Boost Control Patents (Class 123/564)
  • Publication number: 20130146036
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including a compressor and a boost tank selectably coupled to an intake manifold. The method comprises admitting air from the compressor to the intake manifold via a main throttle valve, storing some air from the compressor in a boost tank, and discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold via an auxiliary throttle valve distinct from the main throttle valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130111900
    Abstract: A method for determining cylinder blow-through air via engine volumetric efficiency is disclosed. In one example, the method provides a way to adjust cylinder blow-through to promote and control a reaction in an exhaust after treatment device. The approach may simplify cylinder blow-through calculations and improve engine emissions via providing improved control of constituents reaching an exhaust after treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dave G. Hagner, Mrdjan J. Jankovic, De-Shiou Chen, Amey Y. Karnik
  • Publication number: 20130098340
    Abstract: A divert air valve for an internal combustion engine arranged in a bypass channel between a pressure side and a suction side of a supercharging device includes a housing. A bypass valve comprises a first valve closure body. A control pressure chamber is connected with the pressure side through a compensation opening. A solenoid valve comprises a coil body, a magnetic yoke arrangement, an armature, and a second valve closure body which comprises a second spring element and cooperates with the armature. When the solenoid valve is energized and the bypass valve open, a fluidic communication can be established between the pressure side and the suction side or the atmosphere through the control pressure chamber. An overall cross section of the at least one control opening is larger than a cross section of the compensation opening. A closing of the fluidic communication causes a resultant force in a closing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Janusz Zurke, Max Hermann
  • Publication number: 20130092134
    Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine. The control device is arranged in a bypass duct between a pressure side and an intake side of a supercharging device. The control device includes a bypass valve comprising a valve-closure body which is configured to be pneumatically actuatable, and a control pressure space. A solenoid valve is configured so that a fluidic connection can be established and closed via the control pressure space between either the pressure side and the intake side or between the pressure side and the atmosphere: When the bypass valve is in a completely open position, the fluidic connection exists at least temporarily via the control pressure space between either the pressure side and the intake side or between the pressure side and the atmosphere. A closure of the fluidic connection brings about a resulting force in a closing direction on the valve-closure body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: PIERBURG GMBH
    Inventors: Janusz Zurke, Max Hermann
  • 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: 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: 8387384
    Abstract: An intake control system comprises an estimation module and a turbocharger control module. The estimation module receives one of a first pressure within an intake manifold measured by a manifold pressure sensor and a second pressure measured by a pressure sensor at a location between a compressed air charge cooler and a throttle valve. The estimation module estimates the other one of the first and second pressures based on the received one of the first and second pressures. The turbocharger control module controls output of a turbocharger based on the estimate of the other one of the first and second pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: David P. Quigley, Steven J. Andrasko, Thomas L. Bahensky, Yun Xiao
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8371276
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including a compressor and a boost tank selectably coupled to an intake manifold. The method comprises admitting air from the compressor to the intake manifold via a main throttle valve, storing some air from the compressor in a boost tank, and discharging some of the air stored in the boost tank to the intake manifold via an auxiliary throttle valve distinct from the main throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Joseph Norman Ulrey
  • Patent number: 8371120
    Abstract: A method of controlling homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion timing and pressure rise rate. A constant volume air pump, such as a supercharger, is equipped to provide a variable amount of fresh air to a turbocharger. The also turbocharger drives a high pressure exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) loop. The fresh air intake and the EGR ratio are independently controlled. This combination of hardware allows for good control of combustion timing by providing for EGR variations without undue effect from varying oxygen concentration. Additionally, by adjusting the EGR ratio, the pressure rise rate during combustion can be controlled to reduce combustion noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventor: Christopher James Chadwell
  • Publication number: 20120285161
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Stephen B. Smith, Adam Nathan Banker
