# US 2014/0190284 A1 · Driving System for Engine Auxiliary Power

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- Number: US 2014/0190284 A1
- Document ID: US20140190284A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/738,279
- Filed: 2013-01-10
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10
- Assignees: Power Solutions International, Inc.
- Applicants: Power Solutions International, Inc.
- Inventors: Constantine Xykis; Brian Manning; Gary Winemaster
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190284A1

## CPC

- F16H 7/023: {with belts having a toothed contact surface or regularly spaced bosses or hollows for slipless or nearly slipless meshing with complementary profiled contact surface of a pulley}
- B60K 25/02: directly from an engine shaft
- F02B 67/06: driven by means of chains, belts, or like endless members
- B60K 2025/022: {by a mechanical transmission}
- F16H: GEARING
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the toothed belt is a synchronous belt.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein at least 70% of the engine horsepower and crankshaft torque is transferred to the auxiliary unit.

### Claim 4

(canceled)

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the power requirement of the auxiliary unit is over 50 horsepower.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the drive sprocket is press fit on to the crankshaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary shaft operates at greater than 2000 RPM.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the lateral load on the crankshaft is at least 200 pounds.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the system is capable of delivering at least 80 kW at 3000 RPM of the auxiliary shaft.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a second sprocket mounted adjacent the drive sprocket and a belt mounted on the second sprocket interconnecting the second sprocket and at least one second pulley that drives at least one vehicle accessory.

### Claim 11

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising supporting the PTO shaft with a removable bracket.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising supporting the engine crankshaft with a removable bracket.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the toothed belt drive comprises a synchronous belt.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein 80 kW power is delivered from the crankshaft to the auxiliary unit at 3000 RPM.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the system applies less than about 360 pounds of side load on the engine crankshaft.

### Claim 17

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.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein a support structure mounted on the engine supports the crankshaft and the power take off shaft against a transverse load asserted by the drive belt.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein 80 kW power is delivered from the crankshaft to the auxiliary unit at 3000 RPM.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the system applies less than about 360 pounds of side load on the engine crankshaft.