초록 ▼

A power unit has: a conversion device (3, 106) for converting mechanical energy of rotation into a different form of energy which can be used for various purposes; a first internal combustion engine (1, 102); a second internal combustion engine (5, 104); a first clutch (2, 103) through which the fir

A power unit has: a conversion device (3, 106) for converting mechanical energy of rotation into a different form of energy which can be used for various purposes; a first internal combustion engine (1, 102); a second internal combustion engine (5, 104); a first clutch (2, 103) through which the first engine can be selectively coupled to a first axial end of a rotor shaft of the conversion device for transmitting mechanical energy of rotation to the rotor shaft when the first clutch is engaged; and a second clutch (4, 105) through which the second engine can be selectively coupled to a second axial end of the rotor shaft for transmitting mechanical energy of rotation from the second engine to the rotor shaft when the second clutch is coupling the second engine to the rotor shaft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A power unit comprising: a conversion device for converting mechanical energy of rotation into a different form of energy, the conversion device comprising a rotor shaft which has first and second axial ends opposite each other and which is supported for rotation about an axis;a first internal co

1. A power unit comprising: a conversion device for converting mechanical energy of rotation into a different form of energy, the conversion device comprising a rotor shaft which has first and second axial ends opposite each other and which is supported for rotation about an axis;a first internal combustion engine having a rotary output member which rotates in a given direction;a second internal combustion engine having a rotary output member which rotates in the same direction as the rotary output member of the first internal combustion engine;a first clutch through which the rotary output member of the first engine can be selectively coupled to the first axial end of the rotor shaft of the conversion device for transmitting mechanical energy of rotation from the rotary output member of the first engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device when the first clutch is coupling the rotary output member of the first engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device; anda second clutch through which the rotary output member of the second engine can be selectively coupled to the second axial end of the rotor shaft of the conversion device for transmitting mechanical energy of rotation from the rotary output member of the second engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device when the second clutch is coupling the rotary output member of the second engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device; the rotary member of the first engine, the first clutch, the rotor shaft of the conversion device, the second clutch, and the rotary member of the second engine being arranged in that order lengthwise of the power unit; anda mechanism for inverting the rotation of one of the first and second engines to the rotor shaft of the conversion device. 2. A power unit as set forth in claim 1 in which the conversion device is capable of operating as an electric motor and when operated as an electric motor by electricity from a source of electricity while at least one of the clutches is engaged to couple the rotary output member of the respective engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device can crank the respective engine. 3. A power unit as set forth in claim 1 in which the conversion device is capable of operating as an electric generator and operates as an electric generator when at least one of the clutches is engaged to couple the rotary output member of at least one of the engines to the rotor shaft and the respective engine is running. 4. A power unit as set forth in claim 3 further including an electrical load which is operated by electric current from the conversion device when operating as an electric generator. 5. A power unit as set forth in claim 4 in which the electrical load which is operated by electric current from the conversion device when operating as an electric generator comprises an electric motor which is operated by electric current from the conversion device when operating as an electric generator. 6. A power unit as set forth in claim 5 mounted in a mobile vehicle which is propelled by operation of the electric motor. 7. A vehicle comprising: a chassis frame from which at least one drive axle is suspended, the drive axle having driven wheels for supporting the chassis on an underlying surface and propelling the vehicle along the underlying surface;a conversion device for converting mechanical energy of rotation into a different form of energy, the conversion device comprising a rotor shaft which has first and second axial ends opposite each other and which is supported for rotation about an axis;a first internal combustion engine having a rotary output member;a second internal combustion engine having a rotary output member;a first clutch through which the rotary output member of the first engine can be selectively coupled to the first axial end of the rotor shaft of the conversion device for transmitting mechanical energy of rotation from the rotary output member of the first engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device when the first clutch is coupling the rotary output member of the first engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device; anda second clutch through which the rotary output member of the second engine can be selectively coupled to the second axial end of the rotor shaft of the conversion device for transmitting mechanical energy of rotation from the rotary output member of the second engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device when the second clutch is coupling the rotary output member of the second engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device; anda powerflow path for conveying power from the conversion device to rotate the driven wheels and thereby propel the vehicle when at least one of the engines is operating and at least one of the clutches is engaged to couple the rotary output member of the respective engine to the rotor shaft of the conversion device; andin which at least the rotor shaft of the conversion device, the rotary member of the first engine, and the first clutch are arranged to rotate about a common axis, and the rotary member of the second engine and the second clutch rotate about respective axes which are parallel with but offset from the common axis about which the rotor shaft of the conversion device, the rotary member of the first engine, and the first clutch rotate. 8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 in which the conversion device comprises an electric generator and the powerflow path comprises an electric drive axle which contains the driven wheels and an electric drive motor operated by electric current from the electric generator for rotating the driven wheels. 9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 8 in which the electric drive motor contained in the electric drive axle is capable of generating electricity when disconnected from the electric generator and when disconnected, can be driven by the driven wheels to recover kinetic energy by generating electricity that charges an on-board energy storage device. 10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 comprising a controller for coordinating control of the engines, the clutches, and the conversion device to manage powerflow to the driven wheels. 11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 in which the first and second clutches are one-way clutches. 12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 in which the conversion device, the first engine, the first clutch, the second engine, and the second clutch are assembled together to form a power unit assembly which can be assembled into and removed from the vehicle as a unit. 13. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 in which the rotary member of the first engine, the first clutch, the rotor shaft of the conversion device, the second clutch, and the rotary member of the second engine are arranged in that order along the length of the chassis frame. 14. A vehicle as set forth in claim 12 in which the rotary member of the first engine, the first clutch, the rotor shaft of the conversion device, the second clutch, and the rotary member of the second engine are arranged in that order along a direction transverse to the length of the chassis frame. 15. A power unit as set forth in claim 1 in which the rotor shaft of the conversion device, the rotary member of the first engine, and the first clutch are arranged to rotate about a common axis, and the mechanism for inverting the rotation of one of the first and second engines to the rotor shaft of the conversion device offsets, from the common axis, an axis about which the rotary member of the second engine rotates and which is parallel with the common axis.