Vehicle pneumatic booster system operating method and apparatus

A pneumatic booster controller, comprising:

• a controller configured to receive vehicle operating parameter information and to transmit pneumatic booster actuation commands to pneumatic booster actuation devices over at least one of a CAN bus network and dedicated signal circuits,
• wherein the controller is programmed to control a pneumatic boost event based on predetermined compressed air injection profiles by
• coordinating the operation of at least one compressed air flow control valve which controls admission of compressed air into an intake of an engine and an intake block-off element which blocks off the intake to prevent back-flow of compressed air in the intake, and
• controlling compressed air injection during the pneumatic boost event by adjusting a compressed air injection profile for opening and closing the at least one compressed air flow control valve by adjusting at least two of compressed air injection rate, duration and timing of at least two air injection pulses during the pneumatic boost event.

A pneumatic booster control device, comprising:

• an air control device configured to be located in an intake of an engine, the air control device having an intake passage with an inlet end and an outlet end, the air control device including
• an intake block-off element located in the intake passage of the air control device, the intake block-off element being arranged to move at least between open and closed positions to selectively block or allow air flow through the air control device toward the outlet end of the intake passage,
• at least one compressed air injection passage configured to receive compressed air from a compressed air supply, the compressed air injection passage being open to the outlet end side of the intake passage downstream of the intake block-off element relative to the intake passage inlet end,
• at least one compressed air flow control valve arranged to control flow of compressed air flow provided to the air control device through the at least one compressed air passage into the intake passage, and
• a passage open to the intake tract on the engine side of the intake block off element through which exhaust gases from the engine passing through an exhaust gas recirculation passage are introduced into the intake tract;
• and
• a pneumatic booster controller located with the air control device, the pneumatic booster controller being configured to receive vehicle operating parameter information and to transmit pneumatic booster actuation commands to pneumatic booster actuation devices over at least one of a CAN bus network and dedicated signal circuits,
• wherein the pneumatic booster controller is programmed to control a pneumatic boost event based on at least one monitored operating parameter of the vehicle by
• coordinating the operation of at least one compressed air flow control valve which controls admission of compressed air into an intake tract of an engine and an intake block-off element which blocks off the intake tract to prevent back-flow of compressed air in the intake tract, and
• controlling compressed air injection during the pneumatic boost event by adjusting a compressed air injection profile for opening and closing the at least one compressed air flow control valve by adjusting at least two of compressed air injection rate, duration and timing of at least two air injection pulses during the pneumatic boost event so as to maintain at least one monitored operating parameter of the vehicle within a predetermined range.

A pneumatic booster control device, comprising:

• an air control device configured to be located in an intake of an engine, the air control device having an intake passage with an inlet end and an outlet end, the air control device including
• an intake block-off element located in the intake passage of the air control device, the intake block-off element being arranged to move at least between open and closed positions to selectively block or allow air flow through the air control device toward the outlet end of the intake passage,
• at least one compressed air injection passage configured to receive compressed air from a compressed air supply, the compressed air injection passage being open to the outlet end side of the intake passage downstream of the intake block-off element relative to the intake passage inlet end,
• at least one compressed air flow control valve arranged to control flow of compressed air flow provided to the air control device through the at least one compressed air passage into the intake passage, and
• a passage open to the intake tract on the engine side of the intake block off element through which exhaust gases from the engine passing through an exhaust gas recirculation passage are introduced into the intake tract;
• and
• a pneumatic booster controller located with the air control device,
• wherein the pneumatic booster controller is programmed to control a pneumatic boost event based on at least one monitored operating parameter of the vehicle by
• coordinating the operation of at least one compressed air flow control valve which controls admission of compressed air into an intake tract of an engine and an intake block-off element which blocks off the intake tract to prevent back-flow of compressed air in the intake tract, and
• controlling compressed air injection during the pneumatic boost event by adjusting a compressed air injection profile for opening and closing the at least one compressed air flow control valve by adjusting at least two of compressed air injection rate, duration and timing of at least two air injection pulses during the pneumatic boost event.