Volvo Car Corporation

Ab Volvo

Dr. Ing. H.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Volvo Technology Corporation

Ingemar Denbratt

Staffan Lundgren

Lars Gertmar

Erland Max

Martin Kerkau

Jonny Nisbet

Jan-Erling Rydquist

Joop Somhurst

Anders Höglund

Göran Wirmark

Lars-Olof Carlsson

Henrik Oest Simonsen

Method and arrangement for providing an energy converter that includes a combustion system () including at least one piston (), at least one combustion chamber () having at least one inlet () and at least one outlet () with inlet and outlet valves (). At least one controllable inlet valve and at least one outlet valve is also provided. A fuel supply is provided () for supplying fuel and a medium containing oxygen is provided for induction into the combustion chamber (). An electric machine () is arranged to interact directly or indirectly with the piston () in an electromagnetic manner such that it produces electrical energy from the piston movements, as well as uses electrical energy to affect the piston movement. A control unit () controls the combustion system () and the electric machine (). The energy converter is arranged to adapt its power output depending on the required load of the energy converter. The invention also relates to a method for starting an energy converter.

Energy converter

A four-stroke internal combustion engine includes variable geometric compression ratio, electrically operated inlet valves and a device for supplying a homogeneous fuel/air mixture to the engine cylinders. The inlet valves and the compression ratio are controlled by a control unit, so that the fuel/air mixture, within a lower engine rpm range, is compressed to self-ignition.

Method of controlling the process of combustion in an internal combustion engine, and engine with means for varying the effective compression ratio of the cylinders

Four-stroke internal combustion engine with electrically operated inlet and exhaust valves ( ) and means for supplying a homogeneous fuel/air mixture to the engine cylinders ( ). The valves are controlled by a control unit ( ), which, within a lower rpm range, closes the exhaust valve ( ) before the piston ( ) has reached its upper dead center point. Under the effect of trapped residual gas, a temperature increase is achieved, which results in compression ignition of the fuel/air mixture. The control unit ( ) controls the exhaust valve ( ), so that the amount of residual gases in the cylinders at the closing of the exhaust valves is greater at low loads and high rpm than at high loads and low rpm, in order to control the ignition delay in this manner.

Method of controlling the process of combustion in an internal combustion engine, and engine with means for controlling the engine valves

Internal combustion engine with fuel injection directly into the combustion chamber of the engine. The engine has inlet channels, the angle of incidence (valve angle) (&agr;) of which is greater than 20&deg; relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder chamber. The piston tops are made, firstly, with a surface portion inclined relative to a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder chamber by an angle (&ggr;) equal to or less than the angle of incidence of the inlet channel, and, secondly, with a cavity connected to the inclined surface portion. By interaction between the angle of incidence of the inlet channels and the shape of the piston tops, there is generated in the combustion chambers a primary vortical movement in the inlet air about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder chamber. The primary vortical movement generates a secondary vortical movement in the opposite direction in the piston cavity.

Internal combustion engine

The invention relates to a valve timing for an internal-combustion engine with a variable control of the outlet valve. For reducing the HC-emissions, it is suggested according to the invention to adjust the closing of the outlet valve toward 'early'. This adjustment must be carried out to such an extent that the outlet valve will be closed before the piston has reached the upper dead center.

Valve timing for internal-combustion engines

Growing community of inventors

Kullavik, Sweden

Ingemar Denbratt