Drive unit with an engine and a retarder

US6223718A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Vogelsang · Crailsheim, DE
• Peter Heilinger · Crailsheim, DE
• Jurgen Friedrich · Kupferberg, DE
• Karl Mondorf · Crailsheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 24, 1997
• Grant date: May 1, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 24, 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 which is connected to the coolant cycle system. A connecting pipe is disposed between the working medium container and a hydrodynamic center of the retarder. A valve is disposed in the connecting pipe.