The Ural Design Bureau of Transport Machine Engineering (UKBTM) has received a patent for a new auxiliary power unit (APU) for military equipment. The development is intended for tanks and vehicles based on them and solves the problem of lack of space and congestion in the engine-transmission compartment.
In modern combat vehicles, the amount of electronics, communication and control systems is constantly growing. A more powerful APU is required to power them.
However, strengthening the engine and generator previously led to an increase in mass and dimensions. Often, the equipment was mounted on a separate power frame, which occupied a significant part of the protected compartment.
In the new solution, the internal combustion engine, generator, fan and radiator are placed on the same axis and combined into a single unit without a frame. The unit is attached to the body through paired brackets and elastic elements, and the radiator is additionally mounted on vibration isolators. This scheme reduces vibration and maintains the tightness of communications.
The layout made it possible to make the unit more compact and lighter without losing power. At the same time, the APU is placed in a standard armored volume and does not require modification of the hull.