Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Cooling of combustible mixture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-02
2001-09-25
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Cooling of combustible mixture
C123S556000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293262
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to an engine and more particularly to cooling intake air with an air to air aftercooler.
BACKGROUND ART
The use of turbocharged engines is a common practice. The turbocharger increases the quantity of air for combustion and increases the heat value or temperature of the intake air. To compensate for the increased temperature of the intake air, an aftercooler is used to reduce the temperature of the compressed intake air. Many of the cooling systems include a water jacket aftercooler. In the water jacket aftercooler a coolant from the engine is circulated through the aftercooler and the intake air is cooled. The use of engine coolant limits the temperature to which the intake air can be cooled. More recently, the cooling medium of the aftercooler has been converted to use ambient air and an air to air aftercooler has replaced the water jacket aftercooler. In some applications and under some operating conditions, the air to air aftercooler reduces the temperature of the intake air too much. Since ambient air is used as the coolant or recipient fluid, the temperature, pressure and humidity of the ambient air varies depending on geographic location and season. Thus, the temperature and humidity of the intake air varies accordingly. And, with the advent of exhaust gas recirculation to further reduce emissions, the mixture of the intake air with a varying humidity content and the exhaust gas to be recirculated has been found to form sulfuric acid which is detrimental to the engine. Under these varying conditions the combustion of the intake air and fuel results in varying characteristics. Under certain conditions the emissions therefrom can be increased due to the combustion temperature having the characteristic for forming excess hydrocarbons and other emissions. And, under other conditions, the structure of the engine can be damaged due to excessive power being developed. Thus, a system for controlling the temperature of the intake air is needed.
The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the invention, an engine has a flow of donor intake air entering an intake manifold. The flow of donor intake air passes through an aftercooler and has a preestablished temperature. The aftercooler is of an air to air configuration. The engine has a recipient ambient air flow passing through the aftercooler, a sensor measuring a temperature of the recipient ambient air flow, a controller having a signal being transmitted from the sensor and the signal defining the temperature of the recipient ambient air flow, and a donor intake air flow restriction system defining a rate of flow of the donor intake air through the aftercooler.
In another aspect of the invention, a method of controlling a temperature of a donor intake air passing through an air to air aftercooler being cooled by a recipient ambient air flow is disclosed. The method has the following steps: sensing a temperature of the donor intake air; sensing the temperature of the recipient ambient air flow; comparing the temperature of the donor intake air against a fixed set of variables; comparing the temperature of the recipient ambient air flow against a fixed set of variables; and controlling a flow rate of the donor intake air flow through the air to air aftercooler.
In another aspect of the invention, a vehicle has an engine. The engine has a donor intake air flow communicated to an intake manifold. The donor intake air flow passes through an aftercooler of the air to air configuration. A recipient ambient air flow passes through the aftercooler. The vehicle has a sensor measuring a temperature of the recipient ambient air flow, a controller having a signal being transmitted from the sensor and the signal defining the temperature of the recipient ambient air flow; and a donor intake air flow restriction system defining a rate of flow of the donor intake air flow through the aftercooler.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5172753 (1992-12-01), Kadle et al.
patent: 5375580 (1994-12-01), Stolz et al.
patent: 6182643 (2001-02-01), Canopy
Craig Mark W.
Kertz Tony G.
Cain Larry G.
Caterpillar Inc.
McMahon Marguerite
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