Intercooler Patents (Class 123/563)
  • Publication number: 20010001362
    Abstract: An air bottoming powertrain, suitable for use in automobiles includes an internal combustion engine, a compressor which receives gaseous working fluid and compresses it to an elevated pressure, a cooler for operating the compressor isothermally, an expander for deriving work from the compressed gas and a heat exchanger located in the compressed gas line for indirect heat exchange between the compressed working fluid and exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The expander may have a cylindrical barrel with a plurality of cylinders arranged in the circle and open at one end face of the cylinder barrel, which end face is sealed closed by a valve plate. The cylinder barrel and valve plate allow relative rotation therebetween to drive an output shaft, driven by compressed gas from the compressor. An alternative expander is a Scotch Yoke piston motor which includes plural paired and axially aligned cylinders on opposing sides of an output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Publication date: May 24, 2001
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray
  • Patent number: 6230695
    Abstract: Past exhaust emission control systems fail to utilize exhaust gas recirculation during all operating parameters of an engine. The present exhaust gas recirculation system reduces the emissions emitted from an engine during all operating parameters of the engine. The engine has a cylinder, a rotatable crankshaft and a turbocharger defining a compressor section compressing a flow of intake air to a first preestablished pressure and being driven by a flow of exhaust gas having a first preestablished pressure. The exhaust gas recirculation system is comprised of a portion of the flow of exhaust gas being recirculated back to the cylinder and forming a flow of exhaust gas recirculation. The flow of exhaust gas recirculation is cooled. The flow of exhaust gas recirculation is mixed with exhaust gas and compressed to a second preestablished pressure by the positive displacement pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald N. Coleman, Dennis D. Feucht, Keith E. Lawrence
  • Patent number: 6227179
    Abstract: A V-type internal combustion engine has a mechanically driven supercharger located essentially between the V-shaped cylinder banks of the engine. In addition, an intercooler is located downstream of the supercharger and has an intake plenum on the outlet side, which is connected by intake pipes with the air intakes of the cylinders of both cylinder banks. In order to provide an internal combustion engine with compact, easily managed mechanical supercharging, characterized by agile response, the supercharger and the intercooler form a preassembled module. The supercharger is located above the intercooler in the installed position, and the intake plenum is located on top of the intercooler but below the supercharger between the V-shaped cylinder banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Georg Eiermann, Erhard Rau
  • Patent number: 6216462
    Abstract: An air bottoming powertrain, suitable for use in automobiles includes an internal combustion engine, a compressor which receives gaseous working fluid and compresses it to an elevated pressure, a cooler -For operating the compressor isothermally, an expander for deriving work from the compressed gas and a heat exchanger located in the compressed gas line for indirect heat exchange between the compressed working fluid and exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. The expander may have a cylindrical barrel with a plurality of cylinders arranged in the circle and open at one end face of the cylinder barrel, which end face is sealed closed by a valve plate. The cylinder barrel and valve plate allow relative rotation therebetween to drive an output shaft, driven by compressed gas from the compressor. An alternative expander is a Scotch Yoke piston motor which includes plural paired and axially aligned cylinders on opposing sides of an output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6167956
    Abstract: An aftercooler for cooling a compressed fluid exiting from a compressor, the aftercooler including a radiator unit for receiving the compressed fluid exiting from the compressor and for cooling the compressed fluid, the radiator unit having an inlet for receiving the compressed fluid, an outlet for discharging the compressed fluid and a plurality of heat exchange passageways connecting the inlet and the outlet for transferring heat from the compressed fluid. The aftercooler also includes a bypass channel for bypassing the plurality of heat exchange passageways which extends from a first point substantially adjacent the inlet of the radiator unit to a second point substantially adjacent the outlet of the radiator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Robert Bostedo, Brian L. Cunkelman
  • Patent number: 6164252
    Abstract: The reciprocating piston engine has an annular swivel disk (6), driven by the engine shaft (5) and whose inclination with respect to the latter is adjustable, for driving circumferentially juxtaposed reciprocating pistons (2). For this purpose it is connected in articulated manner both to a sliding sleeve (21) axially guided on the engine shaft (5) and to a driver (13), which transmits the driving force and which is spaced from the engine shaft (5). As a result of the annular shape of the swivel disk, which is advantageous both dynamically and from the manufacturing standpoint a space-saving, articulated engagement of the driver (13) in a radial bore (16) of the swivel disk (6) is rendered possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignees: Obrist Engineering GmbH, Daimler Chrysler AG
