Inertia augmented turbocharger
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorBradley J. Shaffer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flywheel assembly for use with a supercharger having a rotatable shaft is provided. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel configured to rotate about an axis of and be supported by the rotatable shaft and a clutch configured to selectively couple the flywheel to the rotatable shaft.
Claims18
A flywheel assembly for use with a supercharger having a compressor and a power source driving the compressor, the flywheel assembly comprising:
- a flywheel operatively coupled to the compressor and the power source;
- turbine blades disposed around an outer periphery of the flywheel;
- and
- a clutch configured to selectively couple and decouple the flywheel to and from the compressor and the power source.
A turbocharger system, comprising:
- a turbocharger including a turbine, a compressor, and a drive connection coupling the turbine to the compressor;
- and
- a first and second flywheel assembly, the first flywheel assembly having a first flywheel and a first clutch configured to selectively couple and decouple the first flywheel to and from the turbine, compressor, and drive connection.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- an engine block defining a plurality of combustion cylinders, an intake manifold, and an exhaust manifold;
- a turbocharger including a turbine, a compressor, and a drive connection coupling the turbine to the compressor, the compressor being fluidly connected with the intake manifold, the turbine being fluidly connected with the exhaust manifold;
- and
- a flywheel assembly having a flywheel and a clutch configured to selectively couple and decouple the flywheel to and from the drive connection, and a plurality of turbine blades disposed around an outer periphery of the flywheel.
A method of operating a turbocharger system having a turbocharger including a turbine, a compressor, a drive connection coupling the turbine to the compressor, and a flywheel assembly, the method comprising:
- supplying gas to the turbine to motivate the drive connection;
- compressing gas via rotation of the compressor;
- selectively coupling and decoupling the flywheel assembly to and from the turbine, compressor, and drive connection to perform one of adding rotational energy to the turbocharger and removing rotational energy from the turbocharger;
- and
- storing rotational energy in the flywheel assembly prior to engagement with the drive connection, by providing a gas flow to a plurality of turbine blades attached to a flywheel of the flywheel assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.