Supercharger Patents (Class 123/559.1)
  • Patent number: 8561581
    Abstract: A radial, two-stroke uniflow internal combustion (IC) cylinder and multiple cylinder engine, the cylinder having a cylinder wall and a cylinder head, the cylinder head having an exhaust port, a fuel injector, and a spark means disposed through the cylinder head, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder for movement alternately through compression and power strokes, and an inlet swirl port disposed through the cylinder wall providing fluid communication into the cylinder chamber, and having an annular exhaust air manifold in exhaust gas communication with each exhaust ports, and an exhaust-driven radial in-flow turbine that drives the inlet air compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Jack R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8555637
    Abstract: An air supply pipe includes a curved pipe portion having a first end and a second end, a first straight pipe portion extended along a first direction and a second straight pipe portion extended along a second direction. The cross-sectional shape of the curved pipe portion is a rectangular shape having longer sides in a third direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihide Nakae, Kazushi Nakata
  • Patent number: 8550057
    Abstract: A supercharger is provided, comprising a plurality of rotatable supercharger rotors each having a plurality of interleavable lobes configured to move air from an inlet to an outlet of the supercharger. Inner chambers in the lobes define an end opening and perforated end faces, at the end openings defining at least one port, having a length and a diameter. The at least one port is configured to operate with an associated air mass in the inner chamber to attenuate sound adjacent to the end opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Gregory P. Prior
  • Publication number: 20130255647
    Abstract: In a controller of an internal combustion engine equipped with an electric supercharger driven by a motor, an object is to attempt to improve fuel consumption of a vehicle. The controller includes an electric supercharger driven by a motor; a generator that performs power generation using the output of the internal combustion engine as power; a charging device which is charged by the generator and can store electricity; and an accelerator opening degree detector that detects an accelerator opening degree. In the controller, a configuration is made such that, the controller controls supply electricity to the electric supercharger and generated electricity by the generator by the output of the accelerator opening degree detector, output needed for the electric supercharger calculated depending on the accelerator opening degree, and an state of charge in the charging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Yohei AKASHI, Hideyuki TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20130255648
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine provided with: a supercharger provided with a turbine disposed on an exhaust passage, having an exhaust-side variable vane mechanism capable of adjusting exhaust pressure in accordance with its opening/closing state, and a compressor disposed on an intake passage, having an intake-side vane mechanism in a diffuser part of the compressor, capable of adjusting an air flow quantity in accordance with its opening/closing state; and a detecting device capable of detecting actual supercharging pressure of the supercharger on a downstream side of the compressor, is provided with: a controller which is configured to specify a time transition of the detected actual supercharging pressure in a period in which a change speed of target supercharging pressure of the supercharger is greater than or equal to a predetermined value and determine abnormality of at least one of the turbine and the compressor on the basis of the specified
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Yamamoto, Akitoshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 8544453
    Abstract: A supercharger cooling system provides a path for coolant from an air/coolant heat exchanger to a supercharger intercooler and loops around a hot outlet end of a screw type supercharger and back to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may be a dedicated air/coolant heat exchanger or be a vehicle radiator. The intercooler is sandwiched between the supercharger and intake manifold and cools the flow of hot compressed air from the supercharger into the intake manifold. The supercharger cooling loop circles the front rotor bearings thereby cooling the bearings and seals, the forward ends of the male and female rotors, and the male and female rotor gears. The cooling loop is preferably located in the outlet end wall between the supercharger rotors and the rotor drive gears to form a barrier to heat. A dedicated pump cycles the coolant flow and restrictions control the flow of coolant to the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan-Erik Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 8539936
