Motor vehicles – With means responsive to speed of vehicle for maintaining...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-10
2004-12-14
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3618)
Motor vehicles
With means responsive to speed of vehicle for maintaining...
C060S602000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06830121
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for improved fuel efficiency in combustion engines utilizing a turbocharger by limiting the boost by the turbocharger control system under specified speed conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present art concerning turbocharger systems in combustion engines monitor engine power requirements by various measurements such as exhaust temperature, charging pressure, etc. When specific requirements call for more horsepower a booster is activated which will increase the air and fuel. This increase creates more horsepower until a set speed is obtained. When a set speed (for example, cruise control) is obtained, the booster will decrease or deactivate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,536 1981 to Deutschmann describes exhaust gas turbochargers, with one or more of the exhaust gas turbochargers being adapted to be disconnected during partial load.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,149 1981 to Suzuki describes a supercharger control system for an internal combustion engine by applying a supercharge pressure to the engine by driving a compressor with a turbine rotated by the energy of the exhaust gas.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,565 1982 to Rydquist et al. describes a system for preventing knocking combustion in a turbocharged Otto engine via a knock detector and microprocessor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,467,607 1982 to Rydquist et al. describes a system for controlling the inlet pressure in a combustion engine including a microprocessor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,885 1983 to Weissenbach describes a supplemental fuel system for a combustion engine having a primary fuel supply and a supplemental fuel supply.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,117 1982 to Matsuoka describes an internal combustion engine including a turbocharger and a controller for the turbocharger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,528,816 1982 to Arnaud describes an apparatus for pneumatic control of supercharging pressure in a turbocompressed engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,398 1985 to Nishiguchi et al. describes an apparatus for controlling a variable geometry turbocharger including a compressor and a turbine coupled to the compressor and comprises a variable capacity device for varying the flow rate of an exhaust gas introduced into the turbocharger in the low speed state of an engine and an exhaust gas bypass device bypassing the variable capacity device and the turbine to control the flow rate of the exhaust in the high speed state of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,292 to Hanauer et al. describes an arrangement for adjusting the boost pressure in an internal-combustion engine, supercharged by an exhaust-gas turbocharger with adjustable turbine diffuser, to a predetermined desired boost-pressure value dependent on the operating point.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,174,119 1991 to Hanauer et al. describes a process for adjusting the boost pressure in an internal-combustion engine, supercharged by an exhaust-gas turbocharger with adjustable turbine diffuser, to a predetermined desired boost-pressure value dependent on the operating point.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,737 1996 to Aschner et al. describes a process for adjustment of the charging pressure in an internal-combustion engine exhaust gas turbocharger having an adjustable turbine geometry, to a pre-determined operating-point-dependent desired charging pressure level.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,049 1999 to Bischoff describes a method of controlling the charge air mass flow of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas turbocharger with adjustable turbine geometry and a control unit for controlling the operation of the turbocharger.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,260 Bl 1998 to Green describes a system and assembly for modifying a diesel powered electric generator.
What is needed is a process for allowing the vehicle to have a decrease in fuel consumption for a small sacrifice in vehicle speed. What is also needed is a process to allow the vehicle private owner (or company owner) to set maximum limits of boost speed under specific conditions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main aspect of the present invention is to provide a means for fuel optimization within specific limits of speed and boost pressure to a combustion engine.
Another aspect of the present invention is to limit a vehicle boost pressure within specified limits when the speed of a vehicle is at or drops below cruise set speed.
Another aspect of the present invention is to allow for a vehicle owner (private or company) to have the ability to vary the boost pressure set limit when the speed of a vehicle is at or drops below cruise set speed.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide for an automatic means of fuel economization, the preferred embodiment.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide for a semi-automatic means of fuel economization, an alternate embodiment.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide for a manual means of fuel economization, an alternate embodiment.
Other aspects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
Combustion engines with turbochargers will operate at optimal engine performance with an Electronic Control Module (ECM) or other means for controlling the turbocharger. The ECM, operating in normal control mode, will monitor standard engine inputs such as exhaust gas temperature, etc. The control systems of prior art will provide the engine with a quick increase in horsepower (HP) when required. For example, when cresting a hill and the speed decreases below the set cruise speed, a vehicle's turbocharger will increase boost until the set cruse speed is re-obtained. Thus, if a hill crest, headwind, or a slight incline results in a vehicle going below cruise set speed, the turbo will go into maximum boost until the vehicle regains its set cruise speed. Although this method maintains a set cruise speed at minimal loss of time, it does not offer any alternative of fuel savings for some additional minimal loss of time.
All “Fuel Economizer System” (FES) equipped vehicles shall have a “drop-out” speed, which is determined by the engine manufacturer. The drop-out speed is that speed below a set cruise control speed at which the cruise control “disconnects”. Drop-out speeds are to be non-adjustable and will vary with different transmission and differential combinations as set by the engine and vehicle manufacturer.
The present invention FES would consist of circuitry to active the system, to accept input of a boost pressure limit (BPL), to accept input of a minimal speed (economy set-speed or ESS), sensors to insure that the cruise control is “ON”, vehicle real-time speed sensors, vehicle drop-out speed inputs, etc. The FES circuitry might also have a display showing status of the system (ON or OFF), ESS and BPL settings. The present invention Fuel Economizer System (FES) will function to limit the engine's turbocharger boost and fuel consumption when the vehicle is running at highway speeds. The FES can be used for Owner/Operator specified vehicles and also for fleet specified vehicles.
The FES will allow for normal Electronic Engine Control (EEC) when the vehicle speed is below the drop-out speed or when the vehicle speed is below a pre-determined “economy-set-speed” (ESS). The ESS will be a speed higher than the drop-out speed but below set cruise speed.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the FES will operate under the following required conditions:
a) The FES is set to the “on” position,
b) The vehicle cruise control is “on”,
c) The vehicle speed is above the drop-out speed, and
d) An ESS speed is preset and the vehicle speed is above the ESS.
e) A preset (or variable) maximum boost limitation is present.
Given that the above conditions are satisfied, the present invention FES will act as follows:
a) Provide an input to the ECM to limit the turbo boost to a specific preset value, such value set by the operator/owner (as a variable) or by the fleet owner
Martin Rick
Patent Law Offices of Rick Martin P.C.
LandOfFree
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