Having Subcharger Associated With The Cylinder Patents (Class 123/316)
  • Publication number: 20040055564
    Abstract: A system for operating an internal combustion engine includes an intake valve moveable between a first position at which fluid is blocked from flowing to or from the cylinder and a second position at which fluid is allowed to pass to or from the cylinder. The system includes a fluid actuator selectively operable to hold the intake valve from moving to the first position during a portion of a compression stroke and a control valve configured to control fluid flow between a source of fluid and the fluid actuator. A fuel supply system supplies a predetermined amount of fuel to the cylinder at an appropriate time during an engine cycle based on at least one engine operating parameter, and a controller determines a need to de-rate the engine based on a sensed parameter relating to source fluid viscosity during a cycle in which the fluid actuator is not operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas J. Crowell, David Andrew Pierpont
  • Publication number: 20040050046
    Abstract: An engine includes a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. A power piston is slidably received within a first cylinder and is operatively connected to the crankshaft via first linkage system. The power piston reciprocates through a power stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a second cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft via second linkage system. The first and second linkage systems share no common mechanical link. The compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same revolution of the crankshaft. The power piston leads the compression piston by a phase shift angle that is substantially equal to or greater than zero degrees and less than 30 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Carmelo J. Scuderi
  • Patent number: 6688280
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying pressurized air from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James Richard Weber, Scott A. Leman
  • Publication number: 20030233999
    Abstract: A four-stroke cycle I C E with a special cylinder head containing three valves per cylinder, an air accumulator, carburetor, and special air inlet valve for use during coasting. Valves and fuel injection being computer controled such that the two exit valves are opened or closed at such times that either the products of combustion are after power strokes and the alternate exhaust valve opens when the vehicle is coasting alowing compressed air to go to the accumulator. Two air inlets are provided for the two ocassions. Necessary computer controls included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas W. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20030230278
    Abstract: An engine pressure regulator, used in an engine that can collect hydrogen and oxygen. The engine pressure regulator comprises: a body chamber; a connecting tube, through one side of the chamber; a passage mechanism, mounted inside the chamber having a passage connected to the inner space of the chamber; a needle tube mechanism, connected to one end of the connecting tube, and connected to the passage when compressed. The connecting tube is connected to the tube between the engine and the fuel pressure regulator. When the pressure of the engine is to high, the connecting tube will push the needle tube mechanism and the needle mechanism will connect to the passage and the over pressure gas from the engine will be released to the inner space of the chamber and therefore reduce the pressure. When the pressure of the engine is too low, the inside pressure will cause the gas inside the chamber flow to the engine to compensate the pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Kuo Chang Lin, Chau Hwe Chen
  • Patent number: 6662768
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine is provided. The engine includes first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively. The method includes commanding the first and second devices to decrease compression ratios in the first and second cylinders, respectively. The method further includes indicating when the first device has not decreased a compression ratio in the first cylinder. Finally, the method includes commanding the second device to increase a compression ratio in the second cylinder to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley Alan Boyer, Joshua Putman Styron, Mark Michael Madin, V. Durga Nageswar Rao, Yash Andrew Imai
  • Patent number: 6651618
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, Stephen A. Faulkner, Eric C. Fluga, Jonathan P. Kilkenny, Scott A. Leman, Cornelius N. Opris, Maarten Verkiel, James R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20030213462
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying pressurized air from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: James Richard Weber, Scott A. Leman
  • Publication number: 20030213463
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Kevin P. Duffy, Stephen A. Faulkner, Eric C. Fluga, Jonathan P. Kilkenny, Scott A. Leman, Cornelius N. Opris, Maarten Verkiel, James R. Weber
  • Publication number: 20030177987
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling an engine is provided. The engine includes first and second pressure responsive devices varying compression ratios in first and second engine cylinders, respectively. The method includes commanding the first and second devices to decrease compression ratios in the first and second cylinders, respectively. The method further includes indicating when the first device has not decreased a compression ratio in the first cylinder. Finally, the method includes commanding the second device to increase a compression ratio in the second cylinder to reduce engine torque fluctuations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Bradley Alan Boyer, Joshua Putman Styron, Mark Michael Madin, V. Durga Nageswar Rao, Yash Andrew Imai
  • Patent number: 6615771
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a direct injection internal combustion engine operated on both spark-ignitable and autoignitable fuel, more specifically on gasoline, wherein the operational range of the engine is allocated autoignition ranges and spark-ignition ranges, an at least nearly homogeneous fuel-air mixture being produced in the combustion chamber in autoignition ranges, a high compression ratio suitable for spontaneous ignition of the fuel being provided and the combustion in the autoignition range being mostly initiated by spontaneous ignition, and wherein, in the ranges of spark ignition, combustion is initiated by spark ignition of said air-fuel mixture and a spark ignition range is assigned to the full load range and an autoignition range assigned to at least part of the part load range and wherein the effective compression ratio is lowered in spark ignition ranges and combustion controlled by regulating the residual gas content in the ranges of spontaneous ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: AVL List GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Denger, Alois Fürhapter
  • Publication number: 20030136375
    Abstract: A combustion chamber valve, such as an intake valve or an exhaust valve, is briefly opened during the compression and/or power strokes of a 4-stroke combustion cycle in an internal combustion engine (in particular, a diesel or CI engine). The brief opening may (1) enhance mixing withing the combustion chamber, allowing more complete oxidation of particulates to decrease engine emissions; and/or may (2) delay ignition until a more desirable time, potentially allowing a means of timing ignition in otherwise difficult-to-control conditions, e.g., in HCCI (Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition) conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Christopher J. Rutland, Rahul Jhavar
  • Publication number: 20030106520
    Abstract: An engine particularly suited to single speed operation environments, such as stationary power generators. The engine includes a plurality of combustion cylinders operable under homogenous charge compression ignition, and at least one combustion cylinder operable on spark ignition concepts. The cylinder operable on spark ignition concepts can be convertible to operate under homogenous charge compression ignition. The engine is started using the cylinders operable under spark ignition concepts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Scott B. Fiveland, Timothy E. Wiggers
  • Patent number: 6571765
    Abstract: The engine control system has an ECU that supplies relatively large amount of EGR gas and delays an injection timing in order to decrease temperature in a combustion chamber. When an engine is operated under a warming up operation or a low engine load, the ECU deactivates an EGR cooler to increase intake air temperature in order to stabilize engine operation. When the engine is operated under a high engine load, the ECU activates the EGR cooler, delays a closing timing of an intake valve, and increases a boost pressure of a forced induction system. As a result, both of a compression end temperature and a maximum combustion temperature are decreased so that emissions of NOx and particulates are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kuboshima, Kiyonori Sekiguchi, Masumi Kinugawa, Makoto Saito, Shigeto Yahata
  • Publication number: 20030070635
    Abstract: A four stroke engine including a crankshaft. A power piston within a first cylinder connected to the crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through a power stroke and an exhaust stroke. A compression piston within a second cylinder is connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke. A gas passage interconnects the first and second cylinders and includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An inlet manifold is in fluid communication with an inlet valve of the second cylinder. A bypass valve is in fluid communication with the second cylinder and the inlet manifold, wherein during a compression stroke the bypass valve allows a portion of the air to bypass the inlet valve and exhaust into the inlet manifold to provide a variable compression ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Applicant: SCUDERI GROUP LLC
    Inventors: Carmelo J. Scuderi, Stephen P. Scuderi, James V. Masi
  • Publication number: 20030066510