    Abstract: A pressure equalization system reduces or eliminates a pressure differential across supercharger rotor shaft seals. Under high boost, rotor shaft seals often fail, allowing hot compressed air into an oil lubricated space containing rotor bearings and gears (and vented to ambient pressure), reducing oil lubricating effectiveness and resulting in increased wear and failure. Under low or non boost operation, the pressure differential is reversed causing the lubricating oil to leak into the supercharger interior and accelerated rotor seal wear. The pressure equalization system includes flow restrictive seals on both rotor shafts, separated from the rotor shaft seals by vented spaces, thereby isolating the rotor shaft seals from boost or vacuum in the supercharger interior and reducing or eliminating the pressure differential across the rotor shaft seals. Maintaining close to atmospheric pressure on both sides of the rotor shaft seals during boost and vacuum operation reduces wear and failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jan Erik Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 8539769
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine drivably connected to a variable displacement and variable internal compression ratio supercharger that supplies varying amounts of air to the engine air intake manifold that can range selectively from below through above atmospheric pressures responsive to the power requirements of the engine. The supercharger has a pair of rotors concurrently driven by the engine to move air to the engine. A slide assembly associated with screw rotors is movable with a controller relative to the rotors to bypass air to atmosphere and regulate the amount of air and pressure of the air above atmospheric pressure compressed by the screw rotors to the engine to increase the engine's efficiency. When operating at part-load unboosted, a throttle valve is operable to control the air mass flowing to the air intake manifold below atmospheric pressure to control the power of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Patent number: 8528331
    Abstract: The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: KASI Technologies AB
    Inventor: Isak Lofgren
  • Patent number: 8528330
    Abstract: The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: KASI Technologies AB
    Inventor: Isak Lofgren
  • Publication number: 20130227945
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbocharged engine is disclosed. In one example, during a first condition an engine operation is adjusted in response to a turbocharger expansion ratio exceeding a first limit and during a second condition an engine operation is adjusted in response to the turbocharger expansion ratio exceeding a second limit that differs from the first limit. Degradation of the engine may be reduced under some engine operating conditions by adjusting engine operation in response to the turbocharger expansion ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brien Lloyd Fulton, Gopal Krishna Chamarthi, Dean Pennala, David Ives, David Robert Nader, Paul Martin Niessen, Jason Ronald Smith
  • Publication number: 20130228156
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including an intake manifold selectably coupled to a boost tank. The method comprises pressurizing and storing air in the boost tank, discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold, and releasing condensate from the boost tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8522550
    Abstract: The invention refers to a supercharging system for an internal combustion engine incorporating in combination, a turbine, a compressor and an electrical driven system that is connected by any power transmission system to the crankshaft or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: KASI Technologies AB
    Inventor: Isak Lofgren
  • Publication number: 20130220284
    Abstract: An air amount estimating apparatus in an internal combustion engine having a supercharger that estimates with high accuracy an amount of air drawn into a cylinder without involving an increased calculation load. The air amount estimating apparatus estimates a cylinder air amount through calculation that incorporates a physical model representing air flowing behavior through an intake path. When, at this time, a ratio of throttle downstream pressure to throttle upstream pressure as calculated with the physical model is smaller than a reference ratio, a throttle flow rate is calculated using an equation of throttle based on the throttle upstream pressure, the throttle downstream pressure, and a throttle opening. When the ratio of the throttle downstream pressure to the throttle upstream pressure is greater than the reference ratio, the throttle flow rate is calculated using a linear interpolation equation based on a compressor flow rate and an intake valve flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Machiko Katsumata, Satoru Tanaka, Ryutaro Moriguchi
