Variable oxygen/nitrogen enriched intake air system for internal combustion engine applications

An air control system for an internal combustion engine for selectively supplying ambient air from an air inlet means, oxygen enriched air and nitrogen enriched air to an air intake of said engine so as to limit pollutants in gases emitted through an exhaust of said engine, said air control system comprising:

• an air mixing chamber in fluid communication with said air intake of said engine;
• a first air flow means in fluid communication with said inlet means and said air mixing chamber through which said ambient air is supplied to said air mixing chamber from said inlet means;
• a second air flow means in fluid communication with said inlet means having a nitrogen and oxygen separating means for producing from said ambient air oxygen enriched air at a first output and nitrogen enriched air at a second output;
• an oxygen control valve between said first output and said mixing chamber for controlling the flow of said oxygen enriched air from said first output to said mixing chamber;
• and
• a nitrogen control valve between said second output and said mixing chamber for controlling the flow of said nitrogen enriched air from said second output to said mixing chamber such that said oxygen enriched air, said nitrogen enriched air, and said ambient air can be selectively provided through said mixing chamber to said air intake of said engine.

An air control system for an internal combustion engine, said engine having a pressure means for providing pressurized ambient air, for selectively supplying ambient air and nitrogen enriched air to an air intake of said engine so as to limit pollutants in gases emitted through an exhaust of said engine, said air control system comprising:

• an air mixing chamber in fluid communication with said air intake of said engine;
• a first air flow means in fluid communication with said pressure means and said air mixing chamber through which said ambient air is supplied to said air mixing chamber from said pressure means;
• a second air flow means in fluid communication with said pressure means having a nitrogen and oxygen separating means for producing from said ambient air oxygen enriched air at a first output and nitrogen enriched air at a second output, said ambient air flowing through said separating means due to the differential pressure produced across said separating means by said pressure means;
• and
• air directing means associated with said second output and said mixing chamber for controlling the flow of said nitrogen enriched air from said second output to said mixing chamber such that said nitrogen enriched air and said ambient air can be selectively provided through said mixing chamber to said air intake of said engine.