Means To Whirl Fluid Before, Upon, Or After Entry Into Combustion Chamber Patents (Class 123/306)
  • Publication number: 20100175661
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine for the purposes of producing significantly lower NOx emissions than currently achieved without exhaust aftertreatment is described. The engine is equipped with an intake system and combustion chamber that minimizes overall in-cylinder angular momentum of the air fuel charge. The engine is fueled with a gaseous fuel such as natural gas. The purpose of the intake system and combustion chamber is to create low combustion peak temperature while keeping the overall average temperature the same. Charge dilution which can be in the form of excess combustion air, recirculated exhaust gases, water injection, or combinations of all three will be used to assist in reducing NOx emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventor: R. Kirk Collier, JR.
  • Patent number: 7726282
    Abstract: A direct injection spark ignition internal combustion engine includes a fuel injector for directly injecting fuel into a cylinder and intensifies a tumble flow using the fuel injected into the cylinder bore at a time near an intake stroke bottom dead center during homogenous combustion. The thrust force of the fuel injected from the fuel injector is set to intensify the tumble flow based on at least one of the state of the combustion chamber, the temperature of the injected fuel, and the orientation of the injection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 7707989
    Abstract: In an engine combustion chamber, a first intake port (19) formed from a straight port has a throat portion (43) formed in a linear shape and opening in a tangential direction of the inner periphery of a cylinder (11a), thus generating a first swirl (S1), and a second intake port (20) formed from a helical port has a throat portion (44) formed in a helical shape, thus generating a second swirl (S2) inside the first swirl (S1) in the same direction as that of the first swirl (S1). In this way, even with the first and second intake ports (19, 20) hardly curved overall, it is possible to efficiently generate first and second swirls (S1, S2) that do not interfere with each other, and it becomes possible to reduce the cost of machining the cylinder head, make the cylinder head compact, and simplify the structure of the cylinder head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Andou, Gou Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20100095651
    Abstract: During a rich spike control for an exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine, a base air-fuel ratio AFb is decreased in a range where a combustion variation ?CC does not exceed a permissible limit ?CCL (S108). When the combustion variation ?CC exceeds the permissible limit ?CCL, the spike base air-fuel ratio AFbs is increased (S213). When the torque decrease amount ?TD is above the permissible value ?TDL, the spike base air-fuel ratio AFbs is decreased (S215). When the combustion variation ?CC is above the permissible limit ?CCL, and the torque decrease amount ?TD is above the permissible value ?TDL, the spike base air-fuel ratio AFbs is increased, and a fuel discharge time number EN is increased (S216).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Terutoshi Tomoda, Shinobu Ishiyama, Michio Furuhashi, Tomoyuki Ono, Koichiro Nakatani, Tomoyuki Kogo
  • Patent number: 7690349
    Abstract: A throttle body spacer for improving engine performance is provided. It comprises a spacer block with a smooth bore hole, a plurality of air fins, each air fin being connected at one end to the spacer block and the distal end extending to about the center of the bore hole, and a means for mounting the throttle spacer body to hold it in place. In one embodiment the spacer block forming the throttle spacer body is square with a single bore hole in the center. There are four air fins, one mounted from about the middle of each side of the spacer body, that extend to about the center of the hole. The air fins can be made from aluminum and are bent at a forty-five degree angle. In order to accomplish the goal of absorbing less heat, the spacer block forming the throttle body spacer is comprised of thermoset resin. The throttle body spacer has holes located near each corner where fastening elements can be inserted to hold the apparatus in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: GSP Powerspacer, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Bolanos
  • Patent number: 7690195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dilution and dispersion device for the exhaust and/or cooling gases of a vehicle's engine, that incorporates blades and a hub. The hub of said device incorporates means intended to reduce the loss in the gaseous flow rate generated by said gases. The flow rate loss reduction means are constituted by one or several openings in said hub or by a profiled element allowing said gases to be defected towards said blades. The blades are fastened to a ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Nexter Systems
    Inventors: Michel Brun, Sylvain Carlier, Benoit Pizon
  • Patent number: 7685993
    Abstract: Variable swirl for internal combustion engines. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a first intake valve controlling air flow from a first intake port to a piston cylinder of the internal combustion engine, where the first intake valve has a first lift profile. A second intake valve controls air flow from a second intake port to the piston cylinder, where the second intake valve has a second lift profile different than the first lift profile. The combination of first and second lift profiles causes a variable swirl of air in the cylinder as a function of engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Gustafson
