A gear system for achieving an infinitely variable transmission comprising an input shaft for receiving rotational input into the transmission system and output shaft for delivering rotational output from the transmission system, a flywheel component for applying resistive forces of inertia into the transmission wherein the flywheel stores and stabilizes rotational energy in the transmission system, a high gear reduction mechanism achieved by assembly of one or more epicyclic gears wherein the flywheel accelerates with increasing difference of angular velocity between the input shaft and the output shaft, wherein the high gear reduction mechanism is based on the equation. (a)Z=(n+a)R(n)X, where Z is angular velocity of flywheel, X is angular velocity of input shaft and R is angular velocity of output shaft, n & a are integer constants where a<<n or a<n. The gear ratios vary from 0 to 1, wherein another gear can be meshed with the output shaft to achieve overdrive gear ratios.

A vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a wheel propulsion shaft, wheels and a kinetic energy recovery system configured to recover and store kinetic energy of the vehicle, and restore the stored energy by propelling the wheel propulsion shaft and/or by cranking the internal combustion engine. To reduce the emissions of the vehicle, a method for operating the vehicle comprises, when the vehicle operates: when the vehicle is not stationary, recovering and storing kinetic energy of the vehicle in the KERS, when the vehicle is stationary, measuring an energy level stored in the KERS and comparing the measured energy level to a predetermined high threshold value, so that the method comprises, if the energy level stored in the KERS is above the predetermined high threshold value: stopping the internal combustion engine, then when the vehicle start is required, propelling the wheel propulsion shaft exclusively by the KERS.

A kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) tier a machine having a swing motor and/or an actuator includes a hydraulic motor/pump that can output pressurized fluid for operating at least one of: the swing motor and the actuator. A first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump can be rotated by fluid returning from at least one of: the swing motor and the actuator back to the hydraulic motor/pump. Further, the KERS also includes a flywheel that can selectively couple with the first shaft with the help of a first clutch. The flywheel stores drive power generated by the hydraulic motor/pump from the return flow of fluid when the first clutch couples the flywheel with the first shaft of the hydraulic motor/pump. A gearing arrangement is coupled to the flywheel and can selectively engage with a second shaft associated with a prime mover of the machine with the help of a second clutch.

A planetary transmission for transmitting drive power to a work machine, comprising a plurality of planetary gearwheels, a plurality of planetary shafts and at least one planetary carrier, the planetary gearwheels being arranged in each case rotatably on one of the planetary shafts, and the planetary shafts being fastened in each case to the planetary carrier, characterized in that the planetary carrier is configured for a releasable connection to a work machine shaft.

An exemplary energy storage device is an energy storage device capable of storing energy, which includes a flywheel driven by a motor to store and release rotation energy and a hydraulic element disposed between the motor and the flywheel to change the rotation speed of the flywheel.

Assembly (1) comprising at least one vehicle wheel (2), adapted to rotate about a vehicle wheel axis (X2) and adapted to perform an at least rolling movement on a travel surface for the vehicle; at least one flywheel (4), adapted to rotate about a flywheel axis (X4) which can be operatively connected to said at least one vehicle wheel (2), in such way the vehicle wheel (2) can transmit kinetic energy to the flywheel (4); at least one kinetic energy recovery device (10), operatively associated with said flywheel (4) and adapted to store the kinetic energy transmitted to said at flywheel (4), to make it available for subsequent uses; at least one clutch (8), adapted to connect and disconnect selectively and operatively said vehicle wheel (2) and said flywheel (4), in order to uncouple said flywheel (4) from said vehicle wheel (2), to allow said flywheel (4) to rotate due to inertia when the vehicle wheel (2) is stopped, and in such way to couple said vehicle wheel (2) when is standstill to said flywheel (4) rotating due to inertia, to transfer a start-up rotational motion from said flywheel (4) to said vehicle wheel (2).

An energy recovery system for a vehicle is presented. The energy recovery system comprises a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, KERS, for connecting to a propulsion shaft of the vehicle, an internal energy storage device configured to receive and store energy from the KERS, and a processing circuitry configured to cause distribution of energy from the internal energy storage device to the propulsion shaft of the vehicle and/or at least one non-propulsion battery for the vehicle based on an energy level of the non-propulsion battery.

A prime mover arrangement includes a prime mover (23) including a first shaft (25) driven by the prime mover, a second shaft (27), and a speed and torque manipulator (29) connected to the first shaft (25) and to the second shaft (27), the speed and torque manipulator permitting manipulation between at least one non-one-to-one ratio or a plurality of different input/output ratios of speeds and torques input by the first shaft and output to the second shaft. A method is also disclosed.

A flywheel for kinetic energy storage and its construction using composite materials. The present invention provides a flywheel assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising an annular rotor and a rotor support for coupling the rotor to an axial shaft, wherein the rotor comprises fibers in a matrix material, and a ring comprising fibers in a matrix material is mounted on the outer circumference of the rotor support and the rotor is mounted on the outer circumference of the ring, the rotor, rotor support and ring each having longitudinal axes which are coincident with the longitudinal axis of the assembly. The presence of the intermediate ring formed of a composite material assists in the fabrication of the assembly and increases its durability by providing a suitable interface between the rotor and a rotor support.

A vehicle driveline and a method for synchronizing a flywheel and the vehicle driveline are provided. The vehicle driveline includes a power source, a primary clutch drivingly engaged with the power source, a primary transmission drivingly engaged with the primary clutch, a secondary transmission drivingly engaged with one of a portion of the primary clutch and an input of the primary transmission, a controller in communication with the secondary transmission, and a flywheel drivingly engaged with the secondary transmission. The vehicle driveline facilitates a transfer of energy to and from the flywheel based on at least one of a state of charge of the flywheel, a power requirement of the vehicle driveline, and a state of operation of the power source.