Abstract: The motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system has a motor to add power to the turbocharger rotating assembly, especially at low exhaust gas volume. Additionally, the system includes a control over compressor air inlet direction, and/or control of exhaust gas to a two-volute expander. These are individually controlled, or controlled in combination, to enhance turbocharged engine performance. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises an electric motor, mounted directly within the turbocharger main housing, variable pre-whirl vanes mounted upstream of the turbocharger compressor, and a diverter valve in the exhaust piping upstream of a divided turbine volute.

Abstract: Charge air systems may include a small electric motor-driven compressor for supplying charge air to four-cycle internal combustion engines, including systems with turbocharger charge air compressors in series and parallel connection. The disclosed charge air systems can provide an effective charge air flow path to the internal combustion engine and avoids air flow restrictions at high engine operating speeds.

Abstract: A two-cycle internal combustion engine (10, 46, 66, 75, 86) has a motor-assisted turbocharger (13) where the motor (17, 56, 65, 77, 95) is activated by an external power source (18) to operate the turbocharger (13) to apply scavenging and charging air for starting the engine (10, 46, 66, 75, 86). When sufficient exhaust gas energy is available to allow the turbocharger (13) to provide adequate scavenging and charging air, the motor (17, 56, 65, 77, 95) is de-energized to eliminate the need for external power. Thus, the charging system acts as a supercharger during start-up and as a turbocharger during normal running. A control system (19, 57, 68, 78, 88) is connected to the driving motor (17, 56, 65, 77, 95) that receives signals (25) so that power is supplied to the motor (17, 56, 65, 77, 95) during start-up and may also be supplied during low exhaust gas energy levels to maintain a sufficient supply of scavenging and charging air.

Abstract: There is disclosed a self-cooling self-carbonating beverage container including a beverage container housing containing a liquid beverage, a coolant gas bottle inside said beverage container storing pressurized carbon dioxide, a tab located on an external portion of said beverage container housing and apparatus actuated by movement of said tab for opening said bottle to release said carbon dioxide into said liquid beverage.

Abstract: An improved supercharging apparatus combines the elements of a rotary electric machine and an air compressor, such as in a turbocharger. A plurality of permanent magnets are encapsulated by a multi-layer carbon filament winding wound around the plurality of permanent magnets for retention of the plurality of magnets as the rotor of an electric motor for driving a charge air compressor for an internal combustion engine. The plurality of permanent magnets are preferably located on an inner core and on a magnet mounting surface formed on the rear face of the compressor wheel of the charge air compressor and spaced intermediately of the shaft portion and periphery of the compressor wheel before encapsulation by winding a carbon filament in a multi-layer coil over the plurality of magnets and the magnet mounting surface of the compressor wheel.

Abstract: Charge air systems may include a small electric motor-driven compressor for supplying charge air to four-cycle internal combustion engines, including systems with turbocharger charge air compressors in series and parallel connection. The disclosed charge air systems can provide an effective charge air flow path to the internal combustion engine and avoids air flow restrictions at high engine operating speeds.

Abstract: A compact air blower assembly operates efficiently at high speeds, such as 10,000 to 12,000 rpm, and can be inexpensively manufactured from a common set of blower parts to provide varied airflow capacities, and satisfy a variety of applications. The compact multi-use air blower assembly is provided by a high speed brushless electric motor comprising a stator and a rotor and rotatable shaft carried by a pair of shaft bearings, with the rotatable shaft including a shaft extension extending outwardly from one of the shaft bearings. A housing includes a first portion electric motor and shaft bearings and a second portion surrounding the first portion, forming a blower enclosure about the shaft extension with a centrally located air inlet and a peripherally located air outlet.

Abstract: A motor-driven compressor-electronic motor power package assembly places temperature-sensitive components of the electric motor or the electronic power package for the electric motor, or both, in heat transfer relationship with the flow of compressed air from the compressor.

Abstract: A motor-driven compressor comprises a motor that is carried by a motor-enclosing housing portion, a compressor wheel that is driven by the motor within a second housing portion forming a pressurized enclosure, and means for providing a flow of cooling air for the motor from the pressurized compressor housing portion to the motor-enclosing housing portion. In this motor-driven compressor a small portion of the air flowing through the compressor is directed to the motor housing as cooling air for the motor windings and then is either exhausted to atmosphere or recirculated to the compressor air inlet. As a result, a portion of the internal heat generated in the windings is carried away, permitting a higher level of power to be produced reliably by the motor on a continuous basis and, in turn, allowing the compressor to deliver more compressed air at higher pressure to the receiving entity.

Abstract: An integral turbocharger-electric motor assembly permits the elements of an operating electric motor and turbocharger to be easily assembled into a relatively compact and reliable operating unit. To act as an electric motor rotor, the turbocharger shaft carries a magnet assembly in its central portion between the shaft bearings, in such proximity to the stator windings to provide electromagnetic coupling for the effective conversion of electric energy applied to the stator winding into rotational force applied by the magnet assembly to the turbocharger shaft. The magnet assembly includes a plurality of permanent magnets located around a central core and secured against centrifugal force on a non-magnetic outer sleeve. Such magnet assemblies are preferably formed as a unit that can be assembled onto the turbocharger shaft by retaining an annular arrangement of motor magnets in an assembly between central and outer sleeves.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for increasing the charge air supply to an internal combustion engine throughout the engine operating range, and more particularly, at low engine speeds, and combines controlled two-stage compression of charge air with improved turbocharger operation to achieve a particularly flexible and effective supercharging system. Such supercharging systems are provided by a first charge air compressor driven by an electric motor, a second charge air compressor driven by an exhaust gas driven turbine, gas control means for the supercharging system and a control for the electric motor-driven compressor and gas control means. Preferably, the turbine-driven charge air compressor is also driven by a second electric motor operated by the control, and the gas control means comprises an exhaust gas diverter valve for the exhaust gas turbine inlet and pre-whirl vanes for the turbine-driven compressor inlet, both operated by the control.

Abstract: Internal combustion engine systems can be provided with enhanced engine performance through improved two-stage charge air compression and through improved exhaust gas recirculation in relation to engine load and speed. Improved two-stage charge air compression can be provided with a turbocharger having an exhaust gas turbine and a first stage air compressor driven by the exhaust gas turbine and providing a flow of compressed air at its outlet and a second stage motor-driven compressor having its inlet connected with the flow of compressed air from the turbocharger compressor outlet and its outlet connected with the intake manifold to provide further and highly compressed charge air for the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An insulation blanket is applied around the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine to maintain higher exhaust gas temperature in the manifold, thus both to enhance oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons therein and also to reduce ambient air contact with the exterior of the manifold to reduce passive formation of NO.sub.x.

Abstract: A particularly efficient and reliable motor-assisted turbocharger for internal combustion engines includes an assisting electric motor, a combination flow turbine wheel which may be inserted and removed from the turbocharger assembly through the exhaust opening of the turbine casing, and a divided volute turbine casing designed in a unique way so that the tips of the turbine blades can be extended to be closely adjacent to the turbine casing divider wall without complicating the mechanical design of the turbine, thereby providing an economical assembly with high-turbine efficiency compared with conventional, radial turbines used in turbochargers, and by providing in preferred embodiments, improved bearing support for the shaft, including reliable, stable shock- and vibration-resistant, high efficient, simple and economical bearing systems that are insertable and, permit inexpensive manufacture, maintenance, and repair of the turbochargers in which they are used.

Abstract: Charge air systems may include a small electric motor-driven compressor for supplying charge air to four-cycle internal combustion engines, including systems with turbocharger charge air compressors in series and parallel connection. The disclosed charge air systems can provide an effective charge air flow path to the internal combustion engine and avoids air flow restrictions at high engine operating speeds.

Abstract: A turbocharger system for use with an internal combustion engine includes an assisting motor-generator and control for enhancing turbocharged internal combustion engine performance with reduced losses inherent to turbochargers incorporating waste gates. The controlled assisting motor-generator provides enhanced turbocharger boost with reduced turbo lag below a boost pressure limit, and can generate electric current at high exhaust gas flow rates.

Abstract: A motor-driven compressor assembly comprises a compressor air intake, a compressor rotor, a compressed air outlet and an electric motor for the compressor rotor, with the air intake of the compressor assembly directing intake airflow to the compressor rotor into a heat transfer relationship with the electric motor. The motor-driven compressor includes an outer casing and an inner housing for the electric motor that together form the air intake so the intake airflow through the air intake so formed cools the motor. The motor housing is, in preferred embodiments, a central barrel carrying the electric motor within an outer casing so the intake airflow surrounds the central barrel. The outer casing may also form a mounting surface for motor control electronics, and provide inner finned surfaces in the path of the intake airflow to cool the control electronics. For some applications, the motor-driven compressor can include an operable air bypass between the compressor's air intake and compressed air outlet.

Abstract: NOx emissions from diesel engines are reduced by mixing water in the diesel fuel to reduce combustion temperatures. The water is proportionately mixed into the diesel fuel and the mixture is injected into the cylinders. When the engine is not operating, the water separates from the diesel fuel and causes rusting. In accordance with this invention, the mixing of water into the diesel fuel is terminated before the engine is shut off so diesel fuel purges the system of the water/diesel fuel dispersion so that there no longer is water in the diesel fuel supply system by the time the engine is stopped.

Abstract: An improved machine includes a combination of elements of a rotary electric machine and an air compressor, such as in a turbocharger, and provides an improved turbocharging device for enhancing turbocharged internal combustion engine performance. The improved turbocharger includes a plurality of magnets which are mounted in a generally circumferential arrangement about the back face of the compressor wheel. A stator winding is mounted in opposing relation to the motor magnets. Torque can be applied to the magnets and hence to the compressor wheel when the stator is energized by an appropriate energizing circuit, thereby improving engine performance especially at low engine speeds.

Abstract: The motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system has a motor to add power to the turbocharging shaft, especially at low exhaust gas volume. Additionally, the turbocharger has control over compressor air inlet direction and/or control of exhaust gas to a two-volute expander. These are individually controlled directly or indirectly from an engine controller to enhance turbocharger performance. In a preferred embodiment, the motor is an electric motor, mounted directly on the turbocharger shaft intermediate the turbo expander and turbo compressor and within the main housing.