US 7,841,324 B2Granted

Breathing for an internal combustion engine

AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.

InventorsMartin W. Dirker, James D. Wotherspoon

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Abstract

In one aspect of the disclosure an internal combustion engine may be provided that may include a combustion chamber and a piston reciprocally moveable in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber may have an intake port and a dual function port. The dual function port may be connected to an exhaust system and to an intake system. A method may be provided including opening a fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the intake port as well as the dual function port during at least a part of an intake stroke of the piston. Instead of, or in addition, the method may include opening a fluid connection between the exhaust system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port during at least a part of the intake stroke of the piston.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one combustion chamber and a piston reciprocally moveable in the combustion chamber;
the at least one combustion chamber having an intake port and a dual function port;
the intake port having an associated intake valve for closing off and opening the intake port in the combustion chamber;
the dual function port having an associated dual function valve for closing off and opening the dual function port in the combustion chamber;
an intake channel forming part of an intake system and in fluid connection with the combustion chamber via the intake port;
an exhaust channel forming part of an exhaust system and in fluid connection with the combustion chamber via the dual function port;
a connecting channel having a first end that is in fluid connection with the intake system and having a second end that is in fluid connection with the combustion chamber via the dual function port;
and
a first connecting valve that includes a first position that closes off the fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port, and that includes a second position that opens the fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port and closes off the fluid connection between the combustion chamber and the exhaust system via the dual function port.

6 more elements

An internal combustion engine, comprising:

at least one combustion chamber and a piston reciprocally moveable in the combustion chamber;
the at least one combustion chamber having an intake port and a dual function port;
the intake port having an associated intake valve for closing off and opening the intake port in the combustion chamber;
the dual function port having an associated dual function valve for closing off and opening the dual function port in the combustion chamber;
an intake channel forming part of an intake system and in fluid connection with the combustion chamber via the intake port;
an exhaust channel forming part of an exhaust system and in fluid connection with the combustion chamber via the dual function port;
a connecting channel having a first end that is in fluid connection with the intake system and having a second end that is in fluid connection with the combustion chamber via the dual function port;
a first connecting valve that includes a first position that closes off the fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port, and that includes a second position that opens the fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port;
a second connecting valve that includes a first position that closes off the fluid connection between the exhaust system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port, and that includes a second position that opens the fluid connection between the exhaust system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port;
and
an actuator assembly operatively connected to both the first and second connecting valves, the actuator assembly including a bridge that is pivotable about a pivot and connected to the first and second connecting valves.

8 more elements

A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber, a piston that is reciprocally moveable in the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber having an intake port and a dual function port, the intake port having an associated intake port valve and the dual function port having an associated dual function port valve, the engine having an intake system that may be brought in fluid connection with the combustion chamber by opening the intake port valve, the engine having an exhaust system that may be brought fluid connection with the combustion chamber by opening the dual function port valve, the method comprising:

opening a fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the intake port as well as a fluid connection between the intake system and the combustion chamber via the dual function port during at least a part of an intake stroke of the piston.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/292,789Filed 26 Nov 2008
Priority: EP 0712189829 Nov 2007
Published: US 2009/0145410 A111 Jun 2009
Granted: 30 Nov 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F02D 13/0276
During engine operation: actuation of an additional valve for a special application, e.g. for decompression, exhaust gas recirculation or cylinder…
F02F 1/4235
Shape or arrangement of intake or exhaust channels in cylinder heads: of intake channels
F02M 26/37
Arrangement or layout of EGR passages, e.g. in relation to specific engine parts or for incorporation of accessories: with temporary storage of…
Y02T 10/12
Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles: improving ICE efficiencies