Boost Control Patents (Class 123/564)
  • Patent number: 6959686
    Abstract: A fuel injection timing control system and method is provided including steps of: determining a base fuel injection timing, calculating a reference boost pressure based on a current engine operating condition, calculating a fuel injection timing compensation value based on a difference between the calculated reference boost pressure and a current boost pressure, and calculating a final fuel injection timing by compensating the base fuel injection timing with the fuel injection timing compensation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Tae Seong Lee
  • Patent number: 6945234
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for operating an internal combustion engine (1) having a compressor (5) which method makes possible an actualization of a pump limit of the compressor (5). A pressure ratio across the compressor (5) is limited in dependence upon a mass flow through the compressor (5) by means of the pump limit in order to prevent a pumping of the compressor (5). In at least one operating state of the engine (1), a check is made as to whether a pumping of the compressor (5) occurs. The pump limit is corrected in dependence upon the test results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Bleile, Michael Scheidt
  • Patent number: 6918250
    Abstract: A method for regulating the supercharging of an internal combustion engine is provided, which method does not require adaptation offset. A manipulated variable is formed from the deviation between a setpoint value of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine and an actual value of this operating parameter, the manipulated variable having at least one component supplied by an integral action controller. For the integral component, a limit value is specified which is determined from multiple operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. The limit value is adapted by adaptively determining a first of the operating parameters used for determining the limit value as a function of a second operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 6917873
    Abstract: A vehicle system controls a compression ignition internal combustion engine equipped with a supercharger system including a plurality of superchargers. The compression ignition internal combustion engine has an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The vehicle system determines a desired intake manifold supercharging state (tQac) and a desired EGR rate (Megr). The vehicle system includes control logics, each having a first input parameter and a second input parameter, for determining desired set points (Rvnt1 & Rvnt2) for the plurality of superchargers, respectively. The desired set points are used to control the plurality of superchargers, respectively. The vehicle system also includes control logic for determining the first input parameters in response to the desired intake manifold supercharging state. The vehicle system further includes control logic for determining the second input parameters in response to the desired EGR rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Itoyama
  • Patent number: 6907867
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a supercharger connected to an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and driven by a motor, a bypass passage which is provided for the intake passage in such a manner as to bypass the supercharger, flow amount adjustment device which arbitrarily adjusts a flow amount of air flowing through the bypass passage, and controller which controls the motor and the flow amount adjustment device. The flow amount adjustment device is electrically driven. The controller stops the supercharger from performing supercharging after driving the flow amount adjustment device and starting suction of air via the bypass passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Igarashi, Koichi Akita, Shoji Sasaki, Hiromasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6898934
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide external blow-off in a turbocharger having an internal recirculation valve configured for attachment to a valve mounting flange defining a recirculation valve inlet port connected in fluid communication with an outlet of a compressor of the turbocharger, and a recirculation valve outlet port connected to an inlet of the compressor, through use of an external blow-off adaptor that is configured for installation between the internal recirculation valve and the valve mounting flange. The external blow-off adapter is configured for producing a desirable sound when the recirculation valve is operating in the recirculation mode with the external blow-off adaptor installed between the recirculation valve and the valve mounting flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ethan Bayer, Jack Kulick, Peter Szadyr
  • Patent number: 6892713