  • Publication number: 20120283930
    Abstract: A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: ORBITAL TRACTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Patent number: 8302401
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is coupled to a supercharger operable to supply varying amounts of air to the engine responsive to the load on the engine. The supercharger has a pair of screw rotors driven by the engine to move air to the engine and a control apparatus for varying the mass and pressure of air supplied to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Patent number: 8276549
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible fuel, spark ignition, variable boost, supercharged internal combustion engine. A variable speed drive assembly connects the engine output to a supercharger. The engine includes a fuel sensor which provides a signal to an engine controller which determines the type of fuel. The engine controller also receives signals from a mass air flow sensor, a manifold air pressure sensor, a crank angle sensor, a camshaft angle sensor, an oxygen sensor in the exhaust stream and a transmission controller. The engine controller provides control signals to an ignition module, to a fuel injection system, to an electronic throttle control, to a supercharger drive controller and to the transmission controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ko-Jen Wu, James C. Elmslie, Jian Jun Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120240910
    Abstract: Rotational speed of an electric turbocharger controlled so that the actual temperature of the motor does exceed the allowable level even over a long time span. A speed control device for the turbocharger, includes a temperature sensor, a speed limitation device which limits the speed of the motor in response to the temperature level detected by the temperature sensor wherein the speed limitation device is provided with a limit control start temperature correction device which decreases the limit control start temperature when the increase rate of the detected temperature exceeds a threshold. A speed limitation setting device sets a speed limit based on the temperature difference between the limit control start temperature and the detected temperature T on a rate of increase of the detected temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Noriyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8271183
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle including an engine is provided The engine may include at least one cylinder, a boosting device to boost intake air to the at least one cylinder, a fuel tank, a fuel vapor canister to store fuel vapors vented from the fuel tank, and an emission control device to treat exhaust gas from the engine. The boosting device includes a compressor at least partially driven by an electric motor. The method includes during an engine cold start condition, operating the electric motor of the boost device to boost intake air, directing the boosted intake air through the fuel vapor canister to release a fuel vapor stored in the fuel vapor canister, directing the fuel vapor from the fuel vapor canister to the engine, and performing combustion in the at least one cylinder using the fuel vapor during the engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael James Uhrich, James Michael Kerns, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20120216533
    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: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William J. SCHAFFELD, Nicholas Asmis, Mark W. McCollough, Richard Beyer
  • Patent number: 8245689
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a control loop or a regulating loop in a system, in particular in an engine system in a motor vehicle, is described. A characteristic value is ascertained from a preset value and a system variable of the regulating loop or the control loop during one or more state changes, and an error is detected as a function of the ascertained characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Wagner, Daniel Kuhn, Stefan Michael, Wilhelm Blumendeller
  • Publication number: 20120204560
    Abstract: A method for controlling a compressor of a turbocharger is disclosed. In one example, the method comprises varying a maximum permitted compressor outlet temperature based upon a function of compressor outlet temperature and operating time, and controlling the operation of the compressor so that the maximum permitted compressor outlet temperature is not exceeded. In this way a higher boost pressure can safely be used during the early life of the compressor but excessive coking of the compressor with a resultant loss of efficiency later in the life of the compressor is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jon Dixon
  • Patent number: 8215292
    Abstract: Method of operating an internal combustion engine, including, at least, compressing and cooling air outside an engine chamber, supplying cooled, pressurized air to an intake port associated with the chamber, and, during each engine cycle: opening the intake port, allowing cooled, pressurized air to flow through the intake port and into the chamber during at least a portion of the intake stroke; maintaining open the intake port during the portion of the intake stroke and beyond the end of the intake stroke and into the compression stroke and during a majority portion of the compression stroke; closing the intake port at a point during travel of the piston to capture in the chamber a cooled compressed charge of the cooled, pressurized air; controllably delivering fuel into the chamber after the cooled compressed charge is captured within the chamber; and igniting a fuel and air mixture within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: Clyde C. Bryant