  • Publication number: 20130206116
    Abstract: A method for adjusting charge pressure of a combustion engine is disclosed, wherein the charge pressure is built up by a pressure-wave supercharger to which a channel 1 for drawing in fresh air, a channel 2 for discharging compressed fresh air, a channel 3 for supplying exhaust gas, and a channel 4 for discharging exhaust gas are connected and which includes a cold-gas housing, to which channels 1 and 2 are connected, a gas pocket valve arranged in the area of channel 3, and a circulating-air valve connecting channel 2 to channel 3. A control disk for adjusting the pressure-wave process by a geometric offset of channel 3-4 to channel 1-2 is arranged in the housing and charge pressure is controlled according to a control disk position and/or a gas pocket valve position and/or a rotor speed of the pressure-wave supercharger and/or a circulating-air valve position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jillis Legrom, Theo Van Den Munckhof, Fabian Fricke
  • Publication number: 20130206117
    Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation apparatus for engine includes an EGR passage, a first EGR valve and a second EGR valve provided in series in the EGR passage to regulate an EGR flow rate in the EGR passage. The first EGR valve is configured as a poppet valve and is configured to open in a range of opening degree from full open to full close. The second EGR valve has a maximum opening degree restricted to a predetermined small opening degree smaller than full open. The second EGR valve is configured to open in a range of opening degree from the predetermined small opening degree to full close and to allow the first EGR valve to provide a maximum exhaust flow rate when the second EGR valve is held at the predetermined small opening degree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8505296
    Abstract: A method for controlling engine temperature of an engine with a wide dynamic range is disclosed. In one example, the derivative of an engine temperature is assessed by a controller. The controller may adjust engine actuators to limit engine temperature in response to the derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Carl Mukkala, Nathanael David Shaw, Jason Eugene Devries, Brian Michael O'Neil, Michael Joseph Giunta
  • Patent number: 8505501
    Abstract: A radial, two-stroke uniflow internal combustion (IC) cylinder and multiple cylinder engine, the cylinder having a cylinder wall and a cylinder head, the cylinder head having an exhaust port, a fuel injector, and a spark means disposed through the cylinder head, a piston reciprocally mounted in the cylinder for movement alternately through compression and power strokes, and an inlet swirl port disposed through the cylinder wall providing fluid communication into the cylinder chamber, and having an annular exhaust air manifold in exhaust gas communication with each exhaust ports, and an exhaust-driven radial in-flow turbine that drives the inlet air compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Jack R. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8499747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of a spark-ignition engine (2) having the following method steps: pre-compressing the air supplied to the combustion chambers (15A-15D) of the internal combustion engine (2), directly injecting fuel into the combustion chambers (15A-15D) of the internal combustion engine (2), and adjusting the valve overlap of the gas exchange valves corresponding to the load range in which the internal combustion engine (2) is operated, characterized by the following method step: carrying out the pre-compression in a charging device in the form of an exhaust-gas turbocharger having a turbine (5) with variable turbine geometry (VTG), wherein the engine exhaust gas is supplied to the turbine (5) via separate spiral ducts (17A, 18A; 17B, 18B) of a multi-flow turbine housing (16A; 16B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Schmalzl
  • Publication number: 20130192567
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for compensating a mass airflow (MAF) sensor reading to account for the bleeding or diversion of intake airflow for compressor operation in determining fresh air flow into an engine. The engine is downstream from the compressor diversion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Cummins Inc.
    Inventor: Cummins Inc.
