Brunel University

Hua Zhao

Thomas Tsoi-Hei Ma

Thomas Ma

An air connector is described mountable opposite an intake or exhaust port in an associated intake or exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine to allow the port to communicate selectively with the associated pipe and with a compressed air storage tank. The connector comprises a stopper mounted on a rod movable by an actuator between an open position in which the port communicates with the associated pipe and a closed position in which the stopper seals around the entrance of the port to isolate the port from the associated pipe. An air passage is provided in the stopper and the rod to allow communication between the port and the compressed air storage tank when the stopper is in the closed position, and a check valve is arranged in the air passage and biased in a direction to prevent escape of air from the compressed air storage tank in all positions of the stopper.

Air connector for an internal combustion engine

An engine for use in an air hybrid vehicle comprises at least one cylinder having a piston () defining a variable volume working chamber () and intake () and exhaust () valves controlling the flow of air into and out of the working chamber. The cylinder is operable in any one of at least two modes, namely a first mode in which power is generated by burning fuel in the working chamber (), and a second mode in which the cylinder acts to compress air drawn into the working chamber () and to store the compressed air in an air tank (). The engine further comprises a non-return valve () in an intake port leading to an intake valve () of the cylinder so as to define an auxiliary chamber () in the intake port between the intake valve () and the non-return valve (). A passage () connecting the auxiliary chamber () to the air tank () contains a valve () for controlling the flow of compressed air between the auxiliary chamber () and the air tank (). In the invention, a stop () is provided which is operative to prevent full closure of the intake valve () when the engine is operating in the second mode, whereby the air compressed in the working chamber by the movement of the piston is admitted through the open intake valve () into the auxiliary chamber ().

Engine for an air hybrid vehicle

A method is disclosed for operating an internal combustion engine of the type having an engine cylinder with a reciprocating piston, first and second intake ports for admitting gas from an ambient air supply into the engine cylinder, first and second intake valves each arranged between a respective one of the intake ports and the engine cylinder, a non-return valve arranged in the second of the intake ports at a distance from the second intake valve and oriented to allow gas to flow only towards the engine cylinder, and a variable valve actuating system for controlling the opening and closing of at least the second intake valve. In the method of the invention, in at least one operating mode of the engine, the second intake valve is opened and closed, while the cylinder is fully isolated from the ambient air, to permit gas transfer between the cylinder and an auxiliary chamber temporarily defined by the part of the second intake port lying between the second intake valve and the non-return valve. The second intake valve is opened at a time when the pressure in the auxiliary chamber is greater than the pressure of the ambient air supply such that no gas escapes past the non-return valve.

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Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom

Hua Zhao