With Condition Responsive Drive Means Control Patents (Class 60/608)
  • Patent number: 6865888
    Abstract: A turbo-compressor (20, 121) for a piston combustion engine (10), with the turbo-compressor (20, 121) comprising a fresh air inlet (24) and a fresh air outlet (26), with the turbo-compressor (20, 121) to be connected with the combustion engine (10) via the fresh air outlet (26), the turbo-compressor (20, 121) comprising a transmission shaft (32) coupled with an electric machine (30) for at least one compressor wheel (34), in order to set the compressor wheel (34) in rotation via the electric machine (30), whereby compressed fresh air is provided at the fresh air outlet (26) for the combustion engine (10), and with the electric machine (30) being a reluctance machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Compact Dynamics GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Gründl, Bernhard Hoffmann
  • 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: 6813887
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust-gas turbine in the exhaust section and a compressor in the intake tract. The compressor includes a compressor impeller in an inflow passage in the compressor housing. Furthermore, there is an auxiliary-air feed device, which is assigned to the compressor region and has an auxiliary-air passage, in the compressor housing for supplying auxiliary air, which can be introduced via an injection opening in the wall of the inflow passage of the compressor into the flow-facing region of the compressor impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Sumser, Aloysius Schunk, Peter Fledersbacher
  • Publication number: 20040216457
    Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and method for detecting and responding to a surge event in a locomotive engine system including a turbocharger and a diesel engine. The apparatus includes a sensor for detecting an operating parameter of the turbocharger or the engine and generating a sensor signal indicative of the detected operating parameter. An engine control system is responsive to the sensor signal for controlling a plurality of operational controls of the diesel engine system. The engine control system modifies one or more operational controls of the diesel engine system when the sensor signal indicates a surge event. The invention also provides a method for detecting and controlling a surge event of a locomotive engine system including a turbocharger and a diesel engine operable at a plurality of discrete speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dennis Brian Shea, Eric Richard Dillen, Vincent F. Dunsworth, Shawn Michael Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20040216458
    Abstract: A turbocharger comprises a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel mounted to a turbocharger shaft. An electric induction motor is provided for assisting rotation of the compressor wheel in predetermined circumstances. The motor comprises a fixed stator having motor field coils which generate a rotating magnetic field when energised by an AC control signal which induces eddy current flow in a rotor to generate a rotor magnetic field which in turn interacts with the stator magnetic field producing torque in the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Edward Spooner
  • Publication number: 20040206083
    Abstract: A control apparatus for an internal combustion engine which is mounted in a vehicle and has a supercharger that is located along an intake passage of the internal combustion engine and driven by a motor, includes a controller which drives the motor to perform supercharging during warm-up of the internal combustion engine, and supercharges a plurality of times intake air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine. Accordingly, the intake air is supercharged a plurality of times during warm-up of the internal combustion engine, so the temperature of the intake air is raised sufficiently to warm up the engine, thus enabling the engine to be warmed up effectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akihide Okuyama, Chika Kanba, Osamu Igarashi
  • Publication number: 20040194464
    Abstract: The invention provides a variable nozzle control apparatus for a turbocharger in an engine comprising: a variable nozzle having a vane; an engine ECU for identifying an operating situation of the engine by detected outputs of sensors in the engine and outputting a control signal; and an electronic control actuator for controlling an opening of the vane in response to the control signal transmitted from the engine ECU, wherein the electronic control actuator includes an electronic control circuit section for receiving an opening indication information of the vane from the engine ECU and outputting an output signal; a driving section for receiving the output signal from the electronic control circuit and driving the vane of the variable nozzle through an output shaft; and an angle sensor for detecting a rotation angle of the output shaft to output an actual angle signal of the output shaft to the electronic control circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ando, Haruo Saito, Takaaki Sekine
  • Patent number: 6793468
    Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, in which a bearing having excellent abrasion resistance without generating a black corrosion product in a high-temperature oil environment is provided. As bearing materials of a turbocharger, a copper alloy material containing, as main components, Cu, Zn, Al, Mn, and Si is employed. The elongating direction of an Mn—Si compound crystallized in the alloy material is set to the axial direction of a rotary shaft with respect to a radial bearing and is set to the direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft with respect to a thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Ojima, Noboru Baba, Toshikatsu Akiyama, Katsuhiro Komuro, Tetsuo Udagawa
  • Publication number: 20040168440
    Abstract: In the disclosed secondary air supply system, an on-off valve (13) is driven by the discharge pressure of an air pump (12). A diaphragm chamber (44) is arranged in the neighborhood of a discharge outlet (54), and a part of the discharge air flows directly into the diaphragm chamber (44). Thus, the on-off valve (13) is positively operated even at high places with low atmospheric pressure and has a fast open/close response. As an electromagnetic actuator is not used to drive the on-off valve (13), the voltage supplied to the air pump (12) (DC motor (29)) does not drop inconveniently, and at the same time, the cost is reduced. Further, the number of the lead wires (65) is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiro Tsuzuki, Shinichi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6782877
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling a charger (2000, 1000) which make possible a reduction of the load on the on-board electrical system especially during run-up of the charger (2000, 1000). A drive signal is formed which drives the charger (2000, 10000 1000). In dependence upon a first operating state of the engine (1005) which directly precedes an increase of the driver command torque, the drive signal is so formed that the charger (2000, 1000) increases its rpm already during this first operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Nau, Michael Baeuerle, Carsten Reisinger, Guido Porten
  • Publication number: 20040163391
    Abstract: A gas turbine system comprises a gas turbine (1, 2, 3) having a compressor (1) and a turbine (2), which via a common shaft (3) drive a generator (4), and a combustion chamber (6), the exit of which is connected to the entry to the turbine (2) of the gas turbine (1, 2, 3), has a fuel feed (8) and receives combustion air from the exit of the compressor (1) of the gas turbine (1, 2, 3) via the high-pressure side of a recuperator (5), the exit of the turbine (2) and the entry to the compressor (1) of the gas turbine (1, 2, 3) being connected via the low-pressure side of the recuperator (5), and a first exhaust-gas turbocharger (ATL2) which sucks in air being connected to different locations (9, 10) of the low-pressure side of the recuperator (4) by means of the exit of its compressor (13) and the entry to its turbine (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Hans Ulrich Frutschi
  • Patent number: 6755022
    Abstract: A turbo-charged internal combustion cylinder assembly includes a combustion chamber, an intake port communicably connected with an intake manifold, and an exhaust port communicably connected with an exhaust manifold. An intake valve is disposed within the intake port, and an exhaust valve is disposed within the exhaust port, the valves facilitating, in an open position, or restricting, in a closed position, gas flow between their respective ports and the combustion chamber. A compressor may be communicably connected to the intake manifold so as to provide pre-combustion gases to, and regulate pressure of the combustion chamber. The exhaust valve may open while the intake valve is closed to exhaust post-combustion gases from the combustion chamber. Alternatively, the exhaust valve may open while the intake valve is open to admit post-combustion gases into the combustion chamber if the combustion chamber pressure is lower than the exhaust port pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Charlie Chang-Won Kim, Timothy Andrew Suder, Steven Stuart Trevitz, Jeffrey Scott Zsoldos
  • Patent number: 6751957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically driven pressure boosting system that is used to boost the torque output of an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an electrically driven supercharger, an electrical supply system for providing electrical power to drive the pressure charging device including a battery and an engine-driven battery recharger, a switch to connect and disconnect the battery and recharger and an engine control system for controlling the switch and the operation of the pressure charging device. The engine control system is used to determine a capacity utilization of the electrical supply system, and then to control the switch to isolate at least partially the battery from the engine-driven battery recharger and drive the pressure charging device using the battery when said capacity utilization is above a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. Morgan, Mark A. Criddle
  • Patent number: 6739845
    Abstract: A turbocharger comprising two closely spaced ball bearings that does not require lubricating oil from an engine. The bearing housing forms a cooling jacket with two bearing engagement surfaces engaged with the outer races of the ball bearings through an intermediate radial spring. Closely spacing the ball bearings provides a rotor shaft of minimal length. In addition, an external motor-generator may be by mounted on the turbocharger, with the motor rotor solidly connected to the turbocharger rotor. In such an assembly, an electronic control is energizes the motor from battery power during acceleration up to approximately torque peak speed; thereafter, the control changes to a generator mode when there is excess energy in the engine exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: William E. Woollenweber
  • Patent number: 6739135
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically driven pressure boosting system that is used to boost the torque output of an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an electrically driven pressure charging device, an electrical supply system for providing electrical power to drive the pressure charging device including a battery and an engine-driven battery recharger, and an electronic control system for controlling the operation of the pressure charging device and the electrical supply system. The electronic control system determines one or more allowable operating limits to the operation of the pressure charging device based on the state of the electrical supply system, and drives the pressure charging device using the engine-driven battery recharger when the state of the electrical supply system is within an acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Criddle, Simon Petrovich, Guy R. Morgan, Jon Dixon
  • Publication number: 20040093867
    Abstract: A control device for a turbocharger with an electric motor includes a turbocharger which is provided along with an internal combustion engine and supercharges air taken in the internal combustion engine using a compressor; an electric motor which can increase a supercharging pressure by running the compressor of the turbocharger; and a controller. The controller calculates a base amount of electric power to be supplied to the electric motor based on a target supercharging pressure and an actual supercharging pressure, decides an amount of electric power to be supplied to the electric motor, controls the electric motor based on the decided amount of electric power to be supplied, and sets the amount of electric power to be supplied to a maximum amount of electric power regardless of the calculated base amount of electric power when high supercharging responsiveness by the turbocharger is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kei Masuda
  • Patent number: 6735945
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbocharger and motor assembly, in which the motor (20) is coupled to one side of the turbocharger (10) to provide additional acceleration of the turbocharger rotor (11) at low engine speeds and to reduce the power provided from the exhaust gases at higher speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: The Turbo Genset Company Limited
    Inventors: Justin Arthur Hall, Hassan Mansir, Ross Waring
  • Publication number: 20040088977
    Abstract: An exhaust device includes a housing, a drive unit, and an electric generator. The housing includes a tubular wall with a tube axis, and a mounting wall transverse to the tube axis. The tubular wall has an inlet end portion to be connected to a source of exhaust gas. The housing is formed with a vent for discharging the exhaust gas. The drive unit includes a drive shaft disposed in the housing, and an impeller connected to the drive shaft such that the exhaust gas received from the source can drive rotation of the drive shaft. The electric generator includes a stator mounted on the mounting wall, and a rotor coupled to the drive shaft such that the rotor is rotatable with the drive shaft relative to the stator to generate electricity for operating a load, such as a lamp unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Kuo-Lin Huang
  • Patent number: 6729137
    Abstract: A closed loop vapor cycle generated by a special device formed by heat transfer and a vapor expander means it is utilized to convert waste heat from conventional power systems into additional thermodynamic work, thereby improving the overall power system efficiency. Superheated vapor (i.e. steam) is instantaneously produced inside special energy transfer means where waste heat is converted into fluid energy with desired thermodynamic properties. The superheated vapor is then converted into mechanical energy through special work-producing units (expanders), thereby returning a significant fraction of the energy contained in the waste heat to the power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventor: Claudio Filippone
  • Patent number: 6718955
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple electric motor driven centrifugal air compressor, for example, for gasoline or diesel engine powered vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Geoffrey Knight
  • Publication number: 20040055298
    Abstract: A combustion engine method and system provides increased fuel efficiency and reduces polluting exhaust emissions by burning fuel in a two-stage combustion system. Fuel is combusted in a piston engine in a first stage producing piston engine exhaust gases. Fuel contained in the piston engine exhaust gases is combusted in a second stage turbine engine. Turbine engine exhaust gases are used to supercharge the piston engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Larry E. Fischer, Brian L. Anderson, Kevin C. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 6705084