    Abstract: The engine control system has an ECU that supplies relatively large amount of EGR gas and delays an injection timing in order to decrease temperature in a combustion chamber. When an engine is operated under a warming up operation or a low engine load, the ECU deactivates an EGR cooler to increase intake air temperature in order to stabilize engine operation. When the engine is operated under a high engine load, the ECU activates the EGR cooler, delays a closing timing of an intake valve, and increases a boost pressure of a forced induction system. As a result, both of a compression end temperature and a maximum combustion temperature are decreased so that emissions of NOx and particulates are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kuboshima, Kiyonori Sekiguchi, Masumi Kinugawa, Makoto Saito, Shigeto Yahata
  • Publication number: 20030015171
    Abstract: A four stroke cycle internal combustion engine including a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. A power piston is slidably received within a first cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through a power stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a second cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A power piston-cylinder axis along which the power piston reciprocates within the first cylinder, has an offset from the crankshaft axis such that the power piston-cylinder axis does not intersect the crankshaft axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventor: Carmelo J. Scuderi
  • Patent number: 6460337
    Abstract: A turbo-fed internal combustion engine has a first and a second exhaust-gas valve per cylinder, these exhaust-gas valves each being connected to their respective exhaust manifold. One exhaust manifold conducts exhaust gases to an exhaust-gas turbine and the other exhaust manifold conducts subsequent exhaust gases past this exhaust-gas turbine which drives a compressor for charge air. The intake valve of the cylinder is arranged so as, as the engine speed increases, to close either earlier, before the piston reaches its bottom dead center, or later, after the piston has passed its bottom dead center. In this way, the temperature increase resulting from compression in the cylinder is reduced. Cooled air from the compressor can be taken in so as to obtain an adequate degree of filling in the cylinder, with a lower final temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: SAAB Automobile AB
    Inventor: Eric Olofsson
  • Patent number: 6443125
    Abstract: The efficiency of a vehicle having a body and a reciprocating piston four-stroke internal combustion engine is increased substantially by greatly reducing the size of the engine relative to the weight of the body. The great reduction in engine size relative to the weight of the body causes the engine to operate in a much more efficient range during almost all of the time of its operation. Peak power needs are satisfied by supercharging and varying the compression ratio. In a preferred embodiment, during idle and light engine loads, the power output of the engine is controlled while a steady engine rotational speed is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Charles Mendler
  • Patent number: 6405706
    Abstract: A system and method for the control and preparation of the combined fuel and air mixture in a camless internal combustion engine. The system and method provide increased engine operating efficiency and lower exhaust emissions during low speed and cold engine conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Ford Global Tech., Inc.
    Inventors: Mazen Hammoud, Mohammad Haghgooie
  • Publication number: 20010017123
    Abstract: A method for generating a homogeneous mixture for auto-ignition internal combustion engines and for controlling the combustion process, the internal combustion engine having an injection system and at least one cylinder/piston unit connected to an intake device, includes the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Alois Raab, Martin Schnabel
  • Patent number: 6279550
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method of deriving mechanical work from a combustion gas in internal combustion engines and reciprocating internal combustion engines for carrying out the method. The invention includes methods and apparatuses for managing combustion charge densities, temperatures, pressures and turbulence in order to produce a true mastery within the power cylinder in order to increase fuel economy, power, and torque while minimizing polluting emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: Clyde C. Bryant
  • Patent number: 6276316
    Abstract: An intake-air quantity control apparatus for an internal combustion engine with a variable valve timing system associated with an intake valve comprises an electronic control unit which controls an intake-air quantity of air entering an engine cylinder on the basis of an intake valve closure timing of the intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Arai, Hatsuo Nagaishi
  • Patent number: 6269794
    Abstract: A method of regulating the idling run of an internal-combustion engine having a crankshaft, a plurality of cylinders each provided with intake and exhaust valves, a piston received for reciprocation in each cylinder and an engine control for variably controlling the intake and exhaust valves. The method includes the following steps during the idling run: determining the opening moment of the intake valves as a function of the angular position of the crankshaft and determining the closing moment of the intake valves by the engine control as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Schmitz
