Apparatus, system, and method for providing pressurized air via an engine

A system for providing pressurized air from a vehicle, the system comprising:

• an engine including:
• an engine block including a plurality of cylinders having, respectively, a plurality of pistons therein,
• a crankshaft rotatably mounted on the engine block,
• a plurality of connecting rods each having a first end and a second end, the first end rotatably connected to the crankshaft and the second end coupled to a respective one of the plurality of pistons,
• a fuel and air mixture intake line in communication with at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders,
• an air intake line in communication with the at least one cylinder, and
• an exhaust line in communication with the at least one cylinder;
• a switch that switches between a fuel and air mixture configuration and an air-only configuration, the fuel and air mixture configuration corresponding to a first switch configuration that allows a fuel and air mixture to be provided to the at least one cylinder via the fuel and air mixture intake line to enable a combustion and the air-only configuration corresponding to a second switch configuration that allows only air to be provided to the at least one cylinder via the air intake line to generate the pressurized air within the at least one cylinder to be provided via the exhaust line;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) on or within the vehicle connected to the engine and the switch and configured to cause the switch to switch between the fuel and air mixture configuration and the air-only configuration based on a user input.

A method for providing pressurized air from a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a user interface, a user input indicative of a user instruction to control a switch to switch from a first switch configuration to a second switch configuration, the switch connected to a fuel and air mixture intake line and an air intake line each in communication with at least one cylinder of a plurality of cylinders included in an engine block and each having a piston disposed therein, the first switch configuration corresponding to a fuel and air mixture configuration that allows a fuel and air mixture to be provided to the at least one cylinder via the fuel and air mixture intake line to enable a combustion and the second switch configuration corresponding to an air-only configuration that allows only air to be provided to the at least one cylinder via the air intake line to generate the pressurized air within the at least one cylinder to be provided via an exhaust line in communication with the at least one cylinder;
• and
• actuating, by a controller, the switch to switch from the first switch configuration to the second switch configuration in response to receiving the user input such that the pressurized air from the at least one cylinder is provided via the exhaust line as a crankshaft rotatably mounted on the engine block is rotated to provide the air to the at least one cylinder via the air intake line, pressurize the air within the at least one cylinder, and release the pressurized air from the at least one cylinder via the exhaust line.