Patent ID: 7730723

Claim:
An exhaust heat recovery apparatus, comprising: an exhaust heat recovery unit that produces motive power by recovering thermal energy from exhaust gas discharged from a heat engine; an electric generator that is driven by the exhaust heat recovery unit; a first power transmission-switching device that switches between connection and disconnection between the heat engine and the exhaust heat recovery unit; a second power transmission-switching device that switches between connection and disconnection between the exhaust heat recovery unit and the electric generator; and a control section connected to the first power transmission-switching device and the second power transmission-switching device that controls the first power transmission-switching device and the second power transmission-switching device, wherein the heat engine or the electric generator is selectively connected to the exhaust heat recovery unit, depending on operational status of the heat engine, and wherein when the heat engine is in a decelerating state or in a stopped state, the first power transmission-switching device is brought into a disconnected state, and the second power transmission-switching device is brought into a connected state.