Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110220075 | SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE WITH HIGH RESIDUAL EXPANSION RATIO - An engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve disposed therein. In an Engine Firing (EF) mode of the engine, the engine has a residual expansion ratio at XovrE valve closing of 10.0 to 1 or greater, and more preferably 15.7 to 1 or greater. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220076 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH AIR EXPANDER AND FIRING MODE - A split-cycle air hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. In an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode of the engine, the engine has a residual expansion ratio at XovrE valve closing of 15.7 to 1 or greater, and more preferably in the range of 15.7 to 1 and 40.8 to 1. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220077 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH FIRING AND CHARGING MODE - A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An intake valve selectively controls air flow into the compression cylinder. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and crossover expansion (XovrE) valve therein. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. In a Firing and Charging (FC) mode of the engine, the air reservoir valve is kept closed until the XovrE valve is substantially closed during a single rotation of the crankshaft such that the expansion cylinder is charged with compressed air before the air reservoir is charged with compressed air. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220078 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH COMPRESSOR DEACTIVATION - A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An intake valve selectively controls air flow into the compression cylinder. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve therein. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. In an Air Expander (AE) mode and an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode of the engine, the XovrC valve is kept closed during an entire rotation of the crankshaft, and the intake valve is kept open for at least 240 CA degrees of the same rotation of the crankshaft. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220079 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH EXPANDER DEACTIVATION - A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An exhaust valve selectively controls gas flow out of the expansion cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve therein. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. In an Air Compressor (AC) mode of the engine, the XovrE valve is kept closed during an entire rotation of the crankshaft, and the exhaust valve is kept open for at least 240 CA degrees of the same rotation of the crankshaft. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220080 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH AIR TANK VALVE - A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. In an Engine Firing (EF) mode, the air reservoir valve is kept closed. In an Air Expander (AE) and an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode, the air reservoir valve is kept open for a duration that is at least as long as a duration of the XovrE valve opening event. In an Air Compressor (AC) mode and a Firing and Charging (FC) mode, the air reservoir valve is selectively opened and closed. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220081 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH MINIMIZED CROSSOVER PORT VOLUME - A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir port connects the crossover passage to the air reservoir. An air reservoir valve is disposed in the air reservoir port. The air reservoir port includes a first air reservoir port section between the crossover passage and the air reservoir valve. The first air reservoir port section has a volume that is less than or equal to a volume of the crossover passage. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220082 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE HAVING A THRESHOLD MINIMUM TANK PRESSURE - A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. The engine is operable in an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode. In the AEF mode, the pressure in the air reservoir is greater than or equal to approximately 5 bar absolute, preferably greater than or equal to approximately 7 bar absolute, and more preferably greater than or equal to approximately 10 bar absolute. | 09-15-2011 |
20110220083 | SPLIT-CYCLE ENGINE HAVING A CROSSOVER EXPANSION VALVE FOR LOAD CONTROL - An engine includes a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve disposed therein. In at least one of an Engine Firing (EF) mode, an Firing and Charging (FC) mode, and an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode of the engine, the timing of the XovrE valve closing is variable to control engine load, and the engine has a residual expansion ratio at XovrE valve closing of 14 to 1 or greater. | 09-15-2011 |
20140158102 | SPLIT-CYCLE AIR-HYBRID ENGINE WITH AIR EXPANDER AND FIRING MODE - A split-cycle air hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. In an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode of the engine, the engine has a residual expansion ratio at XovrE valve closing of 15.7 to 1 or greater, and more preferably in the range of 15.7 to 1 and 40.8 to 1. | 06-12-2014 |