초록 ▼

For a vehicle equipped with a pair of driving engines and a torque converter having a capacity sufficient to absorb the combined peak torque of the engines at combined peak torque speed, a dual engine drive including a planetary gear set operative to provide direct drive between the engines and the

For a vehicle equipped with a pair of driving engines and a torque converter having a capacity sufficient to absorb the combined peak torque of the engines at combined peak torque speed, a dual engine drive including a planetary gear set operative to provide direct drive between the engines and the torque converter when both engines are operating and to provide gear reduction between the engines and the torque converter when only one engine is operating. The gear ratio of the planetary set is preselected to reduce the input speed to the torque converter while increasing the input torque to the torque converter so that the output of the one remaining engine is more efficiently matched to the torque converter.

대표청구항 ▼

In a vehicle including a pair of synchronously operated engines each producing individual peak torque at substantially identical individual peak torque engine speeds, combining gear means between said pair of engines operative to combine the torque output of said pair of engines, said pair of engine

In a vehicle including a pair of synchronously operated engines each producing individual peak torque at substantially identical individual peak torque engine speeds, combining gear means between said pair of engines operative to combine the torque output of said pair of engines, said pair of engines producing combined engine peak torque at combined engine peak torque speed substantially equal to said individual peak torque engine speeds, and a torque converter the input torque absorption capacity of which at zero speed ratio and input speed substantially equal to said combined engine peak torque speed equals said combined engine peak torque, the combination comprising, selectively engageable direct drive means between said combining gear means and said torque converter operative to deliver to said torque converter combined engine torque at combined engine speed, selectively engageable reduction gear means between one engine of said pair of engines and said torque converter having a preselected gear ratio operative at a speed input equal to said individual peak torque engine speed and a torque input equal to said individual peak torque to reduce speed to a lower speed output whereat the corresponding higher torque output substantially equals the torque capacity of said torque converter at zero speed ratio when the torque converter input speed equals said lower output speed, and means operative to effect selective engagement of one said reduction gear means and said direct drive means.