  • Patent number: 8215293
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an engine with a supercharger includes a bypass valve control module controlling a bypass valve for the supercharger having a bypass flow area in response to a desired manifold absolute pressure, an inlet valve control module controlling an inlet throttle for a supercharger in response to a bypass flow area and a port throttle control module controlling a port throttle in response to the desired mass airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventor: John R Bucknell
  • Patent number: 8205447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for operating an internal combustion engine, with at least one supercharger, at least one intercooler connected downstream from the supercharger, at least one cooling circuit which is connected to the intercooler, and at least one pressure setting device which controls the supercharger. It is provided that differential pressure determination of the charging air is used for ascertaining the icing state of the intercooler. Furthermore the invention relates to an internal combustion engine for implementing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventor: Rainer Wolf
  • Patent number: 8205601
    Abstract: An engine system includes a correction factor generation module and a boost pressure correction module. The correction factor generation module generates a correction factor based on a first pressure difference, wherein the first pressure difference corresponds to a difference between an intake manifold absolute pressure (MAP) when an engine is on and a barometric pressure. The boost pressure correction module generates a corrected boost pressure based on the MAP when the engine is on, a second pressure difference, and the correction factor, wherein the second pressure difference corresponds to a difference between the MAP when the engine is off and the barometric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Inventor: John Coppola
  • Publication number: 20120152214
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a turbocharger arrangement having a high pressure turbocharger and a low pressure turbocharger connected in series. The low pressure turbine has first and second volutes and the arrangement includes a control valve which controls the proportion of exhaust gas which is directed through the first and second passages to the first and second volutes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Perkins Engines Company Limited
    Inventors: Christopher P. Thorne, James Oxborrow, Thomas William Carlill, Matthew Paul Nicholson
  • Publication number: 20120138026
    Abstract: A method to operate an electronically controlled internal combustion engine to diagnose low boost. In one embodiment, the method may include determining whether changes in at least one engine operating condition has occurred; comparing actual engine boost signal with a predetermined boost signal; maintaining engine operating conditions for a predetermined period of time to ensure stability of boost signal gradient for a first predetermined period of time; determining whether boost signal gradient is stable for a second predetermined period of time; determining boost signal change by comparing stability of actual boost signal with a predetermined boost signal determining whether boost signal is stable; and ceasing boost signal monitoring prior to active boost signal gradient change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventor: Christoph Niessen
  • Patent number: 8191370
    Abstract: In an engine equipped with a supercharger consisting of a compressor having a plurality of blades on a turbine shaft and a turbine, at least one index means provided on the turbine shaft or the plurality of blades, and a turbo angular velocity sensor, which detects a rotation of the index means and a rotation of the plurality of blades respectively and connected to an ECU. In the engine, also, a turbo angular velocity computing means, which calculates an angular velocity by obtaining a plurality of pulses per one rotation of the turbine shaft, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Shimizu, Takashi Miyamoto, Takao Kawabe, Tetsuo Sakaki, Isamu Kawashima, Toshiro Itatsu
  • Publication number: 20120090580
    Abstract: The present invention provides a controlled-compression direct-power-cycle engine for performing the direct-power-cycle, wherein the air is compressed with three compression processes and cooled to a controlled temperature before ignition, the engine power output is controlled by both the compressor-transmission and the servo-intake-valve; the three compression processes are the initial-compression-process, the intermediate-compression-process, the final-compression-process, wherein, the initial-compression-process is performed by the turbocharger, the intermediate-compressor-process is performed by a screw type compressor, a rotary type compressor, or a scroll type intermediate-compressor, the final-compression-process is performed by the pistons of the combustion chambers; said intermediate-compressor is coupled to the compressor-transmission for adjusting the compression-capacity according to the instruction signals from the engine control unit, which computes the required compression-capacity by the user'
