Engine powered auxiliary air supply system

Claim 2

An auxiliary air supply system comprising: an engine; at least one exhaust driven turbocharger including a turbine and a compressor associated therewith for supply of compressed air to the engine; a low pressure compressor including means for powering said low pressure compressor utilizing the engine exhaust gas and flow connected to receive a portion of the compressed air exiting said engine turbocharger compressor; a high pressure compressor including means for powering said high pressure compressor utilizing the engine exhaust gas and flow connected to receive the compressed air exiting the low pressure compressor; and means for directing engine exhaust gases between said at least one engine turbocharger and said means for powering said low and high pressure compressors.

Claim 3

The auxiliary air system of claim 1 further comprising a shutoff valve downstream of the high pressure compressor.

Claim 4

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 1 wherein the low and high pressure compressors include an exhaust exhaust gas driven turbine associated with each.

Claim 5

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 1 wherein the engine includes two exhaust banks and an engine turbocharger associated with each of said engine exhaust banks.

Claim 6

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 3 wherein said means comprises: actuator/valve means associated with each of said low pressure compressor and said high pressure compressor for controlling the amount of engine exhaust gases to their respective turbine; and control means responsive to the pressure of the high pressure compressor for controlling each of said actuator/valve means.

Claim 7

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 5 wherein said actuator/valve means is responsive to engine oil pressure.

Claim 8

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 6 wherein said control means regulates the engine oil pressure acting on said actuator/valve means.

Claim 9

An auxiliary air supply system comprising: at least one exhaust gas driven turbocharger for supply of compressed air to an engine; a low pressure compressor means for compressing a portion of said compressed air discharged from said turbocharger; a high pressure compressor means for further compressing the compressed air discharged from said low pressure compressor means; means, associated with each of said low and high pressure compressor means, for powering said low and high pressure compressor means, said means utilizing engine produced energy; and means for apportioning said engine produced energy between said at least one turbocharger and said means for powering said low and high pressure compressor means.

Claim 10

An auxiliary air supply system comprising: at least one exhaust gas driven turbocharger for supply of compressed air to an engine; a low pressure compressor means for compressing a portion of said compressed air discharged from said turbocharger; a high pressure compressor means for further compressing the compressed air discharged from said low pressure compressor means; means, associated with each of said low and high pressure compressor means, for powering said low and high pressure compressor means, said means utilizing engine produced energy; and means for apportioning said engine produced energy between said at least one turbocharger and said means for powering said low and high pressure compressor means.

Claim 11

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 8 further comprising a shutoff valve downstream of the high pressure compressor means.

Claim 12

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 8 wherein said means for powering said low and high pressure compressor means comprises an exhaust gas driven turbine associated with each low and high pressure compressor means.

Claim 13

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 10 wherein said means for apportioning comprises: actuator/valve means associated with each of said low and high pressure compressor means for controlling the amount of engine exhaust gases to their respective turbines; and control means responsive to the pressure of the high pressure compressor means for controlling each of said actuator/valve means.

Claim 14

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 8 further including an auxiliary air system utilizing said compressed air exiting said high pressure compressor.

Claim 15

An auxiliary air supply system comprising: an engine having two exhaust manifold banks; an exhaust gas driven turbocharger associated with each engine exhaust manifold bank for supply of compressed air to the engine; a low pressure compressor powered by an engine exhaust gas driven turbine and flow connected to receive a portion of the compressed air exiting said engine turbocharger compressors; a high pressure compressor powered by an engine exhaust gas driven turbine and flow connected to receive compressed air from said low pressure compressor; a shutoff valve downstream of said high pressure compressor; and valve means for apportioning engine exhaust gas flow between said two engine turbochargers and said turbines associated with said low and high pressure compressors; actuator means associated with each valve means for positioning said valve means.

Claim 16

An auxiliary air supply system comprising: an engine having two exhaust manifold banks; an exhaust gas driven turbocharger associated with each engine exhaust manifold bank for supply of compressed air to the engine; a low pressure compressor powered by an engine exhaust gas driven turbine and flow connected to receive a portion of the compressed air exiting said engine turbocharger compressors; a high pressure compressor powered by an engine exhaust gas driven turbine and flow connected to receive compressed air from said low pressure compressor; a shutoff valve downstream of said high pressure compressor; and valve means for apportioning engine exhaust gas flow between said two engine turbochargers and said turbines associated with said low and high pressure compressors; actuator means associated with each valve means for positioning said valve means.

Claim 17

The auxiliary air supply system of claim 13 wherein said actuator means are responsive to engine oil pressure.

Claim 18

The auxiliary air system of claim 14 further incuding control means responsive to said pressure exiting the high pressure compressor for regulating the engine oil pressure acting on said actuator means.

Claim 21

The method of claim 16 further including the step of regulating the amount of exhaust gases to the turbocharger and each turbine.

Claim 22

In association with an engine, a method of supplying compressed air to an auxiliary air system comprising the steps of: directing and regulating the engine exhaust gases to an exhaust gas driven turbocharger and the turbine associated with and powering a low and high pressure compressor; compressing ambient air in the turbocharger; directing a portion of said compressed air to said engine and a low pressure compressor; still further compressing said compressed air directed from said turbocharger in said low pressure compressor; still further compressing said compressed air exiting said low pressure compressor in said high pressure compressor; and supplying said compressed air exiting said high pressure compressor to an auxiliary air system.

Claim 23

In association with an engine, a method of supplying compressed air to an auxiliary air system comprising the steps of: directing and regulating the engine exhaust gases to an exhaust gas driven turbocharger and the turbine associated with and powering a low and high pressure compressor; compressing ambient air in the turbocharger; directing a portion of said compressed air to said engine and a low pressure compressor; still further compressing said compressed air directed from said turbocharger in said low pressure compressor; still further compressing said compressed air exiting said low pressure compressor in said high pressure compressor; and supplying said compressed air exiting said high pressure compressor to an auxiliary air system.

Claim 24

The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of directing the exhaust gases from the turbine to the turbocharger.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20 further including the step of regulating the amount of exhaust gases to the turbocharger and the means for powering.