losses in hydraulic drivetrain

Hello hangwaiter

For the greatest efficiency, the "electric wheel" as invented by Robert LeTourneau, is by far the most efficient.

A pair of exploded view diagrams are there, for your enjoyment.

An electric wheel can be over 95% efficient, which is far higher that any hydraulic drive train.

A picture of R G LeTourneau designed Arctic Train, powered by Electric Wheels, is also included here.

Kind Regards....

Is there a comparison in the efficiency of such hydraulic drives vs. a gear/propshaft/diff drive for 2-wheel and four wheel drive vehicles?

Yes and quite impressive too

The other BIGGIE with Electric Drives is THEY NOT ONLY START OUT MORE EFFICIENT THEY DO NOT LOSE EFFICIENCY MOMENT BY MOMENT like Hydraulic Drives. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FILTRATION!!!!!

Doh! It's a piece of junk because the correct filtration wasn't used??

Bwire wrote:

"Doh! It's a piece of junk because the correct filtration wasn't used??"

That is the first problem and common in the World of Hydraulics. The next problem is the owner not giving the required care to the Correct Filtration. Similar to the way they do to Engine Lurication and Filtration and get by with it.

Just my opinnion after being in the Fluid Power field and seeing systems trashed for lack of filtration, poor circut design, wrong components, over heating, to name a few.

Evidently you have had a completely different experience.

Whoosh!!!!

Thanks for all contributions and also to bring up the electric drive. This could be a very interesting thread. I'd buy a battery car tomorrow, if it was affordable. And no one can tell me that it could not be mass produced as 'cheap" as the long obsolete ICE. The non-availability of alternative solutions is to my understanding rather due to political than to technical reasons.

The technology is available, just as well as the hydraulic drive is.

Who else would rather drive electrical, recharge from non pollutant electricity resources and actually feel good when driving?

hangwaiter wrote:

"recharge from non pollutant electricity resources and actually feel good when driving?"

Do you think Coal or Gas Burning Electric Power Plsnts are NON POLLUTING?

If Nuclear was used to produce Electricity that would be a lot closer to reducing pollution.

However, on the plus side, at least the Fossil Fuel methods of producing electricity are concentrated and a lot easier to clean up than the billions of ICE's now in use.

Hi Bud

With non polluting i mean solar,wind,orc, ocean current turbines, etc.

some people are against electric vehicles, because they say this would place more demand on the grid and therefore more electricity has to be produced. I would therefore strive to charge the batteries from any of the above sources.

That is a distinct possibility and may come to pass after all the Senators and Congressman from Fossil Fuel producing states see their so-called endless supplies ending.

I read into your post what many others have been offering by using the present electric grid.

Hi Bud

Now we're drifting off topic, though interesting.

Initially, I thought of utilizing a hydraulic drive train instead of a mechanical one, in 'normal' cars, bikes, trucks, maybe even bicycles and wondered how this would compare.

Now that the issue of a pure hydraulic(pressure) power supply has been brought up, I wonder how far a tank full of pressure would get you, and if the required storage system( gas cylinders) is not becoming excessively heavy.

I hear of an Indian Air car, but since the Indian electric car appears to be existing only on paper or screen and you can not buy it anywhere, I don't really believe this is anywhere near a production model.

Please send any links to related sites which you know of. Thanks, Thomas

check this site out http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Transportation/1978-03-01/This-Car-Travels-75-Miles-on-a-Single-Gallon-of-Gasoline.aspx