Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Cooling of combustible mixture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-01
2001-11-13
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Cooling of combustible mixture
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314950
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 application 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 of the ambient air varies depending on geographic location and season. Thus, the temperature of the intake air varies accordingly. Under these varying condition 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 Nox and other emissions. And, under other conditions, the structure of the engine can be damage 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 determining 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 recipient ambient air flow restriction system defines a rate of flow of the recipient ambient 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 recipient ambient 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 being communicated to an intake manifold. The donor intake air passes through an aftercooler being of the air to air configuration and has a recipient ambient air flow passing through the aftercooler. The vehicle has a sensor determining 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 recipient ambient air flow restriction system defining a rate of flow of the recipient ambient air.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5172753 (1992-12-01), Kadle et al.
patent: 5910099 (1999-06-01), Jordan, Jr. et al.
patent: 6169953 (2001-01-01), Pano et al.
patent: 6216458 (2001-04-01), Alger et al.
Burbank Mark R.
Hardin Eric D.
Cain Larry G.
Caterpillar Inc.
McMahon Marguerite
LandOfFree
Intake air temperature control system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Intake air temperature control system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Intake air temperature control system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603532