Turbocharger combustor system

Claim 2

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to charge air pressure; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine and for mixing the surplus portion of bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor during relatively low speed engine operation; valve means for selectively closing said bypass means for preventing bypass air flow around the engine; means for operating said valve means for opening and closing said bypass means; and fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to form a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion generally independent of operation of said valve means to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor; said combustor including means to sustain combustion without bypass charge air flow during relatively high speed engine operation.

Claim 3

A combustor system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said combustor comprises a housing having a shell carried therein defining a combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving combined exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber, said fuel injector means being disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion.

Claim 4

A combustor system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel supply means comprises a fuel source; means for pumping fuel from said fuel source; and a combustor fuel control for varying the supply of fuel to the combustor in response to engine speed and load.

Claim 5

A combustor system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said combustor fuel control includes means responsive to engine speed and load for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in engine speed and load.

Claim 6

A combustor system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said combustor fuel control includes means responsive to charge air pressure for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in said pressure.

Claim 7

A combustor system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel supply means comprises means for varying the supply of fuel to the combustor, said supply means being operable to close off fuel supply to the combustor during relatively high speed engine operation whereby combustor operation ceases; and with the addition of means for purging fuel from the combustor and fuel injector means when the fuel supply to the combustor is closed off.

Claim 8

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases, said combustor comprising a housing having a shell carried therein defining a combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving combined exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine and for mixing the surplus portion of bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor; valve means for selectively closing said bypass means for preventing bypass air flow around the engine; means for sensing engine operating conditions; means responsive to engine operating conditions for operating said valve means for closing said bypass means at relatively high speed engine operation and for opening said bypass means at relatively low speed engine operation; and fuel injector means disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion generally independent of operation of said valve means to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening for passage of a portion of the combustor gas flow in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said fuel metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity.

Claim 9

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases, said combustor comprising a housing having a shell carried therein defining a combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving combined exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine and for mixing the surplus portion of bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor; valve means for selectively closing said bypass means for preventing bypass air flow around the engine; means for sensing engine operating conditions; means responsive to engine operating conditions for operating said valve means for closing said bypass means at relatively high speed engine operation and for opening said bypass means at relatively low speed engine operation; and fuel injector means disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion generally independent of operation of said valve means to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening for passage of a portion of the combustor gas flow in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said fuel metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity.

Claim 10

A combustor system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the exit end of said nozzle has an exit portion of increasing inner diameter whereby the gas-fuel cloud exiting the nozzle assumes a spreading generally conical configuration.

Claim 11

A combustor system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fuel supply means comprises a fuel source; means for pumping fuel from said fuel source; and a combustor fuel control for varying the supply of fuel to the combustor in response to engine speed and load.

Claim 12

A combustor as set forth in claim 9 wherein said combustor fuel control includes means responsive to engine speed and load for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in engine speed and load.

Claim 13

A combustor system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said combustor fuel control includes means responsive to charge air pressure for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in said pressure.

Claim 14

A combustor system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fuel supply means comprises means for varying the supply of fuel to the combustor in response to engine operating conditions, said supply means being operable to close off fuel supply to the combustor, whereby combustor operation ceases; and with the addition of means for purging fuel from the combustor and fuel injector means when the fuel supply to the combustor is closed off.

Claim 15

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine, a combustor system comprising a turbocharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the engine for driving a compressor for supplying compressed charge air to the engine, said turbocharger having a charge air capacity to generally match engine air flow consumption requirements at relatively high speed engine operation; exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for inline passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed and load; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gas flowing through the combustor to form a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor generally in response to engine speed and load a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine to the combustor and for mixing with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor during relatively low speed and load engine operation; and means to selectively prevent bypass air flow during relatively high speed engine operation; said combustor including means to sustain combustion without bypassed air flow during relatively high speed engine operation.

Claim 16

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine, a combustor system comprising a turbocharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the engine for driving a compressor for supplying compressed charge air to the engine, said turbocharger having a charge air capacity to generally match engine air flow consumption requirements at relatively high speed engine operation; exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for inline passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed and load; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gas flowing through the combustor to form a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor generally in response to engine speed and load a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine to the combustor and for mixing with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor during relatively low speed and load engine operation; and means to selectively prevent bypass air flow during relatively high speed engine operation; said combustor including means to sustain combustion without bypassed air flow during relatively high speed engine operation.

Claim 17

A combustor system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said combustor includes means for further mixing bypass air flow with exhaust gases.

Claim 18

A combustor system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said combustor comprises a housing having a shell carried therein defining a combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving combined exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber, said fuel injector means being disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion.

Claim 19

A combustor system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said fuel control means comprises means responsive to charge air pressure for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in said pressure.

Claim 20

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine, a combustor system comprising a turbocharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the engine for driving a compressor for supplying compressed charge air to the engine; exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases, said combustor comprising a housing having a shell carried therein defining a combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber; means for sensing engine speed and load; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed and load; fuel injector means disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gas flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening thorugh which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; and bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor generally in response to engine speed and load a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine to the combustor and for mixing with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor during relatively low speed and load engine operation, said excess portion of bypass air flow being generally unavailable during relatively high speed operation.

Claim 21

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine, a combustor system comprising a turbocharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the engine for driving a compressor for supplying compressed charge air to the engine; exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; combustor coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases, said combustor comprising a housing having a shell carried therein defining a combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber; means for sensing engine speed and load; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed and load; fuel injector means disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gas flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening thorugh which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; and bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor generally in response to engine speed and load a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine to the combustor and for mixing with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor during relatively low speed and load engine operation, said excess portion of bypass air flow being generally unavailable during relatively high speed operation.

Claim 22

A combustor system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the exit end of said nozzle has an exit portion of increasing inner diameter whereby the gas-fuel cloud exiting the nozzle assumes a spreading generally conical configuration.

Claim 23

A combustor system as set forth in claim 17 wherein said fuel control means comprises means responsive to charge air pressure for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in said pressure.

Claim 24

In an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a combustor system comprising a combustor coupled in-line with an exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger for passage of the exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using gases flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor, said fuel injector means including a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into a combustion chamber formed in said combustor, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance and generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas-jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening and through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of the metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; and means coupled to said conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively and intermittently bypassing a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine to the combustor.

Claim 25

In an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a combustor system comprising a combustor coupled in-line with an exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger for passage of the exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using gases flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor, said fuel injector means including a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into a combustion chamber formed in said combustor, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance and generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas-jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening and through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of the metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; and means coupled to said conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively and intermittently bypassing a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine to the combustor.

Claim 26

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said combustor includes means for further mixing bypass air flow with exhaust gases.

Claim 27

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said combustor comprises a housing having a shell carried therein defining said combustion chamber, and a gas entrance portion receiving combined exhaust gases and bypass air flow and directing the same toward the combustion chamber, said fuel injector means being disposed at least partially within the gas entrance portion.

Claim 28

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein the exit end of said nozzle has an exit portion of increasing inner diameter whereby the gas-fuel cloud exiting the nozzle assumes a spreading generally conical configuration.

Claim 29

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said fuel supply means comprises valve means responsive to turbocharger charge air pressure for variably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine operating speed and load.

Claim 30

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said fuel supply means comprises means responsive to charge air pressure for reducing the supply of fuel to the combustor with increases in said pressure.

Claim 31

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said fuel supply means comprises means for varying the supply of fuel to the combustor, said supply means being operable to close off fuel supply to the combustor whereby combustor operation ceases; and with the addition of means for purging fuel from the combustor and fuel injector means when the fuel supply to the combustor is closed off.

Claim 32

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein said bypass means includes a bypass conduit and a bypass valve for opening and closing said bypass conduit to charge air flow, whereby said valve is closed for at least some conditions of combustor operation.

Claim 33

A combustor system as set forth in claim 20 wherein the bypass means includes a check valve for preventing flow of exhaust gases therethrough during all engine operating conditions, the entire charge air output of the turbocharger is consumed by the engine at relatively high speed engine operation whereby there is no charge air available for bypass through the bypass means.

Claim 34

In an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine through a charge air conduit, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor having a combustion chamber coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor; bypass means coupled between the charge air conduit and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger air flow around the engine and for mixing the bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor, said bypass means also for selectively preventing bypass air flow around the engine; and fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance and generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening for passage of a portion of the combustor gas flow in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity.

Claim 35

In an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine through a charge air conduit, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor having a combustion chamber coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor; bypass means coupled between the charge air conduit and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger air flow around the engine and for mixing the bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor, said bypass means also for selectively preventing bypass air flow around the engine; and fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance and generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening for passage of a portion of the combustor gas flow in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity.

Claim 36

A combustor system as set forth in claim 29, wherein said combustor includes a gas entrance portion for receiving exhaust gases combined with any bypass air flow, and for directing the same to the combustion chamber.

Claim 37

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by engine exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air for the engine through a charge air conduit, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor having a combustion chamber coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed and load; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gas flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; bypass means coupled between the charge air conduit and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine to the combustor and for mixing with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor, and means for selectively preventing surplus bypass air flow around the engine; and purge means responsive to the pressure of fuel supplied to the combustor to purge fuel from said combustor and fuel injector means when fuel supply to the combustor is closed off.

Claim 38

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by engine exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air for the engine through a charge air conduit, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor having a combustion chamber coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed and load; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gas flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and exit end opening into the combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle said openings being generally radially positioned with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; bypass means coupled between the charge air conduit and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine to the combustor and for mixing with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor, and means for selectively preventing surplus bypass air flow around the engine; and purge means responsive to the pressure of fuel supplied to the combustor to purge fuel from said combustor and fuel injector means when fuel supply to the combustor is closed off.

Claim 39

The combustor system of claim 31 wherein said combustor includes a gas entrance portion of receiving exhaust gases and any bypass air flow, and for directing the same to the combustion chamber.

Claim 40

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases from the engine to provide compressed charge air for the engine, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; and combustor coupled along said conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases flowing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases, said fuel injection means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into a combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening and through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally positioned radially with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; means for sensing engine operating conditions, and bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said conduit means upstream of said combustor, said bypass means for selectively bypassing a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine for mixture with exhaust gas upstream of the combustor generally in response to engine operating conditions, said bypass means including a bypass valve, a bypass conduit, and means for operating said valve to open said conduit to bypass air flow when engine speed is relatively low and to close said bypass conduit to air flow when engine speed is relatively high.

Claim 41

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases from the engine to provide compressed charge air for the engine, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; and combustor coupled along said conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to engine speed; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases flowing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases flowing therethrough to supplement the energy level of said gases, said fuel injection means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into a combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening and through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said fuel stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally positioned radially with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustor gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; means for sensing engine operating conditions, and bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said conduit means upstream of said combustor, said bypass means for selectively bypassing a portion of the turbocharger charge air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine for mixture with exhaust gas upstream of the combustor generally in response to engine operating conditions, said bypass means including a bypass valve, a bypass conduit, and means for operating said valve to open said conduit to bypass air flow when engine speed is relatively low and to close said bypass conduit to air flow when engine speed is relatively high.

Claim 42

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine, a charge air combustor system comprising a turbocharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the engine for driving a compressor for supplying compressed charge air to the engine, said turbocharger including a turbine and a compressor sized generally to provide air flow to match rated engine air flow consumption requirements at maximum operating conditions; exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger for passage of engine exhaust gases; a combustor coupled along said conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to said combustor in response to engine operating conditions; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing through the combustor to supplement the energy level of said gase, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into a combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central fuel opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening and through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings downstream of said jet openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally positioned radially with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustion gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; and bypass means coupled between said turbocharger and said conduit means for selectively bypassing a portion of the turbocharger air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine to said conduit means for mixture with exhaust gases upstream of said combustor, said excess portion of bypass air flow being generally unavailable at maximum engine operating conditions.

Claim 43

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine, a charge air combustor system comprising a turbocharger having a turbine driven by exhaust gases from the engine for driving a compressor for supplying compressed charge air to the engine, said turbocharger including a turbine and a compressor sized generally to provide air flow to match rated engine air flow consumption requirements at maximum operating conditions; exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger for passage of engine exhaust gases; a combustor coupled along said conduit means for in-line passage of engine exhaust gases; means for controllably supplying fuel to said combustor in response to engine operating conditions; fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion of the fuel and the gases passing through the combustor to supplement the energy level of said gase, said fuel injector means comprising a generally cylindrical nozzle having a fuel entrance end and an exit end opening into a combustion chamber, said entrance end having a central fuel opening, said fuel supply means including a fuel metering tube received through the central fuel opening and extending a short distance into the nozzle interior for directing a stream of fuel into the nozzle entrance end generally along the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, said nozzle having at its entrance end a plurality of axially extending and radially inwardly angled gas jet openings arranged about the central fuel opening and through which a portion of the combustor gas flow passes in the form of a plurality of gas jets intersecting generally at the fuel stream slightly beyond the termination of said metering tube to turbulently break up and to substantially immediately pick up said stream, and a plurality of tangentially oriented gas swirl openings downstream of said jet openings opening into the nozzle, said openings being generally positioned radially with respect to the point of intersection of said gas jets for passage of another portion of the combustion gas flow to further break up the fuel stream, whereby the combined gas flow creates a substantially atomized gas-fuel directed into the combustion chamber with axial and circumferential components of velocity; and bypass means coupled between said turbocharger and said conduit means for selectively bypassing a portion of the turbocharger air flow in excess of that required by the engine around the engine to said conduit means for mixture with exhaust gases upstream of said combustor, said excess portion of bypass air flow being generally unavailable at maximum engine operating conditions.

Claim 44

In an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine during low speed and load operation, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor having a combustion chamber coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of all of the engine exhaust gases; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine during low speed and load operation and for mixing the bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor, said turbocharger having no surplus charge air flow during relatively high speed operation; and fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to form a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor; said combustor including means to sustain combustion without bypassed charge air flow during relatively high speed operation.

