System for providing auxiliary power

Claim 3

The system defined in claim 1, wherein said controlled leakage means is responsive to said primary means regardless of the direction of operation of said auxiliary pump which corresponds with the forward or rearward movement of said vehicle.

Claim 4

The system defined in claim 1, wherein said primary output line includes a primary check valve; said controlled leakage means senses pressure in said primary output line between said primary check valve and said primary pump.

Claim 5

The system defined in claim 1, wherein said controlled leakage means includes a check valve means for preventing flow from said auxiliary output line to said work function means when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure.

Claim 6

The system defined in claim 4, wherein said check valve means comprises first and second check valves to permit flow from said auxiliary output line to said work function means irrespective of the direction of rotation of said auxiliary pump.

Claim 7

The system defined in claim 5, wherein said valve means includes a valve body having an inlet port connected to said auxiliary return line, an output port connected to said auxiliary output line, an upper passageway containing first and second opposed valve seats, said inlet port being in communication with a central portion of said upper passageway between said valve seats, first and second transverse passageways providing communication between said upper passageway and first and second auxiliary pump ports respectively, said first and second transverse passageways each intersecting said upper passageway on the side of one of said valve seats opposite said central portion, said check valve means including first and second check valves located in said upper passageway and each normally biased against said first and second valve seats, respectively, said upper passage includes a first and second chamber in which said first and second check valves reciprocate, said first check valve allows fluid flow from said inlet port to said first auxiliary pump port when said auxiliary pump is rotated in one direction and blocks this flow when said auxiliary pump is rotated in a second direction, said second check valve allows fluid flow from said inlet port to said second auxiliary pump port when said auxiliary pump is rotated in said second direction and blocks this flow when said auxiliary pump is rotated in said first direction, a first intermediate passage connected to said first transverse passageway, a second intermediate passage connected to said second transverse passageway, a third passageway connecting said first and second intermediate passages to said output port, said third passageway includes said check valve means for permitting flow from said first intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said first direction and to block this flow when said pump rotates in said second direction, said check valve means also permits flow from said second intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said second direction and blocks this flow when said pump rotates in said first direction, whereby fluid is available at said outlet port whenever said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 8

The system defined in claim 4, wherein said valve means includes a shuttle valve means for permitting flow from said auxiliary pump to said output line irrespective of the direction of rotation of said auxiliary pump; said check valve means includes a shuttle check valve to permit flow from said valve means to said auxiliary output line when the primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 9

The system defined in claim 7, wherein said valve means includes a valve body having an inlet port connected to said auxiliary return line, an output port connected to said auxiliary output line, an upper passageway containing first and second opposed valve seats, said inlet port being in communication with a central portion of said upper passageway between said valve seats, first and second transverse passageways providing communication between said upper passageway and first and second auxiliary pump ports respectively, said first and second transverse passageways each intersecting said upper passageway on the side of one of said valve seats opposite said central portion, first and second check valves located in said upper passageway and each normally biased against said first and second valve seats, respectively, said upper passage includes a first and second chamber in which said first and second check valves reciprocate, a first intermediate passage connected to said first transverse passageway, a second intermediate passage connected to said transverse passageway, a third passageway connecting said first and second intermediate passageways to said output port, shuttle valve means located in said third passageway for permitting flow from said first intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said first direction and to block this flow when said pump rotates in said direction, said shuttle valve means also permits flow from said second intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said second direction and blocks this flow when said pump rotates in said first direction, said check valve means includes a shuttle check valve in said output port to permit flow from said valve means to said work means whereby fluid is available at said outlet port whenever said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 10

The system defined in claim 6, wherein said restrictive orifice means includes a first and second orifice between said first and second transverse passageways and said first and second chambers, respectively; first and second chamber passages communicating said chambers with said switch valve means so that when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure, said portion of auxiliary output fluid flows from said first transverse passageway through said first orifice to said first chamber passage and through said switch valve means into said reservoir when said auxiliary pump is rotating in a first direction and said portion of auxiliary output fluid flows from said second transverse passageway through said second orifice into said second chamber passage and through said switch valve means into said reservoir when said auxiliary pump is rotating in a second direction.

Claim 11

The system defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second chambers are cylindrical, said first and second check valves include a cylindrical portion on a first end, said cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than said first and second cylindrical chambers so as to provide said first and second orifices.

Claim 12

The system defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second check valves include a frusto-conical portion on a second end, said frusto-conical portion contacting said first and second valve seats along said frusto-conical surface so that a portion of said frusto-conical surface communicates with said first and second transverse passageways wherein high pressure fluid from said auxiliary pumping act on said frustoconical surface to open one of said check valves and allow fluid to recirculate through said auxiliary pump when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure.