  • Patent number: 6135086
    Abstract: A reciprocating internal combustion engine includes a variable compression ratio system for adjusting the compression ratio of an engine in a first compression range located about a first predetermined compression ratio in the event that the engine is operating at a first predetermined load range, with the variable compression ratio adding a fixed clearance volume to the volume of the combustion chamber in the event that the engine is operating in a knocking condition beyond the range of the first compression range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ryland Clarke, Rodney John Tabaczynski
  • Patent number: 6125819
    Abstract: A rotating cylindrical piston engine with a variable effective compression stroke. The present engine shuttles the piston during the power stroke as far as possible in the cylinder to maximize the use of the power provided by the fluid explosion. Since as much as possible of the explosion force is used, i.e., preferably until the exhaust gas reaches ambient temperature or pressure, the exhaust gas is cooler and thus the engine may need no external water cooling, allowing internal air cooling in the cylinder by intake air to be complemented by the cooling with the exhaust gas. Preferably, such linear motion of the shuttling piston over such a great length is converted to rotary motion by forcing the piston to spin in the cylinder as the piston is driven the length of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventors: Louis Charles Strieber, Edward M. Strieber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6098596
    Abstract: A process for operating an internal combustion engine in which in the event of an incorrect fuel injection, the combustion chamber of the engine is discharged toward the injection side by way of a pressure valve in such a way that by introducing burned exhaust gases into the combustion chamber in lieu of fresh atmospheric oxygen, the combustion is interrupted despite or precisely due to an excess of injected fuel present. The resultant impairment of the drive output is used as a signal to trigger an interruption of the fuel supply or to shut off the engine. This prevents a destruction of the engine as a result of a malfunction of the injection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Polach
  • Patent number: 5970944
    Abstract: To minimize an increase in friction during the compression stroke, a part of the force to compress the air in the main combustion chamber is stored as a spring force to prevent an excess rise of compressed air pressure in the main combustion chamber and to keep low the pressure difference between the main combustion chamber and the pre-combustion chamber. The spring force stored in the spring is recovered as a work during the power stroke to reduce the energy that is used in the form of friction and heat, thereby improving the utilization of air in the main combustion chamber, increasing the combustion speed in the main combustion chamber, shortening the combustion period. By applying the spring force stored in the spring to the piston as a work, the fuel cost is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Isuzu Ceramics Research Institute Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5960749
    Abstract: A control valve is disposed in a communication passage for communication between a combustion chamber and a chamber portion adjacent to the combustion chamber, and through the communication passage at least one of a fuel and an air-fuel mixture, and a highly compressed gas, are supplied or charged into the combustion chamber and the chamber portion adjacent thereto, respectively. The control valve includes a first control valve disposed in the first communication passage and a second control valve disposed in the second communication passage, the first control valve causes the first communication passage to open at a timing near closing of an exhaust port and causes it to close halfway in a compression stroke. The second control valve causes the second communication passage to open at a timing near closing of the scavenging ports and causes it to close prior to closing of the first communication passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Isomura, Masahiro Asai, Masashi Amano
  • Patent number: 5878714
    Abstract: A four stroke, spark ignition, high compression ratio, internal combustion engine including at least one intake valve (30), exhaust valve (32) and charging valve (36) per cylinder (16). Each of the valves is actuable by a variable timing mechanism (50), which is controlled by an on-board computer (82) that varies the timing of valve opening and closing depending upon engine operating conditions. Each charging valve port (34) leads to an auxiliary chamber (40) having geometry to cause a swirling motion of the charge entering the chamber and surrounded by a cooling jacket (42) to cool the charge as it swirls before being released back into the cylinder during the next engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wengang Dai, George Carver Davis, Michael Moses Schechter
  • Patent number: 5862790
