Abstract: According to the present invention, the impeller inlet of a turbocharger compressor receives intake air from an inner channel and an outer channel. The outer channel is pressurized with an electrically powered secondary compressor. The pressurized air in the outer channel flows into the impeller near the outer wall of the impeller inlet. The pressurized air next to the outer wall of the impeller inlet prevents backflow of air out of the impeller and thereby prevents surge and enables the compressor to produce high boost pressures under small mass flow settings. Only a portion of the intake air is pressurized with the electrically powered secondary compressor, and the boost pressure of the electrical compressor is only a fraction of the turbocharger compressor's overall pressure ratio.

Abstract: Bypass air from downstream of the compressor is directed into a heat exchanger that draws heat from the exhaust gas of the engine. The bypass air does not include fuel, and instead is heated by the exhaust gas in the heat exchanger. The bypass duct enables air mass flow through the compressor to be increased, thereby preventing compressor surge at low engine speeds. The turbocharger turbine includes a dual entry scroll. The bypass air is fed into the first scroll after being heated in the heat exchanger, and the engine' exhaust gas is fed into the second scroll. Use of two scrolls enables the blowdown impulse energy of the exhaust gas to be retained within the exhaust manifold prior to entry into the turbine, thereby providing improved turbocharger response and preventing backflow of exhaust gas into the bypass duct. Using the exhaust energy to heat the bypass air instead of combusting additional fuel leads to increased engine efficiency.

Abstract: An endless band drive system having a variable center distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley also has a rotatable control shaft and an endless band guide, where the guide is positioned by the rotatable control shaft for maintaining a slackless endless band with change of pulley center distance. Rotation of the control shaft pivots the endless band guide thereby maintaining a slackless endless band with change of the pulley center distance. Preferably, the rotatable control shaft also provides means for adjusting the center distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The present invention provides a slackless endless band system for a variable compression ratio engine having a variable center distance between the drive pulley mounted on the crankshaft and the driven pulley mounted on the camshaft. The system provides slackless operation of the endless band at two or more compression ratio values.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a rotary blower or supercharger includes a recirculation loop for readmitting pressurized outlet gas back into the rotor chambers, and cooling means for cooling the pressurized outlet gas before it is readmitted into the rotor chambers, thereby providing a supercharger having a lower operating temperature and a higher operating pressure capability. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a supercharger includes a housing assembly defining first and second transversely overlapping cylindrical chambers. The housing defines an inlet port for the inflow of an inlet gas, and an outlet port for the outflow of the outlet gas. The supercharger further has first and second meshed, lobed rotors respectively disposed in the chambers for counter rotation about axes substantially coincident with the chamber axes.

Abstract: According to the present invention an expandable joint is made without removable bearing caps by preassembling eccentric bushings onto the hinge pin. The expandable joint has a hinge type construction, but with the journals for each side of the hinge being spaced apart so that the distance between the two sides of the hinge changes with rotation of the hinge pin. The expandable joint of the present invention is assembled by sliding the hinge pin into the hinged joint with the eccentric bushings attached. Once the hinge pin is in place, the eccentric bushings are locked in place with fasteners so that they do not rotate. After the eccentric bushings are locked in place, the hinge pin can be turned to expand the joint. The expandable joint is intended for use in variable compression ratio engines, where expansion of the joint changes the compression ratio of the engine.

Abstract: According to the present invention a variable compression ratio engine having a pair of eccentric control shafts, a crankcase and a cylinder jug has contiguous metal casting bearing sockets located in the crankcase for supporting the eccentric control shaft, and an eccentric control shaft axis location close in to the working cylinders, and located between the bottom edge of the working cylinders and the floor of the water jacket, thereby providing a rigid and compact crankcase and cylinder jug assembly. Nesting of the eccentric control shafts under the water jacket and close in to the cylinder bores, and also eliminating use of removable bearing caps in the crankcase provides a compact and rigid crankcase and cylinder jug assembly. Side walls that extend above and below the eccentric control shafts provide added rigidity and also enclose the crankcase for containing oil within the crankcase.

Abstract: According to the present invention a variable compression ratio engine having a pair of eccentric control shafts, a crankcase and a cylinder jug has contiguous metal casting bearing sockets located in the crankcase for supporting the eccentric control shaft, and an eccentric control shaft axis location close in to the working cylinders, and located between the bottom edge of the working cylinders and the floor of the water jacket, thereby providing a rigid and compact crankcase and cylinder jug assembly. Nesting of the eccentric control shafts under the water jacket and close in to the cylinder bores, and also eliminating use of removable bearing caps in the crankcase provides a compact and rigid crankcase and cylinder jug assembly. Side walls that extend above and below the eccentric control shafts provide added rigidity and also enclose the crankcase for containing oil within the crankcase.

Abstract: According to the present invention a closed cell compressible sponge is used to provide a seal between the cylinder head assembly and the crankcase assembly in variable compression ratio engines. The closed cell sponge is capable of accommodating large travel distances and can be fabricated out of durable rubber. The sponge gasket also does not flap, and is effective at isolating noise inside the crankcase.

Abstract: According to the present invention an expandable joint is made without removable bearing caps by preassembling eccentric bushings onto the hinge pin. The expandable joint has a hinge type construction, but with the journals for each side of the hinge being spaced apart so that the distance between the two sides of the hinge changes with rotation of the hinge pin. The expandable joint of the present invention is assembled by sliding the hinge pin into the hinged joint with the eccentric bushings attached. Once the hinge pin is in place, the eccentric bushings are locked in place with fasteners so that they do not rotate. After the eccentric bushings are locked in place, the hinge pin can be turned to expand the joint. The expandable joint is intended for use in variable compression ratio engines, where expansion of the joint changes the compression ratio of the engine.

Abstract: An endless band drive system having a variable center distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley also has a rotatable control shaft and an endless band guide, where the guide is positioned by the rotatable control shaft for maintaining a slackless endless band with change of pulley center distance. Rotation of the control shaft pivots the endless band guide thereby maintaining a slackless endless band with change of the pulley center distance. Preferably, the rotatable control shaft also provides means for adjusting the center distance between the drive pulley and the driven pulley. The present invention provides a slackless endless band system for a variable compression ratio engine having a variable center distance between the drive pulley mounted on the crankshaft and the driven pulley mounted on the camshaft. The system provides slackless operation of the endless band at two or more compression ratio values.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a rotary blower or supercharger includes a recirculation loop for readmitting pressurized outlet gas back into the rotor chambers, and cooling means for cooling the pressurized outlet gas before it is readmitted into the rotor chambers, thereby providing a supercharger having a lower operating temperature and a higher operating pressure capability. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a supercharger includes a housing assembly defining first and second transversely overlapping cylindrical chambers. The housing defines an inlet port for the inflow of an inlet gas, and an outlet port for the outflow of the outlet gas. The supercharger further has first and second meshed, lobed rotors respectively disposed in the chambers for counter rotation about axes substantially coincident with the chamber axes.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a variable compression ratio engine includes a cylinder head and crankcase directly joined by a control shaft, thereby eliminating use of a link between the control shaft and cylinder head. The present invention has a low manufacturing cost and a small size ideal for mass production applications. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control shaft includes a primary set of bearings and an eccentric set of bearings. The primary control shaft set of bearings are mounted directly in the crankcase assembly, and the eccentric control shaft bearings are mounted directly in the cylinder head assembly. There is only one control shaft per cylinder head, and there is no link between the control shaft and cylinder head assembly. The variable compression ratio mechanism also includes moment retaining means to prevent the cylinder head assembly from rotating out of alignment when the engine is running.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a variable compression ratio engine includes a cylinder head and crankcase directly joined by a control shaft, thereby eliminating use of a link between the control shaft and cylinder head. The present invention has a low manufacturing cost and a small size ideal for mass production applications. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control shaft includes a primary set of bearings and an eccentric set of bearings. The primary control shaft set of bearings are mounted directly in the crankcase assembly, and the eccentric control shaft bearings are mounted directly in the cylinder head assembly. There is only one control shaft per cylinder head, and there is no link between the control shaft and cylinder head assembly. The variable compression ratio mechanism also includes moment retaining means to prevent the cylinder head assembly from rotating out of alignment when the engine is running.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a variable compression ratio engine having crankshaft main bearings mounted in one or more eccentrics includes a power take-off coupling having a single link or linkage. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a drive arm is integrated into the crankshaft and a driven arm is integrated into the torque converter or clutch housing. The power take-off coupling further has a linkage having a first linkage end and a second linkage end. The first linkage end is pivotally connected to the drive arm and the second linkage end is pivotally connected to the driven arm for transferring torque from the crankshaft to the torque converter or clutch housing. According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power take-off coupling has only one link. The link, drive arm and driven arm are all rigid components made out of steel or other suitably stiff and strong metal. The single link is exceptionally robust, reliable and simple.

Abstract: According to the present invention a pump is driven by one or more wheels of a hydraulic hybrid vehicle during braking. The inertial energy of the vehicle powers the pump during braking of the vehicle, and the pump pumps a hydraulic liquid into an hydraulic accumulator that stores the fluid at its elevated pressure. When additional power is required by the vehicle, the liquid is released into a heat exchanger that transfers heat from the exhaust gas of the engine to the liquid causing at least a portion of the liquid to become gaseous. The heated fluid is then fed into an expander that generates shaft power by expanding the pressurized and heated gaseous and/or liquid fluid mixture. The preferred embodiment of the present invention operates under the Rankine cycle or steam engine cycle where the liquid compression function is performed using power from regenerative braking, and the liquid heating and vaporization function is performed using exhaust gas waste heat.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a variable compression ratio machine having main bearings mounted in an eccentric carrier or support includes an oil seal located primarily in a main bearing cap for minimizing leakage of pressurized main bearing oil. The seal is located generally in a first main bearing fastener socket or fastener access cutout in order to minimize structurally compromising the bearing cap, and a portion of the fastener socket preferably is used as an oil passageway as well as for wrench access to the fastener. The oil seal and oil circuit of the present invention enable the size of the eccentric support to be minimized while also providing highly effective oil sealing. In more detail, a significant advantage of the present invention is that highly effective oil sealing is attained without compromising the size or structural integrity of the bearing cap. A second significant advantage of the present invention is that it can be manufactured and assembled at low cost.

Abstract: A first camshaft (24) operates the exhaust valves (18) and a first intake valve (12) for each cylinder (8), and a second camshaft (38) operates the second intake valve per cylinder (14), the second camshaft further having a phase adjuster (62) for adjusting the timing of the second camshaft (38) relative to the first camshaft (24). Both the exhaust valves and the first intake valve are actuated by rocker arms (30), (36), for providing a short and light-weight first intake valve rocker (36) having a high maximum operational speed capability and low friction. The first camshaft (24) is located above the rockers, the cam followers are located generally in the middle of the rockers (30), (36), and the rocker mounts (33), (35) are located on the inboard ends of the rockers, providing rockers that have both light-weight and a small pivot angle for providing low valve stem to rocker friction.

Abstract: The volumetric efficiency and power of internal combustion engines is improved with an intake port having an intake nozzle, a venturi, and a surge chamber. The venturi is located almost halfway upstream the intake port between the intake valves and the intake plenum enabling the venturi throat diameter to be exceptionally small for providing an exceptionally high ram velocity and an exceptionally long and in turn high efficiency diffuser flowing into the surge chamber. The intake port includes an exceptionally large surge chamber volume for blow down of the intake air into the working cylinder of the engine.

Abstract: A first camshaft (24) operates the exhaust valves (18) and a first intake valve (12) for each cylinder (8), and a second camshaft (38) operates the second intake valve per cylinder (14), the second camshaft further having a phase adjuster (62) for adjusting the timing of the second camshaft (38) relative to the first camshaft (24). Both the exhaust valves and the first intake valve arc actuated by rocker arms (30),(36), for providing a short and light-weight first intake valve rocker (36) having a high maximum operational speed capability and low friction. The first camshaft (24) is located above the rockers, the cam followers are located generally in the middle of the rockers (30),(36), and the rocker mounts (33),(35) are located on the inboard ends of the rockers, providing rockers that have both light-weight and a small pivot angle for providing low valve stem to rocker friction.

Abstract: Crankshaft main bearing failure in variable compression ratio engines having eccentric main bearing supports is prevented by supporting the bearings in a crankshaft cradle (16) having a high stiffness and a high natural frequency. The crankshaft cradle (16) is rotatable mounted in the engine on a first axis, and the crankshaft (8) is mounted in the crankshaft cradle (16) on a second axis off-set from the first axis, the first axis and the second axis defining a first plane. The crankshaft cradle comprises a primary eccentric member (24) and a plurality of smaller bearing caps (26) separated by a parting line. The crankshaft cradle comprises accentric members (24) that support the bearing element (64), and structural webbing (72) that rigidly holds the eccentric members (24) in alignment with one another at all times.