Flowing fluid conditioner

• US 7,171,955 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Perkins
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Perkins
• Inventors: Perkins, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, THAI BA
• Application Number:
  US10/930,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20050081834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 123555-556, 123/563, 123/549, 123/543, 123/41.1, 605/99, 62/32, 62/33, 62/37
• US Class Current: 123/563
• 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 29/0481 Intake air cooling by means others than heat exchangers, e.g. by rotating drum regenerators, cooling by expansion or by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 29/0493 Controlling the air charge temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2205/00 Application of thermometers in motors, e.g. of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A method and system for temperature conditioning of engine intake air by use of controllable intercooler which consists of an active thermoelectric device and a controllable valve system which optimally directs the path of airflow through a plurality of chambers in response to signals from a controller in order to optimally provide temperature conditioned air to the engine. System features temperature storage isolated from heat soaked engine components allowing immediate and efficient conditioning of airflow into an internal combustion engine. Intelligent control of this device removes parasitic power drains during high demand situations.

Claims

1. A controllable intercooler system, the system comprising:

an engine airflow diverter means for selecting a pathway for engine aspiration;

means for measuring the temperature of an insulated thermally conductive core;

means for regulating the amount of current driving a thermoelectric heater; and

a control means which responds to engine load signal commands by selecting said pathway.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the thermoelectric heater has an associated heat exchanger core and is contained within a thermally insulated shell.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the thermally insulated shell enclosure uses multiple insulating layers of composites improving thermal isolation.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the engine airflow diverter selects between multiple air pathways, which are contained within a single housing.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control device includes means to store computer programs and follow specific algorithms in accordance with stored programs and internal and external sensors.

6. The system according to claim 1, where improved insulation around intercooler core enables improved thermal storage preventing heat or cold losses from the thermally insulated shell thereby providing a reservoir of BTUs.

7. The system according to claim 1, where improved insulation around the core prevents heat soak and resulting temperature increases in the air provided by the intercooler.

8. The system according to claim 1, where separate intakes allow bypassing intercooler core to aid in thermal storage.

9. The system according to claim 1, where the system selects (using diverter butterfly valves) between straight input to engine or intercooler exposure thereby providing the ability to cool (or warm) incoming air by accessing reservoir of BTUs.

10. The system according to claim 1, where the system interfaces with a CPU for reduced emissions.

11. The system according to claim 1, where the system interfaces with the CPU for an improved performance.

12. The system according to claim 1, where the system interfaces with the CPU for an improved drivability.

13. The system according to claim 1, which has means to respond to command signals based on a plurality of sensor data including engine load or air temperatures and then controlling the heating or cooling of the thermoelectric element and the incoming air diverter selection of the air pathway.

14. An apparatus for controlling temperature conditioning of an internal combustion engine intake air, comprising:

means for exchanging heat through a conductive core;

means for selecting from a plurality of pathways for the internal combustion engine intake air;

means to respond to input signal commands by selecting said pathway;

means for reducing thermal transfer by containment of the conductive core within a double walled insulating shell;

means for measuring the temperature of the conductive core; and

means for conditioning which heats or cools the conductive core in response to a changing current or voltage signal.

15. The apparatus for temperature conditioning of an internal combustion engine intake air of claim 14, wherein the apparatus is an intercooler for an internal combustion engine.

16. The apparatus for temperature conditioning of an internal combustion engine intake air according to claim 14, wherein a CPU interface is an engine load determining means for sensing throttle setting or engine load and determining optimum air inlet temperature.

17. The a apparatus for temperature conditioning of an internal combustion engine intake air according to claim 14, wherein the means for selecting pathways is an engine airflow diverter for engine intake air for aspiration.

18. The apparatus for temperature conditioning of an internal combustion engine intake air according to claim 14, wherein the means for temperature-conditioning is a thermoelectric cooler or thermotunneling device.

19. The apparatus for temperature conditioning of an internal combustion engine intake air according to claim 14, wherein the means for temperature-conditioning has a radiator with forced air induction.