    Abstract: System for controlling an electric assisted turbocharger comprise an electric motor disposed within turbocharger, and an electric motor controller electrically coupled thereto for purposes of controlling the same. A memory is electrically coupled to the electric motor controller and is configured with a condition map that correlates electric motor instructions with engine and turbocharger conditions. The system includes sensors that are electrically coupled to the electric motor controller, and that are configured to sense conditions of at least one of the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine that is coupled thereto. The electric motor controller is configured to control the electric motor based upon the input received from the plurality of sensors as compared to the data contained multi-dimensional condition map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Allen, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman, Gerhard Delf, Daniel Black, Kevin Birch
  • Publication number: 20040025507
    Abstract: An on-board inert gas generating system (OBIGGS) uses a turbine in order to recover the energy of compression of the nitrogen-enriched product gas. This energy is transferred, through a shaft, to the compressor, which supplies compressed air to the separation membrane. Unlike conventional systems, where there is no means for recovering the energy of the compressed nitrogen enriched product air, the present system provides a cooled nitrogen-enriched gas to be supplied to a fuel tank ullage without losing the energy stored in the compressed nitrogen-enriched product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Leigh, Timothy P. Birbeck, Giorgio Carlo Isella
  • Publication number: 20040025506
    Abstract: A flywheel assembly for use with a supercharger having a rotatable shaft is provided. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel configured to rotate about an axis of and be supported by the rotatable shaft and a clutch configured to selectively couple the flywheel to the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley J. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 6688104
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating an electrical supercharger, the electrical supercharger is actuated for cooling and/or diagnostic purposes in the non-combustion operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Baeuerle, Klaus Ries-Mueller
  • Patent number: 6659212
    Abstract: In a hybrid drive for a vehicle, an exhaust gas turbocharger is coupled to an electrical machine. The machine is actuated by an electronic control device to limit the supercharge pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Geisse, Karl-Ernst Noreikat, Alfons Rennefeld
  • Publication number: 20030213242
    Abstract: Device (1) for the recovery of thermal energy from a first gas flow (11) from an internal combustion engine (10), the device being designed for the transfer of thermal energy from the first gas flow (11) to a second gas flow (12). The device includes a body (2) having a zigzag-shaped structure, which forms ducts for said gas flows, and the body (2) is designed for the transfer of heat between the first gas flow (11) and the second gas flow (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Applicant: VOLVO TEKNISK UTVECKLING AB
    Inventor: Edward Jobson
  • Patent number: 6647724
    Abstract: Exemplary methods, devices and/or system for enhancing engine performance through use of one or more compressors and/or one or more turbines. An exemplary system includes an electric compressor to boost intake charge pressure supplied to an internal combustion engine; an electric turbine to generate electrical power from exhaust received from the internal combustion engine; and an electric power control to provide electrical power from a power storage to the electric compressor upon a request for boost and to provide electrical power generated by the electric turbine to the electric compressor after a request for boost and upon a depletion of the power storage to a predetermined power storage level. Various other exemplary methods, devices and/or systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Don Arnold, Syed M. Shahed
  • Patent number: 6644012
    Abstract: For supporting the cooling of an air-cooled gas turbine set, it is proposed to arrange, in the cooling air ducts of the cooling system, means for increasing the pressure of the flowing cooling air. In an embodiment, the cooling system (17) is supplied with high pressure compressor air from the end stages of the compressor (1) of a gas turbine set (1, 2, 3, 4). This cooling system branches into a first branch (18), by means of which the combustor (2) and the first stages, particularly the first guide blade row of the turbine (3), are cooled. A second branch (19) conducts cooling air to the further turbine stages. An ejector (20) is provided for increasing, as needed, the pressure drop available by means of the first branch (18) of the cooling system. Its ejector nozzle (22) is supplied with live steam (9) taken from a waste heat steam generator (51), the live steam supply being adjustable by means of an adjusting member (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Alston (Switzerland) Ltd
    Inventors: Juergen Hoffmann, Stefan Rofka, René Waelchli, Rolf Dittmann
  • Patent number: 6637204
    Abstract: In a two-stage concept for supercharging of internal combustion engines, in which the first stage is performed by an exhaust-gas turbocharger and the second stage by an electrically driven compressor, the compressor is also used to provide the secondary air used for the heating of a catalytic converter. In this manner, the catalytic converter quickly reaches an efficient operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietmar Ellmer, Jörg Neugärtner
  • Patent number: 6637205
