Patent ID: 7552793

Claim:
A power output apparatus that outputs power to a driveshaft, said power output apparatus comprising: an internal combustion engine that has a power shaft and outputs power; a change-speed transmission mechanism that has an input shaft connected to the power shaft of the internal combustion engine and an output shaft connected to the drive shaft and works to convert the output power of the internal combustion engine and transmit the converted power to the output shaft of the change-speed transmission mechanism; a connection disconnection structure that utilizes a hydraulic pressure of an operating fluid to connect and disconnect the power shaft of the internal combustion engine with and from the input shaft of the change-speed transmission mechanism; a power shaft rotation speed measurement unit that measures a power shaft rotation speed or a rotation speed of the power shaft of the internal combustion engine in the connection disconnection structure; an input shaft rotation speed measurement unit that measures an input shaft rotation speed or a rotation speed of the input shaft of the transmission mechanism in the connection disconnection structure; a start connection control module that, in response to a start-engagement operation command to restart the internal combustion engine and connect the power shaft of the internal combustion engine with the input shaft of the change-speed transmission mechanism from a stop state of the internal combustion engine and a disconnected state of the power shaft of the internal combustion engine from the input shaft of the change-speed transmission mechanism, controls the internal combustion engine to start, sets a fluid supply start timing to start a supply of the operating fluid to the connection disconnection structure, based on the measured power shaft rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and the measured input shaft rotation speed of the change-speed transmission mechanism, said start connection control module controlling at least one of the internal combustion engine and the change-speed transmission mechanism to make the power shaft rotation speed of the internal combustion engine approach to the input shaft rotation speed of the change-speed transmission mechanism, and controlling the connection disconnection structure to connect the power shaft of the internal combustion engine with the input shaft of the change-speed transmission mechanism at the set fluid supply start timing.