    Inventors: Peter Kuhn, Roland Casar, Frank Obrist
  • Patent number: 6158422
    Abstract: The invention concerns a supercharging arrangement (1) for the charge air an internal combustion engine (2), in particular a piston engine (3), with a multi-cycle pressure wave machine (13) connected for flow to a feed line for the charge air and an exhaust line for the exhaust gases. The arrangement further comprises a cell rotor (15) which is rotatably mounted in a bearing arrangement in a housing, in particular has a plurality of grooves and is connected to a rotary drive and a control device (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventors: Otto Blank, Gerald Buha, Andreas Mayer
  • Patent number: 6158399
    Abstract: An engine cooling system includes a two-pass radiator, a jacket water pump pumping coolant from the radiator to the engine, and an aftercooler for cooling engine charge air from a turbocharger. An aftercooler pump pumps coolant from the radiator to the aftercooler. An orifice can be disposed in the aftercooler discharge line to limit flow therethrough, and an orifice bypass line with thermostatic control valve can be provided to selectively bypass the orifice. A shunt tank is connected to the suction of the jacket water pump to establish a static pressure head thereon, to ensure that the jacket water pump has sufficient suction pressure despite relatively high coolant head loss through the two-pass radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Ash, Michael D. Betz, Ronald L. Dupree
  • Patent number: 6158398
    Abstract: A dual circuit cooling system for a vehicle having an engine and a turbocharger aftercooler includes a modular radiator system having partitions in the tanks of the radiator. The partitions create separate radiator sections, and the partitions contain orifices that provide a crossover function between the sections. During cooler engine operating temperatures the engine thermostat closes which causes engine coolant to be circulated mainly within the engine, and which also causes pressure downstream of the thermostat to drop. The reduced pressure allows coolant from the aftercooler circuit to pass through a first crossover and circulate through the main radiator, then through a second crossover and back to the aftercooler circuit. During higher engine temperatures the thermostat opens, equalizing pressure between the circuits, thus creating normal flow through the circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Betz
  • Patent number: 6145498
    Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus that is connected to a turbocharger and to a reciprocating engine has a primary and a secondary saturation chamber, and a drying chamber. Turbocharged air from the turbocharger is directed into the primary saturation chamber. The incoming air is initially mixed with and cooled by water located at the bottom of the primary saturation chamber before being directed through a diffusion screen. The air exiting the diffusion screen enters the secondary saturation chamber where intense bubbling and foaming increases the air-water contact area to further cool the air and form an air-water mixture approaching the temperature and moisture level of saturation. The air-water mixture is then directed into the drying chamber where a majority of the moisture is removed from the air through the use of centrifugal force. The now cooler moist air is directed toward the engine intake manifold, whereby the moisture in the air stream acts to reduce the NOx formation during the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Power Generating Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Packard, Peter Moliterno
  • Patent number: 6145497
    Abstract: A method for recuperating thermal energy in the oxidant air generated by an oxidant air compressor of an internal combustion engine is provided, which consists in taking thermal energy using a heat exchanger in which circulates a heat transferring fluid and which is located in the oxidant air circuit between the compressor and the engine, and transferring the thermal energy recuperated by the fluid to a thermal energy consuming group. The invention is characterized in that it further consists in: detecting the temperature of the surcharging air upstream of the heat exchanger; and when the detected temperature is lower than a first reference temperature, in short circuiting the heat exchanger and heating the heat transferring fluid up to approximately the reference temperature using an auxiliary heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Wartsila NSD Corporation
    Inventors: Alain Kervagoret, Gilles Langlois
  • Patent number: 6138647
    Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus that is connected to a turbocharger and to a reciprocating engine has a primary and a secondary saturation chamber, and a drying chamber. Turbocharged air from the turbocharger is directed into the primary saturation chamber. The incoming air is initially mixed with and cooled by water located at the bottom of the primary saturation chamber before being directed through a diffusion screen. The air exiting the diffusion screen enters the secondary saturation chamber where intense bubbling and foaming increases the air-water contact area to further cool the air and form an air-water mixture approaching the temperature and moisture level of saturation. The air-water mixture is then directed into the drying chamber where a majority of the moisture is removed from the air through the use of centrifugal force. The now cooler moist air is directed toward the engine intake manifold, whereby the moisture in the air stream acts to reduce the NOx formation during the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Power Generating Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Packard, Peter Moliterno
  • Patent number: 6138648
    Abstract: An intake device for a supercharged internal combustion engine is installed in a motor vehicle. In particular, the engine is a supercharged otto engine which can be installed in the rear of a motor vehicle, and has an air filter box which receives an air filter element, and a supercharger air cooler. The supercharger air cooler is integrated in the air filter box. In this way, optimal cooling of the supercharger air is assured even in the event that the otto engine and its supercharger as well as the supercharger air cooler are installed in the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, in this way, the mounting, logistic, and test expenses, particularly at the manufacturing site, can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Matthias Zentgraf
  • Patent number: 6079394
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a mechanical supercharger for compressing the combustion air in the intake manifold. The supercharger communicates with a charge-air cooler which is arranged downstream in the direction of flow of the combustion air and is connected to the intake manifold. In order to design an internal combustion engine in such a way that as few alterations to the basic engine as possible are required for the arrangement of the supercharger, the supercharger, the charge-air cooler and the intake manifold are formed as an interchangeable supercharger module held on a support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Joerg Abthoff, Roland Kemmler, Adolf Kremer, Reinhard Steinkaemper
  • Patent number: 6073616
    Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement comprising an inlet manifold for an internal combustion engine. The arrangement comprises an element formed with flow ducts. It is formed with two coupling device halves which communicate with the ducts. These coupling device halves can be connected to two corresponding coupling device halves disposed on the inlet manifold. One of these halves communicates with the member for supplying air of combustion for the engine and with an engine coolant discharge pipe. The other communicates with the inlet manifold and with a feed pipe for said coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Valeo Engine Cooling AB, Oil Cooler Division
    Inventor: Rolf Hedman
  • Patent number: 6055966
    Abstract: An intake device for a supercharged internal combustion engine is installed in a motor vehicle. In particular, the engine is a supercharged otto engine which can be installed in the rear of a motor vehicle, and has an air filter box which receives an air filter element, and a supercharger air cooler. The supercharger air cooler is integrated in the air filter box. In this way, optimal cooling of the supercharger air is assured even in the event that the otto engine and its supercharger as well as the supercharger air cooler are installed in the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, in this way, the mounting, logistic, and test expenses, particularly at the manufacturing site, can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: VDO Adolf Schindling AG
    Inventor: Matthias Zentgraf
  • Patent number: 6035834
    Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus that is connected to a turbocharger and to a reciprocating engine has a primary and a secondary saturation chamber, and a drying chamber. Turbocharged air from the turbocharger is directed into the primary saturation chamber. The incoming air is initially mixed with and cooled by water located at the bottom of the primary saturation chamber before being directed through a diffusion screen. The air exiting the diffusion screen enters the secondary saturation chamber where intense bubbling and foaming increases the air-water contact area to further cool the air and form an air-water mixture approaching the temperature and moisture level of saturation. The air-water mixture is then directed into the drying chamber where a majority of the moisture is removed from the air through the use of centrifugal force. The now cooler moist air is directed toward the engine intake manifold, whereby the moisture in the air stream acts to reduce the NOx formation during the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Industrial Power Generating Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Packard, Peter Moliterno
  • Patent number: 6029637
    Abstract: An induction assembly for a supercharged internal combustion engine includes a housing and a supercharger with a rotor and gear plate assembly to produce pressurized air. The housing includes a rotor casing which defines a central chamber to house the rotor and gear plate assembly. The housing also includes a suction inlet to introduce air to the central chamber and an outlet to discharge pressurized air from the central chamber to a plenum. The housing further includes intake runners which are in fluid communication with the plenum. The intake runners are radially adjacent to the exterior of the rotor casing such that the rotor casing comprises the inner wall of the intake runners. The plenum is defined by a removable cover and the housing. The removable cover has a central lengthwise bead and rounded surfaces resulting in the plenum being rounded and divided longitudinally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory Paul Prior