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an air intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine of an automobile. The apparatus has an enclosure with an air supply path running throughout. Within the enclosure is an electrically driven supercharger, an automotive battery arid possibly other electronics. The enclosure is divided by a partition with an air passage into a battery compartment and a supercharger compartment. The battery compartment is upstream of the supercharger compartment. Air enters the battery compartment through an inlet, travels through the air passage in the partition, enters the supercharger and leaves through an outlet in the supercharger compartment to feed the engine. When the supercharger is running it draws in additional cool air from outside the enclosure through the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anderton Criddle, Kevin Paul Cutts, Olivier Henri Eugene Desmons, Scott John Moore, Guy David Morris, John Charles New, James Justin Tindall
  • Patent number: 6889672
    Abstract: An air intake apparatus for supplying air to an internal combustion engine, comprises a unitary hollow enclosure, a motor vehicle battery, an air filter and an air compressor which when activated compresses air supplied to the engine. The enclosure houses the battery, air filter and compressor. An engine air supply path through the enclosure passes from an air inlet to the enclosure to an air outlet from the enclosure via the air filter. The enclosure inlet and enclosure outlet define respectively an upstream end of the air supply path and a downstream end of the air supply path. The apparatus includes an automatic air bypass within the enclosure that directs air in the air supply path to the air compressor when this is activated, and which allows air to in the air supply path to bypass the air compressor when this is not activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anderton Criddle, Kevin Paul Cutts, Olivier Henri Eugene Desmons, Guy Morgan, Scott John Moore, Guy David Morris, John Charles New, James Justin Tindall, Martin Nicholas Green
  • Patent number: 6889502
    Abstract: A method of reducing high cycle fatigue of a turbocharger fitted to an internal combustion engine in which fuel supply to the engine is controlled by an electronic engine management unit (ECU) in accordance with a fuel map of fuel values required to meet different engine operating conditions. The method comprises varying the fuel value F associated with a particular engine operating condition to thereby prevent the turbocharger running at the same constant speed each time said particular engine operating condition arises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company, Limited
    Inventors: Pierre French, Arshad Karim, David Antcliffe
  • Patent number: 6883320
    Abstract: A servomechanism for a valve controlling engine intake flow via a cooler and a bypass uses a proportional solenoid operating a hydraulic valve to power a hydraulic actuator setting the position of the control valve. An engine sensor and electric controller provide input to the proportional solenoid, and feedback from the position of the control valve is applied to the hydraulic valve by a cam and spring applying a force in opposition to the proportional solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: G. W. Lisk Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Tyler
  • Patent number: 6883324
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine in accordance with the invention includes a supercharger, a bypass passage, a flow amount adjustment device, an operational state detection portion, and a driving time determination portion. The supercharger is connected to an intake passage of an internal combustion engine and is driven by a motor. The bypass passage is provided for the intake passage in such a manner as to bypass the supercharger. By being driven electrically, the flow amount adjustment device can arbitrarily adjust a flow amount of air flowing through the bypass passage. The operational state detection portion detects an operational state of the internal combustion engine. The driving time determination portion determines a time at which the flow rate adjustment device is driven based on a result of detection performed by the operational state detection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Igarashi, Koichi Akita, Shoji Sasaki, Hiromasa Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6883503
    Abstract: A supercharging system for supplying pressurized combustion air to a piston engine of an aircraft at high altitudes. The engine has an output shaft on which the propeller is supported, together with a small ducted centrifugal fan. The duct leads to the intake side of the engine. A diverter is movable to one position constraining pressurized air to enter the engine through the intake side, and a second position which diverts compressed air away from the intake side. Natural aspiration is employed at low altitudes and supercharging is employed at altitudes wherein there is an oxygen deficiency. Preferably, the centrifugal fan is located between the propeller and the engine block, has blades staggered from those of the propeller so as to be directly exposed to incoming air. The centrifugal fan blades are preferably of different pitch than the propeller blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Ernest A. Carroll
  • Patent number: 6845616
