US5216987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for optimizing breathing utilizing unit valve actuation
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1992-06-01
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2012-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Systems to optimize breathing have been used with internal combustion engines in the past and used a variety of mechanical mechanisms to improve breathing and combustion. Many of these systems fail to provide the option of controllably and modulatively varying the sequence and amount of the opening and closing of an intake or exhaust valve relative to a piston position in a cylinder bore. The present invention provides an electronic control system outputting an discrete control signal, and an opening device for unit actuation of each of the pair of valves independently. The electronic control system is programmable to respond in a first predetermined logic pattern for conventional operation of the engine at which time the intake valve is intermittently moved between the closed position and the open position during the intake stroke. The electronic control system is programmable to a second predetermined logic pattern to cyclicablly vary the opening of the intake valve during the intake stroke to effect an increase in the flow into the respective bore. The preestablished logic pattern controllably, sequentially and modulateably actuate the device for unit actuation, moving each of the valves independently between the open and closed position to effectively increase the trapped air within the bore when the valve is closed.
Inventors
- 👤 John M. Clarke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:20
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M61/00; F02M61/14; F01; F01L; F01L9/00; F01L9/20; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; F02D13/0253; F02D13/0257; F02M57/00; F02M57/02; F02M57/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A breathing optimizing system adapted for use with an engine including a passage communicating with a pair of bores, a piston during operation of the engine being movably positioned within respective bores between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position forming an intake stroke, a pair of intake valves being operatively associated between the passage and the respective bore and controlling communications between the passage and the respective bore having a closed position and an open position, said breathing optimizing system comprising: means for opening each of the valves independently in response to receiving a control signal; an electronic control system connected to the opening means and outputting the control signals to the opening means in a first predetermined logic pattern during normal engine operation wherein one of said pair of valves is in the generally open position during the intake stroke; breathing control means connected to the electronic control system for causing discrete control signals to be outputted to the opening means in a second predetermined logic pattern to vary the operation of the valves so that the opening of one of the intake valves associated with the respective bores is cyclically varied during the intake stroke to effectively cause a preestablished resonance within the passage to effect an increase in the flow into the respective bore during the movement of the piston within the respective bore between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A breathing optimizing system adapted for use with an engine including a passage communicating with a pair of bores, a piston during operation of the engine being movably positioned within respective bores between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position forming an intake stroke, a pair of intake valves being operatively associated between the passage and the respective bore and controlling communications between the passage and the respective bore having a closed position and an open position, said breathing optimizing system comprising: means for opening each of the valves independently in response to receiving a control signal; an electronic control system connected to the opening means and outputting the control signals to the opening means in a first predetermined logic pattern during normal engine operation wherein one of said pair of valves is in the generally open position during the intake stroke; breathing control means connected to the electronic control system for causing discrete control signals to be outputted to the opening means in a second predetermined logic pattern to vary the operation of the valves so that the opening of one of the intake valves associated with the respective bores is cyclically varied during the intake stroke to effectively cause a preestablished resonance within the passage to effect an increase in the flow into the respective bore during the movement of the piston within the respective bore between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The breathing system of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined logic pattern varies the operation of the valves depending on the operating mode of the engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The breathing system of claim 2 wherein said first predetermined logic pattern and said open position of the valves have a preestablished lift.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The breathing system of claim 3 wherein said second preestablished logic pattern and said open position of the valve has a preestablished lift being less than the lift of the first predetermined logic pattern.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The breathing system of claim 1 wherein said opening means includes a piezoelectric motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
An engine having a passage being in communication with a pair of bores, a piston during operation of the engine being movably positioned within respective bores between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position forming an intake stroke, a pair of intake valves operatively associated between the passage and the respective bore and having a closed position and an open position, the improvement comprising; means for opening each of the valves independently in response to receiving a control signal, an electronic control system connected to the opening means and outputting the control signals to the opening means in a first predetermined logic pattern during normal engine operation wherein one of said pair of valves is in the open position during the intake stroke, breathing control means being connected to the electronic control system for causing discrete control signals to be outputted to the opening means in a second predetermined logic pattern varying the operation of the valves so that the opening of one of the intake valves associated with the respective bore is cyclicablly varied during the intake stroke to cause a preestablished resonance within the passage to effect an increase in the flow into the respective bore during the movement of the piston within the respective bore between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
224 words
An engine having a passage being in communication with a pair of bores, a piston during operation of the engine being movably positioned within respective bores between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position forming an intake stroke, a pair of intake valves operatively associated between the passage and the respective bore and having a closed position and an open position, the improvement comprising; means for opening each of the valves independently in response to receiving a control signal, an electronic control system connected to the opening means and outputting the control signals to the opening means in a first predetermined logic pattern during normal engine operation wherein one of said pair of valves is in the open position during the intake stroke, breathing control means being connected to the electronic control system for causing discrete control signals to be outputted to the opening means in a second predetermined logic pattern varying the operation of the valves so that the opening of one of the intake valves associated with the respective bore is cyclicablly varied during the intake stroke to cause a preestablished resonance within the passage to effect an increase in the flow into the respective bore during the movement of the piston within the respective bore between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The engine of claim 6 wherein said second predetermined logic pattern varies the operation of the valve depending on the operating mode of the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The engine of claim 7 wherein said first predetermined logic pattern and said open position has a preestablished lift.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The engine of claim 8 wherein said second predetermined logic pattern and said open position of the valve has a preestablished lift being less than the lift of the first predetermined logic pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The engine of claim 7 wherein said opening means includes a piezoelectric motor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for optimizing the breathing of an engine having a passage communicating with a pair of bores, a piston during operation of the engine being movably positioned within respective bores between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position forming an intake stroke, a pair of intake valves operatively associated between the passage and the respective bore and having a closed position and an open position comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring the operating condition of the engine; (b) outputting a control signal to an opening means during a first predetermined logic pattern in which the engine is in a generally normal operating mode; (c) outputting a discrete control signal to the opening means during a second predetermined logic pattern; (d) varying the operation of the valves associated with the respective bores; and (e) varying cyclically the opening of one of the valves during the intake stroke.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for optimizing the breathing of an engine having a passage communicating with a pair of bores, a piston during operation of the engine being movably positioned within respective bores between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position forming an intake stroke, a pair of intake valves operatively associated between the passage and the respective bore and having a closed position and an open position comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring the operating condition of the engine; (b) outputting a control signal to an opening means during a first predetermined logic pattern in which the engine is in a generally normal operating mode; (c) outputting a discrete control signal to the opening means during a second predetermined logic pattern; (d) varying the operation of the valves associated with the respective bores; and (e) varying cyclically the opening of one of the valves during the intake stroke.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of optimizing the breathing of an engine of claim 11 wherein the step of varying the operation of the valves associated with the respective bores includes operating one of said intake valves.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of optimizing the breathing of an engine of claim 12 wherein the step of varying the operation of the valves associated with the respective bores includes varying a lift of said one of the intake valves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-07 | 1996-12-07 | 1997-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-12-07 | 2001-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-07 | 2004-12-07 | 2005-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |