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US 7,841,438 B2Granted
Turbocharger activated clutch
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorJoshua Sigmund
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle may have an engine that provides power for locomotion; a plurality of ground engaging wheels; a clutch assembly connected to the engine and connected to at least one of the ground engaging wheels; and a turbocharger assembly connected to the engine and connected to the clutch assembly. The turbocharger assembly is operated to engage the clutch assembly to connect, for locomotion, the engine to the ground engaging wheel.
Claims16
A vehicle comprising:
- an engine that provides power for locomotion and that creates exhaust gas;
- a plurality of ground engaging wheels;
- a first clutch assembly comprising:
- (a) an input shaft operatively connected to the engine;
- (b) an input clutch operatively connected to the input shaft;
- (c) an output shaft operatively connected to at least one of the plurality of ground engaging wheels to provide locomotion for the vehicle;
- (d) an output clutch operatively connected to the output shaft;
- and,
- (e) a pneumatic clutch engagement system that selectively engages the input clutch to the output clutch;
- a turbocharger assembly comprising:
- (a) a turbine assembly comprising:
- (1) a turbine housing having an inlet that receives exhaust gas from the engine and an outlet that discharges the exhaust gas;
- and,
- (2) a turbine wheel positioned within the turbine housing and having a shaft, wherein the turbine wheel is rotatable by the exhaust gas;
- (b) a first compressor assembly comprising:
- (1) a compressor housing having an inlet that receives ambient air and an outlet that provides compressed air to activate the pneumatic clutch engagement system;
- and,
- (2) a compressor wheel positioned within the compressor housing, wherein the compressor wheel is rotatable by the turbine wheel shaft;
- and,
- a control system used to control the operation of the first clutch assembly and the turbocharger assembly;
- wherein the outlet of the compressor provides compressed air only to the pneumatic clutch engagement system.
18 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle comprising:
- an engine that provides power for locomotion;
- and, a plurality of ground engaging wheels;
- providing the vehicle with a clutch assembly operatively connected to the engine and operatively connected to at least one of the ground engaging wheels;
- providing the vehicle with a turbocharger assembly operatively connected to the engine and operatively connected to the clutch assembly, wherein the turbocharger assembly includes a turbine wheel and an air compressor having a compressor wheel operatively connected to the turbine wheel;
- and,
- operating the turbocharger assembly to engage the clutch assembly to operatively connect for locomotion the engine to the at least one ground engaging wheel comprising the steps of:
- drawing exhaust gas from the engine to rotate the turbine wheel and thereby the compressor wheel;
- drawing ambient air into the air compressor;
- and,
- delivering compressed air only to the clutch assembly.
8 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a clutch assembly comprising:
- (a) an input shaft operatively connectable to an engine;
- (b) an input clutch operatively connected to the input shaft;
- (c) an output shaft;
- (d) an output clutch operatively connected to the output shaft;
- and,
- (e) a pneumatic clutch engagement system that selectively engages the input clutch to the output clutch;
- a turbocharger assembly comprising:
- (a) a turbine assembly comprising:
- (1) a turbine housing having an inlet that receives gas and an outlet that discharges the gas;
- and,
- (2) a turbine wheel positioned within the turbine housing and having a shaft, wherein the turbine wheel is rotatable by the gas;
- (b) a compressor assembly comprising:
- (1) a compressor housing having an inlet that receives ambient air and an outlet that provides compressed air to activate the pneumatic clutch engagement system;
- and,
- (2) a compressor wheel positioned within the compressor housing, wherein the compressor wheel is rotatable by the turbine wheel shaft;
- wherein the outlet of the compressor provides compressed air only to the pneumatic clutch engagement system.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.