    Abstract: A method of operating a four stroke, spark ignition, high compression ratio, internal combustion engine including at least one intake valve (30), exhaust valve (32) and charging valve (36) per cylinder (16). Each of the valves is actuable by a variable timing mechanism (50), which is controlled by an on-board computer (82) that varies the timing of valve opening and closing depending upon engine operating conditions. Each charging valve port (34) leads to an auxiliary chamber (40) having geometry to cause a swirling motion of the charge entering the chamber and surrounded by a cooling jacket (42) to cool the charge as it swirls before being released back into the cylinder during the next engine cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wengang Dai, George Carver Davis, Michael Moses Schechter
  • Patent number: 5775283
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of induction systems for internal combustion engines that permit operation on the Miller cycle without introducing pumping losses or by substantially minimizing the pumping losses. Basically, the system provides a variable volume air chamber that supplies the major portion of the intake charge or all of the intake charge under low-speed, low-load conditions. Various valving and variable volume chamber constructions are illustrated. In addition, embodiments using air-assisted fuel injection are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sawai, Kunihiko Nakajima, Jiro Watase
  • Patent number: 5732677
    Abstract: An inventive internal combustion engine adapted for an eight piston stroke operating cycle. The rate of comsumption of fuel and air mixture, and the pressure at which it is ignited and combusted, is enhanced by the addition of a holding chamber for fuel and air mixture which retains an initial intake charge of mixture to be later mixed with a subsequent intake charge before compression and combustion within the cylinder. The engine is therefore capable of greater power with given size cylinders. Conversely, the engine is capable of producing a target rate of fuel consumption and power output with smaller cylinders. The engine may also be designed to operate in a Diesel manner utilizing an appropriate hydrocarbon fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventor: Arthur C. Baca
  • Patent number: 5682854
    Abstract: The present invention is a variable compression ratio engine which can operate both in a Miller cycle and a normal cycle, and which can produce a high output, reduce the generation of NOx, and prevent the occurrence of knocking. For this purpose, the engine is provided with an exhaust gas recirculating device equipped with a first cam shaft (10), provided with cams (11, 12, 13) for operating an intake valve (2) and exhaust valves (4, 5), and a second cam shaft (20), provided with cams (21, 22) for operating at least one intake valve (3) and an exhaust valve (5) to thereby recirculate part of exhaust gas into intake gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Godo Ozawa
  • Patent number: 5622142
    Abstract: A rotating cylindrical piston engine with a variable effective compression stroke. The present engine shuttles the piston during the power stroke as far as possible in the cylinder to maximize the use of the power provided by the fluid explosion. Since as much as possible of the explosion force is used, i.e., preferably until the exhaust gas reaches ambient temperature or pressure, the exhaust gas is cooler and thus the engine may need no external water cooling, allowing internal air cooling in the cylinder by intake air to be complemented by the cooling with the exhaust gas. Preferably, such linear motion of the shuttling piston over such a great length is converted to rotary motion by forcing the piston to spin in the cylinder as the piston is driven the length of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Inventors: Louis C. Strieber, Edward M. Strieber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5549095
    Abstract: A power train has an engine, such as a multi-valve, double overhead camshaft engine, which is equipped with a mechanical supercharger and an intercooler, and a transmission operationally coupled to the engine. The engine, which is adapted to provide the maximum output according to the maximum supercharge volume of the mechanical supercharger, has an intake valve closing time which is retarded more than 65 degrees of a crank angle after bottom dead center on an intake stroke and a maximum speed for the maximum output of less than 6,000 rpm. The transmission provides, in its highest gear, the power train with a total reduction ratio in a relatively small range of 2.1 to 2.8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Goto, Hiroyuki Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5379743
    Abstract: A spark ignited engine of the type employing exhaust gas recirculation and stratification of the recirculated exhaust gas. The engine has at least one cylinder accommodating a piston and communicating with at least one inlet port cooperating with an inlet valve for inducing air into the cylinder, and at least one exhaust port cooperating with an exhaust valve for discharging exhaust gas from the cylinder. The engine is operated such that the recirculated exhaust gas is induced alone into the cylinder through the inlet port during a part of the engine operating time whereby recirculated exhaust gas and air are introduced through the same port, though at different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Ricardo Consulting Engineers Limited
