Cross-port air flow to reduce pumping losses
AssigneeBright Acceleration Technologies LLC
InventorsJames R. Clarke, Richard J. Fotsch, C. Thomas Sylke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cross-port air flow that improves engine fuel economy and reduces pumping losses during part-throttle operation can be implemented in various types of internal combustion engine systems using ports that interconnect the intake ports of different cylinders, thus allowing different cylinders to share combustion air. Cross-port air flow is commenced during part-throttle engine operation to disrupt the primary combustion air flow from each throttle to its associated cylinder, which reduces charge density and engine power. The engine compensates for the reduced power by incrementally opening the throttles, thus increasing the primary combustion air flow, reducing pumping losses and improving fuel economy.
Claims14
An internal combustion engine system comprising:
- a first cylinder assembly comprising:
- a first cylinder;
- a first intake valve controlling admission of combustion air to the first cylinder from a first intake port;
- and
- a first throttle plate operationally affixed to control combustion air flow into the first cylinder through the first intake port;
- and
- a second cylinder assembly comprising:
- a second cylinder;
- a second intake valve controlling admission of combustion air to the second cylinder from a second intake port;
- and
- a second throttle plate operationally affixed to control combustion air flow into the second cylinder through the second intake port;
- a first passage connecting the first intake port downstream of the first throttle plate to the second intake port downstream of the second throttle plate;
- and
- an engine control system, wherein the engine control system is configured to:
- control opening and closing of the first throttle plate;
- control opening and closing of the first intake valve;
- and
- detect part-throttle mode operation.
A method of reducing pumping losses using cross-port air flow in an internal combustion engine system, wherein the internal combustion engine system comprises:
- a plurality of cylinder assemblies comprising a first cylinder assembly and a second cylinder assembly;
- the first cylinder assembly comprising a first throttle operationally affixed to control combustion air flow into a first cylinder through a first intake port;
- the second cylinder assembly comprising a second throttle operationally affixed to control combustion air flow into a second cylinder through a second intake port;
- an intake-interconnecting port system comprising:
- a first interconnecting port connecting the first intake port downstream of the first throttle to the second intake port downstream of the second throttle;
- and a first valve within the first interconnecting port;
- the method comprising:
- opening one or more interconnecting ports during part-throttle mode operation;
- opening the first throttle to compensate for reduced engine output caused by lower charge density in the first cylinder due to reduced filling inertia of the primary combustion air flow through the first intake port;
- wherein the reduced filling inertia is caused by the cross-port air flow;
- and further wherein opening the first throttle reduces cylinder vacuum in the first cylinder and thus reduces induction system pumping work and improves fuel economy.
A method of reducing pumping losses using cross-port air flow in an internal combustion engine system, wherein the internal combustion engine system comprises:
- a plurality of cylinder assemblies comprising a first cylinder assembly and a second cylinder assembly;
- the first cylinder assembly comprising a first throttle operationally affixed to control primary combustion air flow into a first cylinder through a first intake port;
- the second cylinder assembly comprising a second throttle operationally affixed to control primary combustion air flow into a second cylinder through a second intake port;
- a first port connecting the first intake port downstream of the first throttle to the second intake port downstream of the second throttle;
- and a first valve within the first connecting port;
- the method comprising:
- operating the internal combustion engine system in part-throttle mode;
- opening the first valve during part-throttle mode operation to permit cross-port air flow from the second intake port to the first intake port through the first connecting port;
- opening the first throttle to compensate for reduced engine output caused by lower charge density in the first cylinder due to reduced filling inertia of the primary combustion air flow through the first intake port;
- wherein the reduced filling inertia is caused by the cross-port air flow;
- and further wherein opening the first throttle reduces cylinder vacuum in the first cylinder and thus reduces induction system pumping work and improves fuel economy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.