Patent ID: 7895835

Claim:
An exhaust heat recovery apparatus comprising: an exhaust heat recovery unit that produces motive power by recovering thermal energy from exhaust heat, wherein the exhaust heat recovery unit is configured to be coupled to a heat engine, and the produced motive power is combined with motive power produced by the heat engine and is output together therewith; an auxiliary configured to be coupled to the exhaust heat recovery unit and the heat engine, and driven by at least the exhaust heat recovery unit; and a power transmission-switching device provided between the heat engine and the exhaust heat recovery unit and between the heat engine and the auxiliary, that decouples the heat engine from both the auxiliary and the exhaust heat recovery unit when a request to drive the heat engine falls below a predetermined level such that both the auxiliary and the exhaust heat recovery are isolated from the heat engine; wherein the exhaust heat recovery unit comprises a high temperature-side cylinder, a low temperature-side cylinder, and a heat exchanger including a heater, a regenerator, and a cooler, the heat exchanger being connected to both the high temperature-side cylinder and the low temperature-side cylinder.