Differential engine controlled rotational power transmission apparatus and systems using the same

A vehicle comprising:

• a primary engine;
• and
• at least one power transmission apparatus, each power transmission apparatus comprising:
• an input coupler having a first input shaft and a second input shaft, the input coupler transferring power between the primary engine and the first and second input shafts;
• a differential engine coupled to the first input shaft,
• the differential engine applying a variable speed conversion ratio between the first input shaft and a first output shaft,
• the differential engine being controllable to set the variable speed conversion ratio to a speed conversion ratio within a range of speed conversion ratios, the range including negative and positive speed conversion ratios;
• a first one-way bearing coupled to the first output shaft;
• a first torque converter coupled to the first one-way bearing, the first one-way bearing transmitting power, between the first output shaft and the first torque converter, when of the first one-way bearing is driven by the first output shaft rotating in a first direction or when the first output shaft is driven by the first one-way bearing to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• a second one-way bearing coupled to the first output shaft;
• a second torque converter coupled to the second one-way bearing, the second one-way bearing transmitting power, between the first output shaft and the second torque converter, when the first one-way bearing is driven by the first output shaft rotating in the second direction or when the first output shaft is driven by the first one-way bearing to rotate in the first direction;
• a first output coupler coupled to output from the first torque converter, output from the second torque converter and a second output shaft;
• a multiple-port differential having two input ports and a first output port, one of the input
• ports coupled to the second output shaft, and one of the input ports coupled to second input shaft;
• and
• a third output shaft coupled to the first output port of the multiple port differential.

A rotational power transmission apparatus comprising:

• first, second, and third input shafts;
• a coupler coupling the first, second, and third input shafts
• a differential engine coupled to the first input shaft,
• the differential engine applying a variable speed conversion ratio between the first input shaft and a first output shaft,
• the differential engine being controllable to set the variable speed conversion ratio to a speed conversion ratio within a range of speed conversion ratios, the range including negative and positive speed conversion ratios;
• and
• a multi-port differential having a first input port coupled to the second input shaft, a second input port coupled to the first output shaft, and an output port;
• and
• an output shaft coupled to the output port of the multi-port differential.

A network of differential engine controlled apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of differential engine controlled apparatus, each differential engine controlled apparatus comprising:
• a first input shaft;
• a differential engine coupled to the first input shaft,
• the differential engine including a controller for sending and receiving network signals;
• the differential engine applying a variable speed conversion ratio between the first input shaft and a first output shaft,
• the differential engine being controllable to set the variable speed conversion ratio to a speed conversion ratio within a range of speed conversion ratios, the range including negative and positive speed conversion ratios;
• a first one-way bearing coupled to the first output shaft;
• a first torque converter coupled to the first one-way bearing, the first one-way bearing transmitting power, between the first output shaft and the first torque converter, when the first one-way bearing is driven by the first output shaft rotating in a first direction or when the first output shaft is driven by the first one-way bearing to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• a second one-way bearing coupled to the first output shaft;
• a second torque converter coupled to the second one-way bearing, the second one-way bearing transmitting power, between the first output shaft and the second torque converter, when the first one-way bearing is driven by the first output shaft rotating in the second direction or when the first output shaft is driven by the first one-way bearing to rotate in the first direction;
• and
• a first output coupler coupled to output from the first torque converter, output from the second torque converter and a second output shaft;
• wherein the controller of the differential engine of each of the plurality of differential engine controlled apparatus can communicate with the controller of the differential engine of at least one other of the plurality of differential engine controlled apparatus by network signals.