Hydraulic turbo accelerator apparatus

摘要

A hydraulic drive assists to increase the acceleration rate of a turbocharger impeller/turbine shaft assembly and provide a secondary means of driving the compressor impeller at lower engine speeds where exhaust gases alone does not generate adequate shaft speeds to create significant induction boost. The hydraulic circuit includes a dual displacement motor, which provides high torque for acceleration yet converts to a single motor for high-speed operation. When the exhaust driven turbine function allows compressor speeds, beyond which the hydraulic system can contribute, a slip clutch allows disengagement of the hydraulic drive. The hydraulic circuit is integrated with the power steering circuit to conserve energy and supportive components such as lines and reservoir. In an alternative embodiment, there is no turbocharger and the hydraulic drive provides means of forced induction air alone.

主权项

1. A hydraulically driven forced air induction system operative to boost inlet air pressure of a vehicle combustion system, said system comprising:
a centrifugal compressor operative to compress combustion system inlet air; a first positive displacement hydraulic motor including an output drive shaft drivingly engaging said centrifugal compressor through a speed increaser mechanism operative to drive said centrifugal compressor at a rotational rate exceeding the rate of said first motor output drive shaft; a second positive displacement hydraulic motor including an output drive shaft arranged to engage and drive said speed increaser mechanism to drive said centrifugal compressor at a rotational rate exceeding the rate of said second motor output drive shaft; and a hydraulic control circuit operative to change the output speed of the speed increaser mechanism to the compressor as a function of vehicle demand by restricting inlet flow to either or both of said motors and/or bypassing flow around either or both of said motors, wherein said hydraulic control circuit includes a flow control and a pressure relief mechanism operable to host a hydraulically assisted steering system positioned in series configuration downstream of said first and second positive displacement hydraulic motors and series or parallel restrictions associated with said forced air induction system.