US6336447B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for compression brake enhancement using fuel and an intercooler bypass
Assignee: Volvo Truck Corp
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Filing: 2000-05-08
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Granted: 2002-01-08
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Expires: 2020-05-08
Abstract
Abstract An engine exhaust braking method and apparatus bypasses intake air around the intercooler from the turbocharger while simultaneously injecting a minimum amount or greater of fuel per stroke into an engine cylinder during engine brake operation. The minimum amount of fuel is determined such that it is the smallest amount of fuel which will fully combust when the engine is operating at a particular speed. The apparatus includes a combustion engine, a turbocharger, an intercooler, and a compression release braking system. The compression release braking system includes an engine or vehicle electronic control unit, a compression release brake controller, a fuel injector, and an intercooler bypass assembly, wherein while the engine brake is engaged, a small amount of fuel is injected into the cylinders during the compression stroke, and engine intake air is bypassed around the intercooler from the turbocharger and directly into the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Bartel
- 👤 Joseph H. Schmidt
- 👤 Jeffrey S. Zsoldos
- 👤 Timothy Suder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:58
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B33/00; F02B33/44; F02B37/00; F02D; F02D13/00; F02D13/02; F02D13/04; F02B29/00; F02B29/04; F02B29/0406; F02B29/0418; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a turbocharger, an intercooler, an electronic control unit, and a compression release brake, said turbocharger for compressing intake air for delivery into the intercooler, and said intercooler for lowering the temperature of the compressed air from the turbocharger for delivery into an intake manifold of the engine, comprising: a compression release brake controller for engaging said compression release brake; an intercooler bypass assembly for automatically diverting at least a portion of the compressed air from the turbocharger directly into the intake manifold and around the intercooler upon receiving a bypass signal from the compression release brake controller; a fuel injection assembly which, upon receiving an injection signal from the engine electronic control unit, injects a small quantity of fuel into the cylinder during a compression stroke of the engine while said compression release brake is engaged.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a turbocharger, an intercooler, an electronic control unit, and a compression release brake, said turbocharger for compressing intake air for delivery into the intercooler, and said intercooler for lowering the temperature of the compressed air from the turbocharger for delivery into an intake manifold of the engine, comprising: a compression release brake controller for engaging said compression release brake; an intercooler bypass assembly for automatically diverting at least a portion of the compressed air from the turbocharger directly into the intake manifold and around the intercooler upon receiving a bypass signal from the compression release brake controller; a fuel injection assembly which, upon receiving an injection signal from the engine electronic control unit, injects a small quantity of fuel into the cylinder during a compression stroke of the engine while said compression release brake is engaged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said intercooler bypass assembly comprises: a channel adapted for carrying the compressed intake air from the turbocharger to the intake manifold; and at least one valve, wherein said at least one valve directs air from the turbocharger through one of a member of the group consisting of said channel and said intercooler upon receiving the bypass signal from said engine electronic control unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said compression release brake controller has a switch to initiate engagement of the compression release brake.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said small quantity of fuel is selected such that it is completely combusted during said compression stroke of the engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said small quantity of fuel ranges from about 1 to about 45 milligrams of fuel per stroke.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said small quantity of fuel is about 5 milligrams of fuel per stroke.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said fuel injection assembly comprises one or more fuel injection nozzles and a fuel injection controller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said engine is a diesel engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said intercooler is an air to air intercooler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 1 , wherein said turbocharger comprises a compressor and turbine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
A method of operating an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1 in a compression braking mode, said internal combustion engine having a turbocharger and intercooler, the method comprising the steps of: compressing intake air with the turbocharger; diverting at least a portion of compressed air around said intercooler and directly into an intake manifold of the engine such that the air is not substantially cooled following compression; injecting said air from the intake manifold into an engine cylinder having a piston, said piston located at a first position; compressing said air within the cylinder by advancing said piston from said first position to a second position; injecting a small quantity of fuel into said cylinder while said piston is advancing from the first to the second position such that the quantity of the fuel combusts substantially completely with said air within the cylinder; and exhausting contents of said cylinder when said piston is near said second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 11 , wherein said diverting step diverts all the air around said intercooler and directly to the intake manifold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said minimum amount of fuel ranges from about 1 to about 45 milligrams per stroke.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein said minimum amount of fuel is about 5 milligrams per stroke.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a compressor, an intercooler, a control unit, and a compression release brake, said compressor for compressing intake air for delivery into the intercooler, and said intercooler for lowering the temperature of the compressed air from the compressor for delivery into an intake of the engine, comprising: a compression release brake controller for engaging said compression release brake; an intercooler bypass assembly for automatically diverting at least a portion of the compressed air from the compressor directly into the intake of the engine and around the intercoolor upon receiving a bypass signal from the compression release brake controller; a fuel injection assembly which, upon receiving an injection signal from the engine control unit, injects a small quantity of fuel into the cylinder during a compression stroke of the engine while said compression release brake is engaged.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
An internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a compressor, an intercooler, a control unit, and a compression release brake, said compressor for compressing intake air for delivery into the intercooler, and said intercooler for lowering the temperature of the compressed air from the compressor for delivery into an intake of the engine, comprising: a compression release brake controller for engaging said compression release brake; an intercooler bypass assembly for automatically diverting at least a portion of the compressed air from the compressor directly into the intake of the engine and around the intercoolor upon receiving a bypass signal from the compression release brake controller; a fuel injection assembly which, upon receiving an injection signal from the engine control unit, injects a small quantity of fuel into the cylinder during a compression stroke of the engine while said compression release brake is engaged.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 15 , wherein said intercooler bypass assembly comprises: a channel adapted for carrying the compressed intake air from the compressor to the intake; and at least one valve, wherein said at least one valve directs air from the compressor through one of a member of the group consisting of said channel and said intercooler upon receiving the bypass signal from said engine control unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 15 , wherein said compression release brake controller has a switch to initiate engagement of the compression release brake.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 15 , wherein said small quantity of fuel is selected such that it is completely combusted during said compression stroke of the engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
A method of operating an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 15 in a compression braking mode, said internal combustion engine having a compressor and intercooler, the method comprising the steps of: compressing intake air with the compressor; diverting at least a portion of compressed air around said intercooler and directly into an intake of the engine such that the air is not substantially cooled following compression; injecting said air into an engine cylinder having a piston, said piston located at a first position; compressing said air within the cylinder by advancing said piston from said first position to a second position; injecting a small quantity of fuel into said cylinder while said piston is advancing from the first to the second position such that the quantity of the fuel combusts substantially completely with said air within the cylinder; and exhausting contents of said cylinder when said piston is near said second position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The internal combustion engine according to claim 19 , wherein said small quantity of fuel is selected such that it is completely combusted during said compression stroke of the engine.
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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) | 2005-01-07 | 2005-07-09 | 2006-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-01-07 | 2009-07-09 | 2010-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-01-07 | 2013-07-09 | 2014-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |