US4346773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for operating a motor vehicle
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
•
Filing: 1980-06-16
•
Granted: 1982-08-31
•
Expires: 2000-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved internal combustion engine arrangement for providing increased fuel efficiency, reduced pollution, and an improved starter and generator arrangement. An internal combustion engine having a flywheel for equalizing non-uniformities of engine output torque has a first conventional clutch for shifting gears, and a second controllable clutch between the flywheel and engine for selectively disconnecting and stopping the engine during certain operating states of the vehicle. A combined starter-generator is provided having a toothed, windingless rotor fixed on the flywheel periphery and a stator surrounding the rotor and provided with windings both for generating current, and for imparting rotational force on the flywheel, which in turn starts the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Hofbauer
- 👤 Karsten Ehlers
- 👤 Paulus Heidemeyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:56
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02N; F02N11/00; F02N11/04; B; B60; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/08; B60K6/10; B60K6/105; F02N5/00; F02N5/04; F16; F16D; F16D21/00; F16D21/08; B60K6/20; B60K6/22; B60K6/26; B60K2006/268; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving said vehicle, a transmission, a normally present, conventional flywheel means coupled between said engine and said transmission for equalizing the non-uniformities of engine output torque, first clutch means arranged between said flywheel means and said transmission for permitting shifting of transmission gears, a second, controllable clutch means arranged between said engine and said flywheel means for automatically interrupting the coupling between said engine and said flywheel means and for re-coupling said flywheel means to said engine as a function of engine operating conditions, wherein said first and second clutch means comprise a clutch housing; the improvement comprising: starter-generator means having rotor means rigidly connected with said flywheel means for rotation therewith and stator means rigidly connected with said clutch housing, wherein said rotor means comprises a toothed, windingless rotor arranged on the periphery of said flywheel means in the form of a rim, and wherein said stator means comprises a direct current exciter current winding, a generator winding and a motor winding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving said vehicle, a transmission, a normally present, conventional flywheel means coupled between said engine and said transmission for equalizing the non-uniformities of engine output torque, first clutch means arranged between said flywheel means and said transmission for permitting shifting of transmission gears, a second, controllable clutch means arranged between said engine and said flywheel means for automatically interrupting the coupling between said engine and said flywheel means and for re-coupling said flywheel means to said engine as a function of engine operating conditions, wherein said first and second clutch means comprise a clutch housing; the improvement comprising: starter-generator means having rotor means rigidly connected with said flywheel means for rotation therewith and stator means rigidly connected with said clutch housing, wherein said rotor means comprises a toothed, windingless rotor arranged on the periphery of said flywheel means in the form of a rim, and wherein said stator means comprises a direct current exciter current winding, a generator winding and a motor winding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A motor vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the spaces between the teeth of said rotor are filled with a non-magnetic substance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A motor vehicle as defined in claim 2, wherein said non-magnetic substance has a high specific gravity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE646581C
Cited
DE719124C
Cited
US2393010A
Cited
US2589453A
Cited
US2502798A
Cited
DE912881C
Cited
AT183996B
Cited
US2935899A
Cited
US2873395A
Cited
US3629632A
Cited
US3652883A
Cited
US3734222A
Cited
US3771311A
Cited
US3882950A
Cited
US3886810A
Cited
US3870116A
Cited
GB1494128A
Cited
US4095922A
Cited
US4131185A
Cited
GB2006702B
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-30 | 1986-03-01 | 1986-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-30 | 1990-03-01 | 1990-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-30 | 1994-03-01 | 1994-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |