An excavator has a unitary fluids tank formed from moldable cross linked high density polyethylene. The fluids tank has a compartment for hydraulic fluid and a compartment for power unit fuel. The compartments are separated by a coextensive integral wall providing an insulating barrier are formed from a polyethylene foam providing an insulating barrier between the compartments.

A cover system includes a cover, two bail arms, and a fluid circuit. Each bail arm is mounted on a gliding assembly. Each gliding assembly includes a gliding body slidably supported on a vehicle frame, and a cylinder connected to the gliding body and defining first and second ends. The fluid circuit is configured to supply fluid to the first end of the first cylinder and the second end of the second cylinder. A fluid line connects the second end of the first cylinder to the first end of the second cylinder and is configured to direct the fluid between the cylinders such that a flow of the fluid to the first cylinder causes movement of the cylinders, gliding bodies, and bail arms in a first direction, and a flow to the second cylinder causes movement of the cylinders, gliding bodies, and bail arms in a second opposite direction.

A hybrid drive system for an auxiliary load includes a hydraulic auxiliary power storage. This hydraulic auxiliary power storage has a plurality of hydraulic power storage units. The hybrid drive system further comprises an power exchange control system that selectively connects a predetermined selection of one or more of the hydraulic power storage units to the hydraulic auxiliary power unit; and controls the power exchange of the auxiliary power unit as a function of the operating period by the predetermined selection.

A hydraulic circuit designed for a hybrid vehicle provided with a hydraulic machine (22) and a pump (20) linked to a transmission (4) driving the wheels of the vehicle, said machine and said pump being linked together in order to allow direct exchanges of fluid that take place in a very high pressure circuit (42) not comprising a pressure accumulator, characterized in that the very high pressure circuit (42) comprises safety means (110) which, in case of overpressure, discharge the fluid to a limited pressure circuit (40) provided with a pressure accumulator (46).

A cover system includes a flexible cover, a pair of bail arms connected to one end of said flexible cover, and a corresponding pivot mechanism for pivotably supporting each bail arm. Each pivot mechanism is mounted on a corresponding gliding assembly, and each gliding assembly includes a pair of oppositely disposed rails fixedly mounted to the frame of the vehicle, a gliding body slidably supported on the pair of rails, and a cylinder supporting the gliding body and slidably supported on a rod assembly. The rod assembly includes a pair of collinearly disposed rods, coupled together by a piston element, the piston element defining opposite fluid paths for a pressurizing fluid conveyed under pressure to the cylinder. A fluid circuit is configured to selectively supply pressurized fluid to each cylinder through the pair of rods to move the cylinder, and therefore the gliding body and bails arms supported thereon, in one of two opposite directions along the length of the vehicle frame.

A system for the recovery of kinetic energy, such as the energy from a rotating wheel of a vehicle, comprises a first electric motor/generator rotationally connected to at least one kinetic energy input; a battery; an electric/hydraulic regen system comprising a second electric motor/generator; and an electrical drive regen controller. The controller is configured to proportion electrical energy, generated from rotation of the first electric motor/generator, between the battery and the second electric motor/generator, based in part on the rate of charging capability of the battery. In this way, energy that would normally be lost as dissipated heat is directed to an electric/hydraulic regen system and stored. A method for the recovery of kinetic energy, utilizing such a system comprising: rotating a first electric motor/generator via one or more kinetic energy input to generate an electric current; transmitting the electric current to an electrical drive regen controller; and splitting the electric current between a battery and a second electric motor/generator via the electrical drive regen controller.

A hydraulic module designed to be mounted on a hydraulic hybrid vehicle, characterised in that it forms a rigid and compact assembly comprising a body (32) receiving the high- and low-pressure accumulators intended to supply traction motors of the vehicle, comprising a generally parallelepipedal shape, and having attachment means designed to be fixed under a floor at the rear of the vehicle.