Internal combustion engine with a separately operable additional valve in the cylinder head and method of operating same

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a first cylinder,
• a first intake valve operable to control an intake port of the first cylinder,
• a first exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• a first additional valve operable to control gas flow from the first cylinder separately from the first intake valve and the first exhaust valve,
• a second cylinder,
• a second intake valve operable to control an intake port of the second cylinder,
• a second exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the second cylinder,
• a second additional valve operable to control gas flow from the second cylinder separately from the second intake valve and the second exhaust valve,
• a gas flow line communicating with the first additional valve, and
• a gas flow control arrangement operable to control gas flow in the gas flow line from the first cylinder to the second cylinder,
• wherein said engine is a diesel engine with an exhaust gas driven turbocharger, and
• wherein said gas flow control arrangement is operable to communicate gas from the first cylinder to the second cylinder during operation of said first cylinder with gas pressure of the first additional valve which is above an outlet gas pressure of the turbocharger.

A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a first cylinder,
• a first intake valve operable to control an intake port of the first cylinder,
• a first exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• a first additional valve operable to control gas flow from the first cylinder separately from the first intake valve and the first exhaust valve,
• a second cylinder,
• a second intake valve operable to control an intake port of the second cylinder,
• a second exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the second cylinder,
• a second additional valve operable to control gas flow from the second cylinder separately from the second intake valve and the second exhaust valve,
• a gas flow line communicating with the first additional valve, and
• a gas flow control arrangement operable to control gas flow in the gas flow line from the first cylinder to the second cylinder,
• said method comprising operating the gas flow control arrangement to communicate gas from the first cylinder to the second cylinder as a function of engine operating conditions, including the operating cycle of the first cylinder,
• wherein said engine is a diesel engine with an exhaust gas driven turbocharger, and
• wherein said operating the gas glow arrangement includes communicating gas from the first cylinder to the gas flow line and the second cylinder during operation of said first cylinder with gas pressure at the first additional valve which is above an outlet gas pressure of the turbocharger.

A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a first cylinder,
• a first intake valve operable to control an intake port of the first cylinder,
• a first exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• a first additional valve operable to control gas flow from the first cylinder separately from the first intake valve and the first exhaust valve,
• a second cylinder,
• a second intake valve operable to control an intake port of the second cylinder,
• a second exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the second cylinder,
• a second additional valve operable to control gas flow from the second cylinder separately from the second intake valve and the second exhaust valve,
• a gas flow line communicating with the first additional valve, and
• a gas flow control arrangement operable to control gas flow in the gas flow line from the first cylinder to the second cylinder,
• said method comprising operating the gas flow control arrangement to communicate gas from the first cylinder to the second cylinder as a function of engine operating conditions, including the operating cycle of the first cylinder,
• wherein said engine includes an exhaust gas driven turbocharger, and
• wherein said operating the gas flow control arrangement includes communicating the gas flow through the gas flow line in bypassing relation to the turbocharger.

An internal combustion engine comprising:

• a first cylinder,
• a first intake valve operable to control an intake port of the first cylinder,
• a first exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• a first additional valve operable to control gas flow from the first cylinder separately from the first intake valve and the first exhaust valve,
• a second cylinder,
• a second intake valve operable to control an intake port of the second cylinder,
• a second exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the second cylinder,
• a second additional valve operable to control gas flow from the second cylinder separately from the second intake valve and the second exhaust valve,
• a gas flow line communicating with the first additional valve, and
• a gas flow control arrangement operable to control gas flow in the gas flow line from the first cylinder to the second cylinder,
• further comprising an exhaust gas driven turbocharger,
• wherein said gas flow control arrangement controls the gas flow from the first cylinder to the second cylinder in bypassing relation to the turbocharger.

A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprising:

• a first cylinder
• a first intake valve operable to control an intake port of the first cylinder,
• a first exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the first cylinder,
• a first additional valve operable to control gas flow from the first cylinder separately from the first intake valve and the first exhaust valve,
• a second cylinder,
• a second intake valve operable to control an intake port of the second cylinder,
• a second exhaust valve operable to control an exhaust port of the second cylinder,
• a second additional valve operable to control gas flow from the second cylinder separately from the second intake valve and the second exhaust valve,
• a gas flow line communicating with the first additional valve, and
• a gas flow control arrangement operable to control gas flow in the gas flow line from the first cylinder to the second cylinder,
• said method comprising operating the gas flow control arrangement to communicate gas from the first cylinder to the second cylinder as a function of engine operating conditions, including the operating cycle of the first cylinder,
• wherein a compressed air system is provided in conjunction with the engine, and
• wherein said operating the gas flow control arrangement includes selectively communicating the gas flow in the gas flow line with a storage tank of the compressed air system.