    Inventors: John Stokes, Timothy H. Lake
  • Patent number: 5353763
    Abstract: A method of supplying a combustible gas into a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine of the cylinder type during two phases. The supply of combustible gas is restricted at least towards the end of the first phase and restricting the supply of the combustible gas is terminated at least during the beginning of the second phase which ends when the piston begins to compress a charge in the combustion chamber. In this method the extent of restricting the supply of combustible gas and the times of starting and terminating to restrict the supply of combustible gas and the time of terminating the supply of combustible gas are coordinated such that the resultant piston work corresponds to the work necessary for filling the combustion chamber with a desired amount of combustible gas plus the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the charge for a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventor: Oskar Schatz
  • Patent number: 5341771
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and method for operating the same wherein the combustion chamber volume can be varied depending on throttle position by a member that is inserted into the combustion chamber, and wherein the intake valve is closed before the piston completes its intake stroke so that the expansion stroke is effectively lengthened. In the case of a two-stroke engine, some of the intake gas is expelled before combustion to achieve an effective lengthening of the expansion stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Motive Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Michael B. Riley
  • Patent number: 5228422
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising an inlet manifold, at least one combustion chamber with at least two inlet valves and at least one outlet valve, a piston reciprocable in the or each chamber to define a variable volume space therein, and means for controlling the timing of the opening and closing of each of two of the inlet valves of the or each chamber independently so that opening of one of the independently controlled inlet valves of the or each chamber occurs during the exhaust stroke of the engine, opening of the other of the independently controlled inlet valves of the or each chamber, at a time when said one of the independently controlled inlet valves is closed, and when pressure in the or each chamber is lower than pressure in said inlet manifold, producing a predetermined pressure differential across said other of the independently controlled inlet valves, creating an in-flow to the or each chamber generating turbulence, at least some of which is present when combust
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Anthony C. Wakeman
  • Patent number: 5216987
    Abstract: Systems to optimize breathing have been used with internal combustion engines in the past and used a variety of mechanical mechanisms to improve breathing and combustion. Many of these systems fail to provide the option of controllably and modulatively varying the sequence and amount of the opening and closing of an intake or exhaust valve relative to a piston position in a cylinder bore. The present invention provides an electronic control system outputting an discrete control signal, and an opening device for unit actuation of each of the pair of valves independently. The electronic control system is programmable to respond in a first predetermined logic pattern for conventional operation of the engine at which time the intake valve is intermittently moved between the closed position and the open position during the intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: John M. Clarke
  • Patent number: 5211146
    Abstract: For 4 cycle internal combustion engines with adjustable inlet control periods and individual suction pipe segments per cylinder or per inlet, at low speeds and high torque (high load up to full load) the combustion sequence is improved in that the opening start of the inlet valve is shifted in such a manner to a later instant following the top dead center of the piston that for a suitable suction pipe length the pressure wave generated while opening the inlet causes a recharging of the cylinder prior to closing the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Pischinger
  • Patent number: 5201907
    Abstract: The engine is provided with an auxiliary chamber having an auxiliary chamber port with an opening communicated with the combustion chamber. The auxiliary chamber port is arranged to be opened or closed with an auxiliary chamber valve. The timing of closing the auxiliary chamber valve is in between a final stage of compression stroke in which the temperature within the cylinder becomes higher and an initial stage of explosion stroke. On the other hand, the timing of opening the auxiliary chamber valve is in a middle stage of the compression stroke, thereby allowing the mixed fuel cooled in the auxiliary chamber to be replaced with a portion of the mixed fuel in the combustion chamber, thereby lowering the temperature within the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuo Hitomi, Shunji Masuda, Toshihiko Hattori, Kenji Kashiyama, Junsou Sasaki
