Patent ID: 7270030

Claim:
In an automotive vehicle having two internal combustion engines for achieving fuel economy, including a primary engine that operates during all motion of the vehicle, and a secondary engine adapted to operate intermittently, said engines separately supplied with fuel and having crankshafts in parallel orientation and terminating in co-directionally rotating power output means, an improved transmission system comprising: a) a transmission housing having left and right bell housings to which said engines are separately bolted, and into which said power output means extend, and a power transmission chamber positioned rearwardly of said bell housings and interactive therebetween, b) clutch means located within each bell housing and interactive with said separate power output means, c) an input shaft associated with each clutch means for receiving rotary force therefrom, and extending rearwardly through said power transmission chamber, d) power transfer means positioned within said power transmission chamber for transferring power laterally between said input shafts, and for transferring power rearwardly through said chamber, e) a sprag clutch interactive between the input shaft of said secondary engine and said power transfer means to add driving force to said power transfer means when the rotational speed of said secondary engine is equal to or greater than the rotational speed of said primary engine, f) a main gear affixed to said power transfer means rearwardly of said power transmission chamber, and g) a gear box interactive with said main gear and having speed change gears.