US6256993B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1999-08-31
•
Granted: 2001-07-10
•
Expires: 2019-08-31
Abstract
Abstract The motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system has a motor to add power to the turbocharger rotating assembly, especially at low exhaust gas volume. Additionally, the system includes a control over compressor air inlet direction, and/or control of exhaust gas to a two-volute expander. These are individually controlled, or controlled in combination, to enhance turbocharged engine performance. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises an electric motor, mounted directly within the turbocharger main housing, variable pre-whirl vanes mounted upstream of the turbocharger compressor, and a diverter valve in the exhaust piping upstream of a divided turbine volute.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward M. Halimi
- 👤 Ralph P. Maloof
- 👤 William E. Woollenweber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:36
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B39/00; F02B39/02; F02B39/08; F02B39/10; F02B37/00; F02B37/02; F02B37/025; F02B37/04; F02B37/10; F02B37/12; F02B37/22; F02B37/24; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a turbine driven by exhaust gas from said internal combustion engine; a compressor for drawing air into a compressor air inlet and delivering air under pressure to the internal combustion engine, said compressor and turbine being connected together to rotate together; air inlet control vanes at said compressor air inlet for providing compressor inlet pre-whirl, said vanes being variable to control the amount of pre-whirl; means for controlling said vanes; a motor connected to rotate and supply power to said compressor; and means to control said motor, wherein said means to control said motor supplies power to rotate said motor upon start-up of said engine to assist said turbine in rotating said compressor at low exhaust gas flow rates and said means for controlling said vanes operates said air inlet control vanes to provide positive pre-whirl at the compressor inlet at engine idle speeds, and wherein upon an engine acceleration demand signal said means to control said motor supplies increased power to said motor to accelerate said compressor, said means for controlling said vanes operating said air inlet control vanes to provide negative pre-whirl at said compressor inlet at high engine speeds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a turbine driven by exhaust gas from said internal combustion engine; a compressor for drawing air into a compressor air inlet and delivering air under pressure to the internal combustion engine, said compressor and turbine being connected together to rotate together; air inlet control vanes at said compressor air inlet for providing compressor inlet pre-whirl, said vanes being variable to control the amount of pre-whirl; means for controlling said vanes; a motor connected to rotate and supply power to said compressor; and means to control said motor, wherein said means to control said motor supplies power to rotate said motor upon start-up of said engine to assist said turbine in rotating said compressor at low exhaust gas flow rates and said means for controlling said vanes operates said air inlet control vanes to provide positive pre-whirl at the compressor inlet at engine idle speeds, and wherein upon an engine acceleration demand signal said means to control said motor supplies increased power to said motor to accelerate said compressor, said means for controlling said vanes operating said air inlet control vanes to provide negative pre-whirl at said compressor inlet at high engine speeds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The turbocharging system of claim 1 , including a turbocharger shaft, said turbine and said compressor being mounted on said turbocharger shaft, said motor being an electric motor having a rotor at a location between said compressor and said compressor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system of claim 1 , wherein said means to control said motor removes power from said motor at high engine speeds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
173 words
An engine turbocharging system, comprising a turbocharger having a gas turbine with a gas inlet for connection to receive a flow of gas and a turbine wheel driven by said flow of gas and connected to drive a rotatable shaft, and having further a compressor with a gas inlet and a compressor wheel driven by said rotatable shaft to compress gas entering said gas inlet; a motor connected to rotate said rotatable shaft; means for controlling energization for said motor; and gas control means connected with said turbocharger, said gas control means comprising an inlet gas control for the gas inlet of the compressor, said means for controlling energization for said motor and gas control means being operable to rotate said motor in assistance of said turbine upon engine start-up and to accelerate said compressor in response to a demand for engine acceleration, said gas control means operating the inlet gas control to provide negative pre-whirl of the gas entering the gas inlet of the compressor as said engine reaches high engine speeds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
173 words
An engine turbocharging system, comprising a turbocharger having a gas turbine with a gas inlet for connection to receive a flow of gas and a turbine wheel driven by said flow of gas and connected to drive a rotatable shaft, and having further a compressor with a gas inlet and a compressor wheel driven by said rotatable shaft to compress gas entering said gas inlet; a motor connected to rotate said rotatable shaft; means for controlling energization for said motor; and gas control means connected with said turbocharger, said gas control means comprising an inlet gas control for the gas inlet of the compressor, said means for controlling energization for said motor and gas control means being operable to rotate said motor in assistance of said turbine upon engine start-up and to accelerate said compressor in response to a demand for engine acceleration, said gas control means operating the inlet gas control to provide negative pre-whirl of the gas entering the gas inlet of the compressor as said engine reaches high engine speeds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The engine turbocharging system of claim 4 , wherein said means for controlling energization for said motor removes power from said motor at high engine speeds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The engine turbocharging system of claim 4 , wherein said gas control means operates the inlet gas control to provide positive pre-whirl upon engine start-up.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
161 words
An engine turbocharging system, comprising a turbocharger having an exhaust gas inlet for connection to receive a flow of engine exhaust gas, a turbine wheel driven by said flow of engine exhaust gas, an electric motor, said turbine wheel and electric motor being connected to drive a rotatable shaft, and a compressor with an air inlet and a compressor wheel driven by said rotatable shaft to compress air entering said air inlet, said compressor having air inlet control vanes at its air inlet; means for controlling energization for said motor; and means for controlling said air inlet control vanes, said means for controlling energization for said motor energizing said electric motor to assist said turbine in driving said compressor at engine start-up and with increased energization upon engine acceleration demand, said means for controlling said air inlet control vanes controlling said air inlet control vanes to provide negative air pre-whirl at the air inlet of the compressor at high engine speeds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
An engine turbocharging system, comprising a turbocharger having an exhaust gas inlet for connection to receive a flow of engine exhaust gas, a turbine wheel driven by said flow of engine exhaust gas, an electric motor, said turbine wheel and electric motor being connected to drive a rotatable shaft, and a compressor with an air inlet and a compressor wheel driven by said rotatable shaft to compress air entering said air inlet, said compressor having air inlet control vanes at its air inlet; means for controlling energization for said motor; and means for controlling said air inlet control vanes, said means for controlling energization for said motor energizing said electric motor to assist said turbine in driving said compressor at engine start-up and with increased energization upon engine acceleration demand, said means for controlling said air inlet control vanes controlling said air inlet control vanes to provide negative air pre-whirl at the air inlet of the compressor at high engine speeds.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine turbocharging system of claim 7 , wherein said means for controlling energization for said motor ceases supplying energy to said electric motor at high engine speeds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The engine turbocharging system of claim 7 , wherein said air inlet control vanes provide positive air pre-whirl at engine start-up and in the absence of engine acceleration demand.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB267149A
Cited
GB308585A
Cited
US2078499A
Cited
US2173489A
Cited
US2782721A
Cited
US2578785A
Cited
US2649048A
Cited
US2829286A
Cited
US3163790A
Cited
US3572982A
Cited
US3557549A
Cited
US3961199A
Cited
US4253031A
Cited
FR2479899A1
Cited
US4453381A
Cited
JPS57212331A
Cited
JPS58222919A
Cited
JPS5949323A
Cited
US4445337A
Cited
US4565505A
Cited
US4641977A
Cited
US4708602A
Cited
US4935656A
Cited
US4827170A
Cited
US4708095A
Cited
US4776168A
Cited
EP0294985A1
Cited
US4901530A
Cited
US4882905A
Cited
US4878347A
Cited
US4850193A
Cited
EP0312107A1
Cited
US4894991A
Cited
US4885911A
Cited
US4918923A
Cited
US4958708A
Cited
US5406797A
Cited
US4955199A
Cited
US4958497A
Cited
US4998951A
Cited
US4981017A
Cited
EP0367406A2
Cited
US5121605A
Cited
US5025629A
Cited
US5038566A
Cited
US5074115A
Cited
US5088286A
Cited
JPH03202633A
Cited
US5094587A
Cited
US5176509A
Cited
JPH04112921A
Cited
JPH055419A
Cited
US5560208A
Cited
US5577385A
Cited
US5605045A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-07-09 | 2005-01-08 | 2005-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-09 | 2009-01-08 | 2009-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-09 | 2013-01-08 | 2013-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |