Patents by Inventor Nicolas Auffret
Nicolas Auffret has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8893494Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line and an exhaust line collecting exhaust gas. The engine also includes an EGR line for rerouting a part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust line towards the air intake line and at least a first turbocharger comprising a first turbine driven by the exhaust gas flowing towards the atmosphere, linked to a first compressor located on the air intake line. The engine further includes a variable geometry EGR turbine located on the EGR line, driven by the EGR gas flowing in the EGR line. Thus, thanks to the pressure reduction occurring in the turbine, the EGR gas temperature is lowered, and less cooling power from the engine cooling system is required to cool down the EGR.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2013Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: Renault TrucksInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou
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Publication number: 20130263831Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line and an exhaust line collecting exhaust gas. The engine also includes an EGR line for rerouting a part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust line towards the air intake line and at least a first turbocharger comprising a first turbine driven by the exhaust gas flowing towards the atmosphere, linked to a first compressor located on the air intake line. The engine further includes a variable geometry EGR turbine located on the EGR line, driven by the EGR gas flowing in the EGR line. Thus, thanks to the pressure reduction occurring in the turbine, the EGR gas temperature is lowered, and less cooling power from the engine cooling system is required to cool down the EGR.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: Nicolas AUFFRET, Nicolas DRONNIOU
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Patent number: 8479512Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line and an exhaust line collecting exhaust gas. The engine also includes an EGR line for rerouting a part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust line towards the air intake line and at least a first turbocharger comprising a first turbine driven by the exhaust gas flowing towards the atmosphere, linked to a first compressor located on the air intake line. The engine further includes a variable geometry EGR turbine located on the EGR line, driven by the EGR gas flowing in the EGR line. Thus, thanks to the pressure reduction occurring in the turbine, the EGR gas temperature is lowered, and less cooling power from the engine cooling system is required to cool down the EGR.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Renault TrucksInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou
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Patent number: 8302400Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line and an exhaust line collecting exhaust gas. The engine also includes an EGR line for rerouting a part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust line towards the air intake line and at least a first turbocharger comprising a first turbine driven by the exhaust gas flowing towards the atmosphere, linked to a first compressor located on the air intake line. The engine further includes a variable geometry EGR turbine located on the EGR line, driven by the EGR gas flowing in the EGR line. Thus, thanks to the pressure reduction occurring in the turbine, the EGR gas temperature is lowered, and less cooling power from the engine cooling system is required to cool down the EGR.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Renault TrucksInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou
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Publication number: 20120255298Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line and an exhaust line collecting exhaust gas. The engine also includes an EGR line for rerouting a part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust line towards the air intake line and at least a first turbocharger comprising a first turbine driven by the exhaust gas flowing towards the atmosphere, linked to a first compressor located on the air intake line. The engine further includes a variable geometry EGR turbine located on the EGR line, driven by the EGR gas flowing in the EGR line. Thus, thanks to the pressure reduction occurring in the turbine, the EGR gas temperature is lowered, and less cooling power from the engine cooling system is required to cool down the EGR.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKSInventors: Nicolas AUFFRET, Nicolas DRONNIOU
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Publication number: 20120067311Abstract: A method is provided for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, said engine operating according to a four stokes cycle. The engine includes at least one controlled intake port to control communication of the combustion chamber with an intake line. The intake port is controlled to achieve a main open phase mainly during the intake stroke. The intake port is controlled to achieve an auxiliary open phase during the power stroke in view of heating the engine at cold start.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKSInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Romain Le Forestier
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Patent number: 8061335Abstract: This internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line, and an exhaust line. The internal combustion engine also includes a turbocharging system having at least one compressor stage and intake air cooling arrangement having at least one charge air cooler located upstream from the intake manifold. The internal combustion engine further includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) line rerouting a portion of the engine's exhaust gas into the air intake line at a point located upstream from the at least one charge air cooler. This engine therefore uses an heat exchanger to cool the EGR gas. Thus, EGR gas mixed with intake air flows through at least one change air cooler before entering the engine cylinders. The efficiency of this cooler—generally of the air/water type—makes it possible to significantly decrease the EGR gas temperature before it enters the cylinders.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Renault TrucksInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Romain Montelimard
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Publication number: 20100095941Abstract: This internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line, and an exhaust line. The internal combustion engine also includes a turbocharging system having at least one compressor stage and intake air cooling arrangement having at least one charge air cooler located upstream from the intake manifold. The internal combustion engine further includes an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) line rerouting a portion of the engine's exhaust gas into the air intake line at a point located upstream from the at least one charge air cooler. This engine therefore uses an heat exchanger to cool the EGR gas. Thus, EGR gas mixed with intake air flows through at least one change air cooler before entering the engine cylinders. The efficiency of this cooler—generally of the air/water type—makes it possible to significantly decrease the EGR gas temperature before it enters the cylinders.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2006Publication date: April 22, 2010Inventors: Nicolas Auffret, Romain Montelimard
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Publication number: 20100064685Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a plurality of cylinders, an air intake line and an exhaust line collecting exhaust gas. The engine also includes an EGR line for rerouting a part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust line towards the air intake line and at least a first turbocharger comprising a first turbine driven by the exhaust gas flowing towards the atmosphere, linked to a first compressor located on the air intake line. The engine further includes a variable geometry EGR turbine located on the EGR line, driven by the EGR gas flowing in the EGR line. Thus, thanks to the pressure reduction occurring in the turbine, the EGR gas temperature is lowered, and less cooling power from the engine cooling system is required to cool down the EGR.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2007Publication date: March 18, 2010Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKSInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou
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Patent number: 7591244Abstract: This method is for controlling the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine which is capable of operating either in four-stroke positive mode or in two-stroke braking mode. The control means pilot the valves so that at least a first exhaust valve of each cylinder (1) is opened (C43) prior to a first instant (t1) when the piston of said cylinder reaches its top dead center position and so that the first exhaust valve is kept in an open state (C43) with a first lift (L1) and for a first predetermined period of time (?t1), prior to said first instant (t1), and at least an exhaust valve is kept in an open state, with a second lift (L2) higher than the first lift and for a second predetermined period of time (?t2), after the first instant (t1).Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2005Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Renault TrucksInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou
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Publication number: 20080223333Abstract: This method is for controlling the intake and exhaust valves of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine which is capable of operating either in four-stroke positive mode or in two-stroke braking mode. The control means pilot the valves so that at least a first exhaust valve of each cylinder (1) is opened (C43) prior to a first instant (t1) when the piston of said cylinder reaches its top dead center position and so that the first exhaust valve is kept in an open state (C43) with a first lift (L1) and for a first predetermined period of time (?t1), prior to said first instant (t1), and at least an exhaust valve is kept in an open state, with a second lift (L2) higher than the first lift and for a second predetermined period of time (?t2), after the first instant (t1).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2005Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKSInventors: Nicolas Auffret, Nicolas Dronniou