US 7,490,594 B2Granted

Super-turbocharger

AssigneeWoodward Governor Company

InventorsEd Van Dyne, Thomas A. Gendron

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The invention combines the features of a supercharger, a turbocharger and turbo-compounding into one system, utilizing a hydraulic or mechanical continuously variable transmission to drive the turbocharger up to a specific speed or intake manifold pressure and then holding the ideal speed to keep it at the right boost pressure for the engine condition. The benefits of a supercharger, which is primarily good for high torque at low speed, and a turbocharger, which is usually only good for high horsepower at high speeds are merged. Once the exhaust energy begins to provide more work than it takes to drive the intake compressor, the invention recovers that excess energy and uses it to add torque to the crankshaft. As a result, the invention provides the benefits of low speed with high torque and the added value of high speed with higher horsepower or better fuel economy all from one system.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A super-turbocharger system, comprising:

a turbocharger having a turbine coupled to a compressor by a turbo-shaft;
a gear train coupled to the turbo-shaft;
a fixed displacement gear motor operatively coupled to the gear train;
a variable displacement pump/motor in fluid communication with the gear motor via a pressurized, closed hydraulic circuit having no sump;
and
wherein the variable displacement pump/motor delivers hydraulic power to the fixed displacement gear motor to drive the turbocharger through the gear train in a first mode;
wherein the turbocharger drives the fixed displacement gear motor through the gear train to cause the fixed displacement gear motor to deliver hydraulic power to the variable displacement pump/motor in a second mode;
wherein the gear train comprises planetary gear train having two or more planetary gears in a gear mesh relation to a gear connected to the turbo-shaft and in gear mesh relation to an outer ring gear, the gear train further including an output gear operatively connected to the two or more planetary gears and in a gear mesh relation to two equal size idler gears, the two idler gears in a gear mesh relation to a reduction gear;
and
wherein the reduction gear is in gear mesh relation with the pump/motor.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/204,817Filed 16 Aug 2005 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Aug 2004
Published: US 2006/0032225 A116 Feb 2006
Granted: 17 Feb 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F02B 39/08
Drives of pumps ; Varying pump drive gear ratio: non-mechanical drives, e.g. fluid drives having variable gear ratio
F02B 37/10
Engines with exhaust drive and other drive of pumps, e.g. with exhaust-driven pump and mechanically-driven second pump: at least one pump being…
F02B 37/105
At least one pump being alternatively or simultaneously driven by exhaust and other drive, e.g. by pressurised fluid from a reservoir or an…:…
F02B 37/14
Control of the pumps: control of the alternation between or the operation of exhaust drive and other drive of a pump, e.g. dependent on speed