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Continuously variable transmissions (CVT) have been gaining popularity because they decouple the engine of a vehicle from the vehicle wheels, providing seamless shifting in vehicle operation and allowing the engine to operate in a speed range where fuel consumption and emissions are minimized. In particular, the power-split CVT, or power split drive (PSD), combines the variability of a CVT with the high efficiency of a mechanical transmission, providing potential benefits for both on road and off road vehicles. Hybrid PSDs allow further fuel savings by transferring the vehicle's kinetic energy to an energy storage device such as a battery, flywheel, hydraulic accumulator or other means during braking and utilizing the stored energy during the next propulsion cycle. While many power split configurations exist in literature (Miller 2005), this paper focuses on a dual stage input coupled PSD with a flywheel energy storage device.

Noise generation in axial piston machines can be attributed to two main sources; fluid borne and structure borne. Any attempt towards noise reduction in axial piston machines should focus on simultaneous reduction of these two sources. A multi-parameter multi-objective optimization approach to design valve plates to reduce both sources of noise for pumps which operate in a wide range of operating conditions has been detailed in a previous work (Seeniraj and Ivantysynova, 2008). The focus of this paper is to explain the background and to demonstrate the functionality and usefulness of the methodology for pump design.

The paper presents a new computer based design method for valve plate design using the simulation program CASPAR and the extension tool AVAS. CASPAR is based on a non-isothermal gap flow model considering time dependent gap heights and surface deformations due to high pressure loads for all connected gaps of swash plate axial piston machines. Among others the program allows the prediction of oscillating forces exerted on machine parts and the calculation of effective flow pulsation on both ports as a function of design and operating parameters. Together with the calculated instantaneous cylinder pressure the flow pulsation and oscillating forces can be taken as criterion to evaluate the effectiveness of design measures for noise reduction during the design phase, i.e. before prototype production. The models used in the program have been verified by different measurements on pumps and motors.

Mobile Earth Moving Machinery like Skid-steer loaders have tight turning radius in limited spaces due to a short wheelbase which prevents the use of suspensions in these vehicles. The absence of a suspension system exposes the vehicle to ground vibrations of high magnitude and low frequency. Vibrations reduce operator comfort, productivity and life of components. Along with vibrations, the machine productivity is also hampered by material spillage which is caused by the tilting of the bucket due to the extension of the boom. The first part of the paper focuses on vibration damping. The chassis’ vibrations are reduced by the use of an active suspension element which is the hydraulic boom cylinder which is equivalent to a spring-damper. With this objective, a linear model for the skid steer loader is developed and a state feedback control law is implemented.

This paper deals with the use of a displacement controlled linear actuator for active oscillation damping of off-road machine structure. Aim is the development of system solutions and control concepts for the simultaneous use of displacement controlled (valveless) hydraulic actuators basing on single rod cylinder for the active oscillation damping of off-road machine structure and for the control of the working hydraulics movement. Thereby, the productivity of the machine and the operator comfort will be improved.