  • Publication number: 20100065028
    Abstract: An air inlet system for an internal combustion engine includes an inlet duct for furnishing air to the engine's cylinders, and a combination port formed within the inlet duct for inducting both recirculated exhaust gas and charge air into the engine. Mixing of the recirculated exhaust gas and the charge air is promoted by a flow director which is mounted at a downstream end of an EGR supply passage, as well as by a flow guide mounted upstream from the flow director, with the flow guide including an aerodynamic projection for causing charge air to move smoothly around the flow director and a swirl generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Joseph Styles, Anthony William Hudson, Ivan Lazich, David Currie
  • Patent number: 7665442
    Abstract: A throttle plate for use with internal combustion engines comprised of a relatively thin piece of material so that installation of the throttle plate between the carburetor or throttle body and intake manifold of a vehicle does not require additional brackets or components to correct throttle cable linkage length or geometry. The throttle plate comprises a plate having apertures to accommodate pre-existing connectors and a perimeter that corresponds to connections between, and the geometry of, the carburetor or throttle body and intake manifold. The plate fits between the carburetor or throttle body and intake manifold and defines at least one airflow hole corresponding to the airflow path in the carburetor or throttle body. If there are multiple airflow paths between the carburetor or throttle body and intake manifold, then there will be multiple airflow holes. One or more vanes integral with the plate extend radially from the perimeter of each airflow hole toward its center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Everaid Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Levitz, Sam Enloe
  • Publication number: 20100037853
    Abstract: An intake system for an internal combustion engine includes: an intake passage (50) through which the intake air is introduced into a combustion chamber (40); an intake manifold (100) that is attached to a cylinder head (30) and forms a part of the intake passage (50); an intake air control valve (200) that reduces the flow passage area of at least a part of the intake passage (50); a valve shaft (300) that supports one end portion (210) of the intake air control valve (200) in a manner such that the intake air control valve (200) is allowed to pivot about the valve shaft (300); and a guide rib (400) that protrudes from the intake manifold (100) toward the one end portion (210), and that minimizes the gap between the one end portion (210) and a portion of the wall surface of the intake passage (50), which is close to the valve shaft (300).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomihisa Tsuchiya, Masao Ino
  • Publication number: 20100031920
    Abstract: An air intake device, having application in engine air intake systems, and causes air to be rapidly and effectively guided into the engine fuel chambers, which primarily includes a plurality of swirl plates successively circumferentially formed on the inner walls of an air inlet end of an engine throttle body. When air is drawn into the air inlet end, then the swirl plates cause the air to form a vortex air current, which is used to increase the speed of mixing fuel with the air and improve the mixing rate, thereby enabling more complete fuel combustion in the engine fuel chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Chang-Ho CHIEN
  • Publication number: 20100018496
    Abstract: An intake manifold with a swirl system for an internal combustion engine provided with a number of cylinders; the intake manifold has, for each cylinder, an intake pipe, which is adapted to connect the intake manifold to the cylinder and has, in turn, two reciprocally parallel channels; the swirl system is provided with: for each intake pipe, a choking valve, which is arranged inside a channel of the intake pipe and is adapted to vary the air introduction section through the channel; and a single actuator device, which simultaneously and synchronically displaces all the choking valves and is provided with a motor and a mechanical transmission system which transmits the motion from the motor to all the choking valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Stefano Fornara, Giampaolo Schiavina
  • Publication number: 20100012082
    Abstract: The present invention provides a swirl-injection type eight-stroke engine capable of constantly varying the injection-direction of the high-density-air from the slave cylinder, thereby effectively circulating the high-density-air around the master cylinder wall and master cylinder head during the injection process to speed up the mixing of the high-density-air and the hot combustion medium in the master cylinder, furthermore the hot spots in the master cylinder head and the master cylinder wall are eliminated with the two-direction swirling effect during the cold-expansion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Lung-tan Hu
  • Publication number: 20100012081
    Abstract: An ECU controls an internal combustion engine that creates a tumble flow in each engine cylinder and intensifies the tumble flow using fuel injected at a timing near the intake stroke bottom dead center during homogeneous combustion. The ECU includes a fuel property identifying mechanism identifying the property of fuel and combustion state changing mechanism changing the combustion state. When the fuel has a property that requires a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio lower than the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio for gasoline, the combustion state changing mechanism changes the combustion state by, for example, retarding the ignition timing, so that the combustion progresses moderately. This prevents an excessive increase in the combustion speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 7640094
