Multiple engine drive arrangement

A drive arrangement which includes a number of internal combustion engines which are adapted to be connected to a flow of working force through free wheeling or one way clutches and gears to a common output shaft. In addition to a flow of working force the individual internal combustion engines may be interconnected by another flow of a tractive force which is formed by gearing up gears and one way or free wheeling clutches. This flow of tractive force acts only in a direction of force flow which opposes the flow of the working force. The internal combustion engines may be mechanically arranged in parallel next to one another or in series behind one another with working or output shafts of the internal combustion engines being located parallel or in series one behind the other. The working shafts are connected with parallel gear stages which transmit at different ratios and have opposing force flows. Only one gear stage acts at a time in any direction of force flow due to an alternating arrangement of the one way or free wheeling clutches.