A hydrodynamic retarder system for a vehicle is provided. The hydrodynamic retarder system comprises a fluid sump for housing a fluid and having a first fluid volume; a pump for pumping a fluid from the fluid sump; a retarder having a fluid chamber for housing a second volume of the fluid; a second sump for housing at least a third volume of the fluid and fluidly connected to the fluid sump; the third volume being substantially the same volume as the second volume; and a retarder inlet valve fluidly connected to the fluid sump via the pump and movable between a closed position for directing fluid flow to the second sump and an open position for directing fluid flow to the retarder, the valve movable from the closed position to the open position when the retarder is activated. In a first operational state with the vehicle powered on and the retarder deactivated, the pump directs fluid flow from fluid sump to the retarder inlet valve being in the closed position and directing fluid flow to second sump. In a second operational state with the vehicle on and retarder activated, the retarder inlet valve moves to the open position directing fluid flow into the retarder chamber and flowing out of the retarder chamber after filling the second volume and discharging to the second sump.
Hydrodynamic retarder system
2019-10-31
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
HYDRODYNAMIC RETARDER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING A HYDRODYNAMIC RETARDER SYSTEM
European Patent Office | 2020
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