Abstract: A military vehicle includes an engine, an energy storage system, an accessory drive coupled to the engine and including an air compressor and a first motor, a second motor coupled to an axle, and a clutch positioned between the engine and the second motor. The clutch is spring-biased into engagement with the engine and pneumatically disengaged by an air supply selectively provided thereto based on operation of the air compressor. In an engine mode, (i) the clutch does not receive the air supply such that the engine is coupled to the second motor and (ii) the engine drives (a) the accessory drive and (b) the axle through the second motor. In the electric mode, (i) the first motor drives the air compressor to compress air to facilitate supplying the air supply to the clutch to disengage the clutch and decouple the engine from the second motor and (ii) the second motor drives the axle.

Abstract: The mower unit includes a mower deck having a top wall and side walls extending downwards from an outer circumferential edge of the top wall, a rotational shaft extending upwards through the top wall from an inside space formed by the top wall and the side walls, a cutter blade attached to a lower portion of the rotational shaft within the inside space and rotatable together with the rotational shaft, an electric mower motor having an output shaft that can rotatably drive the rotational shaft, and a flywheel rotatable in association with the rotational driving of the mower motor.

Abstract: A pulsation dampening apparatus for providing a selectively variable orifice size for a reciprocating compressor system includes a rotatable conical cage and a fixed conical cage, the conical cages being aligned along a central axis to form a central cylindrical port. The conical cages each include at least one window or port and have mating contours allowing the conical cages to rotatably slide over one another, allowing their respective ports to be selectively aligned in any configuration to create any desired effective orifice size. In one embodiment, each of the conical cages include a plurality of ports which can be selectively aligned, the relative alignment of the ports determining the effective orifice size of the pulsation dampening apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electric starter with a manual turning function. A main shaft, a drive gear mechanism, a shift fork, an electromagnetic relay guide rod and a first return spring are arranged in a housing of the electric starter. A gear shifting mechanism comprises a force receiving component which extends out of the housing of the electric starter and serves as an external force applying point so as to promote the electromagnetic relay guide rod to move rightwards, a normally closed switch for cutting off a power supply of the electric starter when the force receiving component moves to an extreme position, a positioning component for locking the force receiving component when the force receiving component moves to the extreme position, and a first return component which enables the force receiving component to automatically returns to an original state when the force receiving component is unlocked.

Abstract: An engine-starting device for a vehicle having an engine, a parking lock mechanism and an automatic transmission, the engine-starting device being provided with a drive plate connected to a crankshaft of said engine, an electric motor having a pinion selectively engageable with the drive plate, and an actuator device configured to move said pinion to an engaging position for engagement with said drive plate to start said engine, comprises: said parking lock mechanism having a manual shaft selectively switchable between a rotation permitting position for permitting a rotary motion of an output shaft of said automatic transmission, and a parking lock position for inhibiting the rotary motion of the output shaft; and said actuator device being configured to move said pinion between said engaging position and a non-engaging position for disengagement from said drive plate, said electric motor being connected to said manual shaft to rotate the manual shaft from one of said rotation permitting position and said par

Abstract: A driving device includes shaft, support member, restraining member, and connection portion. Shaft has a screw portion formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof. Support member rotatably supports shaft. Restraining member restrains shaft so as not to be movable in an axial direction thereof. Connection portion is formed in one end portion of shaft, and has output-side joint member detachably connected thereto. Input-side joint member is engaged by thread with screw portion of shaft so as to be rotatably supported. By being driven to rotate by drive source, input-side joint member is movable between connection position where input-side joint member is connected to output-side joint member and withdrawal position where connection is cut off. Driving device includes compression spring. When input-side joint member is moved from withdrawal position to connection position by drive source, compression spring compressively deform, while being sandwiched by input-side joint member and output-side joint member.

Abstract: A starter for an internal combustion engine comprises a starter motor and a starter pinion which can be displaced transversely to the longitudinal axis of the motor. The starter pinion is rotatably mounted in an eccentric component which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a rotatable transmission component of a transmission that is disposed between the starter motor and the starter pinion.

Abstract: A manual activation device for activating a starter assembly. The present invention may include a push rod that is connected to a solenoid plunger. The starter may be activated manually by pushing the rod and thereby pushing the solenoid plunger into the gears. Therefore, if there is an electrical or mechanical malfunction with the starter or the vehicle, the push rod may be pushed in to start the vehicle.

Abstract: An electric motorcycle includes an electric driving unit including an electric motor and a power transmission mechanism, and is configured to halt supplying of electric power to the electric motor for at least a period in the stopped state. A starting assist method is executed in the electric motorcycle. The starting assist method comprises the steps of activating the electric motor and rotating a rotor by itself to store rotation energy in the rotor, keeping the rotation energy stored in the rotor in the step of storing the rotation energy, in a stopped state of the electric motorcycle, and transmitting the rotation energy of the rotor kept in the step of keeping the rotation energy to the rear wheel as starting assist power.

Abstract: An active control method of varying a pedal effort for an accelerator through which the current pedal effort for an accelerator can be varied actively to increase when an engine-off signal for a vehicle in which an accelerator a pedal effort of which is controllable is generated respectively.

Abstract: A hydrostatic starter device (10) for an internal combustion engine (2) having a hydrostatic power unit (11) connected with the output shaft (4) of the internal combustion engine (2) is driven with hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid accumulator (12). The hydrostatic starter device (10) has an electrohydraulic charging device (30) to charge the hydraulic fluid accumulator (12) with hydraulic fluid and the hydrostatic power unit (11) is in a drive connection by a clutch device (25) with the internal combustion engine (2). The hydrostatic power unit (11) can be connected in a drive connection with the internal combustion engine (2) by the clutch device (25).

Abstract: An energy storage and recovery system device for a vehicle, comprising a flywheel, a first and a second set of gears, and multiple wet mutliplate clutches, wherein one of each gear set is arranged coaxially along a clutch shaft with one of the clutches, and wherein the device is coupled to the vehicle transmission, such that actuation of a clutch redirected the torque path via the gears, thereby enabling multiple ratios and therefore multiple speeds.

Abstract: An inertia assisted engine starting apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes an internal combustion engine and an accessory drive system including an accessory. The accessory includes a rotatable member. An electric motor is selectively rotationally coupled to the accessory drive system. A mechanical coupling device selectively transfers rotational kinetic energy from the accessory drive system to start the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A drive mechanism 1 comprises a combustion engine 3 and a start system 5 which has an output 7 that is connected to a camshaft 9 of the combustion engine. The start system further includes a flywheel 11 and connecting means connecting the flywheel to the output. The connecting means comprise a clutch 13 and a gear reduction 15. The start system 5 further includes a drive source 17 formed by an electromotor which is directly connected to the flywheel 11 or which is connected to the connecting means between the clutch 13 and the flywheel 11. The maximum power that can be delivered by the drive source 17 is just sufficient to maintain the flywheel at the proper r.p.m. If the drive source 17 is turned on, it thus delivers just sufficient power to maintain the flywheel at the proper r.p.m. The maximum power of the drive source is in this case 50 W.

Abstract: A combustion engine can be started by means of a starting device. During the starting operation attendant with the starting device driving the vehicle this drive is also effected by energizing a clutch which connects the combustion engine via a transmission to the wheels L of the vehicle. By utilizing the starting device for the starting operation also for meanwhile driving the vehicle and/or accelerating same, a faster and/or more gradual drive/acceleration of the vehicle is realized.

Abstract: The lubricant-return holes are provided in the intermediate portion of the ring gear. Thus, the lubricant stagnating above the first oil sealing member can be easily discharged to the oil pan side via the lubricant-return holes even when the ring gear has stopped rotating in response to the starter motor being turned off after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine. As such, the level of the surface of lubricant stagnating between the ring gear and the outer race member does not rise, and therefore the lubricant surface virtually does not reach the outer race and the one-way clutch that are rotating while the internal combustion engine is running. Thus, bubbling of lubricant and production of sludge, which may otherwise be caused by agitation of the lubricant surface, can be prevented.

Abstract: An engine restart apparatus for improving fuel efficiency and reducing torque of an engine may comprise a double-mass type flywheel unit including a main flywheel rotating with an engine connected to a power train and having a ring gear to receive a power from a starter motor and a sub-flywheel rotatably fitted on a crankshaft of the engine and selectively connected to the main flywheel, a power control circuit forming an electric circuit connecting a battery with the sub-flywheel, and a controller combining the sub-flywheel with the main flywheel by connecting an electric current supplied to the sub-flywheel through a power control circuit or separating the sub-flywheel from the main flywheel by cutting the electric current supplied to the sub-flywheel, in accordance with the engine load condition, the engine start condition, and the vehicle mode condition.

Abstract: Method for controlling a start-up of an internal combustion engine, an actuation of the internal combustion engine being begun and maintained by an electric machine in order to set the internal combustion engine into independent motion, thereby characterized, in that the actuation of the internal combustion engine is concluded before an initial combustion in the internal combustion engine takes place.

Abstract: The lubricant-return holes are provided in the intermediate portion of the ring gear. Thus, the lubricant stagnating above the first oil sealing member can be easily discharged to the oil pan side via the lubricant-return holes even when the ring gear has stopped rotating in response to the starter motor being turned off after completion of the start of the internal combustion engine. As such, the level of the surface of lubricant stagnating between the ring gear and the outer race member does not rise, and therefore the lubricant surface virtually does not reach the outer race and the one-way clutch that are rotating while the internal combustion engine is running. Thus, bubbling of lubricant and production of sludge, which may otherwise be caused by agitation of the lubricant surface, can be prevented.

Abstract: An inertia assisted engine starting apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes an internal combustion engine and an accessory drive system including an accessory. The accessory includes a rotatable member. An electric motor is selectively rotationally coupled to the accessory drive system. A mechanical coupling device selectively transfers rotational kinetic energy from the accessory drive system to start the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method controls a friction clutch disposed between an internal combustion engine and a change speed transmission. The friction clutch is controlled in such a way that it transmits an average coupling torque of the internal combustion engine and does not transmit periodically occurring peak values of the coupling torque. In addition, a control unit is programmed to carry out the method.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling shut down of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine include a mechanical energy storage device to decelerate an engine crankshaft to a stopping position desirable for restarting of the engine. Energy stored during shut down may be used to adjust or reposition the crankshaft to one of a plurality of angular orientations advantageous for restarting, and/or used to rotate the crankshaft during restarting of the engine. A flywheel having a variable mass, such as provided by two or more segments, which may be fixedly or selectively coupled to one or more springs may be used to selectively store and release energy.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine of a hybrid drive of a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor being mechanically linkable to an output shaft of the hybrid drive via a gear system. The output shaft of the hybrid drive is placed in rotary motion, and at least one of the electric motors is switched to a generator mode by the gear system and by a control system.

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine (4) in a vehicle equipped with an electrodynamic drive system (2), which is comprised of an electric motor (24) and a planetary transmission (14) between the internal combustion engine (4) and a manual transmission (6) with an input shaft (28), provides that first the electric motor (24) is accelerated to a speed that is fundamentally sufficient to start the internal combustion engine (4); this is followed by a controlled closing of a brake (32) designed to halt the rotation of the input shaft (28) of the manual transmission (6) against a stationary housing component (34), whereby a level of torque that represents the sum of electromotive torque and rotational torque of the rotating components acts upon the internal combustion engine (4).

Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine (4) in a vehicle equipped with an electrodynamic drive system (2), which is comprised of an electric motor (24) and a planetary transmission (14) between the internal combustion engine (4) and a manual transmission (6) with an input shaft (28), provides that first the electric motor (24) is accelerated to a speed that is fundamentally sufficient to start the internal combustion engine (4); this is followed by a controlled closing of a brake (32) designed to halt the rotation of the input shaft (28) of the manual transmission (6) against a stationary housing component (34), whereby a level of torque that represents the sum of electromotive torque and rotational torque of the rotating components acts upon the internal combustion engine (4).

Abstract: A valve cam mechanism for a four-cycle engine includes an improved construction. The engine includes at least one camshaft having cam lobes to actuate intake and exhaust valves. A decompression actuator is affixed to the camshaft for pivotal movement. A holder section of the actuator is arranged to hold the intake or exhaust valve in an open position when the actuator exists in an initial position. A weight section is disposed opposite to the holder section relative to the pivot axis to place the holder section in the initial position. The actuator pivots when the weight section moves by centrifugal force to release the holder section from the initial position. The camshaft further has a projection extending radially and defining a first surface on which the stopper section abuts to inhibit the actuator from pivoting beyond a preset range. The cam lobe includes a base circle portion and a nose portion protruding from the base circle of the cam lobe.

Abstract: The invention relates to a starting/driving unit for an internal combustion engine (VM) of a motor vehicle with at least two starting methods, which has a clutch (K) between the crankshaft (KW), the engine (VM), and the vehicle transmission (FG) as well as an electric machine which is connected to the engine (VM) by way of the clutch (K). With the electric machine, the two starting methods can be executed in an optimal fashion solely by virtue of the fact that through rotation of the crankshaft by means of the electric machine, each starting method is preceded by a start clearing phase in which the starting conditions are detected when the clutch is engaged, a decision is made as to the subsequent operating phases (direct start phase, positioning phase, preinjection phase, impulse start phase) and their starting parameters are determined.