    Abstract: A diesel engine having: a reentrant type cavity 11 depressed in the top of a piston 4; fuel injection means 9 that injects fuel towards the cavity 11; exhaust gas recirculation means 19 that recirculates a part of the exhaust gas into a combustion chamber; and a control device 26 that controls the fuel injection timing by the fuel injection means 9 and the EGR ratio or EGR quantity by the exhaust gas recirculation means 19, wherein in a predetermined operating region, the control device 26 implements premixed combustion by controlling the fuel injection timing by the fuel injection means 9 so that fuel injection is completed before the compression top dead center of the piston 4 and so that all the injected fuel enters the cavity 11, as well as controlling the EGR ratio or the EGR quantity by the exhaust gas recirculation means 19 so that the fuel injected by the fuel injection means 9 is ignited near the compression top dead center of the piston 4 after injection of fuel is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Naoya Ishikawa, Naoki Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 7637234
    Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft. A compression piston within a compression cylinder is connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke. An expansion piston within an expansion cylinder is connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression valve and a crossover expansion valve. A runner section is in a downstream portion of the crossover passage, and a helical end section is integrally connected to the runner section. The helical end section has a funnel spiraling about a valve stem of the crossover expansion valve. The funnel forces incoming air to rotate about the valve stem prior to entering the expansion cylinder to promote turbulent kinetic energy in the cylinder air/fuel charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Scuderi Group, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Tussing, Wei Li, Gareth Roberts
  • Publication number: 20090301432
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to an intake channel of an internal combustion engine in which an adjustable position guide vane is configured to modify the velocity distribution inside the intake channel in order to vary the mean swirl number generated by the channel. The intake channel may comprise a combination of two or more ports, which can be helical or tangential, depending on their shape. By varying the velocity distribution inside the intake channel it is possible to vary the mean swirl number in an internal combustion engine. Contrary to existing systems to vary the swirl in internal combustion engines, the invention proposed does not require the separation of both ports inside the intake channel by a wall in order to achieve a variation in the swirl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Jassin Fritz, Rodrigo Rodriguez Erdmenger
  • Publication number: 20090293838
    Abstract: A structure of an airflow control system includes a vortex control valve located in an intake passage and generating a vortex in a combustion cylinder upon intake of air-fuel mixture for combustion, the intake passage supplying the air-fuel mixture to the combustion cylinder, and a return flow passage for returning a portion of exhaust gas generated by the combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion cylinder to the intake passage, wherein a merge portion where the return flow passage merges with the intake passage is located downstream of a mounting position of the vortex control valve between the mounting position of the vortex control valve and the combustion cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Hidefumi Konakawa
  • Patent number: 7597085
    Abstract: When a homogeneous combustion is to be executed at a lean air-fuel ratio, a tumbling flow that whirls in the cylinder descending in the cylinder bore on the exhaust valve side and ascending in the cylinder bore on the intake valve side, is intensified by the fuel that is injected from the fuel injection valve toward the exhaust valve side in the cylinder bore in the last stage of the intake stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashizawa, Hiroshi Nomura, Osamu Tomino
  • Publication number: 20090194069
    Abstract: An ECU controls an internal combustion engine which generates a tumble flow inside a cylinder and strengthens the tumble flow by fuel injected near bottom dead center of an intake stroke. The ECU includes an injection timing changing device that changes the injection timing of fuel based on the amount of air drawn into a cylinder of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 7568464
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling charge motion in the air intake manifold includes a barrel-style valve rotatably mounted in the lower air intake manifold between the linearly arranged set of air inlets and the first and second sets of laterally offset air outlets which branch to the first and second cylinder banks, respectively. The barrel valve includes a plurality of openings and is rotatable between a fully open position wherein the plurality of openings are in alignment with the respective air inlets and outlets in the lower manifold allowing substantially unimpeded airflow therethrough, and fully closed position wherein the plurality of openings are substantially fully out of alignment with the respective air inlets and outlets substantially preventing air flow therethrough while allowing air flow through an air bypass formed adjacent to each air inlet and outlet pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy D. Spegar
