Гидристор: Бесступенчатая трансмиссия и гидравлический преобразователь крутящего момента.

Hydristor is a joining of the words 'hydraulic' and 'transistor'. The
device invented by Tom Kasmer in 1996
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The fixed relationships of the elliptic cam ring are replaced by 4 curved surface (cupped) movable pistons located at the 4 sealing areas, at 12,3,6, and 9 o'clock like the face of a clock. The curvature of each piston rides on a 'hydrodynamic oil bearing' similar to hydroplaning tires in the wet and this virtually eliminates metal to metal contact and friction. The first Hydristor achieved almost 95% efficiency overall and the present designs are in the 97+% range. If the 4 pistons are positioned equidistant from the center of rotation, no oil is expressed or accepted by any of the kidney ports. This is called 'neutral'. For a clockwise rotation, if 3 and 9 pistons are moved inward with 6 and 12 moving outward, all moving an equal amount, then a device displacement in proportion to the piston movement is created. If the 6 and 12 pistons were moved in with 3 and 9 moving equally out, then all the oil flows reverse. Since the piston positions are infinitely variable, any possible displacement between zero and + or maximum displacement can be created. If two such Hydristor units are packaged face to face with the 4 port kidney plate between them, an infinitely variable transmission is formed. This transmission can select any ratio in the forward direction and in the reverse direction without the need for any gears.

A 2006 article for COE NewsNet discusses a few details related to the design and test of the Hydristor. In this article, the Appendix provides some overarching concepts that are important for evaluation of the Hydristor and related technologies. As an infinitely variable transmission, the Hydristor could help extend car longevity in the same way any other infinitely variable transmission can by lowering the engine speed to a necessary minimum. As an example, recent Honda Civic IVT needs only 1400 engine RPM to travel at highway speeds.

The Hydristor torque converter can also accomplish total hydraulic braking and energy storage. Once a cruising speed has been achieved with front and rear Hydristors at some appropriate relative displacements, hydraulic braking is achieved by first simultaneously reducing both front and rear to zero displacement, then leaving the front Hydristor at zero (thus hydro mechanically disconnecting the engine from the torque converter hydraulic circuit and finally beginning to increase rear displacement as a braking function with the braking pressure and flow being directed to a hydraulic accumulator pressure tank. The decaying vehicle speed (kinetic energy), the rising tank pressure and the desired rate of deceleration determined by the driver all are variables which are easily managed by the Hydristor system. The stored braking energy can then be re used for subsequent re acceleration. With hydraulic storage capability, the acceleration at highway speeds can result in wheel spin. The installation of a Hydristor torque converter into a typical car or truck already on the highways will create a hybrid vehicle which will out perform the current crop of hybrids , thus adding other alternatives to that technology. One benefit of this approach is that the existing fleet can be re configured thereby incurring monetary and natural resource savings .

There are no independent tests to verify these claims for the Hydristor, and problems of excessive parts wear have yet to be overcome, making practical applications of this device unlikely.

Thomas E. Kasmer died on October 27, 2011, from a heart attack. The Hydristor web site was shut down effective December 31, 2012, by the person who had been hosting it for him pro bono.