    Abstract: The invention provides an internal combustion engine which can be run optionally on various fuels of different energy density, in particular for a motor vehicle drive, characterised in that the engine is equipped with a supercharging compressor which can be connected up when using a low-energy-density fuel at least when power requirements are elevated, so that the engine works as a supercharged engine, whereas the supercharging compressor is shut off when using a high-energy-density fuel and the engine works as a naturally aspirating engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Andreas Jauss
  • Patent number: 6817349
    Abstract: A control system for a compression ignition internal combustion engine is provided which is capable of expanding a region for executing compression ignition, on the low-load side, while positively obtaining a required power output from the engine. The amount of residual combustion gas is determined depending on operating conditions of the engine, and based on the determined amount of residual combustion gas, part of combustion gas is retained in each combustion chamber after combustion. It is judged whether or not supercharging of fresh air should be executed for self-ignition, based on the operating conditions of the engine, and when it is judged that the supercharging should be executed, supercharging of fresh air flowing to the combustion chamber is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Moriyoshi Awasaka, Takashi Kakinuma, Junji Yasuda, Yasuhiro Urata
  • Patent number: 6810667
    Abstract: The bypass valve system of a turbo-charged engine includes a compressor coupled between an air intake and a cylinder. The system also includes a bypass valve coupled in a bypass passage between an intake manifold and the air intake. The bypass valve is configured to selectively open and close the bypass passage in response to a change in pressure downstream of the compressor. A throttle position sensor is configured to generate an electric signal that is proportional to a degree of opening of a throttle valve. Also, an electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to output an activating signal when a sudden closure of the throttle valve is detected based on the electric signal. Finally, a solenoid valve is configured to supply pressure downstream of the compressor to the bypass valve when it receives the activating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Byung Hwan Jung, Whan Yong Sim
  • Publication number: 20040206341
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a supercharger system and a method for thermal modeling of a switched reluctance motor for supercharging an internal combustion engine. The supercharger system comprising: A supercharger driven by an electric motor, the motor having a rotor that rotates at an angular speed &ohgr; to draw a mass airflow volume V; a controller that controls the operation of the supercharger; a sensor for sensing a measure of the rotor angular speed &ohgr; and a sensor for sensing the mass airflow volume V. The controller is adapted to calculate using the temperature T of at least one component of the supercharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Ian David Clarkson, Sunoj Cherian George
  • Publication number: 20040194766
    Abstract: A supercharger includes multiple back flow ports which are controlled by valves. The valves regulate the timing and area for back flow of pressurized outlet air into the rotor chambers. The back flow air tends to equalize air pressure in the chambers prior to their exhausting into the outlet and thereby reduces flow back noise. The multiple ports are opened selectively or sequentially to provide noise control with improved efficiency at varying speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory P. Prior, Roxann M. Bittner
  • Publication number: 20040187852
    Abstract: In an intake passage (1) of an internal combustion engine (8), a compressor (4) combined with an electric motor/generator (4a) is provided. A bypass valve (6) connecting upstream and downstream portions of the intake passage (1) to bypass the compressor (4) is further provided. When a required intake air flow rate of the engine (8) is smaller than a threshold value, the engine (8) operates by natural aspiration of intake air and the electric motor/generator (4a) generate electric power by using rotational energy of the compressor (4) which rotates due to the flow of intake air. By increasing the opening of the bypass valve (6) as the required intake air flow rate diverges from the discharge flow rate of the compressor (4) the intake air flow rate is accurately controlled while satisfying the power generation requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Kawamura, Kenichi Fujimura, Hideharu Kadooka, Susumu Kubo, Motoyuki Hattori, Naoki Mishima
  • Publication number: 20040182371
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine has a supercharger connected to an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and driven by a motor, a bypass passage which is provided for the intake passage in such a manner as to bypass the supercharger, flow amount adjustment device which arbitrarily adjusts a flow amount of air flowing through the bypass passage, and controller which controls the motor and the flow amount adjustment device. The flow amount adjustment device is electrically driven. The controller stops the supercharger from performing supercharging after driving the flow amount adjustment device and starting suction of air via the bypass passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu Igarashi, Koichi Akita, Shoji Sasaki, Hiromasa Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20040177837
    Abstract: Working cycle for internal combustion engines, with methods and apparatuses for managing combustion charge density, temperature, pressures and turbulence (among other characteristics). At least one embodiment describes a supercharged internal combustion engine in which a supercharging portion of air is compressed, cooled and injected late in the compression process. A sub-normal compression ratio or low “effective” compression ratio initial air charge is received by a combustion chamber on the engine intake process, which during compression produces only a fraction of heat-of-compression as that produced by a conventional engine. During compression process, dense, cooled supercharging air charge is injected, adding density and turbulence above that of conventional engines with low “effective” compression ratio for this portion of air charge also.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Inventor: Clyde C. Bryant
  • Patent number: 6786044
    Abstract: An air induction system (10) for use with an internal combustion engine (E) including an intake is disclosed. The system (10) includes a supercharger (12) and a valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a valve (14) and a valve control mechanism (16). The supercharger (12) receives air through a supply opening (18), pressurizes it, and discharges it through an exhaust opening (20). The valve (14) is in communication with the supply opening (18) to control air supply thereto. The control mechanism (16) is coupled to the valve (14) and causes it to vary the air supply to the opening (18) in response to air pressure conditions downstream from the supercharger (12). In one embodiment, the control mechanism (16) varies the air supply responsive to air pressure in the intake in order to both throttle the supercharger (12) as well as substantially eliminate undesirable surge conditions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique, Christopher S. Spies
  • Publication number: 20040159312
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the performance of a secondary air charging system for an internal combustion engine in order to determine the amount of secondary air supplied in the secondary air charging system. This is achieved by measuring the heat generated by the compression of the secondary air with temperature sensors. Insofar as the secondary air charging system is powered by a turbine arranged in parallel with the throttle valve in the intake tract, the measured temperature value for the compressor can be compared with a reduction in temperature of the intake air behind the turbine. Reliable information concerning the amount of secondary air supplied can be determined by simple sensors, thereby obviating the need for an air-mass sensor which is expensive to produce and sensitive to contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Applicant: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Ernst Hummel
  • Patent number: 6769411
    Abstract: A nozzle air injection (NAI) system and algorithm for a fuel-injected engine for increasing the flow of air into the engine. In one embodiment the NAI system takes the form of a kit comprising a controller, engine speed and throttle position sensors, a power regulator, an air compressor adapted to be rotatably driven by an electric motor to drive additional air into the engine. The controller includes a processor and sufficient memory to perform the logic steps necessary to selectively operate the compressor. In one embodiment, the controller checks the status of engine speed and throttle deflection and if the engine speed is equal or less than a first threshold value, and if the throttle deflection is greater than or equal to a second threshold value the controller instructs the regulator to send electrical power to the motor to drive the compressor to provide additional air to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventor: Sandor C. Fabiani
  • Publication number: 20040144371
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) which can be operated with different fuels which have different energy densities, e.g., petrol or natural gas. The invention provides that in order to balance the different output development, especially if an internal combustion engine of this type is used in the drive system of a motor vehicle, the internal combustion engine is operated with a boost in the natural gas mode. A turbo-charger (5) which is known per se or an externally driven load compressor can be used to this end. In this way, it is possible to keep the running characteristics of a motor vehicle constant, even with the use of alternative fuels with different energy densities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventor: Andreas Jauss
  • Publication number: 20040134464
    Abstract: With an increase in torque demand, the internal combustion engine of the invention successively changes over a combination of a compression ratio, an air-fuel ratio, and a boost status of an air-fuel mixture from (1) settings of a high compression ratio, a lean air-fuel ratio, and a non-boosting state, (2) settings of the high compression ratio, the lean air-fuel ratio, and a boosting state, (3) settings of a low compression ratio, the lean air-fuel ratio, and the boosting state, to (4) settings of the low compression ratio, a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, and the boosting state. The changeover strategy desirably widens a driving area of the internal combustion engine at the high compression ratio of a high thermal efficiency or at the lean air-fuel ratio. Under the condition of a large torque demand, the internal combustion engine is driven with boosting the stoichiometric air-fuel mixture at the low compression ratio to output a sufficiently large torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Mogi
  • Publication number: 20040123850
    Abstract: A method for regulating the supercharging of an internal combustion engine is provided, which method does not require adaptation offset. A manipulated variable is formed from the deviation between a setpoint value of an operating parameter of the internal combustion engine and an actual value of this operating parameter, the manipulated variable having at least one component supplied by an integral action controller. For the integral component, a limit value is specified which is determined from multiple operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. The limit value is adapted by adaptively determining a first of the operating parameters used for determining the limit value as a function of a second operating parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: Michael Baeuerle
  • Patent number: 6725661
    Abstract: Valve device for evacuation of a gaseous medium under overpressure from a space (3) includes a valve housing (1a) with an opening (2) to the space (3); a valve disc (6) cooperating with a valve spindle (8), sealing the opening in the closed position of the valve and, disposed in a cylinder (12), a control plunger (13) which, via a spring, biases the spindle and thus the valve disc towards the closed position. When pressure medium with a predetermined control pressure is supplied, the plunger is lifted from the valve spindle, whereupon the force from a balancing spring (11) and the medium pressure in the space (3) act in the valve opening direction, while the force of the control pressure acting on the spindle (8) loads the valve disc in the closing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Nils Olof Hakansson
  • Patent number: 6722128
    Abstract: A blow-off valve apparatus is used in an internal combustion engine having a supercharger. The apparatus has an inlet for receiving compressed air from the compressor of the supercharger, and two outlets, one of which exhausts the air to atmosphere and the other, of which is connected to the compressor inlet, to direct some of the air back to the compressor. The apparatus includes a sleeve configured for variably closing the outlets so as to vary the proportion of the air exhausted, relative to that directed back to the compressor. The sleeve can be moved manually by an actuator. A further sleeve is configured for shutting off the outlets when the engine conditions do not require air to be diverted by the apparatus, and to open them when the engine conditions are suitable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Inventor: John Adrian
  • Patent number: 6722129
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crank case ventilation system for an internal combustion engine that has a two-stage air charge boosting system. An air inlet system supplies the engine with air that may be pressurised by an upstream supercharger and a downstream turbocharger in series. A crank case evacuation system draws crank case gasses from a crank case and introduces said gasses into the air inlet system, through either a first conduit or a second conduit, depending on the setting of a pressure-regulated control valve. The first conduit is used to introduce said gasses upstream of the first boost stage when this stage is operational, and when the first boost stage is not operational, the second conduit is used to introduce said gasses downstream of the first boost stage and upstream of the second boost stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Anderson Criddle, William Marc Edward Brotherton
  • Publication number: 20040060548
    Abstract: A supercharging system for supplying pressurized combustion air to a reciprocating piston engine of an aircraft at high altitudes. The engine has an output shaft on which the propeller is supported, together with a small ducted centrifugal fan. The duct leads to the intake side of the engine. A diverter is movable to one position constraining pressurized air to enter the engine through the intake side, and a second position which diverts compressed air away from the intake side. Preferably, the diverter also opens the intake side to unpressurized atmospheric air in the first position, so that the engine is naturally aspirated. Natural aspiration is employed at low altitudes and supercharging is employed at altitudes wherein there is an oxygen deficiency. Preferably, the centrifugal fan is located between the propeller and the engine block, has blades staggered from those of the propeller so as to be directly exposed to incoming air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Ernest A. Carroll
  • Patent number: 6701710
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an intake manifold supplying charge air to the cylinders. An exhaust manifold conducts exhaust gas away from the cylinders. A turbocharger including a turbine has an exhaust gas inlet connected with the exhaust manifold and also includes a compressor having an air inlet and outlet. The compressor air outlet is connected to the intake manifold to pressurize charge air during high power levels of engine operation. An EGR bypass connected between the turbine exhaust gas inlet and the intake manifold recirculates a portion of the exhaust gases to the cylinders. An intake air bypass adapted to recirculate a portion of compressor outlet air back to the compressor air inlet to reduce compressor outlet pressure and aid EGR flow through the EGR bypass to the cylinders during high power operation of the engine is connected between the compressor air outlet and the compressor air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Detroit Diesel Corporation
    Inventors: William K. Ahrens, Brian A. Lewallen
  • Patent number: 6691685
    Abstract: The air induction system (10) includes a supercharger (12) and a valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a valve (14) and a valve control mechanism (16). The supercharger (12) receives air through a supply opening (18) and pressurizes it. The valve (14) is in communication with the supply opening (18) to control air supply thereto. The control mechanism (16) is coupled to the valve (14) and causes it to vary the air supply to the opening (18) in response to air pressure conditions downstream from the supercharger (12). In one embodiment, the control mechanism (16) varies the air supply responsive to air pressure in the intake in order to both throttle the supercharger (12) as well as substantially eliminate undesirable surge conditions therein. Alternately, the control mechanism (118) varies the air supply responsive to air pressure in the inlet (110) of a turbocharger (106) to provide supercharged air thereto at a substantially constant pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique, Christopher S. Spies
  • Publication number: 20040020204
    Abstract: Combustion air for use in an engine is normally compressed by a compressor which adds heat during the process of increasing the density of the combustion air. To decrease the heat content of the combustion air, an aftercooler is used. When compressing combustion air to a higher density, the combustion air is compressed by a first compressor section to a first preestablished pressure and temperature and by a second compressor section to a second preestablished pressure and temperature. To decrease the heat content of the highly compressed dense combustion air, a first aftercooler having an air to liquid configuration is used and a second aftercooler having an air to air configuration is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: James J. Callas, Gerald N. Coleman, James J. Faletti, David A. Pierpont, James R. Weber
  • Patent number: 6672060
    Abstract: An engine control system and method wherein difference between an actual intake manifold pressure and a desired intake manifold pressure and a difference between an actual exhaust manifold pressure and a desired exhaust gas pressure are combined into a single feedback signal to control a variable geometry turbine. Simultaneously therewith, a difference between the actual intake manifold pressure and the desired intake manifold pressure is used to control throttle position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Julia Helen Buckland, Ilya V. Kolmanovsky, Lev Lezhnev
  • Patent number: 6651432
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine wherein intake ambient air is boosted to a higher pressure by passage through at least one compressor and then introduced into the internal combustion engine. Fuel is also introduced into the internal combustion engine for providing combustion in admixture with the air charge at a combustion temperature approximating a target value. Various engine operating parameters, inclusive of torque demand, e.g., accelerator pedal depression, are sensed and the boosted pressure is changed in a manner proportional to a change in the sensed torque demand so as to maintain the combustion temperature at approximately the target value, i.e., below 2100° K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6634344
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control system and method of controlling a supercharger having an input and a pair of rotors. The method comprises providing a magnetic particle clutch having an input member, an output member and a source of magnetic flux. In the presence of a magnetic field, a magnetically reactive medium disposed between the input and output members is transformed into a torque transmitting coupling that causes the clutch to transition from a disengaged state to an engaged state. The method includes sensing a vehicle parameter and generating a signal operable to engage the clutch in response to the sensed vehicle parameter, so that the transition to the engaged state may be controlled as a function of the sensed vehicle parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Dale A. Stretch
  • Patent number: 6622486
    Abstract: An arrangement for feeding air in a supercharged piston engine includes at least a supercharging device arranged for feeding air to more than one cylinder, an air chamber in connection with the supercharging device, and a channel arrangement leading from the air chamber to each cylinder of the piston engine. A resonator system is in connection with the air chamber for attenuating the pressure pulsation in the air chamber. In a method of operating the supercharged piston engine, combustion air is fed by means of the supercharging device at a pressure higher than ambient pressure into the air chamber, air is led from the air chamber to the cylinders through the channel arrangements, and a pressure pulsation is formed in the air chamber, which pulsation is half-wavelength shifted from the pulsation in the air chamber, appearing at frequencies at or below the third harmonic of the rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Wartsila Technology Oy AB
    Inventor: Arto Järvi
  • Publication number: 20030150433
    Abstract: An air induction system (10) for use with an internal combustion engine (E) including an intake is disclosed. The system (10) includes a supercharger (12) and a valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a valve (14) and a valve control mechanism (16). The supercharger (12) receives air through a supply opening (18), pressurizes it, and discharges it through an exhaust opening (20). The valve (14) is in communication with the supply opening (18) to control air supply thereto. The control mechanism (16) is coupled to the valve (14) and causes it to vary the air supply to the opening (18) in response to air pressure conditions downstream from the supercharger (12). In one embodiment, the control mechanism (16) varies the air supply responsive to air pressure in the intake in order to both throttle the supercharger (12) as well as substantially eliminate undesirable surge conditions therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Applicant: ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique, Christopher S. Spies
  • Publication number: 20030116144
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of providing independently variable boost supercharging to an internal combustion engine by means of the adaptation of an electric axial flow ducted fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Alexis Ivan Portalatin
  • Patent number: 6581382
    Abstract: A method for controlling a supercharging device for an internal combustion engine includes controlling a variable (x) using different control characteristics in each of at least four sub-ranges defined by a gradient (dx/dt) of the variable to be controlled (x) and a difference (x) between the variable to be controlled (x) and a control variable (xs). An apparatus for controlling a supercharging device for an internal combustion engine includes a controller having a range of control that includes at least four sub-ranges devided in accordance with a gradient (dx/dt) of the variable to be controlled (x) and a difference (x) between the variable to be controlled (x) and a control variable (xs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Weber, Joachim Wiltschka
  • Publication number: 20030106539
    Abstract: The bypass valve system of a turbo-charged engine includes a compressor coupled between an air intake and a cylinder. The system also includes a bypass valve coupled in a bypass passage between an intake manifold and the air intake. The bypass valve is configured to selectively open and close the bypass passage in response to a change in pressure downstream of the compressor. A throttle position sensor is configured to generate an electric signal that is proportional to a degree of opening of a throttle valve. Also, an electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to output an activating signal when a sudden closure of the throttle valve is detected based on the electric signal. Finally, a solenoid valve is configured to supply pressure downstream of the compressor to the bypass valve when it receives the activating signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Byung Hwan Jung, Whan Yong Sim
  • Patent number: 6575148
    Abstract: A humidity compensation system for an internal combustion engine includes a humidity sensor sensing relative humidity of intake air, a temperature sensor sensing intake air temperature, a pressure sensor sensing intake air pressure and a control circuit computing a specific humidity (SH) value based on the sensor outputs. The control circuit is configured to compute one or more of an adjusted air-to-fuel ratio command as a function of SH and a default air-to-fuel ratio command, an adjusted ignition timing command as a function of SH, engine speed and a default ignition timing command and an adjusted boost pressure command as a function of SH and a default boost pressure command. The control circuit is operable to control any of fueling, ignition timing and boost pressure based on the corresponding adjusted air-to-fuel ratio, ignition timing and boost pressure commands to thereby compensate for humidity effects on engine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Cummins, Inc.
    Inventors: Sumit Bhargava, David Dunnuck
  • Patent number: 6571765
    Abstract: The engine control system has an ECU that supplies relatively large amount of EGR gas and delays an injection timing in order to decrease temperature in a combustion chamber. When an engine is operated under a warming up operation or a low engine load, the ECU deactivates an EGR cooler to increase intake air temperature in order to stabilize engine operation. When the engine is operated under a high engine load, the ECU activates the EGR cooler, delays a closing timing of an intake valve, and increases a boost pressure of a forced induction system. As a result, both of a compression end temperature and a maximum combustion temperature are decreased so that emissions of NOx and particulates are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kuboshima, Kiyonori Sekiguchi, Masumi Kinugawa, Makoto Saito, Shigeto Yahata
  • Patent number: 6571780
    Abstract: An air induction system (10) for use with an internal combustion engine (E) including an intake is disclosed. The system (10) includes a supercharger (12) and a valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a valve (14) and a valve control mechanism (16). The supercharger (12) receives air through a supply opening (18), pressurizes it, and discharges it through an exhaust opening (20). The valve (14) is in communication with the supply opening (18) to control air supply thereto. The control mechanism (16) is coupled to the valve (14) and causes it to vary the air supply to the opening (18) in response to air pressure conditions downstream from the supercharger (12). In one embodiment, the control mechanism (16) varies the air supply responsive to air pressure in the intake in order to both throttle the supercharger (12) as well as substantially eliminate undesirable surge conditions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique, Christopher S. Spies
  • Patent number: 6561169
    Abstract: A charge air management system for an automotive engine provides air charge densification and cooling during periods of operation at higher load. Two air ducts are provided, with a first for furnishing uncooled and unboosted air, and with a second duct for furnishing chilled and boosted air, with the second duct being chilled during operation with air flowing through the first duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Brent Edward Sealy, Jeff Feit, August Thomas Vaught, Wallace Elmer Beaber
  • Patent number: 6550461
    Abstract: Internal combustion engine (8), in particular a stationary gas engine, with a bypass (6) going around the super-charger (4), in which at least one detonation protector (11) is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Jenbacher Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Reinhard Robitschko
  • Patent number: 6550445
    Abstract: A spark-ignition type 4-cycle direct injection engine is provided with a turbocharger for boosting intake air and an injector for directly injecting fuel to a combustion chamber within a cylinder, wherein in a &lgr;=1 region (II) and an enriched region (III) on the high-speed high-load side, fuel is injected during the intake stroke of the cylinder to attain a state of homogenous combustion. When the engine is in the high-speed side (specific region) of the enriched region (III), the air-fuel ratio A/F of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder is controlled to become A/F≦13, the tumble flow T is strengthened by closing the TSCVs, and the opening degree of a wastegate valve of the turbocharger is controlled in order to increase the maximum boost pressure and compensate the drop in intake efficiency that is caused by closing the TSCVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Umezono, Hiroyasu Uchida, Mikihito Fujii
  • Publication number: 20030024499
    Abstract: A spark-ignition type 4-cycle direct injection engine is provided with a turbocharger for boosting intake air and an injector for directly injecting fuel to a combustion chamber within a cylinder, wherein in a &lgr;=1 region (II) and an enriched region (III) on the high-speed high-load side, fuel is injected during the intake stroke of the cylinder to attain a state of homogenous combustion. When the engine is in the high-speed side (specific region) of the enriched region (III), the air-fuel ratio A/F of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder is controlled to become A/F≦13, the tumble flow T is strengthened by closing the TSCVs, and the opening degree of a wastegate valve of the turbocharger is controlled in order to increase the maximum boost pressure and compensate the drop in intake efficiency that is caused by closing the TSCVs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Umezono, Hiroyasu Uchida, Mikihito Fujii
  • Patent number: 6474318
    Abstract: An air induction system (10) for use with an internal combustion engine (E) including an intake is disclosed. The system (10) includes a supercharger (12) and a valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a valve (14) and a valve control mechanism (16). The supercharger (12) receives air through a supply opening (18), pressurizes it, and discharges it through an exhaust opening (20). The valve (14) is in communication with the supply opening (18) to control air supply thereto. The control mechanism (16) is coupled to the valve (14) and causes it to vary the air supply to the opening (18) in response to air pressure conditions downstream from the supercharger (12). In one embodiment, the control mechanism (16) varies the air supply responsive to air pressure in the intake in order to both throttle the supercharger (12) as well as substantially eliminate undesirable surge conditions therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Accessible Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jones, Glennon J. Roderique, Christopher S. Spies
  • Patent number: 6467269
    Abstract: A wastegate valve for a turbocharger system in an engine of a work machine, vehicle or the like particularly suitable for operation at changing altitudes. The wastegate valve includes a spring operating against an adjustable spring seat. The adjustable spring seat is adjusted in response to ambient pressure changes to alter the installed length of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Charles H. Dutart