  • Patent number: 8495991
    Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine in which combustion air is supplied to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, which air is compressed with the aid of a pulse supercharger, the pulse supercharger being controlled in such a way that optionally, in a first operating mode, the combustion air is compressed in order to support a compressor of a turbocharger, or in a second operating mode, the combustion air compressed with the aid of the compressor is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Baeuerle, Martin Klenk, Udo Sieber
  • Patent number: 8490917
    Abstract: A high-altitude aircraft powerplant including an engine, a two-stage turbocharger having an intercooler and an aftercooler, a cryogenic hydrogen fuel source, and a cooling system including a hydrogen heat exchanger. Aided by a ram-air cooler that cools a coolant to a near-ambient temperature, the heat exchanger is configured to heat the hydrogen using the coolant, and to cool the coolant to a temperature well below the ambient temperature during high-altitude flight. The intercooler and aftercooler use the sub-ambient temperature coolant, as does a separate sensor. The ram-air cooler includes a front portion and a rear portion. The cooling system includes three cooling loops which respectively incorporate only the front portion, only the rear portion, and both portions of the ram-air cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Nelson Brooks, James Gallagher Daley, Bart Dean Hibbs
  • Patent number: 8490394
    Abstract: The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: KASI Technologies AB
    Inventor: Isak Lofgren
  • Patent number: 8490584
    Abstract: The air hybrid engine with dual chamber cylinder with an air storage tank is an energy recovery unit from deceleration and breaking the vehicle and will perform as power management. During deceleration mode of a vehicle where the compressor chamber in the engine will recover energy by compressing the air and storing the compressed in a storage tank. During acceleration mode the engine will run in a mixed mode, conventional mode and air motor mode. The compressed air can also be used for starting the engine. The engine will operate in the “sweet spot” to optimize fuel consumption by using the lower chamber and or upper chamber in compression mode or an idle mode. The compressed air from the air storage tank can be used for other purposes such as air suspension and or to power pneumatic tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Rez Mustafa
  • Patent number: 8490393
    Abstract: The invention refers to a supercharging system (6) for an internal combustion engine (1) incorporating in combination, a turbine (7), a compressor (8) and an electrical driven system (20) that is connected by any power transmission system (16, 19) to the crankshaft (4) or any other vehicle drive shaft of an internal combustion engine, where the turbine inlet is subjected to exhaust gases, causing the turbine wheel to rotate and thereby via the drive shaft causing mechanical rotating power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: KASI Technologies AB
    Inventor: Isak Lofgren
  • Publication number: 20130160748
    Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
  • Patent number: 8469000
    Abstract: An engine system includes a throttle valve configured to variably open and close to selectively restrict a volume of air flow. The engine system also includes a supercharger comprising an air inlet, an air outlet, a rotatable drive shaft and rotors associated with the drive shaft, wherein the supercharger is sized to have a flow rate that substantially prevents backwards leaking of air flow. The engine system further includes a combustion engine comprising combustion chambers and an associated rotatable crank shaft and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) configured to variably transfer rotational energy between the drive shaft and the crank shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Ouwenga, Karen E. Bevan
  • Publication number: 20130152907
    Abstract: Electronic induction system tuning featuring electronic pressure charging for an intake tract of an internal combustion engine is disclosed herein. The electronic pressure charging system includes a pressure sensor, a signal generator, and a wave generator. The signal generator causes the wave generator to create a pressure wave in response to monitored parameters and a pressure wave detected by the pressure sensor. The generated pressure wave may be added to, cancel, or otherwise modify the detected pressure wave to increase, decrease, or otherwise manipulate the pressure within a combustion chamber of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Victoriano Ruiz
  • Patent number: 8464696
    Abstract: A system for supplying compressed air to an engine is presented. In one embodiment, the system includes a cylinder block that forms at least part of an air compressor housing. The system may improve engine balance and reduce engine assembly cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Gary David Liimatta
  • Patent number: 8448616
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine including an air intake pressurization device having an outlet from which air at a pressure substantially greater than ambient air pressure is expelled, an expansible combustion chamber into which air is received from the device outlet and from which exhaust gases are expelled, first and second intake valves and one or more exhaust valves, each valve having open and closed states. The combustion chamber is in periodic fluid communication with the device outlet through at least one of the first and second intake valves, and exhaust gases are expelled from the combustion chamber via the exhaust valve(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Turbo Innovation, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Kirk
  • Patent number: 8443788