  • Patent number: 6021764
    Abstract: An engine with a supercharger has a first intake pipe with one end connected to an air cleaner at one end of the engine. The intake pipe extends toward the other end of the engine and joins with an intermediate portion which is bent to extend across the engine and is then bent downward and connected to a supercharger arranged on the exhaust side of the engine. A second intake pipe has one end connected to the supercharger and the other end extended upward and connected to an intercooler disposed above the engine. A third intake pipe has one end connected to the intercooler and the other end extended in such a manner as to pass above the first intake pipe for connection to a throttle body on the intake side of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Koyama
  • Patent number: 6006731
    Abstract: A locomotive engine cooling system has a pair of radiator banks having substantially the same cooling capacity. The system has separate engine and aftercooler coolant loops and assigns one of the radiator banks exclusively to each of the loops, with the maximum cooling capacity being less than that required to absorb an engine heat load in a predetermined, warmed-up mode of operation but greater than that required to absorb an aftercooler heat load in the same predetermined, warmed-up mode of operation. To balance the system, a linking conduit directs a portion of the hot coolant exiting the engine to a conduit leading directly to the aftercooler radiator to supplement the maximum cooling capacity of the engine radiator with a predetermined portion of the maximum cooling capacity of the aftercooler radiator in absorbing the engine heat load. A return flow conduit from the aftercooler radiator to the engine may be a common coolant tank, a separate conduit or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Teoman Uzkan
  • Patent number: 6006540
    Abstract: A charge air management system for an automotive engine includes a charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger for receiving refrigerated liquid coolant from a reservoir. The liquid coolant is refrigerated by means of an engine driven refrigerant system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator mounted within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Onorio Coletti
  • Patent number: 6003500
    Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus that is connected to a turbocharger and to a reciprocating engine has a primary and a secondary saturation chamber, and a drying chamber. Turbocharged air from the turbocharger is directed into the primary saturation chamber. The incoming air is initially mixed with and cooled by water located at the bottom of the primary saturation chamber before being directed through a diffusion screen. The air exiting the diffusion screen enters the secondary saturation chamber where intense bubbling and foaming increases the air-water contact area to further cool the air and form an air-water mixture approaching the temperature and moisture level of saturation. The air-water mixture is then directed into the drying chamber where a majority of the moisture is removed from the air through the use of centrifugal force. The now cooler moist air is directed toward the engine intake manifold, whereby the moisture in the air stream acts to reduce the NOx formation during the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Power Generating Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Packard, Peter Moliterno
  • Patent number: 6003480
    Abstract: A wobble plate engine assembly incorporating as offset mount between the wobble plate and each connecting rod to a piston such that a line of action of the connecting rod at the wobble plate is resolved into a centripetal and tangential component thereby minimizing the component of applied forced directed through the wobble plate and maximizing the force the force applied along the wobble plate. The connections between the wobble plate, connecting rod and pistons incorporate spherical bearings. Also a wobble plate internal combustion engine incorporating the wobble plate engine assembly is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Q-Tre Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Noel Quayle, Cornelis Koppenol
  • Patent number: 5992357
    Abstract: Piston driven axial cylinder engine is composed of the flange (1) with the cylinders (10) in a circular disposition, the support (16) of the motor main shaft (2), and the carrier (20) supporting the central pivot (7). Around this central pivot (7), the disc (6) has a mutating motion. The extremity (4) of the shaft describing a circle drives the shaft (2) in rotation. The disc (6) pivots the extremity of the connecting rods (8). The distribution disc(17) with the lobes (18), placed coaxially in the motor main shaft (2) whence it takes its rotation, actuates the valves (12) and (13) placed in the cylinder heads (11). The auxiliary (21), which too takes its rotations from the motor main shaft (2), serves to set in motion the auxiliary equipments. When the pistons are set in motion, as in the case of internal combustion motors, their alternative straight-line motion is transformed in rotative motion of the motor main shaft (2); and vice-versa as in the case of compressors and hydraulic pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Ylli Tasi
  • Patent number: 5947064
