746,681. Supercharging; regulating; exhaust braking; valves. AUTOMOBILES M. BERLIET, and GLAMANN, W. Jan. 15. 1954, No. 1260/54. Classes 7(2) and 7(6) [Also in Groups XXVI and XXXI] In a braking system for a vehicle driven by an engine 1 Fig. 1, comprising a distributing mechanism 3 including an epicyclic gear, the mechanism having a number of output shafts connected to auxiliary apparatus including a compressor 22 adapted to deliver air into the exhaust pipe 17, 19 at a point upstream of a throttling member such as a valve 60 or 60', for increasing the braking torque of the engine, a second throttling member 59 is provided for controlling the output of the compressor 22. ARRANGEMENT (a) General. The engine drives the distributing mechanism 3 through a shaft 2, the mechanism in turn driving the shaft 4, and hence the rear axle 6 through the normal vehicle change-speed gear 5, as well as a supercharger 8, a fan and an oil pump not shown. The supercharger draws in air through an inlet 9, filter 10 and pipe 11 and discharges it into a pipe 12, the air then being distributed, according to running conditions, either to a turbine 14, into a pipe 15 for supercharging the engine or into a pipe 16 connected with the exhaust pipe 17 through discharge means 18; the latter serves to discharge air when the vehicle is started without declutching. The turbine, which is also driven by the engineexhaust gases flowing through the pipe 19 into the pipe 17, may also assist in driving the distributing mechanism via a shaft 20. (b) Braking apparatus. The compressor 22, which is driven from the distributing mechanism, is fed with air by a pipe 23 from the pipe 11 and delivers it into a pipe 24 opening into either of the pipes 17 or 19, the throttling member 59 in pipe 11 is controlled by the brake pedal, not shown, whilst the other throttling member 60 or 60<SP>1</SP> is located in the exhaust pipe 19 upstream of the silencer 61. A braking effect is also produced by operating a clutch in the distributing mechanism and driving the auxiliary apparatus directly. Member 60 may be dispensed with when the input of the turbine embodies adjustable stationary blading; when a turbine is not provided the pipes 17 and 19 are directly connected. During normal vehicle operation the member 59 is closed and member 60 is. open, the reverse being the case during braking periods. Guide blades may be positioned in the turbine air inlet whereupon the pipe 16 and means 18 may be removed. the blades being closed during a braking operation and open when the vehicle accelerates. Two superchargers may be provided one of which also acts as a braking compressor; the latter may be arranged to operate only when the brakes are applied. The engine intake 63, Fig. 5, has spring-loaded flap 62<SP>1</SP> mounted therein on an eccentric spindle 66. the flap being kept open during normal vehicle operation by engine suction and closed upon actuation of the brake pedal through a wire or rod 69 and a lever 67. by the combined action of the spring 68 and the pressure prevailing in the engine, the flap may be used as an emergency-stop means. In a modification the compressor 22, Fig. 6. draws in air through the throttle 59 and delivers it via a flap valve 70 into a container 72, which communicates with pneumatic auxiliaries and a control system 59<SP>1</SP> for the throttle 59, the operation of the latter therefore being automatically controlled by changes in pressure in the container but is arranged so that the brakepedal control over-rides the automatic controls. The input to the container includes a safety valve which automatically closes when the pressure in the container reaches a maximum. Another safety valve 76 in pipe 24 is opened upon actuation of the brake pedal. The braking compressor may form a centrifugal air brake without any inlet or outlet guide blades but with lateral braking blades, (c) Exhaust valves. The guides 80, Fig. 7. of the exhaust valves 78 are each surrounded by a socket 81, a cap 82 enclosing the outer ends of the valve springs and sliding in a fluid-tight manner inside the socket 81, a synthetic sealing ring 84 being located at the point where the valve stem passes through the cap. The exhaust manifold 79 is connected to the interior of the socket by a groove 86 to thereby reinforce the action of the valve spring during the braking action. In a modification, the groove is replaced by a duct 86<SP>1</SP> and a conduit 88 which is connected to the exhaust manifold through a filter, thus preventing soot, for example from entering the valve sockets: the pipe joining the manifold to the filter may incorporate a flap valve linked to the main valve closing the exhaust during the braking operation in such a manner that the valve is closed when the other is open and vice versa. Power distributing mechanism. The shaft 2. Fig. 2, is provided with a sun wheel 25 co-operating with planet pinions 26. 27 on a carrier 28 fixed to the shaft 4, the carrier having teeth 29 on its outer surface engaging a gear 30 on the shaft 20. An annular gear 31 rotatable about the shaft 2 meshes with both the planets 26, 27 and a gear 34 secured to a shaft 35 that also carries a gear 36 attached to a free wheel 37, the gear 36 engaging a pinion 38 on the supercharger shaft 7; the latter also supports a pinion 39 on a free wheel 40 co-onerating with a gear 41 on the shaft 2. The shaft 7 is connected to an aligned shaft 7' by the free wheel 40. The mechanism enables the auxiliary apparatus to revolve in the same direction whether the drive is from the engine via shaft 2 or from the shaft 4 when the vehicle is free wheeling'; the auxiliaries are driven directly from the shaft 2 whenever the distributing mechanism is locked to the casing bv operation of clutch 35<SP>1</SP> on shaft 35. The braking compressor which is actuated through shafts 35 and 7 by gears 41<SP>1</SP> and 39<SP>1</SP>, the latter having a free wheel 40<SP>1</SP>, may be driven by shaft 35 in which case the free wheel 40<SP>1</SP> is dispensed with; a free wheel may be provided within the compressor itself. In a modification, two gear wheels 44, 45, Fig. 3 are freely mounted on shaft 35 and associated with a dog clutch 46. and a friction clutch 47, respectively the wheel 44 engaging a gear 48 on a shaft 49 which drives -the braking compressor or another supercharger, and the wheel 45 meshing with both a gear 50 on a shaft 51 driving the supercharger and a gear 52 on shaft 53 driving some other auxiliary, not shown. When moved to the right the clutches 46, 47 connect their respective gears to theÀ shaft 35 whilst leftward movement of the clutch 47 locks the shaft 35 to the casing. Shaft 2 also carries gears 55 and 57 on freewheels 56 and 58 respectively, the gears co-operating with gears 50 and 44; the latter may be mounted upon the shaft 35 through a free wheel (not shown). A- pinion 95 and shaft 96 may also be used to drive auxiliaries. Speed changing by means of the gear 5 may be effected with-- out any disengagement of the main clutch,. not shown.