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is charged by a compressor such that for example only a fraction of the charge is supercharged for an operating cycle of the internal combustion engine and is supplied via a separate charging channel with the help of a short-stroke valve which is controlled by the camshaft after closure of the inlet of the internal combustion engine such that the suction/charging stroke of the four-stroke process is maintained entirely or partially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Gunter W. Schabinger
  • Patent number: 8439019
    Abstract: A compressed air delivery system in which power from a power supply is transmitted to a rotary air compressor through a dry running, continuous variable transmission (CVT) utilizing a belt coupled between two pulleys enclosed within a CVT housing. The air pressure differential created by the rotary air compressor is used to urge cooling air through the CVT to cool the CVT belt. The pressure differential may be utilized to push cooling air into the CVT housing or to draw cooling air through the CVT housing. In one embodiment, a portion of the compressed air discharged from a supercharger may be routed through a bleed line and into the CVT housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Carlson, Kenneth C. Jones
  • Patent number: 8439020
    Abstract: A supercharger assembly includes a dry-running CVT coupled to a speed multiplying gear set, which is in turn coupled to a centrifugal supercharger. The CVT includes a CVT housing which has an opening formed therein to provide access to a face of the driven pulley, and a plurality of equally spaced bolt receivers arranged in a circle around the opening. The gear assembly includes a gear housing formed separate from the CVT housing. The gear housing has a plurality of bolt holes formed in it which are arranged in a circle and alignable with respective ones of the bolt receivers. The gear housing is selectively rotatable relative to the CVT housing by moving each of the bolt holes from alignment with a first respective one of the bolt receivers and into alignment with a second respective one of the bolt receivers and then installing fasteners therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Carlson, Kenneth C. Jones
  • Patent number: 8434305
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine that powers a vehicle having a pressure vessel storing pressurized air. The turbocharger system comprises a turbocharger and a valve system. The system is configured such that the air intake system of the internal combustion engine can be supplied with air at super-atmospheric pressure either from the compressor of the turbocharger or from the pressure vessel. When the pressure vessel is supplying the intake system, compressed air from the compressor is recirculated back to the air inlet of the compressor so as to help prevent a surge condition in the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin Donkin, Peter Davies
  • Patent number: 8423266
    Abstract: An engine in which a fluctuation in the amount of fuel injection is reduced in the entire operating tolerance of the engine. The engine (1) has an engine body (5) provided with a turbocharger (7), an engine speed sensor (21), a turbo sensor (22), a boost sensor (23), and an ECU (20) for correcting the amount of fuel injection. A control means recognizes an engine speed, a supercharging pressure, a supercharger speed, a fuel injection amount and corrects the fuel injection amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kawabe, Takashi Miyamoto, Kazuhiro Yamada, Tetsuo Sakaki, Isamu Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8419399
    Abstract: A gear compressor or supercharger for compressing compressible fluids such as air, having a pair of intermeshing helical lobed rotors. An aperture is provided on the bottom of the compressor, at a rear end thereof, which permits air from the rear interior of the compressor to be in communication with high pressure supply air which is discharged from such compressor proximate the front of such compressor, on the bottom underside portion thereof. The above modification improves the efficiency of the compressor, particularly at high revolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignees: 592301 Alberta Ltd., Acceleration Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventors: Jirka Kaplan, Les Davenport
  • Patent number: 8418463
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including an intake manifold selectably coupled to a boost tank. The method comprises pressurizing and storing air in the boost tank, discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold, and releasing condensate from the boost tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8418679
    Abstract: The invention relates to a charger module (1) for an internal combustion engine, comprising a mechanical charger (2) and two charge coolers (3, 4), mounted downstream of the charger (2), for cooling the compressed charge air. The aim of the invention is to reduce the costs for producing such a charger module without impairing the rigidity or structural stability of the charger module (1). For this purpose, the charger (2) and the two charge coolers (3, 4) are inserted in a common housing (5) which surrounds the charger (2) and the two charge coolers (3, 4) at least on the bottom side and on two opposite sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Ralf Doring, Joerg Riegner, Jens-Uwe Kaulbach, Ralph Hollmig
  • Publication number: 20130087126
    Abstract: There is provided a method of enriching an air supply for an engine, said method comprising conveying pressurised air to a chamber containing a liquid and causing said air to pass through the liquid to enrich the air with one or more additives and then conveying enriched air from the chamber for supply to an engine. Also provided are an engine air supply assembly (1), apparatus (100) for enriching air and a vehicle incorporating the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: George Lindsay Heeley
  • Patent number: 8413641