    Abstract: A multi-engine plant with a common freshwater cooling system comprises turbocharged diesel engines (1) which in their coolant system are provided with a charging air cooler 911), a high-temperature circuit (HT) and a low-temperature circuit (LT). The high-temperature circuit (4) contains a fist three-way circuit delivery pipe (7) to the engine with coolant. The low-temperature circuit (5) contains a second three-way valve (13) supplying coolant to the delivery pipe (14) of the charging air cooler in the LT circuit. The charging air cooler (11) is a two-step cooler in which the first step (10) is part of the HT circuit and the second step (19) is part o the LT circuit. A control valve (16) can adjust the coolant flow through the second step in dependency of the engine load. The discharge pipe (15) from the control valve is connected to the second three-way valve and a common return pipe (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Man B&W Diesel A/S
    Inventor: Hans Christian Lauritsen
  • Patent number: 5927399
    Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus condenses vapor in untreated gas discharged from a compressor of a gas drying system. The apparatus includes a radiator, a bypass line and a bypass valve. The radiator features a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The first inlet connects to the compressor from which it receives the untreated gas. The outlet connects to the next component in the gas drying system. The radiator condenses the vapor suspended in the untreated gas and passes aftercooled gas resulting therefrom via its outlet to the next component. The bypass line, through which the untreated gas may flow, connects at one end between the compressor and the first inlet and at another end to the second inlet. The bypass valve senses the difference in pressure between the first inlet and the outlet. The bypass valve also controls the flow of the untreated gas in response to the difference in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Michael V. Kazakis, Scott M. Trapp
  • Patent number: 5911212
    Abstract: The invention is in a priority valve that includes a housing arranged for in-line mounting between a conventional turbocharging unit of an internal combustion engine, an intercooler and an engine intake manifold to receive a charge air flow, and to either direct that flow directly to an engine intake manifold or to the intercooler, with the flow to pass from the intercooler back through the priority valve and then to the engine intake manifold. The priority valve includes a valve member that is preferably a cylinder and is journaled in the housing to turn between a first position, where the charge air flow, that is received from the turbocharger unit, is directed to the engine intake manifold, and a second position where the received charge air flow is first directed to the intercooler, with that flow passed back to the priority valve from the intercooler and is then passed from the priority valve into the line to the engine intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventor: Steven R. Benson
  • Patent number: 5871001
    Abstract: Apparatus for decreasing the temperature of the air entering the carburetor or throttle body of an internal combustion engine to increase the volume and efficiency of the air. A device which combines an air-to-liquid cooling surface and an air filtering system is installed as a replacement for the standard air filter. Cooling is provided by circulation through the cooler of a coolant. In automotive applications, this is accomplished by means of a closed system including a pump, reservoir, cooling tank which utilizes a standard air-conditioning dryer and/or a radiator. In marine applications, a constant supply of fresh water is supplied as the coolant using an open system. A limiting device is employed in all applications to disable the coolant circulation system when it is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: PFM Products, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Pelkey
  • Patent number: 5809981
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine (1), such as a main engine of a ship, has a compressor (9) delivering charging and scavenging air to the engine cylinders, and a cooler (12) for cooling the air from the compressor. The cooler (12) is designed to establish direct contact between the scavenging and charging air and the cooling water, preferably by pressure atomization of the water in the air. The cooler (12) has a number of consecutive atomizer sections, and a drop collecting section (33) separating drops of water from the air may be provided between at least two atomizer sections. A delivery pump (49) supplies fresh water to atomizer sections in the cooler, and at least one of the drop collecting sections of the cooler delivers fresh water to a storage tank (50), which tank is pressured to substantially the same pressure as the air pressure in the cooler. The air may be cooled in plural stages (13-16), and sea water may be used for cooling and humidification of the air in the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Man B&W Diesel A/S
    Inventor: Peter Berg-Sonne
  • Patent number: 5791144