  • Patent number: 7556031
    Abstract: An air/fuel flow structure for enhancing the fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine includes a generally conical-shaped flow path useable in the engine. One or more tab and one or more notch are formed in the conical path to alter one or more characteristics, such as pressure and velocity, of the gas flow. The apparatus may be positioned in the air intake system. Alternatively, the apparatus may be positioned in the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Global Sustainability Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond B. Russell
  • Publication number: 20090159041
    Abstract: In an engine combustion chamber, a first intake port (19) formed from a straight port has a throat portion (43) formed in a linear shape and opening in a tangential direction of the inner periphery of a cylinder (11a), thus generating a first swirl (S1), and a second intake port (20) formed from a helical port has a throat portion (44) formed in a helical shape, thus generating a second swirl (S2) inside the first swirl (S1) in the same direction as that of the first swirl (S1). In this way, even with the first and second intake ports (19, 20) hardly curved overall, it is possible to efficiently generate first and second swirls (S1, S2) that do not interfere with each other, and it becomes possible to reduce the cost of machining the cylinder head, make the cylinder head compact, and simplify the structure of the cylinder head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Andou, Gou Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7543561
    Abstract: A swirl generator is arranged in a duct through which air is sent from the exterior to an air cleaner. The swirl generator has a plurality of guide vanes, which change the flow direction of an air flow. Each of the guide vanes has a guide fin that adjusts the air flow and a deflecting fin that applies swirl force to the air flow. The deflecting fin is configured by an upstream portion and a downstream portion, which are connected together at a predetermined angle. The upstream portion and the downstream portion each have a cross section extending linearly along a cylindrical plane coaxial with a nose cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignees: Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masumi Shibata, Kazushige Maruyama, Suminobu Otsubo, Toshio Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20090050104
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve guide for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to a swirling valve guide having a fuel mixing means installed on an outer peripheral surface of the valve guide, which protrudes into an intake port of an internal combustion engine, to promote mixing of fuel and air. According to the present invention, there is provided a swirling valve guide including a guide portion installed to protrude into an intake port of a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine for guiding reciprocation of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine, comprising a fuel mixing mean having a member installed on an outer peripheral surface of the guide portion to mix fuel and air passing the intake port and to produce a swirl in a mixture of the fuel and air at a downstream side of the flow of the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventor: Young-Pyo Hong
  • Publication number: 20090050105
    Abstract: A swirl generator is arranged in a duct through which air is sent from the exterior to an air cleaner. The swirl generator has a plurality of guide vanes, which change the flow direction of an air flow. Each of the guide vanes has a guide fin that adjusts the air flow and a deflecting fin that applies swirl force to the air flow. The deflecting fin is configured by an upstream portion and a downstream portion, which are connected together at a predetermined angle. The upstream portion and the downstream portion each have a cross section extending linearly along a cylindrical plane coaxial with a nose cone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicants: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masumi SHIBATA, Kazushige MARUYAMA, Suminobu OTSUBO, Toshio HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20090013962
    Abstract: An in-cylinder-injection type spark-ignition internal combustion engine has a fuel injection valve and an ignition plug that are arranged substantially in the upper area of the cylinder. Fuel is injected from the fuel injection valve in the flow direction of the tumble flow that swirls in the cylinder by flowing downward through the exhaust valve side of the cylinder bore and upward through the intake valve side of the cylinder bore, so as to intensify the tumble flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ashizawa, Osamu Tomino, Hiroshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 7472680
    Abstract: A vortex generator is disclosed for flow of a fluid. The vortex generator includes a housing that includes a passage through which the fluid flows. The vortex generator also includes a valve that is movably coupled to the housing between a fully closed position and a fully open position for changing flow of the fluid in the passage. The valve includes an open portion that defines a main aperture for generating a vortex in the flow of the fluid. Also, the valve has an intermediate position between the fully closed position and the fully open position. The housing further includes a recessed portion such that the recessed portion of the housing and the valve cooperate to define a sub-aperture through which the fluid flows when the valve is positioned in the intermediate position. A method of manufacturing the vortex generator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Torii, Masamichi Akagawa
  • Publication number: 20090000590
    Abstract: A cylinder head arrangement is provided for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The cylinder head arrangement includes, but is not limited to a combustion chamber, a first intake valve in a first intake port, as well as a first exhaust valve in a first exhaust port and a second exhaust valve in a second exhaust port (19). The second exhaust port is realized in such a way that a gas flow from the second exhaust port back into the combustion chamber results in an at least partially swirling flow in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald Buhr, Jan Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7464691
    Abstract: A device configured to impart a vortex motion in a fluid for an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine comprising a throttle. The device comprises at least one mixing element, the mixing element being disposed transversely to a main direction of a flow of said air/fuel mixture, and the device is configured to be disposed downstream of the throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: David Conner
  • Patent number: 7455043
    Abstract: Described herein is a variable-geometry intake manifold for an internal-combustion engine; the intake manifold is provided with: at least one intake pipe, which connects the intake manifold to at least one cylinder of the internal-combustion engine; a partialization device for varying the geometry of the intake manifold that has at least one partialization body, which is set inside the intake pipe and is provided with a shaft mounted so that it can rotate about an axis of rotation; and at least one angular-position sensor, which is designed to determine the angular position of the shaft about the axis of rotation and has a permanent magnet fixed on the shaft, and a reader, which is designed to read the orientation of the permanent magnet and is set on the outside of the intake pipe in the proximity of a wall of the intake pipe itself and in the proximity of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli Powertrain S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Lancioni, Michele Pecora
  • Patent number: 7455044
    Abstract: An intake control valve of an intake device of an internal combustion engine comprises a given portion defined by an air intake passage that leads to a combustion chamber of the engine through an intake valve; a pivot shaft passing through the given portion; and a valve plate secured to the pivot shaft to pivot therewith within the given portion. The valve plate is pivotal between a close position to close the air intake passage and an open position to open the air intake passage. When the valve plate assumes the close position, the interior of the air intake passage downstream the valve plate is formed with mutually isolated first and second air flows that are separated and oriented to enhance a flow of air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isaji, Kouichi Mori, Shunichi Mitsuishi, Satoshi Nishii, Kanjo Arimatsu
  • Patent number: 7448359
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine having at least one cylinder, the method comprising of directing a first air stream to an intake valve of the cylinder; directing a second, separate air stream to a second intake valve of the cylinder, said second air stream at a higher temperature than said first air stream; operating said first intake valve and adjusting at least one of an opening timing and a closing timing of said first intake valve to adjust engine output; and intermittently operating said second intake valve to maintain said higher temperature of said second air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Publication number: 20080230028
    Abstract: An outwardly-opening gas-exchange valve assembly for an internal combustion engine. The valve assembly includes a port in a firing chamber in an engine head, the port having a valve seat on a side opposite from the firing chamber. A piston-shaped poppet valve head slides in a bore in the engine head for mating with the valve seat to occlude passage of gas across the valve seat. Withdrawal of the poppet valve head from the seat opens the firing chamber to communication with an intake or exhaust manifold runner in the engine head. The poppet valve head may be actuated by an overcenter lever arrangement actuated selectively by hydraulic pressure or mechanical actuation. In a preferred embodiment, OO intake and exhaust valves are radially arranged in a hemispherical fire deck and may include an adjustable pitch helical channel to induce swirl to the incoming gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventor: Philip J. G. Dingle
  • Patent number: 7412974
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine includes a generally conical-shaped member positioned in a gas flow generated by the engine. One or more deformations, such as tabs and notches, are formed in the conical member to alter one or more characteristics, such as pressure and velocity, of the gas flow. The apparatus may be positioned in the air intake system. Alternatively, the apparatus may be positioned in the exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Gas Gorilla, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond B. Russell
  • Publication number: 20080190393
