Modular engine assembly

• US 4,116,006 A
• Filed: 04/12/1977
• Issued: 09/26/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marvin E. Wallis
• Original Assignee: Marvin E. Wallis
• Inventors: Wallis, Marvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrager, Allen M.
• Application Number:
  US05/786,897
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 60/698, 60/706, 60/709, 60/711, 60/716, 60/718, 74/572, 74/751, 180/54 R, 180/54 C
• US Class Current: 60/709
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/105 the accumulator being a flywheel
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 1/12 Separate cylinder-crankcase elements coupled together to form a unit
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 21/00 Combinations of two or more machines or engines F01B23/00 takes precedence; combinations of two or more pumps F04; fluid gearing F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/06 Combinations of engines with mechanical gearing F02B61/02, F02B61/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 73/00 Combinations of two or more engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2117 Power generating-type flywheel

Abstract

Disclosed is a modular engine assembly incorporating a primary engine, an auxiliary engine and a device for storing kinetic energy. The kinetic energy storage device is drivingly coupled to the primary engine. In response to demand for additional power, the auxiliary engine is selectively engaged with the energy storage device by a clutch. The auxiliary engine is thereby turned over and brought up to speed. Once the auxiliary engine is brought up to speed, fuel is supplied whereby the auxiliary engine starts or fires only after it is turning over at a high RPM. Once started, the auxiliary engine drives the transmission through the clutch and primary engine thus increasing available power upon demand.

Claims

1. A modular engine assembly for connection with a transmission driven thereby comprising:

a primary engine,

means for starting said primary engine,

an auxiliary engine disposed in tandem with said primary engine,

means adjacent the end of said primary engine remote from said auxiliary engine for connecting said primary engine to the transmission for driving the latter by said primary engine,

means for selectively coupling and decoupling said auxiliary engine and said primary engine one to the other for driving the transmission selectively by said primary engine or both said primary engine and said auxiliary engine, and

means for starting said auxiliary engine including means for storing kinetic energy developed by said primary engine and applying said kinetic energy to said auxiliary engine to assist in starting said auxiliary engine, said kinetic energy storing and applying means being located adjacent the end of said primary engine remote from said auxiliary engine.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said kinetic energy storing and applying means comprises a rotatable mass driven by said primary engine.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said coupling and decoupling means includes a clutch disposed between said primary engine and said auxiliary engine, and means for actuating said clutch.

4. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said auxiliary engine drives the transmission through said driven mass and said primary engine when said clutch is actuated.

5. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein said starting means for said auxiliary engine includes a first clutch for drivingly engaging said rotatable mass and said primary engine one to the other and a second clutch for drivingly engaging said auxiliary engine and said primary engine one to the other, said second clutch forming at least part of said coupling and decoupling means, and means for selectively actuating said first clutch to drivingly engage said rotatable mass and said primary engine and said second clutch to drivingly engage said auxiliary engine and said primary engine.

6. An assembly according to claim 5 wherein said kinetic energy storing and applying means comprises a flywheel.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 including means for transferring heat from said primary engine to said auxiliary engine thereby to maintain said auxiliary engine in a ready condition.

8. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said kinetic energy storing and applying means is adapted to bring said auxiliary engine up to a predetermined speed,

means for supplying fuel to said auxiliary engine, and

means coupled to said fuel supply means and said auxiliary engine for initiating flow of fuel to said auxiliary engine when said auxiliary engine obtains said predetermined speed.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said kinetic energy storing and applying means comprises a rotatable mass.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said kinetic energy storing and applying means comprises a rotatable mass in tandem with said primary engine and said auxiliary engine.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said starting means for said auxiliary engine includes a first clutch for drivingly engaging said rotatable mass and said primary engine one to the other and a second clutch for drivingly engaging said auxiliary engine and said primary engine one to the other, said second clutch forming at least part of said coupling and decoupling means, and means for selectively actuating said first clutch to drivingly engage said rotatable mass and said primary engine and said second clutch to drivingly engage said auxiliary engine and said primary engine.

12. An assembly according to claim 1 including a vehicle accessory, means connecting said accessory and said primary engine one to the other for the normally driving said accessory from said primary engine, said accessory normally imposing a load on said primary engine, means for coupling and decoupling said kinetic energy storing means and said primary engine, means connected to the latter coupling and decoupling means for disabling said accessory from driving connection with said primary engine when said kinetic energy storing means is decoupled from said primary engine.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 including means forming part of the latter coupling and decoupling means for enabling driving connection betweeen said accessory and said primary engine upon expiration of a predetermined time delay after said primary engine and said kinetic energy storing means are coupled one to the other whereby the load of the accessory is imposed on said primary engine only after the latter has restarted and obtained operating speed.

14. An engine assembly for connection with a transmission driven thereby comprising:

an engine,

means for connecting said engine to the transmission for driving the latter by said engine,

means for starting said engine including means for storing kinetic energy developed by said engine when started, said kinetic energy storing means being located between said engine and the transmission,

means for selectively coupling and decoupling said engine and said kinetic energy storing means one to the other, and

means for controlling said coupling and decoupling means whereby said engine may be decoupled from said kinetic energy storing means and stopped during low power requirements and coupled to said kinetic energy storing means to apply kinetic energy stored thereby to said engine and assist in starting said engine.

