Internal combustion engine and working cycle
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Abstract
The invention is concerned with a method of deriving mechanical work from a combustion gas in internal combustion engines and reciprocating internal combustion engines for carrying out the method. The invention includes methods and apparatuses for managing combustion charge densities, temperatures, pressures and turbulence in order to produce a true mastery within the power cylinder in order to increase fuel economy, power, and torque while minimizing polluting emissions. In its preferred embodiments, the method includes the steps of (i) producing an air charge, (ii) controlling the temperature, density and pressure of the air charge, (iii) transferring the air charge to a power cylinder of the engine such that an air charge having a weight and density selected from a range of weight and density levels ranging from below atmospheric weight and density to heavier-than-atmospheric weight and density is introduced into the power cylinder, and (iv) then compressing the air charge at a lower-than-normal compression ratio, (v) causing a pre-determined quantity of charge-air and fuel to produce a combustible mixture, (vi) causing the mixture to be ignited within the power cylinder, and (vii) allowing the combustion gas to expand against a piston operable in the power cylinders with the expansion ratio of the power cylinders being substantially greater than the compression ratio of the power cylinders of the engine. In addition to other advantages, the invented, method is capable of producing mean effective cylinder pressures ranging from lower-than-normal to higher-than-normal. In the preferred embodiments, the mean effective cylinder pressure is selectively variable (and selectively varied) throughout the mentioned range during the operation of the engine. In an alternate embodiment related to constant speed-constant load operation, the mean effective cylinder pressure is selected from the range and the engine is configured, in accordance with the present invention, such that the mean effective cylinder pressure range is limited, being varied only in the amount required for producing the power, torque and speed of the duty cycle for which the engine is designed.
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Citations
94 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
- 25. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a chamber and at least one moving component partially defining the chamber and moving through successive power cycles, each power cycle involving at least an intake process, a compression process and an expansion process taking place within the chamber and aided by combustion taking place within the chamber, said method including the step of, during each cycle of a plurality of power cycles, establishing an effective compression ratio for the engine which is less than or equal to 50% of the expansion ratio for the engine.
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38. An internal combustion engine having a chamber with at least a first inlet port associated therewith and at least one moving component partially defining the chamber and moving through successive power cycles, each power cycle involving at least an intake process, a compression process and an expansion process taking place within the chamber and aided by combustion taking place within the chamber, said engine further comprising:
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a control system configured to inject a cooled, compressed air charge into the chamber, while maintaining during each cycle of a plurality of power cycles, an effective compression ratio for the engine which is equal to or less than 50% of the expansion ratio; and
a fuel delivery system. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An internal combustion engine having a chamber and at least one piston partially defining the chamber and moving in a reciprocating manner in at least one cylinder through at least one power cycle involving at least a compression stroke and an intake stroke immediately preceding the compression stroke aided by combustion taking place within the chamber, wherein the compression stroke results in compressing of air within the chamber,
said engine characterized by a power cycle having an effective compression ratio less than or equal to 50% of the expansion ratio and by the presence in the chamber during said power cycle of a cool, dense, heavy air charge which charge was pre-compressed and pre-cooled outside the chamber and was captured in the chamber.
Specification