    Abstract: An intake control device of an internal combustion engine in which an intake path of each cylinder is partitioned into an upper and a lower path and a tumble control valve and an intake pressure control valve are provided to open/close the upper path and lower path respectively. In a given driving condition, the intake air flow velocity in the lower path is increased by closing the tumble control valve, thereby generating a tumble flow in the combustion chamber. In this process, the intake pressure control valve is opened around start of an intake stroke and closed around its end to make intake pressure downstream of the intake pressure control valve higher than upstream of it to increase the difference between upstream and downstream intake pressures in the intake stroke. This increases the intake air flow velocity in the lower path and intensifies the tumble flow in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Miyanaga, Kazushi Nakashima, Katsuhiko Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7409944
    Abstract: An intake structure for internal combustion engine includes an intake passage which is communicated with a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and through which air to be supplied to the combustion chamber flows; and a valve which is provided in the intake passage and which controls the airflow in the intake passage. The intake passage has a recess which is formed in the inner wall face of the intake passage and in which the valve is arranged; and a groove that is connected to the recess, at a substantially center position of the recess in a width direction of the recess, and that extends from the recess toward the downstream side of the intake passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomihisa Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7398758
    Abstract: A powertrain, and a control method therefor, are provided, wherein ignition of a combustible charge in a combustion chamber of a controlled auto-ignition internal combustion engine equipped with in-cylinder fuel-injection and a spark ignition device is controlled. The method comprises generating a spark-discharge plasma channel between the electrodes of the spark ignition device, and igniting the combustible charge. The spark-discharge plasma channel is moved toward and entrained by the combustible charge, effective to advance phasing of controlled auto-ignition combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Reuss, Tang-Wei Kuo
  • Publication number: 20080127644
    Abstract: By means of a pre-swirl device, in steady-state engine operation, the rotational speed lines of the compressor are moved, by increasing the swirl at the compressor inlet in the rotational direction of the compressor, to such an extent that the steady-state operating point of the compressor comes to rest approximately at the absorption limit of the compressor. In this way, the level of the charge pressure can be adjusted in a controlled fashion to the value required for the respective engine operating point. In the event of a sudden increase in the engine load, it is possible by resetting the pre-swirl grate to generate a charge pressure increase without a time-consuming rotor acceleration. The pre-swirl device therefore simultaneously assumes the functions of charge pressure and engine load control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Turbo Systems AG
    Inventors: Ennio Codan, Olivier Bernard
  • Patent number: 7337763
    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-strokes 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rolf Deneys Reitz, Christopher J. Rutland, Rahul Jhavar
  • Patent number: 7334781
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for increasing fuel efficiency in internal combustion engines by radially accelerating fuel prior to combustion. In one embodiment of the present invention, fuel is input, under pressure, to an enclosed fuel-acceleration chamber between a rotating rotor and stationary rotor housing. While in the acceleration chamber, the rotating rotor radially accelerates the fuel and the acceleration, in turn, may generate turbulence or cavitation within the fuel. The fuel is then output from the fuel-acceleration chamber to a treated-fuel reservoir and to a fuel-combustion site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph Louis Donnelly
  • Patent number: 7325538
    Abstract: An easily installed versatile trimmable fit-to-size vortex airflow generator for use in internal combustion engines to enhance fuel efficiency is provided. The multi-impeller vortex generator comprises a plurality of blades evenly spaced angularly on a central hub. The blades are a ready trimmed to size to fit within the air intake conduit of most, if not essentially all, known conventional internal combustion engines. The vortex generator is constructed, i.e., formed, of a non-rigid construction such as molded plastic that is readily inserted in engine air intake passages to enhance turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Darrell S Bean
  • Publication number: 20080000447
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for a turbomachine combustion chamber, comprising a chamber end wall pierced by at least one substantially circular opening, a deflector mounted from the downstream side of the chamber end wall in the opening by means of an annulus, an injector system associated with the opening and including an annular bowl that is flared downstream, passing through said opening, and means enabling the injector system to shift off-center relative to the chamber end wall, the deflector including an annular collar extending radially inwards, and the bowl of the injector system including at its downstream end an outwardly-open annular groove radially in alignment with the collar of the deflector in such a manner as to enable it to retract into said groove in the event of the injector system shifting off-center relative to the chamber end wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: David Locatelli, Romain Nicolas Lunel, Thomas Olivier Marie Noel, Denis Jean Maurice Sandelis
  • Patent number: 7313918
