DRIVE UNIT AND METHOD OF ITS OPERATION

摘要

FIELD: transport engineering. SUBSTANCE: drive unit for vehicles has engine, gearbox, hydrodynamic retarder-brake constantly coupled with engine. Drive unit has also cooling liquid circuit whose cooling liquid serves simultaneously as working liquid of retarder-brake which can be used as cooling liquid pump. Retarder-brake is placed in power flow before gearbox and can be included into common brake unit together with engine brake. Common brake unit is made so that retarder-brake can operate in process of braking earlier than engine brake. Method of operation of drive unit comes to the following: retarder-brake creates first fraction of total braking power, and engine brake provides second fraction of total braking power. EFFECT: provision of stable braking, reduced overall dimensions and enhanced braking response of vehicle. 5 cl, 8 dwg