US3665787A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power plant
Assignee: PERKINS SERVICES
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Filing: 1970-07-24
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A power plant includes an internal combustion engine which drives a planetary differential through a lockable hydrostatic torque converter. One of the differential outputs drives a supercharging air compressor, while the other output drives the power plant load through a drive shaft. The two outputs are inter-connected by a variable displacement hydrostatic drive including a pump and a motor. Thus a split path drive through the hydrostatic leg and through the mechanical connection to the output is provided. A controller receives an engine speed signal, a manifold pressure signal and an engine speed setting and provides an output signal to control a variable fuel supply to the engine and another output signal for controlling adjustment of the hydrostatic pump and motor. A governor is responsive to the speed of the load to control lock-up of the torque converter. In operation at high load speeds, the hydrostatic drive leg is locked out, the compressor is idle, and the torque converter is locked up, yielding an overdrive ratio. Higher power demands caused by increases in power plant load will cause activation of the hydrostatic leg to vary the drive ratio and activate the compressor to increase engine power. Upon further increase of the load, the torque converter unlocks, enabling torque multiplication and maintenance of relatively high engine speed for high power output. The effect of this power plant is to provide reserve power in a usable range only, while maintaining engine speed in an optimum power range.
Inventors
- 👤 William H Wilkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:11
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B33/00; F02B33/32; F02B33/34; F02B39/00; F02B39/02; F02B39/04; F16; F16H; F16H47/00; F16H47/06; F16H47/08; F16H47/085; F16H47/02; F16H47/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A power plant for driving a load, including an air breathing engine having a fuel supply, characterized by a variable power splitting device having an input and first and second outputs, first connecting means operatively interconnecting the engine and the input, second connecting means operatively interconnecting the first output and the load, an auxiliary air device for the engine connected to the second output, and regulating means for the power plant including a controller for automatically controlling the speed ratio of the variable power splitting device to vary the power split between the outputs to cause the power plant to produce a predetermined power output characteristic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A power plant for driving a load, including an air breathing engine having a fuel supply, characterized by a variable power splitting device having an input and first and second outputs, first connecting means operatively interconnecting the engine and the input, second connecting means operatively interconnecting the first output and the load, an auxiliary air device for the engine connected to the second output, and regulating means for the power plant including a controller for automatically controlling the speed ratio of the variable power splitting device to vary the power split between the outputs to cause the power plant to produce a predetermined power output characteristic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A power plant according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes a manual input and is responsive to both the manual input and to a speed condition of the power plant to control the variable power splitting device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A power plant according to claim 2, wherein the controller is also responsive to a second speed condition of the power plant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power plant according to claim 3, wherein the speed conditions are engine speed and second connecting means speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
A power plant for driving a load, including an air breathing engine having an intake manifold, characterized by a variable fuel supply, a differential device having an input and first and second outputs, first connecting means operatively interconnecting the engine and the input, second connecting means operatively interconnecting the first output and the load, an auxiliary air device for the engine connected to the second output, variable ratio power transmitting means connecting one output with the other output or input, and regulating means for the power plant including a controller for controlling the ratio of the variable ratio power transmitting means to control the speed relationship among the engine, load and auxiliary air device and thereby cause the power plant to produce a predetermined power output characteristic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
A power plant for driving a load, including an air breathing engine having an intake manifold, characterized by a variable fuel supply, a differential device having an input and first and second outputs, first connecting means operatively interconnecting the engine and the input, second connecting means operatively interconnecting the first output and the load, an auxiliary air device for the engine connected to the second output, variable ratio power transmitting means connecting one output with the other output or input, and regulating means for the power plant including a controller for controlling the ratio of the variable ratio power transmitting means to control the speed relationship among the engine, load and auxiliary air device and thereby cause the power plant to produce a predetermined power output characteristic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A power plant according to claim 5, wherein the variable ratio power transmitting means is located between the first and second outputs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A power plant according to claim 6, wherein the variable ratio power transmitting means include a hydrostatic fluid pump device driven by the second output and a hydrostatic fluid motor device driven by the pump device and connected to the first output, at least one of the hydrostatic devices having a variable displacement controlled by the controller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A power plant according to claim 7, wherein the controller is responsive to the speed of the engine for controlling the displacement of the variable displacement hydrostatic device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A power plant according to claim 7, wherein the regulating means include control valve means for enabling reversing rotation of the hydrostatic motor device to effect reverse rotation of the second connecting means and resultant reverse drive of the load.