    Abstract: A reciprocating engine includes a turbocharging unit that: supplies the intake manifold with air via a coolant; is supplied with gas by the exhaust manifold; and has the turbine supply pressure substantially equal to the compressor discharge pressure. At constant air temperature, the turbocharging unit delivers a substantially constant volume of cooled air when the pressure varies, and the volume is substantially proportional to the turbine outlet section. The turbine pressure is maintained substantially equal to compressor pressure by a EGR bypass between the intake and exhaust manifold. In addition, the volume of air is less than the volume drawn in at the speed so that a flow of hot gases is drawn in again via the bypass above the speed, where the volume drawn in is equal to the volume, and a flow of air is deflected towards the turbine below the speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Inventor: Jean Frédéric Melchior
  • Publication number: 20070283923
    Abstract: Known adjusting devices, in a drive motor and subsequent gearing which is arranged in a housing and closed by a lid, have conductors to produce contact of a motor, a plug, or an electronic control system, which conductors are welded to the corresponding mating contacts or are embodied as corresponding plug contacts. According to the invention conductors are employed as a stamped grid and sheathed with the plastic of a lid. Moreover the opposite ends of the conductors are likewise sheathed by a plastic of the housing. Non-sheathed sections of the conductors arranged between the two housing parts serve according to the invention as a hinge to produce the defined opening and closing of the lid relative to the housing. Moreover, the entire electronic control system with an angle sensor and power transistors is integrated in the lid by injection molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Rachid Khelifati, Isao Fukumoto
  • Publication number: 20070266989
    Abstract: An intake accelerator for an engine, the intake accelerator is installed in the front end of a pipe line at an intake of an engine to increase the efficiency of the engine. The main body of the accelerator is provided therein with a plurality of vortex guiding blades extending from a periphery to the center of the wall of a pipe, thereby a vortex passage is formed between every two neighboring ones of the vortex guiding blades; these vortex passages circle in the interior of the main body of the accelerator, so that after air flow enters the main body of the accelerator, it is guided to generate a plurality of vortexes running in the same direction, this can increase the air flow of the vortexes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventor: Chung-Yu Yang
  • Patent number: 7287492
    Abstract: A system for an engine, comprising of a cylinder located in the engine, a fuel delivery system for varying relative delivery amounts of a first and second injection type into said cylinder, and a controller configured to adjust a parameter affecting flow through the engine in response to said relative delivery amounts of said first and second injection type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Robert A. Stein, Jeffrey C. Lyjak
  • Patent number: 7284532
    Abstract: An intake module (1) for an internal combustion engine including a plurality of intake tracts (2, 3, 4, 5) in each of which two intake pipe openings (21, 22; 31, 32; 41, 42; 51, 52) are formed. One of the intake pipe openings (21, 31, 41, 51) in each intake tract has a constant cross section, and the second intake pipe opening has a flow cross section which can be varied depending on the operating mode of the engine. The two intake pipe openings in each intake tract are separated from each other by a partition (23, 33, 43, 53) which is inserted into a housing (6) in which the intake tracts (2, 3, 4, 5) are formed, and a movable component (7) is mounted on each of the partitions (23, 33, 43, 53) for varying the flow cross section of the second intake pipe opening (22, 32, 42, 52) of the respective intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Ludmann, Ettore Nocera
  • Publication number: 20070227495
    Abstract: An intake control valve of an intake device of an internal combustion engine comprises a given portion defined by an air intake passage that leads to a combustion chamber of the engine through an intake valve; a pivot shaft passing through the given portion; and a valve plate secured to the pivot shaft to pivot therewith within the given portion. The valve plate is pivotal between a close position to close the air intake passage and an open position to open the air intake passage. When the valve plate assumes the close position, the interior of the air intake passage downstream the valve plate is formed with mutually isolated first and second air flows that are separated and oriented to enhance a flow of air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isaji, Kouichi Mori, Shunichi Mitsuishi, Satoshi Nishii, Kanjo Arimatsu
  • Publication number: 20070215096
    Abstract: An engine controller controls an actuator for selectively executing spark-ignited combustion and compression-ignited combustion of an internal combustion engine in accordance with an engine operational state. The controller is comprises of a deterioration recognition section for recognizing a deterioration state of the engine or the actuator during the spark-ignited combustion. The engine controller is configured to change at least one of a switching condition between the spark-ignited combustion and compression-ignited combustion and an operational condition for the compression-ignited combustion, during the spark-ignited combustion, in accordance with the deterioration state of the engine or the actuator recognized by the deterioration recognition section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Kumano, Shiro Yamaoka, Hiromu Kakuya