US6006540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Charge air management system for automotive engine
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1998-08-03
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Granted: 1999-12-28
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Expires: 2018-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A charge air management system for an automotive engine includes a charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger for receiving refrigerated liquid coolant from a reservoir. The liquid coolant is refrigerated by means of an engine driven refrigerant system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator mounted within the reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 Onorio Coletti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:10
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01P; F01P9/00; F01P9/04; F01P3/00; F01P3/20; F02; F02B; F02B29/00; F02B29/04; F02B29/0406; F02B29/0437; F02B29/0443; F01P11/00; F01P11/02; F01P11/029; F01P7/00; F01P7/14; F01P2007/146; F01P2025/00; F01P2025/08; F01P2025/13; F01P2025/60; F01P2025/62; F01P2025/64; F01P2060/00; F01P2060/02; F02B29/0412; F02B29/0425; F02B29/0493; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
A charge air management system for an automotive engine, comprising: a coolant reservoir containing a quantity of liquid coolant; a refrigeration system for removing heat from the liquid coolant within the reservoir; and a charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger for receiving refrigerated coolant from the reservoir and for chilling charge air entering the engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
A charge air management system for an automotive engine, comprising: a coolant reservoir containing a quantity of liquid coolant; a refrigeration system for removing heat from the liquid coolant within the reservoir; and a charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger for receiving refrigerated coolant from the reservoir and for chilling charge air entering the engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A charge air management system according to claim 1, wherein said refrigeration system comprises: a refrigerant compressor driven by the engine; a condenser for receiving high pressure refrigerant vapor from the compressor and for liquefying the refrigerant; and an evaporator housed within the coolant reservoir, for receiving liquid refrigerant from the condenser, and for absorbing heat from the liquid coolant as the refrigerant returns to a gaseous state.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A charge air management system according to claim 2, wherein said refrigeration system further comprises an ambient air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger for removing heat from the liquid coolant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A charge air management system according to claim 1, further comprising an ambient air-to-charge air heat exchanger for cooling the charge air before the charge air-to-liquid heat exchanger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A charge air management system for an automotive engine, comprising: an engine driven booster for increasing the quantity of charge air entering the engine's air inlet; a coolant reservoir containing a quantity of liquid coolant; a refrigeration system for removing heat from the liquid coolant within the reservoir; and a charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger, positioned between the booster and the air inlet, for receiving refrigerated coolant from the reservoir and for chilling charge air entering the air inlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A charge air management system for an automotive engine, comprising: an engine driven booster for increasing the quantity of charge air entering the engine's air inlet; a coolant reservoir containing a quantity of liquid coolant; a refrigeration system for removing heat from the liquid coolant within the reservoir; and a charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger, positioned between the booster and the air inlet, for receiving refrigerated coolant from the reservoir and for chilling charge air entering the air inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A charge air management system according to claim 5, further comprising an ambient air-to-charge air heat exchanger for cooling the charge air before the charge air enters the charge air-to-liquid heat exchanger.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A charge air management system according to claim 5, wherein said engine driven booster comprises a turbocharger.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A charge air management system according to claim 5, wherein said engine driven booster comprises a supercharger.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
A charge air management system according to claim 5, wherein said refrigeration system comprises: a refrigerant compressor driven by the engine; a condenser for receiving high pressure refrigerant vapor from the compressor and for liquefying the refrigerant; and an evaporator, housed within the coolant reservoir, for receiving liquid refrigerant from the condenser and for absorbing heat from the liquid coolant as the refrigerant returns to a gaseous state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A charge air management system according to claim 9, wherein said refrigeration system further comprises an ambient air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger for removing heat from the liquid coolant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A charge air management system according to claim 10, further comprising a control system for recirculating liquid coolant between only the ambient air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger and the charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger during engine operation at lower loads, with said control system recirculating liquid coolant between only the coolant reservoir and the charge air-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger during engine operation at higher loads.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A charge air management system according to claim 8, wherein the control system operates the booster so that the quantity of charge air entering the engine is adjusted according to the temperature of the liquid coolant, with the quantity of charge air being increased in the event that the temperature of the liquid coolant is less than a predetermined threshold .
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A charge air management system according to claim 9, wherein said refrigerant compressor comprises part of an air conditioning system for a passenger cab.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A charge air management system according to claim 9, further comprising a control system for operating the compressor such that condensed refrigerant will be furnished to the evaporator within the coolant reservoir only if the passenger cab is not being supplied with air conditioning.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing charge air to an automotive engine, comprising the steps of: increasing the quantity of air entering the engine by means of an engine driven booster; increasing the density of the charge air leaving the booster by passing the charge air over a charge air-to-cooling liquid heat exchanger positioned between a booster outlet and an air inlet for the engine; providing the charge air-to-cooling liquid heat exchanger with a supply of cooling liquid maintained within a reservoir at a sub-ambient temperature; and refrigerating the cooling liquid within the reservoir by means of a refrigeration system powered by the engine.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing charge air to an automotive engine, comprising the steps of: increasing the quantity of air entering the engine by means of an engine driven booster; increasing the density of the charge air leaving the booster by passing the charge air over a charge air-to-cooling liquid heat exchanger positioned between a booster outlet and an air inlet for the engine; providing the charge air-to-cooling liquid heat exchanger with a supply of cooling liquid maintained within a reservoir at a sub-ambient temperature; and refrigerating the cooling liquid within the reservoir by means of a refrigeration system powered by the engine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 15, wherein cooling liquid is furnished to the charge air-to-cooling liquid heat exchanger when the engine is operated at higher loads.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 16, wherein the booster will be operated to provide a greater quantity of charge air whenever cooling liquid is furnished to the charge air-to-cooling liquid heat exchanger.
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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) | 2002-12-27 | 2003-06-28 | 2003-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-27 | 2007-06-28 | 2007-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-27 | 2011-06-28 | 2011-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |