Driving System for Engine Auxiliary Power
AssigneePower Solutions International, Inc.
InventorsConstantine Xykis, Brian Manning, Gary Winemaster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for driving engine auxiliaries are provided. A front drive power take-off system is used to drive an auxiliary unit mounted on the engine. A pulley and belt drive assembly includes a drive sprocket mounted on the engine crankshaft, a toothed belt interconnecting the drive sprocket, and a pulley mounted on a drive shaft of the auxiliary unit to transmits power from crankshaft to the auxiliary unit.
Claims20
A system for driving an auxiliary unit from the front end of an engine and driving a vehicle drive system from a rear end of the engine, the system comprising:
- an engine comprising a front end and a rear end, wherein the engine comprises an engine block and a crankshaft,
- a drive sprocket mounted on a portion of the crankshaft extending from the front end of the engine;
- an auxiliary shaft for driving the auxiliary unit, wherein the auxiliary unit is mounted on a side of the engine block between the front end and the back end of the block and the auxiliary shaft extends from the auxiliary unit toward the front end of the engine and is spaced in fixed and parallel relation to the crankshaft;
- an auxiliary pulley mounted on the auxiliary shaft that is adapted for driving the auxiliary unit;
- a toothed drive belt interconnecting the drive sprocket and the auxiliary pulley to transmit power from the drive sprocket to the pulley;
- and
- a support structure that supports the crankshaft and the auxiliary shaft against a transverse load asserted by the drive belt,
- wherein the system is capable of transmitting substantially all of the power from the engine to the auxiliary unit.
(canceled)
A method for powering an auxiliary unit on an engine for driving a vehicle, the method comprising:
- mounting the auxiliary unit comprising a power take off shaft on an engine comprising an engine block, a crankshaft comprising a portion that extends from a front end of the block, and a rear end for driving a vehicle drive system, wherein the auxiliary unit is mounted on a side of the engine block between the front end and the rear end,
- wherein an auxiliary power take-off shaft is substantially parallel to an engine crankshaft;
- delivering substantially all of the power from the engine from the end of the crankshaft extending from the front of the engine to the auxiliary unit via a pulley and toothed belt system, wherein the pulley and toothed belt system comprises a pulley mounted on the power take off shaft, a sprocket mounted on the crankshaft, and a toothed belt rotatably connecting the pulley and the sprocket.
A method for minimizing space required for an engine in an engine compartment of a vehicle while delivering power to an auxiliary unit, the method comprising:
- mounting the auxiliary unit comprising a power take off shaft on an engine comprising an engine block, a crankshaft comprising a portion that extends from a front end of the block, and a rear end for driving a vehicle drive system, wherein the auxiliary unit is mounted on a side of the engine block between the front end and the rear end, wherein the auxiliary power take-off shaft is substantially parallel to the crankshaft;
- delivering substantially all of the power from the engine from the crankshaft to the auxiliary unit via a pulley and toothed belt system, wherein the pulley and toothed belt system comprises a pulley mounted on a power take-off (PTO) shaft, a sprocket mounted on the crankshaft, and a toothed belt rotatably connecting the pulley and the sprocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.