator transitioning from a starting configuration to an end configuration. The pressure the pressure applied to the actuator compartment is measured depending on time by means of a sensor apparatus during the transition from the starting configuration to the end configuration. The invention also relates to a pressure-driven actuator.