US5427079A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Supercharged engine with variable ratio drive supercharger
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1993-11-22
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Granted: 1995-06-27
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Expires: 2013-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A supercharger system for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle driveline that includes a catalytic converter for oxidizing undesirable exhaust gas emissions including a single, dual-purpose air pump for establishing combustion airflow for the engine as well as for the catalytic converter including an automatic control valve system having an electronic microprocessor that monitors varying engine operating conditions for establishing optimum airflow for fuel combustion purposes and for oxidizing exhaust gas emissions throughout a range of operating conditions for the engine, the system including a variable ratio mechanical drive between the engine and the air pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Andrepont, Jr.
- 👤 Dennis W. Rhee
- 👤 John H. Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:04
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/18; F01N3/22; F01N3/227; F01N3/20; F01N3/24; F01N3/30; F01N3/32; F02; F02B; F02B33/00; F02B33/32; F02B33/34; F02B33/36; F02B33/44; F02B39/00; F02B39/02; F02B39/04; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An air supply system for an automotive vehicle driveline having a throttle-controlled internal combustion engine and a geared transmission, said engine having a catalytic converter, an air intake manifold and an exhaust gas flow manifold, said catalytic converter communicating with said exhaust gas flow manifold; a common air pump for said intake manifold and said catalytic converter, an air pressure delivery passage, and an air direction valve means disposed in and partly defining said delivery passage for controlling air distribution from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter; an air bypass valve means for delivering air directly to said intake manifold in response to changes in pressure in said intake manifold, thus selectively bypassing said pump and said air direction valve; a drive means having a variable torque ratio for delivering torque from said engine to said pump, and an electronic processor means for determining and varying said air pump speed; said electronic processor means being responsive to vehicle operating variables including engine speed, engine throttle position, throttle position change rate, engine oil temperatures, engine intake air temperatures and transmission gear ratio range for changing the torque ratio of said drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
An air supply system for an automotive vehicle driveline having a throttle-controlled internal combustion engine and a geared transmission, said engine having a catalytic converter, an air intake manifold and an exhaust gas flow manifold, said catalytic converter communicating with said exhaust gas flow manifold; a common air pump for said intake manifold and said catalytic converter, an air pressure delivery passage, and an air direction valve means disposed in and partly defining said delivery passage for controlling air distribution from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter; an air bypass valve means for delivering air directly to said intake manifold in response to changes in pressure in said intake manifold, thus selectively bypassing said pump and said air direction valve; a drive means having a variable torque ratio for delivering torque from said engine to said pump, and an electronic processor means for determining and varying said air pump speed; said electronic processor means being responsive to vehicle operating variables including engine speed, engine throttle position, throttle position change rate, engine oil temperatures, engine intake air temperatures and transmission gear ratio range for changing the torque ratio of said drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
A supercharged engine system for an automotive vehicle comprising a variable speed internal combustion engine with an exhaust manifold, an air intake manifold and a catalytic converter connected to said exhaust manifold, said intake manifold being characterized by a variable manifold pressure; a common air pump for said intake manifold and for said catalytic converter and an air direction valve means for delivering air selectively from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter; an air bypass valve means for delivering air directly to said intake manifold in response to a lowering of intake manifold vacuum, thus bypassing said pump and said air direction valve; drive means having a variable torque ratio including means for varying the torque ratio thereof for delivering driving torque from said engine to said pump; and electronic processor means responsive to changes in engine speed and intake manifold pressure for developing command signals for said ratio varying means to vary the ratio of said drive means and for activating said air direction valve means to selectively distribute air from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A supercharged engine system for an automotive vehicle comprising a variable speed internal combustion engine with an exhaust manifold, an air intake manifold and a catalytic converter connected to said exhaust manifold, said intake manifold being characterized by a variable manifold pressure; a common air pump for said intake manifold and for said catalytic converter and an air direction valve means for delivering air selectively from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter; an air bypass valve means for delivering air directly to said intake manifold in response to a lowering of intake manifold vacuum, thus bypassing said pump and said air direction valve; drive means having a variable torque ratio including means for varying the torque ratio thereof for delivering driving torque from said engine to said pump; and electronic processor means responsive to changes in engine speed and intake manifold pressure for developing command signals for said ratio varying means to vary the ratio of said drive means and for activating said air direction valve means to selectively distribute air from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said variable ratio drive means comprises a torque input pulley assembly and a torque output pulley assembly, said output pulley assembly being connected drivably to said air pump, said torque input pulley assembly being connected drivably to said engine, a belt drivably connecting said pulley assemblies, said input pulley assembly and said output pulley assembly each having adjustable sheave portions characterized by an effective pitch radius that varies upon adjustment of said sheave portions, one with respect to the other; said electronic processor means being responsive to changes in engine operating conditions for developing command signals to variably adjust the effective pitch radius of said pulley assemblies whereby the torque ratio of said drive means changes, thus providing an extended range of ratios of pump speeds for a given engine speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
130 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises a torque input pulley assembly and a torque output pulley assembly, said output pulley assembly being connected drivably to said air pump, said torque input pulley assembly being connected drivably to said engine, a belt drivably connecting said pulley assemblies, said input pulley assembly and said output pulley assembly each having adjustable sheave portions characterized by an effective pitch radius that varies upon adjustment of said sheave portions, one with respect to the other; means for variably adjusting said sheave portions to effect changes in said effective pitch radius of said pulley assemblies whereby the torque ratio of said variable ratio drive means changes, thus providing an extended range of ratios of engine speed to pump speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said air direction valve means has an inlet port connected to said air pump, a first output port connected to said intake manifold and a second outlet port connected to said catalytic converter; said processor means responding to said operating variables to detect an aggressive operating mode and a conservative operating mode; said air direction valve responding to said command signals from said electronic processor means to direct air from said pump to said first output port when an aggressive operation mode is detected and to said second output port when a conservative operation mode is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
104 words
The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said air direction valve means has an input port connected to said air pump, a first output port connected to said intake manifold and a second output port connected to said catalytic converter; said processor means responding to said operation conditions to detect an aggressive operating mode and a conservative operating mode; said air direction valve responding to command signals from said processor means to direct air from said pump to said first output port when an aggressive operation mode is detected and to said second output port when a conservative operation mode is detected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said electronic processor means is adapted to respond to a decreasing throttle opening to increase said torque ratio of said variable drive means throughout a wide range of engine speeds as said air direction valve directs air from said pump to said catalytic converter, thereby allowing said pump to operate at lower speeds that increase pump durability and efficiency.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said processor means is adapted to respond to a decreasing throttle opening to increase the torque ratio of said variable drive means throughout a wide range of engine speeds as said air direction valve directs air from said pump to said catalytic converter, thereby allowing the pump to operate at speeds that increase pump durability and efficiency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
183 words
An air supply system for an automotive vehicle driveline having a throttle-controlled, variable-speed, internal combustion engine and a geared transmission, said engine having a catalytic converter, an air intake manifold and an exhaust gas flow manifold, said catalytic converter communicating with said exhaust gas flow manifold; a common, variable-speed air pump for said intake manifold and said catalytic converter, an air pressure delivery passage, and an air direction valve means disposed in and partly defining said delivery passage for controlling air distribution from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter; an air bypass valve means for delivering air directly to said intake manifold in response to changes in pressure in said intake manifold, thus selectively bypassing said pump and said air direction valve; a variable ratio drive means for delivering torque from said engine to said pump, and an electronic processor means for determining and varying the speed of said air pump; said electronic processor means being responsive to vehicle operating variables including engine speed and engine throttle position for varying the ratio of said variable ratio drive means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
183 words
An air supply system for an automotive vehicle driveline having a throttle-controlled, variable-speed, internal combustion engine and a geared transmission, said engine having a catalytic converter, an air intake manifold and an exhaust gas flow manifold, said catalytic converter communicating with said exhaust gas flow manifold; a common, variable-speed air pump for said intake manifold and said catalytic converter, an air pressure delivery passage, and an air direction valve means disposed in and partly defining said delivery passage for controlling air distribution from said pump to said intake manifold and to said catalytic converter; an air bypass valve means for delivering air directly to said intake manifold in response to changes in pressure in said intake manifold, thus selectively bypassing said pump and said air direction valve; a variable ratio drive means for delivering torque from said engine to said pump, and an electronic processor means for determining and varying the speed of said air pump; said electronic processor means being responsive to vehicle operating variables including engine speed and engine throttle position for varying the ratio of said variable ratio drive means.
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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) | 1998-06-26 | 1998-12-26 | 1999-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-12-26 | 2003-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-26 | 2006-12-26 | 2007-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |