US 6,293,103 B1 · Turbocharger system to inhibit reduced pressure in intake manifold

Abstract

An internal combustion engine is provided with at least one intake manifold and a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a rotatable shaft; a turbine having a turbine wheel carried by the shaft; and a multi-stage compressor. The multi-stage compressor includes a first compressor wheel carried by the shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a radially extending first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by the shaft, an axially extending second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel, a radially extending second outlet associated with the second compressor wheel, and an interstage duct fluidly interconnecting in series the first outlet associated with the first compressor wheel with the second inlet associated with the second compressor wheel. The second outlet is fluidly coupled with the intake manifold. One or more valves are each fluidly coupled with an ambient environment and the interstage duct or intake manifold. Each valve is adapted to open when a pressure of the ambient environment is less than a pressure within the interstage duct or intake manifold.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a turbocharger including:
a rotatable shaft;
a multi-stage compressor including a first compressor wheel carried by said shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with said first compressor wheel, a radially extending first outlet associated with said first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by said shaft, a second inlet associated with said second compressor wheel, a radially extending second outlet associated with said second compressor wheel, and an interstage duct fluidly interconnecting in series said first outlet associated with said first compressor wheel with said second inlet associated with said second compressor wheel;
at least one sensor, each said sensor configured to sense a pressure associated with said multi-stage compressor and provide an output signal;
a valve fluidly coupled with said interstage duct and an ambient environment;
and
a controller coupled with each said sensor and said valve, said controller controlling operation of said valve dependent upon at least one said output signal.

4 more elements

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one intake manifold;
a turbocharger including:
a rotatable shaft;
and
a multi-stage compressor including a first compressor wheel carried by said shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with said first compressor wheel, a radially extending first outlet associated with said first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by said shaft, a second inlet associated with said second compressor wheel, a radially extending second outlet associated with said second compressor wheel, and an interstage duct fluidly interconnecting in series said first outlet associated with said first compressor wheel with said second inlet associated with said second compressor wheel, said second outlet being fluidly coupled with said intake manifold;
and
at least one valve, each said valve being fluidly coupled with an ambient environment and one of said interstage duct and said intake manifold, each said valve being adapted to open when a pressure of the ambient environment is more than a pressure within said one of said interstage duct and said intake manifold.

4 more elements

A method of operating a turbocharger system in an internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one intake manifold;
providing a turbocharger including:
a rotatable shaft;
and
a multi-stage compressor including a first compressor wheel carried by said shaft, an axially extending first inlet associated with said first compressor wheel, a radially extending first outlet associated with said first compressor wheel, a second compressor wheel carried by said shaft, a second inlet associated with said second compressor wheel, a radially extending second outlet associated with said second compressor wheel, and an interstage duct fluidly interconnecting in series said first outlet associated with said first compressor wheel with said second inlet associated with said second compressor wheel, said second outlet being fluidly coupled with said intake manifold;
fluidly coupling at least one valve between an ambient environment and one of said interstage duct and said intake manifold;
and
opening at least one said valve when a pressure within said intake manifold is less than a pressure of said ambient environment.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Turbocharger system to inhibit reduced pressure in intake manifold

Life of this patent

Turbocharger system to inhibit reduced pressure in intake manifold

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22