Claim 13

The system defined in claim 9, wherein said switch valve means includes a first passageway connected at a first end to said primary means and at a second end to said reservoir, first and second lateral passages intersecting said first passageway and communicating with said first and second chambers, respectively, said first passageway including a plunger, said plunger being actuated by said predetermined pressure to move toward said second end and thereby permit said portion of auxiliary pump output fluid to flow from said valve means through said switch valve to said reservoir, said plunger biased toward said first end to stop the flow of said portion of auxiliary pump fluid from said valve means when said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 14

The system defined in claim 12, wherein said work function means is connected to said vehicle for receiving fluid from said primary means when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure and for receiving fluid from said auxiliary means when said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 15

In a system for providing auxiliary power to a vehicle including a primary means which includes a primary pump, an output line for providing primary power to a work function means, and a return line; an auxiliary means which includes an auxiliary pump, an output line for providing said auxiliary power, and a return line; drive means for operating said auxiliary pump whenever said vehicle is moving; a reservoir connected to said primary return line and said auxiliary return line; the improvement comprising: horsepower loss reduction means for controlling said auxiliary means to provide said auxiliary power only when said primary pump fails to provide a predetermined amount of pressure, wherein said auxiliary means includes valve means for controlling fluid flow in said auxiliary output and return line; said horsepower loss reduction means being connected to said auxiliary means, said reservoir and said primary means and being responsive to said primary means for directing a portion of said output fluid from said auxiliary means to said reservoir when the primary means provides a predetermined pressure and directing substantially all of auxiliary output fluid to said auxiliary output line when the primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 16

In a system for providing auxiliary power to a vehicle including a primary means which includes a primary pump, an output line for providing primary power to a work function means, and a return line; an auxiliary means which includes an auxiliary pump, an output line for providing said auxiliary power, and a return line; drive means for operating said auxiliary pump whenever said vehicle is moving; a reservoir connected to said primary return line and said auxiliary return line; the improvement comprising: horsepower loss reduction means for controlling said auxiliary means to provide said auxiliary power only when said primary pump fails to provide a predetermined amount of pressure, wherein said auxiliary means includes valve means for controlling fluid flow in said auxiliary output and return line; said horsepower loss reduction means being connected to said auxiliary means, said reservoir and said primary means and being responsive to said primary means for directing a portion of said output fluid from said auxiliary means to said reservoir when the primary means provides a predetermined pressure and directing substantially all of auxiliary output fluid to said auxiliary output line when the primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 17

The system defined in claim 14, wherein said horsepower loss reduction means includes a switch valve means for causing said valve means to direct a portion of auxiliary pump output fluid to said reservoir and to recirculate the remainder of said pump output fluid through said auxiliary pump when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure and for directing substantially all of said auxiliary output fluid to said auxiliary output line when said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 18

The system defined in claim 15, wherein said horsepower loss reduction means further includes restrictive orifice means for directing said portion of auxiliary output fluid from said valve means through said switch means and to said reservoir when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure..

Claim 19

The system defined in claim 14, wherein said horsepower loss reduction means being responsive to said primary means regardless of the direction of operation of said auxiliary pump which corresponds with the forward or rearward movement of said vehicle.

Claim 20

The system defined in claim 14, wherein said primary output line includes a primary check valve; said horsepower loss reduction means senses pressure in said primary output line between said primary check valve and said primary pump.

Claim 21

The system defined in claim 14, wherein said horsepower loss reduction means includes a check valve means for preventing flow from said auxiliary output line to said auxiliary power when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure.

Claim 22

The system defined in claim 16, wherein said horsepower loss reduction means includes a check valve means for preventing flow from said auxiliary output line to said auxiliary power when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure.

Claim 23

The system defined in claim 19, wherein said check valve means comprises first and second check valves to permit flow from said auxiliary output line to said work function means irrespective of the direction of rotation of said auxiliary pump.

Claim 24

The system defined in claim 20, wherein said valve means includes a valve body having an inlet port connected to said auxiliary return line, an output port connected to said auxiliary output line, and upper passageway containing first and second opposed valve seats, said inlet port being in communication with a central portion of said upper passageway between said valve seats, first and second transverse passageways providing communication between said upper passageway and first and second auxiliary pump ports respectively, said first and second transverse passageways each intersecting said upper passageway on the side of one of said valve seats opposite said central portion, first and second check valves located in said upper passageway and each normally biased against said first and second valve seats, respectively, said upper passageway includes a first and second chamber in which said first and second check valve reciprocate said first check valve allows fluid flow from said inlet port to said first auxiliary pump port when said auxiliary pump is rotated in one direction and blocks this flow when said auxiliary pump is rotated in a second direction, said second check valve allows fluid flow from said inlet port to said second auxiliary pump port when said auxiliary pump is rotated in said second direction and blocks this flow when said auxiliary pump is rotated in said first direction, a first intermediate passage connected to said first transverse passageway, a second intermediate passage connected to said second transverse passageway, a third passageway connecting said first and second intermediate passages to said output port, said third passageway includes said check valve means for permitting flow from said first intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said first direction and to block this flow when said pump rotates in said second direction, said check valve means also permits flow from said second intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said second direction and blocks this flow when said pump rotates in said first direction, whereby fluid is available at said outlet port whenever said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 25

The system defined in claim 19, wherein said valve means includes a shuttle valve means for permitting flow from said auxiliary pump to said output line irrespective of the direction of rotation of said auxiliary pump, said check valve means includes a shuttle check valve to permit flow from said valve means to said auxiliary output line when the primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 26

The system defined in claim 23, wherein said valve means includes a valve body having an inlet port connected to said auxiliary return line, an output port connected to said auxiliary output line, an upper passageway containing first and second opposed valve seats, said inlet port being in communication with a central portion of said upper passageway between said valve seats, first and second transverse passageways providing communication between said upper passageway and first and second auxiliary pump ports, respectively, said first and second transverse passageways each intersecting said upper passageway on the side of one of said valve seats opposite said central portion, first and second check valves located in said upper passageway and each normally biased against said first and second valve seats, respectively, said upper passage includes a first and second chamber in which said first and second check valves reciprocate, a first intermediate passage connected to said first transverse passageway, a second intermediate passage connected to said second transverse passageway, a third passageway connecting said first and second intermediate passageways to said output port, shuttle valve means located in said third passageway for permitting flow from said first intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said first direction and to block this flow when said pump rotates in said second direction, said shuttle valve means also permits flow from said second intermediate passage to said output port when said auxiliary pump rotates in said second direction and blocks this flow when said pump rotates in said first direction, said check valve means includes a shuttle check valve in said output port to permit flow from said valve means to said work means whereby fluid is available at said outlet port whenever said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 27

The system defined in claim 22, wherein said restrictive orifice means includes a first and second orifice between said first and second transverse passageways and said first and second chambers, respectively; first and second chamber passages communicating said chambers with said switch valve means so that when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure, said portion of auxiliary output fluid flows from said first transverse passageway through said first orifice to said first chamber passage and through said switch valve means into said reservoir when said auxiliary pump is rotating in a first direction and said portion of auxiliary output fluid flows from said second transverse passageway through said second orifice into said second chamber passage and through said switch valve means into said reservoir when said auxiliary pump is rotating in a second direction.

Claim 28

The system defined in claim 25, wherein said first and second chambers being cylindrical, said first and second check valves include a cylindrical portion on a first end, said cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than the diameter of said first and second cylindrical chambers so as to provide said first and second orifices.

Claim 29

The system defined in claim 26, wherein said first and second check valves include a frusto-conical portion on a second end, said frusto-conical portion contacting said first and second valve seats along said frusto-conical surface so that a portion of said frusto-conical surface communicates with said first and second transverse passageway wherein high pressure fluid from said auxiliary pump may act on said frusto-conical surface to open one of said check valves and allow fluid to recirculate through said auxiliary pump when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure.

Claim 30

The system defined in claim 14, wherein said vehicle includes a work function means for receiving fluid from said primary means when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure and for receiving fluid from said auxiliary means when said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 31

The system defined in claim 27, wherein said vehicle includes a work function means for receiving fluid from said primary means when said primary means provides said predetermined pressure and for receiving fluid from said auxiliary means when said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.

Claim 32

The system defined in claim 29, wherein said work function means includes an inlet and an outlet, said work function inlet being connected to both said primary output line and said auxiliary output line, said primary check valve in said primary output line being between said connections and said primary pump, said work function outlet connected to said reservoir so that fluid delivered to said work function means through said inlet returns to said reservoir.

Claim 33

The system defined in claim 30, wherein said switch valve means includes a first passageway connected at a first end to said primary means and connected at a second end to said reservoir, first and second lateral passages intersecting said first passageway and communicating with said first and second chambers respectively, said first passageway including a plunger, said plunger being actuated by said predetermined pressure to move toward said second end and thereby permit said portion of auxiliary output fluid to flow from said valve means through said switch valve to said reservoir, said plunger biased toward said first end to stop said portion of auxiliary fluid from flowing from said valve means when said primary means provides less than said predetermined pressure.