Patent ID: 7114585

Claim:
A power train for a motor vehicle, said power train comprising a combustion engine with a driving shaft turning at a first rpm rate, at least one torque-coupling device, a transmission with a transmission input shaft, and an electro-mechanical energy converter with a stator and with a rotor and an energy-converter shaft turning at a second rpm rate, said electro-mechanical energy converter being operable as a motor and as a generator and having an interactive rotary connection to the driving shaft; wherein the electromechanical energy converter is operable in a first mode in which the torque flows from the electro-mechanical energy converter to the combustion engine, and a second mode in which the torque flows from the combustion engine to the electro-mechanical energy converter; wherein the interactive rotary connection automatically sets itself to one of at least two rpm ratios depending on whether the electro-mechanical energy converter is working in the first or second mode, said rpm ratios being defined as quotients of the first rpm rate divided by the second rpm rate; wherein the interactive rotary connection comprises at least one rotary transfer device arranged between the electro-mechanical energy converter and the combustion engine; and wherein the at least one rotary transfer device comprises a planetary gear mechanism with at least one ring gear, at least one sun gear, and at least one planet carrier with at least one planet gear, the transfer device being configured such that that depending upon a sense of rotation thereof and absent activation of an actuator, the transfer device causes the planetary gear mechanism to lockingly engage a non-rotating component in the first mode and under the second mode causes components of the planetary gear mechanism to lockingly engage one another.