Vehicle power unit and drive train

Claim 2

A power unit for a vehicle, said power unit coMprising an engine having a crankshaft extending longitudinally thereof and two cylinder banks arranged on opposite sides of a plane passing through said crankshaft, said engine being adapted for mounting transversely of such vehicle, a variable ratio transmission mounted along one side of said engine and having an input shaft spaced from and parallel with said crankshaft, power transfer means at one end of said engine and driveably connecting said crankshaft with said transmission input shaft, a drive shaft connected with the output of said transmission, said drive shaft extending transversely of and closely adjacent said crankshaft within the enclosure therefor and passing through the walls of said engine to the other side thereof and a differential unit on said engine other side and connected with said drive shaft, said differential unit having a pair of oppositely extending output members coaxially arranged for rotation on an axis spaced from and parallel to said engine crankshaft, said output members each being connectable with a drive wheel of said vehicle, said transmission and said differential being located generally adjacent said cylinder banks and on opposite sides of said crankshaft plane, both said transmission and said differential having portions thereof located closer to said plane than are the extreme portions of the engine supported by said cylinder banks.

Claim 3

The power unit of claim 1 and further including clutch means in said power transfer means and adapted to disconnect the driveable connection.

Claim 4

The power unit of claim 1 and further including a fluid coupling in said power transfer means to reduce the transmission of shock forces.

Claim 5

The power unit of claim 1 wherein said cylinder banks are arranged in a ''''V'''' and said drive shaft is disposed on the side of the crankshaft opposite from said cylinder banks.

Claim 6

In a vehicle, a power unit and drive train comprising an engine mounted transversely in said vehicle and having a crankshaft extending longitudinally of said engine, a variable ratio transmission mounted along one side of said engine and having an input shaft spaced from and parallel to said crankshaft, power transfer means at one end of said engine and driveably connecting said crankshaft with said transmission input shaft, a drive shaft connected with the output of said transmission, said drive shaft extending transversely underneath said crankshaft to the other side of said engine, a differential on the other side of said engine and connected with said drive shaft, said differential having a pair of oppositely extending output members coaxially arranged for rotation on an axis spaced from and parallel to said engine crankshaft and means connecting each of said output members with a drive wheel of said vehicle, said drive wheels being laterally disposed on opposite sides of said vehicle, a second drive shaft connected with the output of said transmission, said second drive shaft extending generally oppositely from said first named drive shaft and away from said engine, a second differential connected with the outboard end of said second drive shaft, said second differential having a pair of oppositely extending output members arranged on an axis transverse to said vehicle and means connecting each of the output members of said second differential with a drive wheel of said vehicle, said drive wheels being laterally disposed on opposite sides of said vehicle.

Claim 7

In a vehicle, a power unit and drive train comprising an engine mounted transversely in said vehicle and having a crankshaft extending longitudinally of said engine, a variable ratio transmission mounted along one side of said engine and having an input shaft spaced from and parallel to said crankshaft, power transfer means at one end of said engine and driveably connecting said crankshaft with said transmission input shaft, a drive shaft connected with the output of said transmission, said drive shaft extending transversely underneath said crankshaft to the other side of said engine, a differential on the other side of said engine and connected with said drive shaft, said differential having a pair of oppositely extending output members coaxially arranged for rotation on an axis spaced from and parallel to said engine crankshaft and means connecting each of said output members with a drive wheel of said vehicle, said drive wheels being laterally disposed on opposite sides of said vehicle, a second drive shaft connected with the output of said transmission, said second drive shaft extending generally oppositely from said first named drive shaft and away from said engine, a second differential connected with the outboard end of said second drive shaft, said second differential having a pair of oppositely extending output members arranged on an axis transverse to said vehicle and means connecting each of the output members of said second differential with a drive wheel of said vehicle, said drive wheels being laterally disposed on opposite sides of said vehicle.

Claim 8

In a vehicle, a power unit and drive train as defined in claim 5 and further including a third differential having an input member connected with said transmission and a pair of output members, one being connected with each of said first and second drive shafts.

Claim 9

In a vehicle, a power unit and drive train as defined in claim 5 and further including a fluid coupling connected between said transmission and each of said first and second drive shafts to provide fOr a variation in speed therebetween.