Engine efficiency improvement system

• US 5,368,000 A
• Filed: 07/15/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cummins PowerGen IP, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ONAN Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Koziara, Robert P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US08/092,136
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 123/481, 123/198 F, 123/192.1, 123/192.2
• US Class Current: 123/481
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/06 Engines with means for equalising torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123

Abstract

A multiple-cylinder combustion engine includes a counter rotating system eliminating any vibratory pitch, yaw, and roll torques. The net angular momentum of all rotating parts in the engine is equal to zero. The multiple-cylinder combustion engine activates or deactivates the number of the cylinders without any additional pitch, yaw, and roll torques.

Claims

1. A combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a throttle system, comprising:

a crankshaft being driven by the cylinders of the combustion engine;

electronic engine control means for activating and deactivating any one of the cylinders, the electronic engine control means being electrically connected to the individual fuel system for each cylinder;

a balance shaft being positioned on one side of the crankshaft; and

gear means, engaging with the balance shaft and the crankshaft, for counter-rotating the balance shaft and the crankshaft in an opposite direction, a net angular momentum of all rotating parts in the combustion engine is zero.

2. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gear means includes a first gear being mounted on the crankshaft and the second gear being mounted on the balance shaft.

3. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a counterweight is mounted on the crankshaft.

4. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein a counterweight is mounted on the balance shaft.

5. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic engine control means includes activating/deactivating control means for controlling fuel supply, the activating/deactivating control means being electrically interconnected with fuel injection means for supplying fuel mixture to the individual cylinders.

6. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the electronic engine control means being interconnected with throttle actuating means for adjusting a throttle opening position.

7. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, further comprising crankshaft position and speed sensor means for sensing position of the crankshaft and speed of the crankshaft, the crankshaft position and speed sensor means being interconnected with the crankshaft.

8. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a throttle position sensor means for sensing a throttle opening position of a throttle plate, the throttle position sensor means being mounted in the throttle system.

9. A combustion engine in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a manifold absolute pressure sensor means for sensing air pressure in the induction system, the manifold absolute pressure sensor means being mounted on the induction system.