Patent ID: 8302398

Claim:
A propulsion system comprising: an air breathing, fuel consuming reciprocating internal combustion (IC) engine providing a rotary power output and producing products of combustion; a power distribution device having at least a first rotary input and at least one rotary output; an elastomeric flexible coupling connecting the rotary output of said IC engine to the first rotary input of said power distribution device, said coupling damping torsional vibration in the rotary power output of said IC engine; at least one turbo machinery device receiving the products of combustion from said IC engine, said turbo machinery device including at least one power turbine connected to one of a rotary input to said power distribution device downstream of said flexible coupling and a rotary load device, said turbo machinery device having a substantially direct mechanical connection to said power distribution device, and an exhaust aftertreatment device upstream of said power turbine.