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventor: Lung Tan Hu
  • Patent number: 8151774
    Abstract: An engine combustion air pre-cleaner includes a body shaped for effecting cyclonic air flow between an inlet and an outlet of the body. Located along a longitudinal axis of the body is a conical throttling member which is coupled to a control device which operates in response to increasing engine load, as represented by increasing boost pressure, torque and/or speed, to shift the throttling member so as to cause an increasing air flow with increasing engine load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Courtney William McCauley, Alan David Sheidler
  • Publication number: 20120067331
    Abstract: A power system comprising an engine, an intake air system, and an intake air bypass system. The intake air system delivers compressed air to the engine and the intake air bypass system diverts the compressed air away from the engine in response to the operation of an engine brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Pipis, JR., Homa Afjeh
  • Publication number: 20120035017
    Abstract: A power control device includes: an engine control unit and a transmission control unit provided so as to control power of the engine, and configured such that if an actual operating point, which is an operating point indicating a combination of actual revolution speed and torque of the engine, is located in a non-supercharging region and a final target operating point, which serves as a target operating point during acceleration, is located in a supercharging region, the revolution speed of the engine is increased until the actual operating point is shifted into the supercharging region, and the revolution speed of the engine is decreased after the actual operating point has entered the supercharging region, thereby shifting the actual operating point into the final target operating point when accelerating the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tadayuki Nagai
  • Publication number: 20120024267
    Abstract: A method for providing air to a combustion chamber of an engine, the engine including a compressor and a boost tank selectably coupled to an intake manifold. The method includes varying a relative amount of engine exhaust in air pressurized in the boost tank based on engine operating conditions, and discharging the air pressurized in the boost tank to the intake manifold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham, Gopichandra Surnilla
  • Publication number: 20120024266
    Abstract: A method for determining the rotation speed of at least one supercharger which compresses the sucked air in an internal combustion engine; the control method, during the normal operation of the internal combustion engine, comprises the steps of detecting, by means of a microphone, the intensity of a sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; determining a frequency content of the sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; identifying the frequencies with maximum amplitude within the frequency content of the sound signal generated by the rotation of the supercharger; recognising the frequencies with maximum amplitude which are each other's multiples or submultiples; and determining the rotation speed of the supercharger using exclusively the frequencies with maximum amplitude which are each other's multiples or submultiples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Gabriele Serra, Matteo De Cesare, Federico Stola
  • Publication number: 20120000446
    Abstract: A torsional pulse dampener including a pulley rotationally coupled to a piston that is axially displaceable and adapted to give torsional compliance from an engine for at least one-half revolution of an angular differential displacement between the pulley and the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Orbital Traction, Ltd
    Inventors: Roy Venton-Walters, Michael P. Bujold
  • Publication number: 20120000197
    Abstract: An automobile-mount diesel engine with a turbocharger is provided, which includes an engine body with the turbocharger, the engine body being mounted in the automobile and supplied with fuel containing diesel fuel as its main component, a fuel injection valve arranged in the engine body so as to be oriented toward a cylinder of the engine body and for directly injecting the fuel into the cylinder, an injection control module for controlling a mode of injecting the fuel into the cylinder through the fuel injection valve, and an EGR amount control module for adjusting an amount of EGR gas introduced into the cylinder. EGR and fuel injection are adjusted based on speed-load conditions of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji Maruyama, Masaki Ushitani
  • Patent number: 8079349
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine (1) and a drive train (2) with an electric machine that can be operated as a generator. A supercharger (5) supplies air through a mass flow line (6) to an inlet side of the internal combustion engine (1). The air mass flow line (6) has no throttle valve. The supercharger (5) also selectively can function as a secondary air pump to blow secondary air through a branch (7) of the mass flow line (6) and to an outlet side (21a, 21b) of the internal combustion engine (1) upstream of a catalytic converter. A control unit causes the electric machine to operate as a generator when the supercharger (5) is functioning as a secondary air pump to compensate for excess torque caused by a charge pressure generated by the secondary air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Rauner, Sammy Weis, Karl Dums
