Flywheel propulsion system for automotive vehicles or the like
US4626696A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 1984 |
| Grant date | Dec 2, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2117
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A propulsion system for use in automotive vehicles wherein the flywheel is connectable with the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine by a first clutch and with the input shaft of the change-speed transmission by a second clutch. When the engine would be idling (such as during stoppage of the vehicle at an intersection) or running unnecessarily for another reason (such as during coasting of the vehicle), the two clutches are disengaged and the flywheel rotates by inertia to restart the engine, when necessary, in response to engagement of the first clutch. If the RPM of the flywheel reaches a preselected lower threshold value, a starter-generator unit automatically accelerates the flywheel so that its RPM rises above the threshold value and is thus sufficient to ensure that the engine is restarted on engagement of the first clutch. The starter-generator unit has a rotor which is mounted directly on the flywheel and a stator which surrounds the rotor with minimal clearance and is connected directly to the housing of the engine. The generator of the starter-generator unit is a heteropolar Schmidt-Lorenz generator.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.