Throttle loss recovery turbine and supercharger

A throttle loss recovery turbine and supercharger device comprising:

• a housing having a movable intake port and a movable exhaust port each disposed through the housing;
• an outer drum rotatably disposed within the housing;
• a plurality of bearings interposed between an inside wall surface of the housing and an outside wall surface of the outer drum to facilitate rotatable outer drum movement;
• an inner drum rotatably disposed within the housing and within an inside diameter of the outer drum, wherein the inner drum has an axis of rotation that is eccentric to an axis of rotation of the outer drum, wherein the inner and outer drum rotate within the housing at a 1:1 ratio with one another, wherein a variable volume annular space is defined within the housing between the inner and outer drums, wherein the intake and exhaust ports are in air flow communication with the annular space;
• a number of vanes interposed radially between the inner and outer drums, wherein each vane is pivotably attached at one end to the outer drum, and wherein an opposite vane end is disposed within the inner drum outside diameter to facilitate reciprocating and pivoting movement therein;
• means for connecting the inner and outer drums to an engine crankshaft;
• and
• means for controlling intake port and exhaust port position within the housing according to engine throttle operating condition.

A device for pressurizing intake air for combustion and providing rotational energy to an engine by crankshaft, the device comprising:

• a generally cylindrical housing having end plates at each housing axial end;
• an air intake port in air-flow communication with an air inlet stream, the intake port being disposed through one of the end plates and being rotationally movable within the housing;
• an air outlet port in air-flow communication with an engine air intake system, the outlet port being disposed through one of the end plates and being rotational movable within the housing independent from the intake port;
• an outer drum rotationally disposed within the housing;
• an inner drum disposed concentrically within the outer drum and rotationally disposed within the housing, wherein the inner drum has an axis of rotation different than that of the outer drum and rotates within the housing at a 1:1 ratio with the outer drum;
• a plurality of vanes interposed radially between the inner and outer drums, each vane comprising a first vane end that is pivotably attached to the outer drum, and an opposite second vane end that is attached to the inner drum, wherein the inner drum includes a number of vane chambers disposed therein and a leak-tight bearing positioned at an entry to each vane chamber, wherein the second vane end is accommodated through a respective bearing and within a respective vane chambers to accommodate reciprocating and angular second vane end movement;
• means for connecting the inner and outer drums to an engine crankshaft;
• and
• means for moving the intake and outlet ports in response to engine throttle operating conditions.

A method for providing supercharged air or rotational energy to an engine depending on engine throttle operating conditions, the method comprising:

• sensing engine throttle operating condition and during engine idle or low throttle operating conditions:
• moving an intake port in a supercharger/throttle loss recovery turbine to a position of minimum annular volume between eccentrically rotating members that are connected to an engine crankshaft, and moving an outlet port in the supercharger/throttle loss recovery turbine to a position of maximum annular volume between the rotating members, wherein the movement of air through the turbine operates to effect rotation of the rotating members and deliver rotational energy to the engine;
• sensing engine throttle operating condition and during engine high or wide open throttle operating conditions:
• moving an intake port in a supercharger/throttle loss recovery turbine to a position of maximum annular volume between the rotating members, and moving an outlet port in the turbine to a position of minimum annular volume between the rotating members, wherein rotation of the rotating members operates to pressurize air within the turbine that is directed to an engine intake system for combustion.