Drive unit with an engine and a retarder

US5794588A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Vogelsang · Crailsheim, DE
• Peter Rose · Heidenheim, DE
• Helmut Ott · Stuttgart, DE
• Peter Heilinger · Crailsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 1997
• Grant date: Aug 18, 1998
• Expiry date: Apr 25, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F01P2060/06
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A drive unit includes a hydrodynamic retarder having a rotor paddle wheel, a stator paddle wheel, and a housing surrounding the rotor and stator wheels. The unit includes a coolant cycle system for an internal combustion engine, the coolant for this coolant cycle also being a working medium of the retarder. The drive unit further includes a working medium container for the coolant. A first pipe connects a hydrodynamic center of the retarder to a valve. A second, leakage pipe is disposed between a working medium outlet of the retarder and the valve. A third pipe is disposed between the valve and the working medium container. The valve is designed such that in a first position, a conducting connection is established between the working medium container and the leakage pipe to provide for a pumping operation of the retarder. When the valve is in a second position, a conducting connection is established between the working medium container and the first pipe for a braking operation of the retarder.