Vandyne Superturbo, Inc.

Woodward Governor Company

Woodward, Inc.

Ed VanDyne

Jared William Brown

Luigi P Tozzi

Michael B Riley

Barry T Brinks

Suraj Nair

Ryan Sherrill

Jeffrey B Barrett

Mark R Woolston

Volker Schumacher

Christopher James Chadwell

Matthew Viele

Sterling Holman

Tom Waldron

Berry T Brinks

Wayne Penfold

A super-turbocharger utilizing a high speed, fixed ratio traction drive that is coupled to a continuously variable transmission to allow for high speed operation is provided. A high speed traction drive is utilized to provide speed reduction from the high speed turbine shaft. A second traction drive provides infinitely variable speed ratios through a continuously variable transmission. Gas recirculation in a super-turbocharger is also disclosed.

Super-turbocharger having a high speed traction drive and a continuously variable transmission

Disclosed is a super-turbocharger system that increases power and efficiency of an engine. The system uses the exothermic properties of a catalytic converter to extract additional energy from exhaust heat that is used to add power to the engine. Compressed air is supplied and mixed with exhaust gases upstream and/or downstream from a catalytic converter that is connected to an exhaust manifold. The gaseous mixture of exhaust gases and compressed air is sufficiently rich in oxygen to oxidize hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the catalytic converter, which adds heat to the gaseous mixture. In addition, a sufficient amount of compressed air is supplied to the exhaust gases to maintain the temperature of the gaseous mixture at a substantially optimal temperature level. The gaseous mixture is applied to the turbine of the super-turbocharger, which increases the output of said super-turbocharger, which increases the power and efficiency of said engine.

Rich fuel mixture super-turbocharged engine system

Disclosed is a control system and method for controlling a superturbocharged engine system in various operation modes. Throttle control mode may idle the superturbocharger during low and medium engine loads, so that boost is not created in the intake manifold. During high engine load conditions (open throttle), boosting occurs in response to the driver, operator, or control system requesting increased engine loads. For transient control mode, the control system may respond to transient conditions in response to engine speed and load so that the engine does not bog down or overcome vehicle traction limits. The control system may also predict future operating points.

Superturbocharger control systems

Disclosed is a super-turbocharger system that increases power and efficiency of an engine. The system uses the exothermic properties of a catalytic converter to extract additional energy from exhaust heat that is used to add power to the engine. Compressed air is supplied and mixed with exhaust gases upstream and/or downstream from a catalytic converter that is connected to an exhaust manifold. The gaseous mixture of exhaust gases and compressed air is sufficiently rich in oxygen to oxidize hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the catalytic converter, which adds heat to the gaseous mixture. In addition, a sufficient amount of compressed air is supplied to the exhaust gases to maintain the temperature of the gaseous mixture at a substantially optimal temperature level. The gaseous mixture is applied to the turbine of the super-turbocharger, which increases the output of said super-turbocharger, which increases the power and efficiency of said engine. The engine throttle is used to control the pressure level of the compressed air to ensure proper flow of cooling gases and oxidation gases.

Disclosed is high torque traction drive. The high torque traction drive utilizes planet gears that engage the inner mesh of a ring gear. The planet gears are mounted in rollers that have inner traction surfaces that engage sloped ring traction surfaces on traction rings that are attached to the ring gear. The sloped traction interface causes the rollers to move inwardly when forced toward the traction rings. The inward force on the rollers creates a shaft traction interface between a shaft and outer traction surfaces on the roller, so that rotational mechanical energy is effectively transferred between the rollers, the shaft and the ring gear. High rotational speeds can be achieved with a high degree of torque. Speed reduction ratios of at least 10:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed.

High torque traction drive

Disclosed is a symmetrical traction drive that utilizes multi-diameter rollers having traction surfaces for transferring rotational mechanical energy between the shaft and a transfer gear. Multi-diameter rollers are mounted in carriers disposed between two substantially symmetrical ring gears. Sloped traction surfaces of the ring gears mate with inner traction surfaces on both sides of the multi-diameter rollers. Since force is applied to the inner traction surfaces on both sides of the multi-diameter rollers, forces are substantially equalized on each side of the multi-diameter rollers. An outer traction surface of the multi-diameter roller interfaces with a traction surface on the shaft. Speed reduction ratios of at least 20:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed.

Symmetrical traction drive

A fixed ratio traction drive is disclosed that uses multidiameter planet rollers. The high speed traction drive provides speed reduction from a high speed shaft. A planet carrier is used to rotationally mount the multidiameter rollers. A continuously variable transmission that uses planetary ball traction is also disclosed that provides infinitely variable speed ratios.

High speed and continuously variable traction drive

An apparatus and method to detect combustion conditions using ion signals for use in a feedback control of a reciprocation engine is presented. The ion signals are used as a feedback signal to control EGR and diesel injection timing. The apparatus is an ignition system with a spark plug type of sensor. The ignition system is used to provide a cold start mechanism for diesel engines and start of combustion for spark ignition engines. The ignition is combined with ion sensing feedback that can control the engine.

Method and apparatus for controlling exhaust gas recirculation and start of combustion in reciprocating compression ignition engines with an ignition system with ionization measurement

A system and method for controlling knock in a lean burn internal combustion (IC) engine includes a spark plug having an electrode, an electrical circuit, and a controller. The electrical circuit is configured to provide a first voltage to the electrode and detect an ion current during a thermal-ionization phase of the combustion process, and provide a second voltage to the electrode to create a spark and initiate a combustion process within the combustion chamber. The controller is configured to monitor the ion current for a knock condition that includes at least an incipient knock condition, determine a crank angle of the IC engine where the incipient knock occurs, and adjust timing of the IC engine to operate at a crank angle that does not exceed a threshold level beyond inception of incipient knock.

Method and system for closed loop combustion control of a lean-burn reciprocating engine using ionization detection

A system and method for controlling knock in a lean burn internal combustion (IC) engine includes a spark plug having an electrode, and an electrical circuit configured to provide a first voltage to the electrode and detect an ion current during a thermal-ionization phase of the combustion process, and provide a second voltage to the electrode to create a spark and initiate a combustion process within a combustion chamber. The engine includes a controller configured to monitor the ion current for a knock condition that includes at least an incipient knock condition, determine a spark crank angle timing of the IC engine where the incipient knock occurs, and adjust the spark timing of the IC engine to operate at a crank angle that does not exceed a threshold level beyond an incipient knock set point.

An apparatus and method to detect and control the combustion quality of a lean burn reciprocating engine using ionization signals is presented. The system receives a succession of ionization signals for successive cycles of a running engine and processes a plurality of related ionization signals for signal stability. A start point and peak of the ionization signal is identified, using an initial current level for all of the signals. A geometric parameter is associated with the ionization signal that relates the start point to the peak. The geometric parameter is compared against a reference geometric parameter related to a desired combustion quality relating to a lambda greater than 1.4. A control parameter of the engine is adjusted such that an error difference between the geometric parameter and the reference geometric parameter is minimized. The ionization signals are checked to determine if an abnormal combustion condition such as knock or misfire has occurred.

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Loveland, CO, United States of America

Ed VanDyne