  • Publication number: 20110303198
    Abstract: A belted gear assembly for driving a supercharger includes a belt drive assembly for operatively connecting a gear drive assembly to an existing pinion shaft of an engine. The belt drive assembly includes a lower pulley assembly that is operatively connected to the pinion shaft and belted to an upper pulley assembly. The upper pulley assembly is operatively connected to a side gear of the gear drive assembly. The side gear engages an upper gear of the gear drive assembly, which is operatively connected to a lobe of the supercharger. Rotation of the upper gear thereby initiates rotation of the supercharger. The amount of boost provided to the supercharger is readily adjustable by simply changing the lower pulley assembly to adjust the RPM ratio for the supercharger. Each component of the belted gear assembly is isolated and fully self-contained, including a separate lubrication system and collection well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: THOMSON SUPERCHARGERS
    Inventor: Stephen J. Thomson
  • Patent number: 8078385
    Abstract: A supercharged internal combustion engine system wherein during periods of high power demand the weight of combustion chamber charge is increased by cooling a portion of intake air in a turboexpander using high-pressure air from a storage tank. In addition to increasing engine output power, cold air intake also reduces engine pre-ignition (knocking) thereby reducing emissions. Mechanical energy produced during expansion of high-pressure air may be used to operate a turbocompressor, which compresses intake air and further increases charge weight. Effective supercharging is achieved even at low engine speeds. One of the objects of the invention is to obtain more power from small displacement ICE and thus providing automotive vehicles with sufficient acceleration in addition to good fuel economy. Another object of the invention is to enhance turbocharged engines and reduce their response lag. Air storage tank may be recharged using energy recovered during vehicle deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Aqwest LLC
    Inventor: Jan Vetrovec
  • Publication number: 20110301826
    Abstract: A conventional gasoline engine is retrofitted to operate as a bi-fuel engine calibrated to burn Hydrogen gas as a primary fuel and gasoline as a secondary fuel at various acceptable air fuel ratios while avoiding forbidden air fuel ratios. The engine is preferably operated to burn Hydrogen fuel in a charged mode and in a lean mode at certain acceptable air fuel ratios where relatively very little NOx emissions occur. When additional power or acceleration is requested, processor controlled fuel injectors are operated to inject relatively small amounts of gasoline into the engine resulting in a fuel mixture that prevents increases in NOx emissions as the processor controls the engine to operate at a stoichiometric air fuel ratio where a catalytic converter is best able to reduce harmful emissions into the environment. The injection of the secondary liquid gasoline fuel to the gaseous Hydrogen fuel the temperature of the fuels significantly reduces or eliminates backfiring tendency of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Jose Ignacio Galindo, Klaus M. Schaffer, Daniel Leitner, Christof Hepp
  • Publication number: 20110283976
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Bendix Commercial Vehicle System LLC
    Inventors: William J. Schaffeld, Nicholas Asmis, Mark W. Mccollough, Richard Beyer
  • Publication number: 20110288730
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: William J. Schaffeld, Nicholas Asmis, Mark W. McCollough, Richard Beyer
  • Publication number: 20110283977
    Abstract: A control apparatus applied to an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger in which a movable vane mechanism capable of varying throttled quantity of a passage of intake air discharged from a compressor wheel by varying a position of vanes is disposed to a compressor, a low-pressure EGR passage to connect an exhaust passage and a section of the intake passage at the upstream side from the compressor, and a low-pressure EGR valve to open and close the EGR passage, wherein it is determined whether or not the vanes are locked and the low-pressure EGR valve is controlled toward an opened side so as to increase exhaust gas quantity to be recirculated to the intake passage via the low-pressure EGR passage while switching an operating state of the internal combustion engine to an emergency operating state in which output power of the internal combustion engine is restricted when the vanes are determined as being locked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akitoshi Iwata, Masakazu Tabata
  • Patent number: 8051835
    Abstract: In a V-type six-cylinder engine, turbo-superchargers are provided for compressing intake air and feeding the compressed air into combustion chambers, and an ECU is operable to switch the combustion mode from a non-supercharged stoichiometric combustion mode to a supercharged lean combustion mode, depending on the engine operating conditions. When switching from the non-supercharged stoichiometric combustion mode to the supercharged lean combustion mode, the ECU retards the ignition timing, and keeps the retard amount of the ignition timing at a constant value if the increasing actual boost pressure becomes equal to or higher than a pre-set target boost pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Soejima, Yasuyuki Irisawa, Shinichiro Nogawa
  • Publication number: 20110265771
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, James Michael Kerns, Michael James Uhrich, Stephen B. Smith
  • Patent number: 8046997
    Abstract: A screw compressor type supercharger includes an improved supercharger bypass valve including a spring biasing the bypass valve towards an open position. The spring may be a compression spring integrated into a bypass valve diaphragm, an extension spring extending parallel to a diaphragm arm, or a torsion spring on a bypass valve butterfly shaft. The spring is selected and installed to hold the bypass valve open at all vacuum levels and at up to one PSI of boost, and then to allow the bypass to close between one PSI and six PSI boost, and to be closed at above six PSI boost. The resulting control of the bypass valve prevents damage to the supercharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventors: James E. Bell, Jodi L. Bell
  • Publication number: 20110257867
    Abstract: A method and control module for controlling an engine includes a requested torque module that generates a requested torque and a turbo boost level module that determines a desired boost level based on the driver requested torque. The control module further includes a pulse determination module that determines a primary fuel injection pulsewidth and a secondary fuel injection pulsewidth based on the driver requested torque and the desired boost level and controls a first injection into the cylinder with the primary fuel injection pulsewidth and a second injection into the cylinder with the secondary fuel injection pulsewidth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Lee C. Walker, B. Jerry Song, Zhiping Steven Liu
  • Publication number: 20110209690
    Abstract: Systems and methods for supplying air to an engine are disclosed. In one example, an air inlet throttle is at least partially closed in response to a change in engine torque request. In another example, the air inlet throttle is adjusted in conjunction with adjusting an engine throttle. The approach can reduce compressor noise and may reduce the possibility of compressor surge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Norman Ulrey, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Donald J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8006676
    Abstract: An engine comprises an intake control valve disposed in an intake passage at an upstream side of an intake valve in each cylinder for individually opening/closing the intake passage, an actuator for opening/closing the intake control valve, and a control device for controlling an operation of the actuator, wherein the control device controls the actuator to delay opening of the intake control valve in relation to opening of the intake valve, thus performing the supercharge. Supercharge correction is further performed for correcting operating timing of the actuator so that unbalance in a supercharge air quantity between the cylinders in the engine is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Tabata, Tomohiro Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20110204654
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is coupled to a supercharger operable to supply varying amounts of air to the engine responsive to the load on the engine. The supercharger has a pair of screw rotors driven by the engine to move air to the engine and a control apparatus for varying the mass and pressure of air supplied to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Publication number: 20110180047
    Abstract: A supercharged engine has a geometric compression ratio ser to 16 or more and is designed to perform a compression self-ignition combustion under an air-fuel ratio leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio at least in a low engine speed range. On a lower engine load side than a given engine load within an engine operating region at which the compression self-ignition combustion is performed, a fresh air amount is reduced and an effective compression ratio (??) is increased, as compared with a higher engine load side than the given engine load within the engine operating region, and, on the higher engine load side than the given engine load, a supercharging pressure based on a supercharger (25) is increased to increase the fresh air amount, and the effective compression ratio (??) is reduced, as compared with the lower engine load side than the given engine load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahisa YAMAKAWA, Kouhei IWAI, Shuji OBA
  • Publication number: 20110155108
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas turbocharger with a compressor coupled to a turbine include redirecting substantially all intake airflow around the compressor and substantially all exhaust flow around the turbine when an engine operating parameter exceeds an associated threshold. In one embodiment, turbocharger boost is provided below an associated engine speed threshold with the turbocharger compressor and turbine bypassed at higher engine speeds such that the engine operates as a naturally aspirated engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES. LLC
    Inventor: Stephen George Russ