    Abstract: A boosted charge air system which eliminates adverse effects of pressure loading on the system components incorporates a pressure compensator mounted intermediate a turbocharger compressor section outlet duct and the inlet duct of a charge air cooler. The compensator includes first and second end bellows each with a first cross sectional area, a middle bellows intermediate the first and second end bellows with an annular cross sectional area substantially equal to the first cross sectional area, first and second end flanges connecting the first and second end bellows to the outlet duct and inlet duct, respectively, and first and second annular plates connecting the middle bellows to the first and second end bellows. An internal restraining structure for the compensator includes two sets of struts interconnecting the first end flange to the second annular plate and the second end flange to the first annular plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome W. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5791316
    Abstract: An apparatus for an internal combustion engine controls engine timing as a function of engine load, speed and air intake temperature to reduce engine NOx emissions and/or engine fuel consumption. The apparatus is particularly beneficial to a large, aftercooled turbocharged engine which utilizes a cooling system having a liquid cooled, separate circuit aftercooler (SCAC) to cool the pressurized intake air. By routing the aftercooler circuit and engine coolant circuit through a common or single core radiator, the aftercooler cooling circuit temperature and associated engine air intake temperature are reduced to further reduce engine NOx emissions and/or engine fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip J. Houtz, Brian R. Weller
  • Patent number: 5782219
    Abstract: The reciprocating engine more particularly intended for high pressure applications or motor vehicle CO.sub.2 air conditioning systems, has a wobble plate transmission, whose wobble plate (3) can assume different inclined positions for power control purposes. For this purpose is provided a wobble joint constructed as a knuckle joint, allowing the tilting movement of the wobble plate (3) supported on the engine shaft (4) through a slot guide (11, 11') of a driving pin (9). A good controllability of the reciprocating engine results from friction-reducing engine components provided on the driving pin (9) and comprising bearings (32, 33), which allow a rotation of the driving pin (9) about its longitudinal axis, as well as a sliding bush or a roller bearing (47) on one of the pin ends (40, 43) engaging in slot guides (11, 11'). In addition, in the vicinity of the more strongly loaded pin end is provided an axial force-absorbing sliding disk (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignees: Audi Aktiengesellschaft, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Frey, Frank Obrist, Peter Kuhn
  • Patent number: 5709176
    Abstract: In an axial-piston engine of the type known as a "wabbler" engine, in which the motion of the pistons is transferred to a straight main shaft by means of a non-rotating element (referred to as the "wabbler") which nutates as the shaft rotates and transfers the motion to the pistons via arms at its periphery, a design of the wabbler in which the wabbler is made in two or more parts so as to enclose a swashplate on the shaft, with thrust bearings between the wabbler and the swashplate (which latter is fixed to the shaft). The parts of the wabbler are rigidly connected together, so as to maximise the bending strength of the assembly in resisting the thrust loads from the pistons, and to facilitate the transfer of the loads to the bearing surfaces so as to avoid excessive localized loading of the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Dafydd John Llewellyn
  • Patent number: 5669338
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cooling system for a turbocharger engine having a first and a second fluid passing cooling circuits connected to a common radiator at spaced apart locations on the radiator. The first fluid passing cooling circuit circulates cooling fluid flow between the radiator and the engine and the second fluid passing cooling circuit circulates cooling fluid between an aftercooler and the engine. A temperature controlled valve in the first fluid passing circuit increases the cooling capacity of the second fluid passing circuit when closed or partially closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Pribble, Gregg W. Uhland, Brian R. Weller
  • Patent number: 5669363
    Abstract: Valve means to control the flow of charge air through a turbocharger intercooler by-pass, comprising a valve housing defining a passage having an inlet and an outlet and adapted to form at least part of the said by-pass, a valve member movably mounted on the housing to close the passage, resilient means on the housing and urging the valve member into a position wherein the passage is open, actuating means for moving the valve member between open and closed positions and thermostatic means mounted on the valve housing and extending beyond said passage for sensing charge air temperature, said thermostatic means being operatively coupled to the valve actuating means to cause the valve member to close the valve when the sensed temperature reaches a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Amot Controls Limited
    Inventor: John Peter Francis
  • Patent number: 5657630
    Abstract: Exhaust gas in a supercharged internal combustion engine is recycled from the high pressure side of the turbocharger to the charging air system of the engine. At least part of the recycled exhaust gas is humidified to largely 100 percent relative humidity. This on one hand cools the gas to that the temperature at initiation of the combustion in the engine cylinders is lowered, and on the other hand the heat capacity of the steam in the gas restricts the temperature raise occurring during the combustion. These factors both act to reduce the amount of NO.sub.x produced by the combustion. The addition of water is effected by a scrubber (16) which purifies the recycled gas. A blower (17) augments the pressure of the recycled gas. The scrubber may be made to generate fresh water by designing it with several stages where sea water is supplied to the first stage and fresh water to the last stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Man B&W Diesel A/S
    Inventors: Niels Kjemtrup, Peter Berg-Sonne
  • Patent number: 5649516
    Abstract: A pivoting flap valve, controlled by a pneumatic main actuator or actuating jack through an engagement means or connecting piece and a lever coupled to the valve, controls the changeover between a state in which supercharging air is delivered to the engine through a cooling radiator and a state in which it is delivered directly, according to the temperature of the air. The control device includes, besides the main actuator, two auxiliary or safety actuators or release jacks, carrying thrust pieces which cooperate with the connecting piece, or stop block, so as to prevent the ram of the main actuator from being extended. The flap valve is therefore unable to be put in a position such that the supercharging air bypasses the cooling radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Valeo Thermique Moteur
    Inventor: Jean-Louis Laveran
  • Patent number: 5632256
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas turbocharger which supplies compressed charge air to the engine via a charge air duct including an intercooler with a housing and a cooling structure for cooling the compressed charge air before it is supplied to the engine, the intercooler housing has an inlet area connected to the turbocharger by an upstream section of the charge air duct and an outlet area connected to the engine by a downstream section of the charge air duct and an air flow control mechanism which is arranged between the inlet and outlet areas and operable to be open during engine warm-up when the engine is below a predetermined temperature so that the charge air by-passes the cooling structure during engine warm-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Markus Eibl
  • Patent number: 5564372
    Abstract: In an axial-piston engine of the type known as a "wabbler" engine, in which the motion of the pistons is transferred to a straight main shaft by means of a non-rotating element (referred to as the "wabbler") which nutates as the shaft rotates and transfers the motion to the pistons via arms at its periphery, a design of the wabbler in which the wabbler is made in two or more parts so as to enclose a swashplate on the shaft, with thrust bearings between the wabbler and the swashplate (which latter is fixed to the shaft). The parts of the wabbler are rigidly connected together, so as to maximise the bending strength of the assembly in resisting the thrust loads from the pistons, and to facilitate the transfer of the loads to the bearing surfaces so as to avoid excessive localised loading of the bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: Dafydd J. Llewellyn
  • Patent number: 5547019
    Abstract: An active intercooler for heating or cooling a fluid passing through the intercooler. The intercooler may be used to cool gases from the compression stage of an engine turbocharger in order to increase engine horsepower. The intercooler could also be used to cool the oil in an engine or transmission. Alternately, the intercooler could be used to heat or cool the air provided to the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The active intercooler includes a chamber through which the fluid flows. A thermoelectric heat pump is attached to the chamber in order to remove and dissipate heat from the fluid flowing through the chamber. A control system is provided to control the current supplied to the thermoelectric heat pump and thus the cooling capacity of the thermoelectric heat pump. A heat sink including a plurality of fins is attached to the thermoelectric heat pump on a surface opposite the chamber in order to increase the ability of the thermoelectric heat pump to dissipate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Robert S. Iacullo
  • Patent number: 5546975
    Abstract: A device for controlling the circulation of a fluid through a fluid bypass (3) consists of an actuator (14) which is actuated pneumatically and directly by the fluid located in the bypass so as to close, at least partially, bypass outlet (3c) when the pressure of the fluid in the bypass is higher than a predetermined pressure threshold (PO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Renault Vehicules Industriels
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Pernet
  • Patent number: 5542399
    Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel internal combustion engine, having a fan for cooling at least the supercharger air, includes a drive device which drives the fan. The drive device can be controlled and/or regulated as a function of operating parameters of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Altmann, Hermann Grieshaber
  • Patent number: 5515814
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine. The heated exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine are brought into direct and indirect contact with a liquid hydrocarbon fuel injected into a fuel chamber to form a mixture of vaporized liquid hydrocarbon fuel and heated exhaust gases. The mixture is passed through a passageway and further heated by non-contacting exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine to reform the mixture to hydrogen gas within the passageway for combustion in the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Transglobal Technologies, Limited
    Inventor: Syd L. Cooke
  • Patent number: 5492167
    Abstract: For the environment of motor-home and related roadway vehicles respectively extending along a horizontal and directionally longitudinal central-axis and that terminates as a powertrain-zone including a turbo-charged internal combustion engine vehicular powering means provided with liquid-air radiator that is coupled with an air-air radiator for cooling an airpath therealong including an intake-pipe for conveying environmental air and thence through an incoming-pipe into an engine turbo-charger for conversion into high-pressure-heated-air (HPHA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Herbert C. Glesmann
  • Patent number: 5492103
    Abstract: An intake system has a recirculation passage, through which supercharging air discharged from a supercharger is recirculated into the supercharger, and a recirculation control valve disposed in the recirculation passage, by which the recirculation passage is gradually opened and closed as the pressure of supercharging air downstream from the supercharger changes between a low specified pressure, below the atmospheric pressure, and a high specific pressure, above the atmospheric pressure. The air intake system further has a bypass passage, for allowing air to bypass an intercooler, which is opened and closed by a bypass control valve at an interim specified pressure between the high and low specified pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Goto
  • Patent number: 5477839
    Abstract: An air intake control system for an engine has intake valves which close at a timing retarded at least 50 degrees from a bottom dead center of an intake stroke. The control system is provided with a mechanical supercharger which is activated while the engine is being cranked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Oshima, Masao Inoue, Jiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 5456239
    Abstract: A crankcase ventilation system for a vehicle includes an arrangement of flow conduits and control valves which cooperate with a two-chamber accumulator and with various vehicle components to route crankcase gases to the intake manifold. The primary vehicle components include a compressor, an aftercooler positioned downstream from the compressor, and an engine having an intake manifold and a crankcase. One chamber of the accumulator is coupled by one conduit to the inlet side of the compressor and by a second conduit to the outlet side of the compressor. These two conduits are controlled by a dual valve arrangement. The other chamber of the accumulator is connected by one conduit to the crankcase and by a separate conduit to the intake manifold. Each conduit includes a control valve. The system operates on pressure differences existing between these various components. The cycle begins by opening the conduit which is connected to the inlet side of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory H. Henderson, David M. Ruch, Brian W. Zellmer, Chad L. Kelly, Philip C. Kreimer
  • Patent number: 5450823
    Abstract: The body of the proposed axial piston machine incorporates a cylinder block ith cylindrical spaces. The axes of the cylindrical spaces are parallel with the longitudinal axis of the engine crankshaft and the cylindrical spaces accommodate reciprocating pistons. Each piston is connected to one end a rod. The other end of the rod is articulated with the swash plate, which is mounted via a first support, on the inclined journal of the shaft installed on supports in the body and which is articulated to the body by universal joints. The machine of the invention provides a second spherical support for the swash plate. The second support is connected with the frame and the center of the support is essentially aligned with the geometric center of the connecting member of the universal joints. The bisector plane which is the plane of symmetry of the universal joints passes through the center of the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Tsentralny Nauchno-Issledovatelsky Avotmobilny I Avotmotorny Institut
    Inventor: Sergei S. Istomin
  • Patent number: 5437251
    Abstract: A variable-compression internal-combustion engine has a two-stage cylinder with a relatively large diameter at a first-stage, supercharge end, which is also a power-takeoff end, than at a second-stage, combustion end of the cylinder. Intake air is drawn into the first-stage, supercharge end of the cylinder by a matching larger-diameter, first-stage, supercharge end of a two-stage piston during a compression stroke of a two-stroke cycle of the two-stage piston. During a power stroke, intake air is directed into and contained under pressure in an air-transfer passage that is positioned circumferentially and externally around an outside periphery of a bottom end of the first-stage cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Inventors: Richard R. Anglim, Hazel L. Halfman
  • Patent number: 5435289
    Abstract: An intercooler apparatus (C) for a supercharged internal combustion engine comprises a heat exchanger (19) through which charged air for combustion passes prior to entry into a combustion chamber (17) of the engine. A refrigeration unit (20) provides the heat exchanger (19) with coolant comprising air cooled to a temperature below ambient temperature which removes heat from the charged air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
    Inventors: Robert M. Pendlebury, Henry N. Shirman