US5156000A — Low temperature starting system for internal comb…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 342 words

A low temperature starting system for internal combustion engines, comprising: cylinders within which a fuel may be burnt and which produces combustion gases; pistons, each of which is housed in one of said cylinders; a crankshaft coupled to said pistons; a flywheel mounted to said crankshaft; a ring gear attached to and coaxial with said flywheel; an air inlet manifold, said inlet manifold being coupled with said cylinders, and inlet valves regulating communication of said inlet manifold with each of said cylinders: an exhaust manifold for said combustion gases, and said inlet manifold being coupled with each of said cylinders; exhaust valves regulating communication of said exhaust manifold with each of said cylinders; a turbocharger feeding said inlet manifold and being driven by said combustion gases; a cooling radiator adapted to be inserted in said inlet manifold; an air starter motor adapted to drive said ring gear; means for supplying air to said air starter motor for actuation thereof; a fuel pump adapted to reach different frequency rates; and means for reading the speed of rotation of said crankshaft, said system comprising: a start turbocompressor drivable by air supplied by said supply means; a first port allowing the passage of air from said inlet manifold to said start turbocompressor; a first valve for opening and closing said first port; a second port discharging air from said start turbocompressor to said inlet manifold towards said cylinders; a second valve for opening and closing said port; a throttle valve for opening and closing said inlet manifold, said throttle valve being closed when said first and second valves are open and being open when said first and second valve are closed; and regulating means adapted to receive signals from said reading means and which, in turn, comprise: first control means for said air supply means coupled with said automatic starter motor; second air supply control means coupled with said start turbocompressor; third fuel injection and, consequently, engine rotation speed control means; and fourth control means for said first and second valves and said throttle valves.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 342 words

A low temperature starting system for internal combustion engines, comprising: cylinders within which a fuel may be burnt and which produces combustion gases; pistons, each of which is housed in one of said cylinders; a crankshaft coupled to said pistons; a flywheel mounted to said crankshaft; a ring gear attached to and coaxial with said flywheel; an air inlet manifold, said inlet manifold being coupled with said cylinders, and inlet valves regulating communication of said inlet manifold with each of said cylinders: an exhaust manifold for said combustion gases, and said inlet manifold being coupled with each of said cylinders; exhaust valves regulating communication of said exhaust manifold with each of said cylinders; a turbocharger feeding said inlet manifold and being driven by said combustion gases; a cooling radiator adapted to be inserted in said inlet manifold; an air starter motor adapted to drive said ring gear; means for supplying air to said air starter motor for actuation thereof; a fuel pump adapted to reach different frequency rates; and means for reading the speed of rotation of said crankshaft, said system comprising: a start turbocompressor drivable by air supplied by said supply means; a first port allowing the passage of air from said inlet manifold to said start turbocompressor; a first valve for opening and closing said first port; a second port discharging air from said start turbocompressor to said inlet manifold towards said cylinders; a second valve for opening and closing said port; a throttle valve for opening and closing said inlet manifold, said throttle valve being closed when said first and second valves are open and being open when said first and second valve are closed; and regulating means adapted to receive signals from said reading means and which, in turn, comprise: first control means for said air supply means coupled with said automatic starter motor; second air supply control means coupled with said start turbocompressor; third fuel injection and, consequently, engine rotation speed control means; and fourth control means for said first and second valves and said throttle valves.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second ports are substantially contiguous, and including a separator means between said first and said second ports, and said throttle valve seating against said separator means when in its closed position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 86 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said first port is formed in a first portion of the inlet manifold comprised between the radiator and said turbocharger and, including an access pipe extending from said first port for placing said inlet manifold in communication with said turbocompressor and said second port being formed in a second portion of the inlet manifold comprised between said radiator and the cylinders and, a prefixed pipe extending from said second port for placing the turbocompressor in communication with the inlet manifold.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said supply means comprises a compressor in communication with a storage reservoir, and including at least one first pipe for placing the compressor in communication with said air starter motor and at least one second pipe for placing the compressor in communication with said start turbocompressor, said pipes being respectively controlled by a first servovalve and a second servovalve.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 267 words

The system of claim 3, wherein said control means set said fuel pump to high frequency rate at the same time as said first means allows pressurized air to flow to said starter motor, whereby said starter motor is set running and drives said crankshaft and when said crankshaft reaches a preset speed of rotation, said fourth control means closes said throttle valve and opens said first and said second by-pass valves, at the said time as said second control means allows pressurized air to flow to said start turbocompressor, which supercharges said cylinders, causing ignition of fuel, accelerating said crankshaft until it reaches a high speed which is picked up by said reading means, whereby said first control means shuts off the pressurized air flow to said starter motor, said second control means operating thereafter to shut off the air to said turbocompressor, whereby said crankshaft decelerates to a low speed which is picked up by said reading means causing further operations of the second means leading to operational steps of the turbocompressor in the periods of time in which the crankshaft is accelerating from said low to high speeds and steps in which the turbocompressor is out of operation in the intervals in which the crankshaft is decelerating from the high to the low speed until the crankshaft speed is maintained above said low speed, which reading then causes operation of said fourth regulating means to open the throttle valve and close said first and second prefeed valves, and the operation of said third control means setting said fuel pump to a slow running rate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

The system of claim 3, wherein said regulating means comprises an electronic sequencer provided with at least one timer and electrically connected to said reading means, with said first and second servovalves, and including a third solenoid valve associated with said fuel pump and a fourth servovalve associated with said throttle valve and said by-pass valves.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 3, comprising an ambient temperature sensor, a lubricating oil temperature sensor, a coolant liquid temperature sensor and a starter motor air pressure regulator, all electrically connected with said sequencer.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 3, including a spray device for generating a lubricating oil mist and an air OR gate for suspending and distributing said mist in a current of compressed air.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 3, including an internal thermal insulation for at least some of the members of an assembly formed by part of the inlet manifold, the start turbocompressor, the first and second by pass valves, the throttle valve, the access pipe and the prefeed pipe.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said thermal insulation is effected by internal coating with low thermal conductivity materials.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said internal insulation is effected by anodic oxidation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-10-20	1996-04-20	1996-10-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-10-20	2000-04-20	2000-10-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-10-20	2004-04-20	2004-10-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Low temperature starting system for internal combustion engines

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