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and/or systems for controlling intake to and/or exhaust from an internal combustion engine. An exemplary method for controlling intake charge pressure to an internal combustion engine includes determining one or more control parameters based at least partially on an intake charge target pressure; and outputting the one or more control parameters to control an electric motor operatively coupled to a compressor capable of boosting intake charge pressure and to control a variable geometry actuator capable of adjusting exhaust flow to a turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Samir S. Ahmad, Steven Don Arnold, Gary D. Vrbas
  • Publication number: 20030188533
    Abstract: A compact, motor-assisted, exhaust-driven turbocharger system is operable to increase the air flow or pressure to an internal combustion engine to reduce engine emissions. The turbocharger system includes a shaft, a expander connected to the shaft and connectable to an exhaust to the engine, and a compressor connected to the shaft and connectable to an air intake of the engine. An electric motor is attachable to the shaft and a controller is connected to electric motor to selectively increase the rotational speed of the exhaust-driven shaft to optimize the air flow or pressure to the engine in response to exhaust emissions, for example, smoke and soot, from the engine or in response to high speed operation of the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventor: HEINZ NMN JASTER
  • Publication number: 20030159441
    Abstract: A turbo-charged internal combustion cylinder assembly includes a combustion chamber which may be communicably connected to a compressor via an intake port through an intake manifold and aftercooler so the compressor may provide pre-combustion gases to the combustion chamber when the intake valve is open. An exhaust port communicably connects the combustion chamber to an exhaust manifold. An exhaust valve may open to exhaust post-combustion gases to the exhaust manifold while an intake valve is substantially closed, and the exhaust valve may open to admit post-combustion gases to the combustion chamber while the intake valve is substantially open and an exhaust port pressure in the exhaust port is higher than a combustion chamber pressure in the combustion chamber. A fuel injector may admit fuel to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Charlie Chang-Won Kim, Timothy Andrew Suder, Steven Stuart Trevitz, Jeffrey Scott Zsoldos
  • Patent number: 6609375
    Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of an electric motor in an electric assisted turbocharger that is coupled to an internal combustion engine has a turbocharger with an electric motor disposed within a motor housing. The motor housing has a motor housing inlet and a motor housing outlet. The turbocharger has a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet. The turbocharger also has a turbine. A first cooling hose is coupled to the compressor outlet and coupled to the motor housing inlet. A second cooling hose is coupled to the motor housing outlet and coupled to the compressor inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: John Allen, Gerhard Delf, Kevin Birch, Daniel Black, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman
  • Patent number: 6604360
    Abstract: An energy recovery system for an internal combustion engine includes a turbocharger unit having a turbocharger turbine receiving exhaust from the engine and a second turbine driven by the exhaust gasses. The second turbine drives an electrical generator. The generator supplies electrical power to an electrical control unit, which supplies power to an electric fan motor which drives an engine cooling fan driven by. The control unit also supplies electrical power to an electric coolant pump motor which drives an engine coolant pump. The second turbine is preferably a variable geometry turbine whose geometry is controlled so that its power absorption matches the electrical load of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Carl Thomas Vuk
  • Patent number: 6591612
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically operated charge-air compressor, for connection to an internal combustion engine, which includes an electric motor with a stator and a rotor for driving a compressor impeller; the compressor impeller is disposed in a compressor housing that is provided with at least one air inlet and one air outlet, and the air inlet and the air outlet communicate via a flow conduit extending in the compressor housing, and by rotation of the compressor impeller in a compression portion of the flow conduit, a compression of the charge air is attainable. It is proposed that the charge-air compressor be refined such that the compressor impeller can be displaced in the compressor housing out of a working position into a position of repose and back again, and the compressor impeller upon a displacement into the position of repose is moved at least partway away from the compression portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin-Peter Bolz, Michael Baeuerle
  • Publication number: 20030121264
    Abstract: A turbo-compressor (20, 121) for a piston combustion engine (10), with the turbo-compressor (20, 121) comprising a fresh air inlet (24) and a fresh air outlet (26), with the turbo-compressor (20, 121) to be connected with the combustion engine (10) via the fresh air outlet (26), the turbo-compressor (20, 121) comprising a transmission shaft (32) coupled with an electric machine (30) for at least one compressor wheel (34), in order to set the compressor wheel (34) in rotation by means of the electric machine (30), whereby compressed fresh air is provided at the fresh air outlet (26) for the combustion engine (10), and with the electric machine (30) being a reluctance machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Andreas Grndl, Bernhard Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20030110771
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically driven pressure boosting system that is used to boost the torque output of an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an electrically driven supercharger, an electrical supply system for providing electrical power to drive the pressure charging device including a battery and an engine-driven battery recharger, a switch to connect and disconnect the battery and recharger and an engine control system for controlling the switch and the operation of the pressure charging device. The engine control system is used to determine a capacity utilization of the electrical supply system, and then to control the switch to isolate at least partially the battery from the engine-driven battery recharger and drive the pressure charging device using the battery when said capacity utilization is above a first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Guy R. Morgan, Mark A. Criddle
  • Publication number: 20030110769
    Abstract: An electrical preheater for a turbine inlet of a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine. An electric motor/generator is drivingly coupled to the turbocharger, and electrically connected to a storage device. The electrical preheater is powered by the storage device to heat a stream of exhaust gases entering the turbocharger turbine from the engine exhaust manifold. The preheater provides an additional control of the turbocharger performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Mark D. Moeckel
  • Publication number: 20030110770
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronically driven pressure boosting system that is used to boost the torque output of an internal combustion engine. The system comprises an electrically driven pressure charging device, an electrical supply system for providing electrical power to drive the pressure charging device including a battery and an engine-driven battery recharger, and an electronic control system for controlling the operation of the pressure charging device and the electrical supply system. The electronic control system determines one or more allowable operating limits to the operation of the pressure charging device based on the state of the electrical supply system, and drives the pressure charging device using the engine-driven battery recharger when the state of the electrical supply system is within an acceptable range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES.,INC.,
    Inventors: Mark A. Criddle, Simon Petrovich, Guy R. Morgan, Jon Dixon
  • Patent number: 6557347
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of operating a turbo-charged diesel locomotive engine to facilitate controlling pressure in an engine cylinder is provided. The method includes determining an allowable peak firing pressure for the turbo-charged diesel engine, determining an actual peak firing pressure, and comparing the allowable peak firing pressure to actual peak firing pressure to control the operation of the turbocharger for controlling peak firing pressure. The apparatus includes a diesel engine including an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, an electronic fuel controller, a turbo-charger, and a motor-generator coupled to the turbocharger and operable to at least one of increase turbocharger rotational speed, decrease turbocharger rotational speed, and maintain turbocharger rotational speed, and a controller including a first input corresponding intake manifold air pressure and a second input corresponding to fuel injection timing for the engine and including as an output a motor-generator configuration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Alvarez, Manoj Gokhale
  • Patent number: 6553764
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for use in an internal combustion engine, and particularly suitable for use in an on-road vehicle, is provided with a turbocharger including a turbine, a compressor and a turboshaft coupling the turbine and the compressor together; mechanically coupling a first motor/generator to the turboshaft; mechanically coupling a second motor/generator to a flywheel; electrically coupling the second motor/generator to the first motor/generator; storing power in the flywheel using the second motor/generator during periods of excess turbocharger boost; and rotating the turbocharger shaft using the first motor/generator during periods of insufficient turbocharger boost. The turbocharger system provides a compact and efficient method of storing energy in the flywheel during periods of excess turbocharger boost, and retrieving energy from the flywheel during periods of insufficient turbocharger boost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: John R. Gladden, Beth A. Hinchee
  • Publication number: 20030051475
    Abstract: A system for controlling the temperature of an electric motor in an electric assisted turbocharger that is coupled to an internal combustion engine has a turbocharger with an electric motor disposed within a motor housing. The motor housing has a motor housing inlet and a motor housing outlet. The turbocharger has a compressor with a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet. The turbocharger also has a turbine. A first cooling hose is coupled to the compressor outlet and coupled to the motor housing inlet. A second cooling hose is coupled to the motor housing outlet and coupled to the compressor inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: John Allen, Gerhard Delf, Kevin Birch, Daniel Black, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman
  • Publication number: 20030037546
    Abstract: A hydraulic turbine drive with a multi-material turbine wheel. The turbine wheel is mounted on a shaft defining a shaft material. The blades and a portion of the turbine wheel are comprised of a high strength thermoplastic material having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially higher than the thermal expansion coefficient of the shaft material. The thermoplastic portion of the wheel is radially at least partially contained in a first containing wheel having a thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of the plastic material and lower than that of the shaft. The first containing wheel may also be radially contained in one or more additional containing wheels each having a thermal expansion coefficient higher than that of the first containing wheel. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the drive wheels for supercharger systems for internal combustion systems. In a particular preferred embodiment the drive wheel is a part of a single shaft hybrid supercharger system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Davorin D. Kapich
  • Publication number: 20030019212
    Abstract: In a method and a device for operating an electrical supercharger, the electrical supercharger is actuated for cooling and/or diagnostic purposes in the non-combustion operation of the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Baeuerle, Klaus Ries-Mueller
  • Publication number: 20030005695
    Abstract: System for controlling an electric assisted turbocharger comprise an electric motor disposed within turbocharger, and an electric motor controller electrically coupled thereto for purposes of controlling the same. A memory is electrically coupled to the electric motor controller and is configured with a condition map that correlates electric motor instructions with engine and turbocharger conditions. The system includes sensors that are electrically coupled to the electric motor controller, and that are configured to sense conditions of at least one of the turbocharger and the internal combustion engine that is coupled thereto. The electric motor controller is configured to control the electric motor based upon the input received from the plurality of sensors as compared to the data contained multi-dimensional condition map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: John Allen, Rhett Hedrick, Len Wedman, Gerhard Delf, Daniel Black, Kevin Birch
  • Patent number: 6502398
    Abstract: An exhaust power recovery system for internal combustion engines. The engine exhaust gases drive a gas turbine that in turn drives a hydraulic turbine pump pressurizing a hydraulic fluid which then in turn is the driving source for a hydraulic motor which transmits power to the engine shaft. In a preferred embodiment for a turbocharged engine, the hydraulic fluid is also used as the drive fluid in a hydraulic supercharger system that provides additional supercharging at low engine speeds to supplement the exhaust driven turbocharging system. In this embodiment the pressurized hydraulic fluid for driving the supercharger hydraulic turbine is provided by a pump driven by the engine shaft. A hydraulic fluid control system is provided to match compressed air flow with engine needs. In this preferred embodiment more than enough energy is recovered from the exhaust gasses by the exhaust power recovery system to operate the hydraulic supercharger system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Davorin D. Kapich
  • Patent number: 6481205
    Abstract: In an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine having an air intake duct and an exhaust duct and wherein the turbocharger includes a compressor arranged in the air intake duct and a turbine arranged in the exhaust duct and a shaft carrying the turbine wheel and the compressor impeller, an electric motor is provided which includes a rotor provided with an air mover disposed in the inlet area of the compressor and being controllable for rotation independently of the rotation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Peter Fledersbacher, Paul Löffler, Siegfried Sumser, Friedrich Wirbeleit
  • Publication number: 20020157397
    Abstract: An exhaust power recovery system for internal combustion engines. The engine exhaust gases drive a gas turbine that in turn drives a hydraulic turbine pump pressurizing a hydraulic fluid which then in turn is the driving source for a hydraulic motor which transmits power to the engine shaft. In a preferred embodiment the engine exhaust gases drive a gas turbine with pivotable stator vanes that in turn drives a hydraulic pump pressurizing hydraulic fluid which than in turn is the driving source for a hydraulic motor which transmits power to the engine shaft. The pivotable stator vanes function as an efficient variable nozzle providing precise gas turbine control and improved exhaust energy utilization over a wide range of engine operating conditions. Various embodiments of the present invention make it applicable to a wide range of engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Davorin D. Kapich