An energy storage arrangement includes a shaft for transmitting torque, a housing, an actuator configured to be axially moved, a freewheel disposed between the shaft and actuator and fastened to the shaft, the freewheel being configured to transmit no torque in one rotational direction, an energy store configured to store torque, a support element, an outer coupling between the housing and the support element, and an inner coupling between the support element and the shaft.

A transmission for an energy storage and recovery system is disclosed. A variable slip transmission and a clutch arranged to transmit drive while slipping. The level of torque transmitted through the slipping clutch is dependent on the clutch force but is independent of the clutch slip speed. Preferably the clutch is provided by a plurality of clutches connected in parallel in a range extender. When drive is transferred between clutches in parallel, the clutch forces of both clutches are controlled to maintain the total torque transmitted by the clutches. This reduces torque fluctuations at the energy source/sink during clutch transfer. Where there are two slipping clutches in series, one clutch is controlled to provide the required torque and the other clutch is controlled in response to a clutch slip speed. This helps to control the speed of rotation of the mass between the clutches.

Some implementations can include a supplemental regenerative braking system comprising a power take-off section to receive mechanical energy, and an electric clutch to engage the power take-off section and transfer mechanical energy from the power take-off section to an output of the electric clutch. The system can also include a roller stop assembly coupled to the output of the electric clutch and constructed to transfer mechanical energy from the output of the electric clutch, and a generator coupled to the roller stop assembly. The system can further include a flywheel coupled to the generator.

An energy storage and transmission system (ESRS) (69) comprises a transmission (9, 11) and an energy storage device such as a flywheel (1). While energy is being transferred between the energy storage device (1) and an energy source/sink (7), the transmission ratio of the transmission (9, 11) will usually be changing constantly. In order to manage the torque applied by the energy transfer device (1) or the power transferred, a controller (100) responds to discrepancy between the torque or power supplied and the torque or power demanded.

An energy storage and transmission system (ESRS) (69) comprises a transmission (9, 11) and an energy storage device such as a flywheel (1). While energy is being transferred between the energy storage device (1) and an energy source/sink (7), the transmission ratio of the transmission (9, 11) will usually be changing constantly. In order to manage the torque applied by the energy transfer device (1) or the power transferred, a controller (100) responds to discrepancy between the torque or power supplied and the torque or power demanded.

A dual-clutch seven speed transmission arrangement comprises a dual-clutch gearbox, a drive machine and a transfer transmission. The dual clutch gearbox comprises first and second input shafts provided with first and second input clutches. The first input shaft is provided with at least first and second gearwheels, which are arranged to host three even and one reverse drive gear, and the second input shaft is arranged to host four odd drive gears. Furthermore, the first input shaft is a hollow shaft enclosing the second input shaft. The drive machine is a flywheel and the transfer transmission meshes with the first gearwheel that also hosts a fourth drive gear of the dual clutch gearbox.

A hybrid vehicle powertrain with a flywheel-based short-term energy storage system (SESS), including control and design optimization for a hybrid electric vehicle with the flywheel as a third energy storage system. The powertrain comprises three different propulsion systems including: an internal combustion engine (ICE); an electric motor (EM) with battery; and a flywheel and continuously variable transmission (CVT) that comprise the SESS.

A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a transmission, at least one driving wheel rotationally connected to the transmission, and a coupling arrangement arranged between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, and controllable between a first state in which a drive shaft of the engine is rotationally connected to the transmission and a second state in which the drive shaft of the engine is rotationally disconnected from the transmission. The vehicle further comprises an energy recovery device connected to the coupling arrangement via a flexible driving member for allowing recovery and storage of energy recovered from deceleration of the at least one driving wheel. The vehicle may further comprise a sensor for sensing a parameter value indicative of desired deceleration, and a control unit for controlling the coupling arrangement to the second state when the sensed parameter value indicates desired deceleration of the hybrid vehicle.

The present invention provides a system and method for economically using compressed air as automobile power source, comprising: a compressed air power device, which includes automobile air storage tubes (1) to store a sufficient amount of high-pressure compressed air and a cylinder-combined engine consisting of the first and second cylinders (9)(10), and which can make full use of the compressed air to produce driving power; a mechanism to produce, store and provide high-pressure compressed air, which includes a boiler-type high-pressure compressed air producing and storing device, abbreviated as boiler-type HCAPS device (4), to be able to use electricity during periods of low energy demand (off-peak) such as at night simultaneously recovering the by-produced heat for central heating, and pressurizing and inflating into the automobile air storage tubes (1) during daytimes; brake energy recovery and regeneration devices, which include a spring reserving-releasing device and/or a compressed air reserving-releasing device to save the compressed air in the automobile air storage tubes (1) for saving the driving power; an inner gear ring assembly, which includes an inner gear ring (2) gearing meshing with inner acting gears (45), with the first and second accelerating gears (72)(92), with a flywheel front inner meshing gear (48) and reset gears (46), for transmitting torque and mixing/outputting power; some clutch transmission devices and a controller, which controls orderly coordinated operation of devices and mechanisms.

The present invention provides a system and method for economically using compressed air as automobile power source, comprising: a compressed air power device, which includes automobile air storage tubes (1) to store a sufficient amount of high-pressure compressed air and a cylinder-combined engine consisting of the first and second cylinders (9)(10), and which can make full use of the compressed air to produce driving power; a mechanism to produce, store and provide high-pressure compressed air, which includes a boiler-type high-pressure compressed air producing and storing device, abbreviated as boiler-type HCAPS device (4), to be able to use electricity during periods of low energy demand (off-peak) such as at night simultaneously recovering the by-produced heat for central heating, and pressurizing and inflating into the automobile air storage tubes (1) during daytimes; brake energy recovery and regeneration devices, which include a spring reserving-releasing device and/or a compressed air reserving-releasing device to save the compressed air in the automobile air storage tubes (1) for saving the driving power; an inner gear ring assembly, which includes an inner gear ring (2) gearing meshing with inner acting gears (45), with the first and second accelerating gears (72)(92), with a flywheel front inner meshing gear (48) and reset gears (46), for transmitting torque and mixing/outputting power; some clutch transmission devices and a controller, which controls orderly coordinated operation of devices and mechanisms.