Abstract: For fuel economy, it is known that the engine of a motor vehicle may be turned off during vehicle operation while the electrical power for various appliances, such as the lighting circuit or the radio must be maintained. Upon restarting the engine, there may be a voltage drop in the vehicle supply circuit voltage with deteriorating effects in the lighting circuit and possibly failure of the radio. The disclosed circuit prevents such effects by limiting the rate of change of variations in vehicle supply circuit voltage as a function of connecting and disconnecting of a high-power component such as the starter.

Abstract: A transmission arrangement for motor vehicles has a planetary gear set acting as an axle step-up and reversing gear. The planet gears of the planetary gear set have two sets of teeth at different diameters. Synchronizing rings are arranged to minimize the structural space required. A housing for a following differential is connectable either with the planet gear carrier or else with a ring gear meshing with the larger planet gears by way of a sliding sleeve. The transmission has a continuously variable section preceding the planetary gearing.

Abstract: A drive arrangement for a motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine, a transmission on the output side of the engine and at least one drive axle, and an arrangement for shutting off and restarting the engine depending upon the driving condition. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic transmission and a disconnect coupling is arranged on the output side of the transmission to prevent transmission losses when the engine is turned off. An electromechanical converter capable of operation as a motor or a generator may be provided in place of a flywheel.

Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle having an automatic, continuously variable speed transmission comprising at least three control phases. During a first control phase, the engine speed is maintained at a substantially constant value while the transmission gear ratio is increased to the maximum transmission gear ratio. During a second control phase, the transmission gear ratio is maintained at the maximum transmission gear ratio while the engine speed is increased to the maximum engine speed possible at the maximum gear ratio and selected throttle valve angle. During a third control phase, the transmission gear ratio is decreased from the maximum transmission gear ratio, so that higher vehicle traveling speeds may be obtained. During the third control phase the transmission gear ratio may be rapidly changed to a ratio corresponding to maximum engine power when the accelerator pedal is placed in a kickdown position.

Abstract: A hybrid drive for a vehicle includes an electric engine supplied with energy from an electrical storage device and capable of returning energy back to the storage device. The electric engine is connected with a driving axle of the vehicle by a first disconnecting clutch and to an internal combustion engine arranged in series therewith by a second disconnecting clutch. Operation of these clutches can be independent of each other. In order to save fuel the internal combustion engine is not supplied with a dedicated flywheel, but instead utilizes the rotating masses of the drive between the disconnection points of the two clutches, e.g., the rotating elements of the electric engine, as a flywheel.

Abstract: A vehicle having an engine which is stopped during selected operating states and a generator having counterrotating members. One of the counterrotating members is connected to the engine and the other counterrotating member is connected to the wheels of the vehicle. The generator may be driven by either the engine or the wheels.

Abstract: The invention concerns a hybrid drive arrangement for vehicles, with an engine drive and with a flywheel storage drive, which includes a storage flywheel supported concentrically relative to the crankshaft for storing kinetic energy during such operations as braking operations of the vehicle. Both drives can be connected with the driving wheels of the vehicle by means of a common, preferably continuously variable, transmission. In order to obtain a faster response of the engine drive on suddenly occurring power demands and in order to achieve a more favorable design of the storage flywheel, there is to be provided in accordance with the invention, in addition to a storage flywheel, an engine flywheel associated with the reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine, which compensates for torque irregularities of the engine. The engine flywheel can be connected with a crankshaft by means of a first clutch and with the storage flywheel by means of at least one further clutch.

Abstract: A clutch arrangement for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle and a flywheel coupled between the vehicle transmission and the engine for equalizing the non-uniformity of the engine output torque. The clutch arrangement includes a main clutch arranged between the flywheel and the main transmission for interrupting the coupling for shifting gears and an auxiliary controllable clutch arranged between the engine and flywheel for automatically interrupting the coupling of the engine and flywheel. The controllable clutch comprises a spring disc clutch free from rotational play and is arranged so that the direction of force for actuating the main clutch, for interrupting the coupling between the flywheel and transmission, is opposed to the direction of the force for actuating the auxiliary controllable clutch.