    Abstract: An intake manifold with integrated canister circuit for a supercharged internal combustion engine provided with: a tubular body in which a plenum is defined; a sorting chamber obtained in a wall of the tubular body; a canister solenoid valve arranged in the sorting chamber and is adapted to adjust the introduction of gasoline vapours into the sorting chamber; a first pipe, which is obtained in the wall of the tubular body, puts the sorting chamber into communication with the plenum, and defines a first branch of a recovery pipe; a second pipe, which is obtained in the wall of the tubular body and defines an initial portion of a second branch of the recovery pipe; a first one-way valve which allows, through the first pipe, only a flow towards the plenum; a second one-way valve which allows, through the second pipe, only a flow through the intake pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Fornara, Andrea Davitti, Michele Pecora
  • Patent number: 8413643
    Abstract: Various example approaches are described, one of which includes a method for adjusting relative delivery of liquid and gaseous fuel to a cylinder of the engine to effect rapid changes in cylinder air charge via changes in the displacement of fresh air by the gaseous fuel. In one particular approach, turbocharger lag is addressed by decreasing gaseous fuel injection while increasing liquid fuel injection to increase cylinder fresh air over and above any changes to fresh air via the throttle, wastegate, and/or turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Tehnologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, John D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8408188
    Abstract: A belt drive pulley system termed a “flip drive” is configured to provide at least two belt drive pulleys that are co-axially and integrally arranged and share common axle/bearing and mounting components. By being co-axially disposed, the belt drive pulleys will operate in separate and distinct planes. The flip drive is adapted for use in various applications so that power received on its first pulley from a first belt drive is transferred from its second pulley to a second belt drive (where the first and second belt drives are not co-planar).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hormilla Performance Engineering LLC
    Inventor: Maxwell Hormilla
  • Patent number: 8408187
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine including a supercharging device, which includes: a valve-drive mechanism that variably controls the valve timings for at least intake valves; a target valve timing setting mechanism setting a target valve timing for at least the intake valves in accordance with an operation condition of the engine in a low engine speed range; and a valve-drive mechanism controller controlling the valve-drive mechanism based on the target valve timing. Each of the target valve timings is differently set such that (a) a valve-overlap duration is provided in a negative pressure region; (b) the valve-overlap duration in the negative pressure region is made shorter in a first supercharging region; and (c) the valve-overlap duration in the first supercharging region is made longer in a second supercharging region where the higher load of the engine is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mamoru Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20130074813
    Abstract: A supercharger for an internal combustion engine including a turbocompressor having at least one compressor impeller and a suction side and a pressure side, a flywheel mass for storing drive energy, an auxiliary motor for driving the compressor impeller and the flywheel mass, and a first shut-off element which is arranged on the suction side of the turbocompressor, the region between the first shut-off element and the compressor impeller of the turbocompressor forming a suction-side compressor air space, and the turbocompressor being designed in such a way that, after the first shut-off element is closed, the suction side compressor air space can be substantially evacuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: D. BROWN TECHNIK AG
    Inventor: Augustin Thalhofer
  • Patent number: 8402953
    Abstract: It is an object to provide an engine that makes it possible to constantly detect the number of rotations of a supercharger with a calculation load of an ECU reduced. An engine 1 is provided with an engine base 8 comprised of a plurality of cylinders and a turbocharger 7, a crank angle sensor 4, a turbo sensor 5 that detects rotations of the turbocharger 7 as pulses, an amplifier 11 that divides the pulses by an arbitrary division ratio and calculates the divided pulses, and an ECU 10 that judges a surge condition of the turbocharger 7, wherein the ECU 10 sets a predetermined position of a piston of each cylinder in a crank angle of the engine base 8 to count start timing of the divided pulses, outputs the divided pulses counted from the count start timing to the number of predetermined rotations as a first output, and judges that, if a difference between the first outputs at every cylinder is more than a predetermined value, the turbocharger 7 is in the surge condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Kawabe, Takashi Miyamoto, Terumitsu Takahata, Tetsuo Sakaki, Isamu Kawashima
  • Publication number: 20130068201
    Abstract: A modular gear case assembly for an internal combustion engine is disclosed that includes a plate removably coupled to the block of the engine with a through hole in the plate through which an end of the crankshaft of the engine extends. The gear case is coupled to the plate and includes: a central gear that couples with the end of the crankshaft, a first interconnecting gear that meshes with the central gear, a second interconnecting gear that meshes with the central gear, a first side gear that meshes with the first interconnecting gear, a second side gear that meshes with the second interconnecting gear, a housing in which the gears are disposed, and a cover that sealingly couples with the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: ECOMOTORS, INC.
