A radial piston machine includes a rotor within a housing that is rotatable about an axis, a shaft coupled to the rotor, a distributor which surrounds the shaft and cannot rotate with the rotor and that contacts the rotor in an axial direction, a plurality of brake discs including first brake discs and second brake discs arranged side-by-side along the axis, wherein the first brake discs are coupled to the housing for torque transmission, and the second brake discs are coupled to the shaft for torque transmission, and an actuator configured to releasably exert a brake force in the axial direction on the brake discs. The distributor is located axially between the rotor and the actuator, and the brake discs are located axially between the distributor and the actuator. When the brake force is exerted the brake force is supported by the distributor in the axial direction.

Methods, systems, and techniques for harnessing wind energy use a tethered airfoil and a digital hydraulic pump and motor, which may optionally be a combined pump/motor. During a traction phase, a wind powered airfoil is allowed to extend a tether and a portion of the wind energy harnessed through extension of the tether is stored prior to distributing the wind energy to an electrical service. During a retraction phase, the wind energy that is stored during the traction phase is used to retract the tether. The digital hydraulic pump and motor are mechanically coupled to the tether.

Methods, systems, and techniques for harnessing wind energy use a tethered airfoil and a digital hydraulic pump and motor, which may optionally be a combined pump/motor. During a traction phase, a wind powered airfoil is allowed to extend a tether and a portion of the wind energy harnessed through extension of the tether is stored prior to distributing the wind energy to an electrical service. During a retraction phase, the wind energy that is stored during the traction phase is used to retract the tether. The digital hydraulic pump and motor are mechanically coupled to the tether.

The invention relates to a valve assembly (50) of a radial piston hydraulic apparatus (1). Said apparatus includes a cylinder block (4) insertable onto a shaft (2) by translation. Said assembly (50) includes: a valve (51) in contact with said cylinder block (4); a valve train cover (52); and a first (541) and second (542) chamber that are defined, respectively, by a first (511, 521) and second (512, 522) space that are located at the interface between said valve (51) and said valve train cover (52), and are intended for the pressurized fluids that enable the conversion of pressure and/or mechanical stress. Said assembly (50) includes an additional section (54) defined by a third space (541, 542) located at the interface between said valve (51) and said valve train cover (52). Said section (54) is intended for receiving a pressurized fluid such as to enable the cylinder block (4) to be inserted onto the shaft (2).

A motor (10) to be driven by a pressurized fluid includes a manifold (16) with an arcuate surface (20) defining a valve opening (22) surrounded by a sealing surface. A cylinder (26) has an aperture (30) cooperating with the arcuate surface (20). The cylinder (26) is pivotally mounted so as to be pivotable between a neutral state in which the aperture faces the sealing surface, an inlet state in which the aperture (30) is in fluid connection with the valve opening (22), and an exhaust in which the aperture (30) is in fluid connection with a drainage volume. A piston (34), deployed in the cylinder (26), is driven to extend by pressure within the cylinder. The piston is linked to a crank (36) so that rotation of a crankshaft (38) causes a cyclic motion of the piston (34) and cylinder (26) from the inlet state for an extension power stroke of the piston (34), through the neutral state and to the exhaust state for a return motion of the piston (34). The pivot axis of the cylinder, preferably implemented using a pivot axle (32), is located between the crankshaft axis and the arcuate surface (20).

A radial piston machine includes a rotor within a housing that is rotatable about an axis, a shaft coupled to the rotor, a distributor which surrounds the shaft and cannot rotate with the rotor and that contacts the rotor in an axial direction, a plurality of brake discs including first brake discs and second brake discs arranged side-by-side along the axis, wherein the first brake discs are coupled to the housing for torque transmission, and the second brake discs are coupled to the shaft for torque transmission, and an actuator configured to releasably exert a brake force in the axial direction on the brake discs. The distributor is located axially between the rotor and the actuator, and the brake discs are located axially between the distributor and the actuator. When the brake force is exerted the brake force is supported by the distributor in the axial direction.

The invention relates to a valve assembly (50) of a radial piston hydraulic apparatus (1). Said apparatus includes a cylinder block (4) insertable onto a shaft (2) by translation. Said assembly (50) includes: a valve (51) in contact with said cylinder block (4); a valve train cover (52); and a first (541) and second (542) chamber that are defined, respectively, by a first (511, 521) and second (512, 522) space that are located at the interface between said valve (51) and said valve train cover (52), and are intended for the pressurized fluids that enable the conversion of pressure and/or mechanical stress. Said assembly (50) includes an additional section (54) defined by a third space (541, 542) located at the interface between said valve (51) and said valve train cover (52). Said section (54) is intended for receiving a pressurized fluid such as to enable the cylinder block (4) to be inserted onto the shaft (2).

Noise from an axial piston device for use as, for example, a hydraulic pump or a hydraulic motor of a continuously variable hydrostatic transmission is suppressed. A port block includes a supply and discharge port surface section with which a cylinder block is configured to come into contact while rotating, a first port and a second port. In at least one of a first dead center portion and a second dead center portion, the supply and discharge port surface section has a recess extending from one of the first port and the second port that is located on a downstream side in a rotation direction of the cylinder block, toward an upstream side in the rotation direction of the cylinder block.