Abstract: An arrangement for the automatic actuation of an automobile clutch operatively located between an automobile engine and a manually shiftable transmission, of the kind that includes a servo motor responsive to auxiliary power applied thereto for effecting engagement and disengagement of the clutch, and control means for controlling the auxiliary power delivery to the servo motor as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal, or the clutch input (engine output) and output (transmission input) rotational speeds, or both, and wherein the control means controls the auxiliary power delivery to the servo motor so that the rotational speed of the engine attains a prescribed rotational speed which is a function of the position of the accelerator pedal, the auxiliary power delivery being an application pulse to the servo motor of sufficient duration to almost completely overcome the free travel of the clutch.

Abstract: A system for driving a motor vehicle with a infinitely variable belt gear is provided with an engine transversely positioned to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. First and second drive-cone pulleys are provided for transmitting the rotational force of the engine. A clutch couples the engine with the drive-cone pulleys. A V-belt or chain drivingly connects the first and second output cone pulleys with the first and second drive-cone pulleys. A planetary gear drive with a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planetary gear carrier carrying planet gears is driven by the first and second output cone pulleys. A differential gear for driving the axles of the vehicle is coaxially positioned to the planetary gear with a drive gear coupling the differential gear with the planetary gear.

Abstract: A clutch arrangement for a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle and a flywheel coupled between the vehicle transmission and the engine for equalizing the non-uniformity of the engine output torque. The clutch arrangement includes a main clutch arranged between the flywheel and the main transmission for interrupting the coupling for shifting gears and an auxiliary controllable clutch arranged between the engine and flywheel for automatically interrupting the coupling of the engine and flywheel. The controllable clutch comprises a spring disc clutch free from rotational play and is arranged so that the direction of force for actuating the main clutch, for interrupting the coupling between the flywheel and transmission, is opposed to the direction of the force for actuating the auxiliary controllable clutch.

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.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatic actuation of a clutch of an automobile with a manual shift transmission. A pneumatic servo motor controls clutch engagement. A control mechanism, for example a microprocessor, controls the servo motor as a function of accelerator pedal position and/or input and output clutch speeds during starts from stop (initial transmission input speed .perspectiveto.O). The rotation speed of the engine attains a prescribed value preassigned as a function of the accelerator pedal position. For each pedal position, signals to control valves cause the servo motor to vary clutch engagement based on the difference between prescribed and detected engine speeds. The signals can be pulse signals variable in frequency and/or duration by the control mechanism. During starting from stop, for pedal depressions above idle, the rotational speed of the engine remains below maximum tractive power for that pedal position.

Abstract: An automatic clutch system is provided for use in a motor vehicle and has a control mechanism which responds to the position of the accelerator pedal and which also responds to first and second rotation speed sensing means connected to the engine shaft and the transmission shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the automatic clutch system is provided with a control mechanism which operates in a first mode when the vehicle is starting from a standing position to engage the clutch in a manner which keeps the engine in a specified speed range, which depends on accelerator lever position. The control mechanism operates in a second mode when the vehicle is shifted between gears in order to engage the clutch in a manner which provides a constant time gradient for the shaft speed difference selected in accordance with accelerator pedal position.

Abstract: A motor vehicle and a method of operation thereof. The method and apparatus relate to motor vehicles having an internal combustion engine for driving the vehicle and a flywheel coupled to the engine for equalizing the non-uniformity of the engine output torque. In accordance with the invention, at operating conditions wherein both the engine does not drive the vehicle and the flywheel rotates above a predetermined minimum speed, the coupling between the engine and the flywheel is automatically interrupted and the engine is stopped. Upon termination of these operating conditions, the flywheel is re-coupled to the engine to restart the engine. The coupling is preferably a controllable clutch arranged between the engine and flywheel, and the interruption of the coupling between the engine and flywheel is controlled as a function of one or more parameters representative of the operating state of the vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the closing limit of a carburetor throttle valve in a motor vehicle having an automatic transmission with a shift control that includes a governor producing a speed-dependent pressure. The apparatus comprises a vacuum-actuated device for varying the closing limit of the throttle valve in dependence upon the vacuum applied thereto; a vacuum line connecting the vacuum actuated device with a source of intake manifold vacuum downstream of the throttle valve; a hydraulic or solenoid valve arranged in the vacuum line for controlling the vacuum transmitted by the line; and a hydraulic or electrical circuit for controlling this valve in dependence upon the speed-dependent pressure produced by the governor.