    Inventor: Glenn D. Miller
  • Patent number: 8397501
    Abstract: An automotive air blower includes an air pump (14) connected to the output shaft of a transmission system, whose input shaft is connected, in use, to the engine (16) of a motor vehicle. The input and output shafts are connected to the ring gear (10) and sun gear (13), respectively, of a three-branch epicyclic differential gearset. The planet carrier (12) of the gearset is connected to the rotor (2) of an electric motor/generator and the input shaft is connected to the rotor of an electrical machine (1), which constitutes at least a generator. The electrical connections of the stators of the two machines are connected together via a controller arranged to control the flow of electrical power between them. A selectively engageable mechanical connection (15) is provided between two of the branches of the gearset and arranged to connect the two branches together such that the gearset will rotate as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Nexxtdrive Limited, Integral Powertrain Limited
    Inventor: Luke Barker
  • Patent number: 8381521
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving vehicle performance by application of pneumatic boost to vehicle engines, including diesel engines having at least one turbocharger supplying air to the engine, in a manner which increases engine torque output while minimizing the potential for exceed various operating limits to the maximum practicable extent. The vehicle's pneumatic booster system controller implements strategies for shaping the rate of the air injection during a boost event, tailoring the air injection to obtain maximum engine torque output while respecting the operating limits, by controlling the timing, duration, quantity and/or injection pattern during a boost event to achieve a refined distribution of compressed air injection over the course of the boost event to provide desired engine torque output and fuel efficiency while minimizing the potential for exceeding a wide variety of operation limits, regulatory, engineering and passenger comfort limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William J. Schaffeld, Nicholas Asmis, Mark W. McCollough, Richard Beyer
  • Publication number: 20130042611
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide a technology wherein a stratification of an EGR gas with an air-fuel mixture or a fresh air is achieved and capable of introducing the EGR gas in a large quantity, even when an engine load is high as an operation state of an internal combustion engine. With this invention, when a stratified combustion is performed by introducing the EGR gas, the fresh air is supercharged by a compressor, a fresh air blocking valve is closed to block inflow of the fresh air into a first intake port, and a variable valve mechanism opens a first intake valve before opening of a second intake valve, and, thereafter, opens the second intake valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoya Kaneko
  • Patent number: 8375926
    Abstract: A two stage cooled EGR system for a turbocharged internal combustion engine with an intake air charge air cooler. The first EGR cooler is a liquid-to-air cooler and the second, low temperature EGR cooler, is an air-to-air cooler combining with the gas flow downstream of the intake air cooler. The system bypasses EGR flow through the low temperature EGR cooler during certain engine conditions such as low engine coolant temperature and a check valve allows a limited portion of un-cooled, pressurized intake air to be passed through the low temperature EGR cooler for scavenging of any residual moisture and ultimate consumption by the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Alan Sheidler, Craig Lohmann