  • Patent number: 5123397
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for starting and accelerating a vehicle through a range of vehicle speeds during which the vehicle internal combustion engine is operated in a plurality of different operating modes is disclosed. Different operating modes are available during normal operation. Under high demand conditions, the engine may be run as a conventional inefficient but effective throttled engine or converted to operation in a fourth mode as a two-stroke cycle engine. The vehicle management system includes a first read only memory for storing a fixed table of engine operating parameters corresponding to various engine conditions, and A method of and apparatus for starting and accelerating a vehicle through a range of vehicle speeds during which the vehicle internal combustion engine is operated in a plurality of different operating modes is disclosed. Different operating modes are available during normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: North American Philips Corporation
    Inventor: William E. Richeson
  • Patent number: 5123388
    Abstract: An Otto-cycle engine in which the expansion ratio is set in the range 11:1 to 16:1. A combustion knock sensor detects the onset knocking and a valve actuating timing-adjusting device mounted on the cam shaft that drives the suction valve, delays the timing at which the suction valve is closed, via an actuator in response to the output signal from the sensor. Thus, the substantial compression ratio is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Usui Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kanesaka
  • Patent number: 5050384
    Abstract: A power plant has an internal combustion engine with piston backside pumping and a stroke of sufficient length to reduce the pressure of the combustion gases at the end of the power stroke to substantially a common inlet and exhaust pressure, extracting maximum power from the combustion gas expansion and reducing both power loss from expansion into the exhaust manifold and exhaust noise. For a cylinder the exhaust valve is opened at a specific time relative to the engine cycle, but exhaust closing is variable to account for changes in operating conditions and power settings. In a preferred embodiment the engine is a two-cycle compression-firing engine, and an exhaust valve for a cylinder is opened by cam action but closed at a variable time by an actuator controlled by a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Ivan L. Crockett
  • Patent number: 5048473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for arranging a post-charging two-stroke engine. The apparatus includes a post-charging system (16) including an air admission duct (22) to the cylinder (14). The duct communicates intermittently either with the source of scavenging air (A) or alternatively with a chamber (30) for storing gases under pressure. Advantageously, the chamber (30) is inside the piston (12), whereas the air admission duct (22) is formed by at least one curved duct going round the cylinder (14) and having sufficient volume to constitute a reserve of charging air for use in post-charging. The invention improves engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Inventor: Remi Curtil
  • Patent number: 5031582
    Abstract: In the embodiment described in the specification a combustion chamber for an internal combustion engine has intake and exhaust valves arranged to scavenge the combustion chamber with fresh gas. The valve control for the intake valve is arranged so that the intake valve closing time is delayed with decreasing load and, to avoid a corresponding reduction of the compression ratio, the combustion chamber has a variable volume annex which reduces the combustion chamber volume with decreasing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Hermann Kruger
  • Patent number: 5027765
    Abstract: Scavenging a cylinder of an engine with fuel-free fresh air and injection with atomized liquid fuel by a pressurized gas are accomplished independently, at specific moments during by the operating cycle of the engine. The fuel is atomized and injected into the cylinder by gases tapped from cylinder of the engine. The injection device can comprise a reservoir in which the gases tapped from cylinder are stored. The gases can be tapped from cylinder by a pneumatic injector when the valve opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Pierre Duret
  • Patent number: 5025769
    Abstract: For control of the injection rate of a device for feeding fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising an injection valve opening into the combustion chamber, which is used for taking compressed gas from the cylinder and injecting it together with the fuel supplied by a metering device, and further comprising a gas storage cell for holding the compressed gas, the proposal is put forward that a variable throttle be provided between the valve seat of the injection valve and the gas storage cell, whose flow cross-section can be controlled in accordance with load and speed parameters of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: AVL Gesellschaft fur Verbrennungskraftmaschinen und Messtechnik m.b.H. Prof.Dr.Dr.h.c. Hans List
    Inventors: Diethard Plohberger, Volker Pichl, Leopold Mikulic