15. An engine assembly according to claim 14 wherein said kinetic energy storing means comprises a flywheel.

16. An engine assembly according to claim 14 wherein said control means includes a control member movable between two positions, said member in one position being operable to decouple said engine and said kinetic energy storing means, said member in the other position being operable to couple said engine and said kinetic energy storing means.

17. An engine assembly according to claim 16 in combination with said transmission.

18. An engine assembly according to claim 14 wherein said kinetic energy storing means includes a rotatable mass, said engine having an output shaft, said coupling and decoupling means including a clutch for coupling and decoupling said shaft and said mass one to the other.

19. A modular engine assembly for connection with a transmission driven thereby comprising:

a primary engine,

means for starting said primary engine,

means for connecting said primary engine to the transmission for driving the latter by said primary engine,

an auxiliary engine,

means for selectively coupling and decoupling said auxiliary engine and the transmission one to the other for driving the transmission selectively by said primary engine or both said primary engine and said auxiliary engine, and

means for starting said auxiliary engine including means for storing kinetic energy developed by said primary engine and applying said kinetic energy to said auxiliary engine to assist in starting said auxiliary engine.

20. An assembly according to claim 19 wherein said storing and applying means comprises a rotatable mass.

21. An assembly according to claim 20 wherein said starting means includes a first clutch for drivingly engaging said rotatable mass and said primary engine and a second clutch for drivingly engaging said rotatable mass and said auxiliary engine, and means for selectively actuating said first clutch to drivingly engage said rotatable mass and said primary engine and said second clutch to drivingly engage said rotatable mass and said auxiliary engine.

22. An assembly according to claim 19 including means for transferring heat from said primary engine to said auxiliary engine thereby to maintain said auxiliary engine in a ready condition.

23. An assembly according to claim 19 including means for circulating cooling fluid between said primary engine and said auxiliary engine whereby said auxiliary engine serves as a heat sink for the primary engine.

24. An assembly according to claim 23 including a fan for cooling at least one of said engines, and means sensitive to the operating temperature of one of said engines for actuating said fan in response to sensing an engine temperature above a predetermined temperature.

25. An assembly according to claim 21 including a vehicle accessory, means connecting said accessory and said primary engine one to the other for normally driving said accessory from said primary engine, said accessory normally imposing a load on said primary engine, means for coupling and decoupling said kinetic energy storing means and said primary engine, means connected to the latter coupling and decoupling means for disabling said accessory from driving connection with said primary engine when said kinetic energy storing means is decoupled from said primary engine.

26. An assembly according to claim 25 including means forming part of the latter coupling and decoupling means for enabling driving connection between said accessory and said primary engine upon expiration of a predetermined time delay after said primary engine and said kinetic energy storing means are coupled one to the other whereby the load of the accessory is imposed on said primary engine only after the latter has restarted and obtained operating speed.

27. An assembly according to claim 21 including a vehicle air conditioner, means operably connecting said air conditioner and said auxiliary engine one to the other for driving said air conditioner from said auxiliary engine.

28. An assembly according to claim 27 including a carburetor for said auxiliary engine, means for opening said carburetor, switch means connected to said carburetor opening means, said air conditioner, and said second clutch actuating means whereupon closing said switch means opens said carburetor to fire said auxiliary engine and actuates said second clutch to drivingly engage said rotatable mass and said auxiliary engine.

29. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein one of said first and second clutches comprises an air actuated clutch, an exhaust for the engine associated with the one air actuated clutch, means connecting said one air actuated clutch and said exhaust one to the other for transmitting air exhausted from said one air actuated clutch into the exhaust of the associated engine.

30. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein each said first clutch and said second clutch is air actuated, said assembly including an exhaust for said engines, and means connecting said air actuated clutches and said exhaust for transmitting air exhausted vrom said clutches into said exhaust.

31. A modular engine assembly for connection with a transmission driven thereby comprising:

a primary engine,

means for starting said primary engine,

means for connecting said primary engine and the transmission one to the other for driving the transmission by said primary engine,

an auxiliary engine,

means for selectively coupling and decoupling said auxiliary engine and said primary engine one to the other for driving the transmission selectively by said primary engine or both said primary engine and said auxiliary engine, and

means for starting said auxiliary engine including means for storing kinetic energy developed by said primary engine and applying said kinetic energy to said auxiliary engine to assist in starting said auxiliary engine, said kinetic energy storing means comprising a rotatable mass,

a first clutch for coupling and decoupling said rotating mass and said primary engine one to the other,

said coupling and decoupling means including a second clutch for coupling said primary engine and said auxiliary engine one to the other, one of said first and second clutches comprising an air actuated clutch

32. An assembly according to claim 31 including an exhaust for the engine associated with the one air actuated clutch, means connecting said one air actuated clutch and said exhaust one to the other for transmitting air exhausted from said one air actuated clutch into the exhaust of the associated engine.

33. An assembly according to claim 31 wherein each said first clutch and said second clutch is air actuated, said assembly including an exhaust for said engines, and means connecting said air actuated clutches and said exhaust for transmitting air exhausted from said clutches into said exhaust.