Patent ID: 7461626
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: B60K,B60W,B60Y,F01C,Y02T

Abstract:
1. In a powertrain that includes an internal combustion engine including multiple rotors supported for rotation about an axis, a first gear unit driveably connected to the engine rotors through a first one-way power path that connects the first gear unit and the first rotor and a second one-way power path that connects the first gear unit and the second rotor, an air motor pneumatically communicating with and driven by the a source of compressed air, and an epicyclic second gear unit driveably connected to the output of the first gear unit, the air motor and the powertrain output, a method for operating the powertrain comprising the steps of; (a) using the first epicyclic gear unit, first power path and second power path to synchronize the engine rotors; (b) using the air motor and source of compressed air to start the engine; and (c) using the air motor to control a speed ratio produced by the epicyclic second gear unit.