Air and fuel supply system for combustion engine
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsJames Richard Weber, Scott A. Leman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying pressurized air from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
Claims46
A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, the method comprising:
- supplying pressurized air from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder;
- selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston;
- and
- operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.
A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an engine block defining at least one cylinder;
- a head connected with said engine block, including an air intake port, and an exhaust port;
- a piston slidable in each cylinder;
- a combustion chamber being defined by said head, said piston, and said cylinder;
- an air intake valve controllably movable to open and close the air intake port;
- an air supply system including at least one turbocharger fluidly connected to the air intake port;
- a fuel supply system operable to controllably inject fuel into the combustion chamber at a selected timing;
- and
- a variable intake valve closing mechanism configured to keep the intake valve open by selective operation of the variable intake valve closing mechanism.
A method of operating an internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, the method comprising:
- imparting rotational movement to a first turbine and a first compressor of a first turbocharger with exhaust air flowing from an exhaust port of the cylinder;
- imparting rotational movement to a second turbine and a second compressor of a second turbocharger with exhaust air flowing from an exhaust duct of the first turbocharger;
- compressing air drawn from atmosphere with the second compressor;
- compressing air received from the second compressor with the first compressor;
- supplying pressurized air from the first compressor to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder via an intake manifold;
- controllably operating a fuel supply system to inject fuel directly into the combustion chamber;
- and
- selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold during a portion of a compression stroke of the piston.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a block defining at least one cylinder;
- a head connected with said block, said head having an air intake port and an exhaust port;
- a piston slidable in each cylinder;
- an air intake valve controllably movable to open and close the air intake port;
- a first turbocharger including a first turbine coupled with a first compressor, the first turbine being in fluid communication with the exhaust port, the first compressor being in fluid communication with the air intake port;
- a second compressor being in fluid communication with atmosphere and the first compressor;
- a fuel supply system operable to controllably inject fuel into the combustion chamber;
- and
- a controller configured to selectively operate the air intake valve to remain open during a portion of a compression stroke of the piston.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a block defining at least one cylinder;
- a head connected with said block, said head having an air intake port and an exhaust port;
- a piston slidable in each cylinder;
- an air intake valve assembly connectable with a cam assembly to controllably move an intake valve to open and close the air intake port;
- a first turbocharger including a first turbine coupled with a first compressor, the first turbine being in fluid communication with the exhaust port and an exhaust duct, the first compressor being in fluid communication with the air intake port;
- a second turbocharger including a second turbine coupled with a second compressor, the second turbine being in fluid communication with the exhaust duct of the first turbocharger and atmosphere, the second compressor being in fluid communication with atmosphere and the first compressor;
- a fuel supply system connectable with a cam assembly operable to controllably inject fuel into the combustion chamber;
- and
- a variable intake valve mechanism connectable with said air intake valve, said variable intake valve mechanism being adaptable to interrupt cyclical movement of said intake valve.
A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having a variable compression ratio, said engine having a block defining a cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a head connected with said block, said piston, said cylinder, and said head defining a combustion chamber, the method comprising:
- pressurizing air;
- supplying said air to an intake manifold of the engine;
- maintaining fluid communication between said combustion chamber and the intake manifold during a portion of an intake stroke and through a predetermined portion of a compression stroke;
- and
- supplying a pressurized fuel directly to the combustion chamber during a portion of an combustion stroke.
A method of controlling an internal combustion engine having a variable compression ratio, said engine having a block defining a cylinder, a piston slidable in said cylinder, a head connected with said block, said piston, said cylinder, and said head defining a combustion chamber, the method comprising:
- pressurizing air to a ratio of at least 4:1 with respect to atmospheric pressure;
- supplying the pressurized air to an intake manifold of the engine;
- maintaining fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold during an intake stroke and a majority of a compression stroke;
- and
- supplying a fuel to the combustion chamber during at least a portion of the remaining compression stroke.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.