Abstract: Engine synchronization apparatus and system for multi-engine vehicles such as boats and aircraft providing limited authority throttle cable trim effected by an apparatus interposed between the throttle plate and throttle cable of a slave engine and mounted in a floating configuration. An actuator is mounted to the apparatus to trim the distance between the throttle plate and throttle cable attachment thereby trimming the throttle cable. A system is provided in which a difference signal derived from master and slave engine tachometer signals is used to control the actuator and synchronize the engines within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A hybrid drive device having an engine coupling shaft member, a speed change mechanism, a rotating electrical machine, and an engine connecting clutch. A first lubricating oil passage scatters lubricating oil from radially inside to radially outside of first and second friction plates. A first one-way clutch is interposed between an engine coupling shaft member and a coupling member, and is configured to not be engaged when rotation of the engine coupling shaft member becomes lower than rotation of the coupling member. A second one-way clutch is configured not to be engaged when rotation of the rotating electrical machine becomes lower than rotation of the coupling member. An engine driven oil pump generates an oil pressure to be supplied by a driving force of the internal combustion engine or a driving force of the rotating electrical machine regardless of engagement or disengagement of the engine connecting clutch.

Abstract: A variable frequency transformer including: a first parallel circuit including at least two of the rotary transformers arranged in parallel and having an isolating circuit breaker connected to a rotor winding of each of the rotary transformers, and a separate synchronizing circuit breaker connected to a stator winding in each of the rotary transformers in the first parallel circuit; a first main transformer having a first winding connectable to a first power grid and a secondary winding connectable to the isolating circuit breaker in the first parallel circuit; a second main transformer having a first winding connectable to a second power grid and a secondary winding connectable to each of the synchronizing circuit breakers in the first parallel circuit, and a control system operatively connected to each of the synchronizing circuit breakers, the isolating circuit breakers and the drive motors for each of the rotary transformers.

Abstract: Engine synchronization apparatus and system for multi-engine vehicles such as boats and aircraft providing limited authority throttle cable trim effected by an apparatus interposed between the throttle plate and throttle cable of a slave engine and mounted in a floating configuration. An actuator is mounted to the apparatus to trim the distance between the throttle plate and throttle cable attachment thereby trimming the throttle cable. A system is provided in which a difference signal derived from master and slave engine tachometer signals is used to control the actuator and synchronize the engines within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A propulsion apparatus for synchronizing the revolution speeds of a plurality of engines, each engine having a screw propeller shaft. A single regulator lever synchronously adjusts a revolution speed of the propeller shafts of the engines. When an output rpm of one of the engines has dropped, a control means lowers the revolution speed of the propeller shafts of the remaining engines to a revolution speed which is synchronized to the revolution speed of the propeller shaft of the engine whose rpm has dropped. Synchronization of revolution speeds of the remaining engines with the engine having reduced output rpm is terminated if the output rpm of that engine falls below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method comprises modifying combustion parameters of an engine of a hybrid vehicle to provide an engine power level insufficient to maintain crankshaft rotation at a desired speed including increasing a temperature of an exhaust gas and reducing an emissions content of the exhaust gas; and supplementing the engine power level with an electric machine of the hybrid vehicle to maintain crankshaft rotation at the desired speed. A control module comprises a cold start combustion control module that modifies combustion parameters of an engine of a hybrid vehicle to provide an engine power level insufficient to maintain crankshaft rotation at a desired speed, wherein the modifying includes increasing a temperature of an exhaust gas, and reducing an emissions content of the exhaust gas; and an electric machine control module that supplements the engine power level using an electric machine of the hybrid vehicle to maintain crankshaft rotation at the desired speed.

Abstract: The present invention includes an integrated fuel processor subsystem incorporating a thermal combustor, a catalytic combustor, a quasi-autothermal reactor (QATR) and a air-fuel-steam (AFS) mixer to provide a range of operating modes exhibiting performance between that of a pure steam reformer and a pure autothermal reformer to increase the flexibility of the fuel processor to handle transient system demands such as cold starts, suppress emissions and carbon formation and improve efficiency.

Abstract: A power output apparatus (20) of the present invention includes a clutch motor (30), an assist motor (40), and a controller (80) for controlling the clutch motor (30) and the assist motor (40). The clutch motor (30) includes an outer rotor (32) linked with a crankshaft (56) of a gasoline engine (50) and an inner rotor (34) connecting with a drive shaft (22). The assist motor (40) includes a rotor (42) connecting with the drive shaft (22). An electric current flowing through three-phase coils (36) in the clutch motor (30) enables the outer rotor (32) to be coupled with the inner rotor (34) with a certain slip. Electrical energy corresponding to the certain slip is recovered as an electric power via a first driving circuit (91). The assist motor (40) is controlled with the electric power via a second driving circuit (92) so as to apply a torque to the drive shaft (22).

Abstract: A speed synchronizer for master and slave engines is disclosed. The speed controller of the slave engine is adjustable by a manual actuator and also by a servo actuator. The servo actuator is responsive to a circuit which develops a correction signal corresponding to the difference between engine speed signals. A transfer mechanism selectively transmits movement of either the manual actuator or the servo actuator to the speed controller. The transfer mechanism comprises first and second levers rotationally mounted about a shaft and coupled together for concurrent movement by a spring. The first lever is connected with the manual actuator and the second lever is connected on one side of its rotation shaft to the servo actuator and on the other side of its rotation shaft to the speed controller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are apparatus for synchronizing the speeds of two or more engines, each having its own throttle lever connected by an associated cable to a respective hand throttle lever. More particularly, the throttle lever of one of the engines is moved independently of its associated cable and its respective hand throttle lever to increase or decrease the speed of the engine until its speed matches the speed of the other engine or engines, whereby the speeds of the engines may be synchronized without moving their associated cables or their respective hand throttle levers.

Abstract: This invention relates to a modular mechanism and methods for synchronizing the speed of one engine with a reference speed such as another engine particularly as found in boats. A physically limited range of fine tuning is combined with the normal operation of existing manual control over its full range of course adjustment, without interference, by way of an adjustable link coupled non-resiliently in series with the throttle linkage and allowed to slide along a non-circular shaft or key that causes micrometer adjustments in length of the link between the manual control and the throttle when the key is turned. The key can be turned by a differential device or reversible motor responding to continuous or interruptable power related to the engine speeds.

Abstract: An electronic control module comprising an operational amplifier used as a comparator senses the difference between the throttle settings of a master and slave engine as detected by a potentiometer associated with each engine's throttle control apparatus in order to accordingly adjust the control signal of a fluid pressure actuator of the slave engine, which actuator in turn adjusts the slave engine throttle setting until it corresponds to that of the master engine, at which point the slave engine throttle actuator control signal is maintained constant by reason of the operational amplifier sensing such correspondence.

Abstract: An engine synchronizer for synchronizing the speed of a slave engine with the speed of a master engine is disclosed. The disclosed synchronizer includes a comparison and control circuit deriving input signals from the distributors of two engines, e.g., the two engines of a power boat, one engine being arbitrarily designated the master engine and the other being arbitrarily designated the slave engine. The throttle of each engine is coupled to its associated hand throttle lever by means of a Bowden cable. One end of the sheath of the slave engine throttle control cable is attached to a slidable bracket. The slidable bracket is positioned within its limits of sliding movement by a positioning motor operating through a rack and pinion. Power to energize the positioning motor is supplied by the comparison and control circuit.