Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Supercharger
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-05-08
Koczo, Michael (Department: 3746)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Supercharger
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227179
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a V-type internal combustion engine with a mechanically driven supercharger, and more particularly, to an engine with a supercharger located essentially between V-shaped cylinder banks of engine, with an intercooler located downstream of supercharger. The intercooler has an intake plenum on the outlet side, and the plenum is connected by intake pipes with the air intakes of the cylinders of both cylinder banks. The supercharger and intercooler form a preassembled module, with the supercharger being located above the intercooler in the installed position, and the intake plenum being located on the top of the intercooler but below the supercharger between V-shaped cylinder banks.
An engine is described in EP 0 529 639 B1 in which a supercharger driven mechanically by the crankshaft is located between the two banks of cylinders of the engine arranged in a V. The supercharger compresses the combustion air drawn in to an increased boost pressure. An intercooler is located above the supercharger, in which the compressed boost air is cooled downstream of the supercharger. The cooled boost air is supplied to the air intakes of the cylinders through the intake pipes.
The two banks of cylinders each have an intake plenum associated with them, each plenum being connected by connecting tubes with the intercooler and supplied with boost air. The two intake plenums run in the lengthwise direction of the cylinder banks above the cylinder heads. The intake pipes to the air intakes of the cylinders branch off from the intake plenums.
This mechanical supercharging system consists of a plurality of individual parts which are assembled when the engine is built and whose functional reliability can only be tested after assembly is complete. As a result, malfunctions of individual parts result in final adjustments that cost both time and money, and prevent completion of the engine.
Another disadvantage is that a plurality of long connecting tubes is necessary to conduct the combustion air between the supercharger, the intercooler, the intake plenums, and the air intakes of the cylinders, resulting in long flow paths with corresponding losses and delayed dynamics. Long response times result, especially during non-steady-state operation of the engine. In addition, the system requires considerable space and is unwieldy to assemble.
Another V-engine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,028,892, which likewise teaches a supercharger between the cylinder bands, located above an intercooler, fastened at the bottom of the V between the cylinder banks. After the intake air has flowed through the intercooler, it is fed to an air chamber which communicates with the air intakes of the cylinders. The air chamber is integrated into the engine block and encloses the cylinders of the engine. This design is characterized by a relatively complex design and a high manufacturing cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an internal combustion engine with compact, easily handled mechanical supercharging characterized by nimble response.
This object has been achieved according to the invention by providing that the supercharger and the intercooler form a preassembled module, with the supercharger being located above the intercooler in the installed position, and the intake plenum being located on the top of the intercooler but below the supercharger between the V-shaped cylinder banks.
The supercharger and intercooler form a preassembled module that can be tested for its functional reliability before it is installed in the engine, so that any defects that may be present can be found immediately and costly finishing work is eliminated. The diversity of the parts is reduced, and assembly of the module in the engine is much simpler and faster. In addition, the integration of the supercharger and the intercooler into a common module requires much less space, so that this supercharging system can be used even for small engines.
Another advantage is that the intercooler is located beneath the supercharger and has an intake plenum located on top, between the intercooler and the supercharger. The intake plenum is located in the center between the two banks of cylinders, so that the cylinders in each bank are supplied with boost pressure by a single intake plenum. The centrally located intake plenum is also advantageously located at approximately the same level as the air intakes of the cylinders, so that short intake pipes suffice between the outlet of the intercooler and the cylinder air intakes. The central intake plenum and the short intake pipes also minimize frictional and flow losses, and have a positive effect on the dynamics of the system, while the response of the supercharging system is improved.
The air intake of the intercooler is advantageously configured as an air injection manifold on the underside of the intercooler. The air injection manifold is connected with the supercharger or compressor and supplied with boost air through a boost air line that leads downward and is guided through a central recess in the intercooler and downward to the air intake of the intercooler. This configuration guarantees the shortest possible connection between the intake plenum and the cylinder air intakes.
The boost air line can be located on the preassembled module, consisting of the supercharger and the intercooler, producing a completely prefabricated module that can be installed and replaced. The intake pipes can also be part of the prefabricated module.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2498152 (1950-02-01), Burks et al.
patent: 4028892 (1977-06-01), Hinkle
patent: 6006540 (1999-12-01), Coletti
patent: 6079394 (2000-06-01), Abthoff et al.
patent: 0 529 639 B1 (1993-03-01), None
Eiermann Georg
Rau Erhard
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Evenson, McKeown, Edwards & Lenahan P.L.L.C.
Koczo Michael
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