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.
Claims13
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;
- and
- 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, wherein the first passage provides a bi-directional exchange of combustion air between the first intake port and the second intake port.
A method of equalizing intake port combustion air pressure 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:
- detecting an engine operating condition;
- and
- opening the first interconnecting port;
- wherein
- opening the first interconnecting port permits equalization of air pressure between the first intake port and the second intake port.
A method of equalizing intake port combustion air pressure 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;
- 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 an engine operating condition;
- opening the first valve during the engine operating condition to permit air flow between the second intake port and 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 opening the first valve permits equalization of air pressure between the first intake port and the second intake port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.