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A power plant according to claim 6, wherein the controller is responsive to a speed condition of the power Plant to control the variable ratio power transmitting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A power plant according to claim 10, wherein the speed condition is the speed of the engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A power plant according to claim 11, wherein the regulating means include a manually adjustable control for the controller and the controller is also responsive to the manually adjustable control and to manifold pressure control to selectively control both the variable fuel supply and the variable ratio power transmitting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A power plant according to claim 12, wherein the variable fuel supply is controlled by the controller and is responsive to intake manifold pressure to regulate the fuel supplied to the engine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A power plant according to claim 6, wherein the first connecting means include a hydrodynamic torque transmitting device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A power plant according to claim 14, wherein the controller is responsive to a first speed condition of the power plant for controlling the variable ratio power transmitting means, and the regulating means include a governor responsive to a second speed condition of the power plant to control the hydrodynamic torque transmitting device to allow the engine speed to increase above the input speed when the second speed is below a predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A power plant according to claim 15, wherein the hydrodynamic torque transmitting device has lock-up means, and the second speed is second connecting means speed to which the governor is responsive to control the lock-up means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
A power plant according to claim 16, wherein the regulating means include a manually adjustable control for the controller, the first speed is engine speed, and the controller is responsive to the manually adjustable control, to engine speed and to manifold pressure to selectively control both the variable fuel supply and the variable ratio power transmitting means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A power plant according to claim 17, wherein the variable fuel supply is controlled by the controller and is responsive to intake manifold pressure to regulate the fuel supplied to the engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power plant according to claim 5, wherein one of the connecting means include a variable speed torque transmitting device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A power plant according to claim 19, wherein the variable speed torque transmitting device is included in the first connecting means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A power plant according to claim 20, wherein the variable speed torque transmitting device is a hydrodynamic torque converter having lock-up means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A power plant according to claim 21, wherein the regulating means include a governor responsive to the speed of the second connecting means for controlling the lock-up means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
A power plant according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary air device comprises a positive displacement air compressor and the controller is responsive to the intake manifold pressure to control the variable ratio power transmitting means to limit the intake manifold pressure to a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A power plant according to claim 5, wherein the differential device includes planetary gearing having a sun gear connected to the second connecting means, a ring gear connected to the auxiliary air device, and a planet carrier connected to the first connecting means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
208 words
A power plant for driving a load, including an air breathing engine having an intake manifold, characterized by a variable fuel supply, a differential device having an input and first and second outputs, a hydrodynamic torque converter with lock-up means operatively interconnecting the engine and the input, connecting means operatively interconnecting the first output and the load, an auxiliary air device for supercharging the engine connected to the second output, a variable displacement hydrostatic device interconnecting the second and first outputs, and regulating means for controlling both the torque converter lock-up means and the hydrostatic device displacement and being responsive to load speed and engine speed to cause torque converter loCk-up and cause the hydrostatic device to stop the second output and thus the auxiliary air device to cause drive of the load solely by the first output above a predetermined load speed, and as load speed decreases to successively vary the displacement of the hydrostatic device to progressively increase the speed of the second output and thus the auxiliary air device to provide engine supercharge and a variable ratio split path drive to the load by both outputs and thereafter to unlock the torque converter to enable engine speeds greater than input speeds and concurrent torque multiplication.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
208 words
A power plant for driving a load, including an air breathing engine having an intake manifold, characterized by a variable fuel supply, a differential device having an input and first and second outputs, a hydrodynamic torque converter with lock-up means operatively interconnecting the engine and the input, connecting means operatively interconnecting the first output and the load, an auxiliary air device for supercharging the engine connected to the second output, a variable displacement hydrostatic device interconnecting the second and first outputs, and regulating means for controlling both the torque converter lock-up means and the hydrostatic device displacement and being responsive to load speed and engine speed to cause torque converter loCk-up and cause the hydrostatic device to stop the second output and thus the auxiliary air device to cause drive of the load solely by the first output above a predetermined load speed, and as load speed decreases to successively vary the displacement of the hydrostatic device to progressively increase the speed of the second output and thus the auxiliary air device to provide engine supercharge and a variable ratio split path drive to the load by both outputs and thereafter to unlock the torque converter to enable engine speeds greater than input speeds and concurrent torque multiplication.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
A power plant according to claim 25, wherein the regulating means are also responsive to intake manifold pressure and are operable to provide optimum fuel supply and to limit intake manifold pressure to a predetermined value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
A power plant according to claim 26, including a manual control for the regulating means to modify control of the hydrostatic device displacement by the regulating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |