Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Supercharger
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-12
2001-06-19
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Supercharger
C123S559100, C055S315000, C062S005000, C060S599000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247460
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to employing a vortex tube in an engine, to cool air prior to the air entering the intake manifold. The vortex tube may be employed with a turbocharger, a supercharger or with an engine which does not include an air compressor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various applications of both the heating and cooling aspects of the vortex tube are known in the art. The current invention discloses a method and apparatus for employing a vortex tube with various engine compressor assemblies and in other direct arrangements for cooling the intake air to the engine manifold, whether it be compressed or not.
Additionally, various methods have been employed to both heat and cool fuel prior to combustion. The current invention discloses a method and apparatus for employing a vortex tube in the configurations described herein, which permits the fuel to be heated or cooled by the action of the vortex tube.
None of the methodologies employed and claimed herein have been shown or taught in any prior art of record.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A vortex tube is affixed in a first case to a turbocharger in an engine, in a second case to a supercharger in an engine, or in a third case to the intake manifold of an engine. A vortex tube includes an entry port, a cold exit port and a hot exit port. By employing different structural interconnections of the vortex tube with the turbocharger or supercharger, compressed air is cooled prior to entering the engine's intake manifold. The same effect is achieved when the vortex tube is affixed directly to the engine intake manifold. Additionally, the fuel may be heated or cooled by a heat transfer arrangement.
In the first case, the vortex tube is affixed to a turbocharger in an engine. The turbocharger includes an ambient air inlet and a compressed air outlet, the compressive energy coming from the exhaust gasses of the engine. The vortex tube has an entry port, cold exit port and a hot exit port. In a first embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the turbocharger's compressed air outlet by any conventional means. This causes the compressed air to enter the vortex tube, and be separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is routed to the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a heat sink. It has been considered that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the hot exit port, permitting heat to transfer to the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as diesel fuel, propane, liquified natural gas or the like.
In a second embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the turbocharger's compressed air outlet by any conventional means. This causes the compressed air to enter the vortex tube, and be separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is routed to the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a vacuum source. The vacuum source may be provided by any of a variety of negative pressure inducing means. It has again been considered that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the hot exit port, permitting heat to transfer to the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as diesel fuel, propane, liquified natural gas or the like.
In a third embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the turbocharger's compressed air outlet by any conventional means. This causes the compressed air to enter the vortex tube, and be separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is routed to the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a heat sink. It has been considered that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the cold exit port, permitting heat to transfer from the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as gasoline.
In a fourth embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the turbocharger's compressed air outlet by any conventional means. This causes the compressed air to enter the vortex tube, and be separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is routed to the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a vacuum source. The vacuum source may be provided by any of a variety of negative pressure inducing means. It has again been considered that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the cold exit port, permitting heat to transfer from the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as gasoline.
In a fifth embodiment, the vortex tube cold exit port is placed in communication with the turbocharger's ambient air inlet by any conventional means. Air is caused to enter the vortex tube entry port, by action of the turbocharger, where it is separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is directed into the turbocharger's ambient air inlet. This cooled air is then compressed by the turbocharger, where it exits the compressed air outlet, still in a cooled condition. The compressed air outlet of the turbocharger is in communication with the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a heat sink and vacuum source. Again, it has been considered that in a first case that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the hot exit port, permitting heat to transfer to the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as diesel. Also, it has been considered that in a second case that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the cold exit port, permitting heat transfer from the fuel. This is especially advantageous in a fuel such as gasoline.
In the second case, the vortex tube is affixed to a supercharger in an engine. The supercharger includes an ambient air inlet and a compressed air outlet, the compressive energy coming from a mechanical connection to the crankshaft. The vortex tube has an entry port, cold exit port and a hot exit port. In a sixth embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the supercharger's compressed air outlet by any conventional means. This causes the compressed air to enter the vortex tube, and be separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is routed to the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a heat sink. It has been considered that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the hot exit port, permitting heat to transfer to the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as diesel.
In a seventh embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the supercharger's compressed air outlet by any conventional means. This causes the compressed air to enter the vortex tube, and be separated into a hot portion and a cold portion. The cold portion exits the vortex tube cold exit port and is routed to the engine's intake manifold. The hot portion exits the vortex tube hot exit port and is routed to a vacuum source. The vacuum source may be provided by any of a variety of negative pressure inducing means. It has again been considered that it may be desirable to place the fuel line in proximal relation to the hot exit port, permitting heat to transfer to the fuel. This is particularly advantageous in a fuel such as diesel.
In a eighth embodiment, the vortex tube entry port is placed in communication with the supercharger'
Lewis W. Stan
Lindberg Roderick Lee
Denion Thomas
Hamill Jr. Tom
Trieu Thai-Ba
LandOfFree
Vortex tube affixed to a turbocharger, supercharger or... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vortex tube affixed to a turbocharger, supercharger or..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vortex tube affixed to a turbocharger, supercharger or... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436946