Claim 45

In an internal combustion engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine during low speed and load operation, a combustor system comprising exhaust conduit means coupled between the engine and the turbocharger; a combustor having a combustion chamber coupled along said exhaust conduit means for in-line passage of all of the engine exhaust gases; bypass means coupled between the turbocharger and said exhaust conduit means upstream of said combustor for selectively bypassing to the combustor a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine during low speed and load operation and for mixing the bypass air flow with exhaust gases upstream of the combustor, said turbocharger having no surplus charge air flow during relatively high speed operation; and fuel injector means for atomizing the fuel supplied to the combustor using a portion of the gases passing through the combustor to form a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity to permit combustor operation with sustained combustion to supplement the energy level of the gases passing through the combustor; said combustor including means to sustain combustion without bypassed charge air flow during relatively high speed operation.

Claim 46

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air flow to the engine, a combustion system comprising: exhaust gas conduit means to deliver exhaust gases from the engine to the turbocharger; combustor means disposed in said exhaust gas conduit means for in-line passage of the engine exhaust gases; means to direct into said combustor a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity; compressed charge air conduit means to deliver compressed charge air from the turbocharger to the engine; bypass conduit means connecting said compressed charge air conduit means to said exhaust gas conduit means upstream of said combustor to deliver surplus compressed charge air to said combustor during relatively low speed engine operation, the compressed charge air conduit means downstream of said bypass conduit means delivering substantially all of the compressed charge air from the turbocharger to the engine during relatively high speed engine operation; means disposed in said bypass conduit means to prevent the flow of exhaust gas from said exhaust gas conduit means to said compressed charge air conduit means during high speed engine operation when surplus compressed charge is not available; and means to sustain combustion in the combustor without bypassed charge air flow during relatively high speed engine operation.

Claim 47

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air flow to the engine, a combustion system comprising: exhaust gas conduit means to deliver exhaust gases from the engine to the turbocharger; combustor means disposed in said exhaust gas conduit means for in-line passage of the engine exhaust gases; means to direct into said combustor a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity; compressed charge air conduit means to deliver compressed charge air from the turbocharger to the engine; bypass conduit means connecting said compressed charge air conduit means to said exhaust gas conduit means upstream of said combustor to deliver surplus compressed charge air to said combustor during relatively low speed engine operation, the compressed charge air conduit means downstream of said bypass conduit means delivering substantially all of the compressed charge air from the turbocharger to the engine during relatively high speed engine operation; means disposed in said bypass conduit means to prevent the flow of exhaust gas from said exhaust gas conduit means to said compressed charge air conduit means during high speed engine operation when surplus compressed charge is not available; and means to sustain combustion in the combustor without bypassed charge air flow during relatively high speed engine operation.

Claim 48

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a system to supplement the energy level of the exhaust gases in response to the charge air pressure comprising: means to continuously pass all of the engine exhaust gases through a combustor disposed between the engine and the turbocharger; means to controllably supply fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to charge air pressure; means to mix a portion of the exhaust gases passing through the combustor with the fuel supplied to the combustor to create a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud for combustion within the combustor; means to selectively bypass a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine to the combustor during relatively low speed engine operation and to mix this surplus portion of charge air flow with the exhaust gases upstream of the combustor; means to sustain combustion in the combustor without bypassed charge air flow during relatively high speed engine operation; and means to selectively prevent charged air flow around the engine.

Claim 49

In an internal combustion reciprocating engine having a turbocharger driven by exhaust gases to provide compressed charge air to the engine, a system to supplement the energy level of the exhaust gases in response to the charge air pressure comprising: means to continuously pass all of the engine exhaust gases through a combustor disposed between the engine and the turbocharger; means to controllably supply fuel to the combustor generally in inverse proportion to charge air pressure; means to mix a portion of the exhaust gases passing through the combustor with the fuel supplied to the combustor to create a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud for combustion within the combustor; means to selectively bypass a surplus portion of the turbocharger charge air flow around the engine to the combustor during relatively low speed engine operation and to mix this surplus portion of charge air flow with the exhaust gases upstream of the combustor; means to sustain combustion in the combustor without bypassed charge air flow during relatively high speed engine operation; and means to selectively prevent charged air flow around the engine.

Claim 50

A combustor system as set forth in claim 37 wherein said mixing means comprises a generally cup-shaped fuel nozzle having a base at a fuel entrance end and a relatively open exit end opening into the combustor and a fuel metering tube received through the nozzle base and extending axially into the nozzle interior to direct a fuel stream thereto, said nozzle including a plurality of gas stream openings therein for directing engine exhaust gases, and bypassed charge air flow when available, into said nozzle to create a substantially atomized gas-fuel cloud having axial and circumferential components of velocity.