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US 9,068,500 B2Granted
Boosted in-line variable-displacement engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsCarsten Weber, Martin Wirth, Rainer Friedfeldt, Guenter Bartsch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine includes a first turbine fluidically coupled to a first group of adjacent cylinders, and a second turbine fluidically coupled to a second group of adjacent cylinders. In this engine, the cylinders of the first and second groups are arranged along a line. The engine also includes a variable valve-lift system configured to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders during reduced engine-load conditions, but to stop admitting air to the second group of cylinders during the reduced engine-load conditions.
Claims17
An engine comprising:
- a first turbine fluidically coupled to a first group of adjacent cylinders via a first exhaust conduit;
- a second turbine fluidically coupled to a second group of adjacent cylinders arranged along a line with the first group of cylinders, the second turbine fluidically coupled to the second group via a second exhaust conduit, the first exhaust conduit and the second exhaust conduit fluidly coupled via a connecting valve and in thermal communication with coolant jackets of a cylinder head;
- a variable valve-lift system configured to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders during reduced engine-load conditions, but to stop admitting air to the second group of cylinders during the reduced engine-load conditions;
- a first compressor fluidically coupled to the first group of cylinders via a first intake conduit and mechanically coupled to the first turbine, the first intake conduit including a first throttle valve and one or more merge portions that merge into the first compressor, the first intake conduit only coupled to the first group of cylinders downstream of the first throttle;
- and
- a second compressor fluidically coupled to the second group of cylinders via a second intake conduit and mechanically coupled to the second turbine, the second intake conduit including a second throttle valve and one or more merge portions that merge into the second compressor, the second intake conduit only coupled to the second group of cylinders downstream of the second throttle;
- and a crankshaft having a throw associated with each cylinder and coupled rotationally to a piston within that cylinder, wherein the crankshaft presents a rotation axis, wherein the throws associated with all cylinders of the first group eclipse each other when viewed from a point along the rotation axis;
- and wherein the throws associated with all cylinders of the second group eclipse each other when viewed from a point along the rotation axis.
5 more elements
A method for operating an engine, comprising:
- when engine load or speed is above a predefined threshold, admitting at least air to a first group of adjacent cylinders fluidically coupled to a first turbine via a first exhaust conduit, and admitting at least air to a second group of adjacent cylinders fluidically coupled to a second turbine via a second exhaust conduit, the cylinders of the first and second groups arranged along a line, the first exhaust conduit and second exhaust conduits cooled with cooling jackets associated with a cylinder head;
- when the engine load or speed is below the predefined threshold, continuing to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders but ceasing to admit air to the second group of cylinders;
- and
- admitting at least air via a first compressor fluidically coupled to only the first group of cylinders via a first intake conduit and mechanically coupled to the first turbine, the first intake conduit including a first throttle valve and one or more merge portions that merge into the first compressor, and a second compressor fluidically coupled to only the second group of cylinders via a second intake conduit and mechanically coupled to the second turbine, the second intake conduit including a second throttle valve and one or more merge portions that merge into the second compressor;
- and a crankshaft having a throw associated with each cylinder and coupled rotationally to a piston within that cylinder, wherein the crankshaft presents a rotation axis, wherein the throws associated with all cylinders of the first group eclipse each other when viewed from a point along the rotation axis;
- and wherein the throws associated with all cylinders of the second group eclipse each other when viewed from a point along the rotation axis.
3 more elements
An engine comprising:
- a first turbine fluidically coupled to a first group of adjacent cylinders via a first exhaust conduit;
- a second turbine fluidically coupled to a second group of adjacent cylinders via a second exhaust conduit, the cylinders of the first and second groups arranged along a line and each including one or more exhaust ports;
- the first exhaust conduit opening to each exhaust port of the first group of cylinders, and including within a cylinder head one or more merge portions that merge into the first turbine;
- the second exhaust conduit opening to each exhaust port of the second group of cylinders, and including within the cylinder head one or more merge portions that merge into the second turbine;
- the first exhaust conduit and the second exhaust conduit cooled with cooling jackets associated with the cylinder head;
- a connecting conduit linking the first exhaust conduit to the second exhaust conduit at positions fluidically upstream of the first turbine and of the second turbine, respectively;
- arranged in the connecting conduit, a connecting valve closable to fluidically isolate the first exhaust conduit from the second exhaust conduit;
- a variable valve-lift system configured to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders during reduced engine-load conditions, but to stop admitting air to the second group of cylinders during the reduced engine-load conditions;
- a first compressor fluidically coupled to only the first group of cylinders via a first intake conduit and mechanically coupled to the first turbine, the first intake conduit including a first throttle valve and one or more merge portions that merge into the first compressor;
- and
- a second compressor fluidically coupled to only the second group of cylinders via a second intake conduit and mechanically coupled to the second turbine, the second intake conduit including a second throttle valve and one or more merge portions that merge into the second compressor;
- and a crankshaft having a throw associated with each cylinder and coupled rotationally to a piston within that cylinder, wherein the crankshaft presents a rotation axis, wherein the throws associated with all cylinders of the first group eclipse each other when viewed from a point along the rotation axis;
- and wherein the throws associated with all cylinders of the second group eclipse each other when viewed from a point along the rotation axis.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.