ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING INTAKE BOOST SYSTEM

• US 20120279214A1
• Filed: 05/02/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: FORCE, JAMES E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,650,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/598
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/053 overhead type
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 27/021 Resonance charging combined with oscillating pipe charging F02B27/0221
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0418 the intake air cooler having a bypass or multiple flow paths within the heat exchanger to vary the effective heat transfer surface
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/08 Modifying distribution valve timing for charging purposes F02B29/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/18 by bypassing exhaust from the inlet to the outlet of turbine or to the atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An engine assembly includes an engine structure and an intake assembly. The engine structure defines a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a first intake port in communication with the first cylinder, and a second intake port in communication with the second cylinder. The intake assembly includes a first throttle valve, a second throttle valve and a boost mechanism. The first throttle valve is in communication with the first and second intake ports. The second throttle valve is in communication with an air source and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve. The boost mechanism is in communication with the air source and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve.

Claims

1. An intake assembly comprising:

a first throttle valve;

a second throttle valve in communication with an air source and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve; and

a boost mechanism in communication with the air source and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve.

2. The intake assembly of claim 1, wherein a first flow path is defined from the air source through the second throttle valve to the first throttle valve and a second flow path parallel to the first flow path is defined from the air source through the boost mechanism to the first throttle valve.

3. The intake assembly of claim 1, wherein the intake assembly includes an intake manifold including an inlet in communication with the first throttle valve and a first outlet adapted to provide communication between the inlet and a first intake port and a second outlet adapted to provide communication between the inlet and a second intake port.

4. The intake assembly of claim 1, wherein the boost mechanism includes a turbocharger.

5. An engine assembly comprising:

an engine structure defining a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a first intake port in communication with the first cylinder, and a second intake port in communication with the second cylinder; and

an intake assembly including;

a first throttle valve in communication with the first and second intake ports;

a second throttle valve in communication with an air source and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve; and

a boost mechanism in communication with the air source and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve.

6. The engine assembly of claim 5, wherein a first flow path is defined from the air source through the second throttle valve to the first throttle valve and a second flow path parallel to the first flow path is defined from the air source through the boost mechanism to the first throttle valve.

7. The engine assembly of claim 5, further comprising an intake valve located in the second intake port, a valve lift mechanism engaged with the intake valve and operable in first and second modes, the intake valve being displaced to an open position by the valve lift mechanism during the first mode and the intake valve being maintained in a closed position by the valve lift mechanism during the second mode.

8. The engine assembly of claim 7, wherein the intake assembly includes an intake manifold including an inlet in communication with the first throttle valve and a first outlet in communication with the first intake port and a second outlet in communication with the second intake port.

9. The engine assembly of claim 7, wherein a first engine operating condition includes the valve lift mechanism being operated in the first mode and the second throttle valve being in an open position.

10. The engine assembly of claim 9, wherein a second engine operating condition includes the valve lift mechanism being operated in the second mode and the second throttle valve being in a closed position.

11. The engine assembly of claim 7, wherein the boost mechanism includes a turbocharger in communication with the air source and the engine structure defines a first exhaust port in communication with the first cylinder and the turbocharger and a second exhaust port in communication with second cylinder and in direct communication with an exhaust system at a location downstream of the turbocharger.

12. The engine assembly of claim 7, further comprising a camshaft including a camshaft lobe engaged with the valve lift mechanism, the intake valve being displaced to an open position by a peak of the camshaft lobe during the first mode and the intake valve remaining in the closed position when the peak of the camshaft lobe engages the valve lift mechanism during the second mode.

13. The engine assembly of claim 5, wherein the intake assembly includes an intake manifold located between the first throttle valve and the engine structure.

14. The engine assembly of claim 13, wherein the intake manifold includes an inlet in communication with the first throttle valve, a first outlet in communication with the first intake port and a second outlet in communication with the second intake port and the first throttle valve is located between the second throttle valve and the inlet of the intake manifold and between the boost mechanism and the inlet of the intake manifold.

15. The engine assembly of claim 5, wherein the boost mechanism includes a turbocharger.

16. A method comprising:

providing an intake air flow to an intake assembly of an engine assembly during a first engine operating condition, the intake assembly including a first throttle valve in communication with first and second cylinders of the engine assembly, a second throttle valve in communication with the intake air flow and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between an air source and the first throttle valve and a boost mechanism in communication with the intake air flow and the first throttle valve and located in a series flow arrangement between the air source and the first throttle valve, the first throttle valve being in an open position and the second throttle valve being in an open position and directing the intake air flow through the first throttle valve without first passing through the boost mechanism; and

providing the intake air flow to the intake assembly during a second engine operating condition including the first engine operating condition including the first throttle valve being in an open position and the second throttle valve being closed and directing the intake air flow through the boost mechanism and through the first throttle valve.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the engine assembly defines a first intake port in communication with the first cylinder and the first throttle valve and a second intake port in communication with the second cylinder and the first throttle valve, the engine assembly including an intake valve located in the second intake port, a valve lift mechanism engaged with the intake valve and operable in first and second modes, the intake valve being displaced to an open position by the valve lift mechanism during the first mode and the intake valve being maintained in a closed position by the valve lift mechanism during the second mode.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising operating the valve lift mechanism in the first mode during the first engine operating condition and operating the valve lift mechanism in the second mode during the second engine operating condition.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the boost mechanism includes a turbocharger driven by exhaust gas from the engine assembly.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the engine assembly defines a first exhaust port in communication with the first cylinder and the turbocharger to drive the turbocharger and a second exhaust port in communication with the second cylinder and in direct communication with an exhaust system at a location downstream of the turbocharger.