The present invention relates to a gas feeding arrangement. Moreover, the present invention relates to a cylinder head assembly, an internal combustion engine and a vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for feeding gas from an internal combustion engine cylinder chamber to a gas tank. Additionally, the present invention relates to a computer program, a computer readable and a control unit.
The invention can be applied in heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses and construction equipment. Although the invention will be described with respect to a truck, the invention is not restricted to this particular vehicle, but may also be used in other vehicles such as buses, construction equipment or seagoing vessels such as boats. Moreover, the present invention may be used in an internal combustion engine not necessarily being located in or on a vehicle.
An internal combustion engine, or a component associated with an internal combustion engine, such as a vehicle component, may need to be supplied with pressurized air. For instance, pressurized air may be used for the suspension of a vehicle. As another alternative, pressurized air may be fed to an internal combustion engine cylinder chamber in addition to air fed from an air inlet system of an internal combustion engine. For instance, when an internal combustion engine is operated at a low engine speed and/or at low load, it may be desired to add pressurized air to the cylinder chamber from a source of pressurized air in order to improve the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
An example of a source of pressurized air may be a gas tank adapted to receive, store and discharge pressurized air. In order to supply pressurized air to such a gas tank, a cylinder chamber of the internal combustion engine, such as a cylinder combustion chamber thereof, may be used.
An example of a gas tank being supplied with pressurized air from an internal combustion chamber is illustrated in FR 26885769. The system presented in '769 comprises a gas tank, a cylinder chamber and a valve for controlling the fluid communication between the gas tank and the cylinder chamber. However, the '769 system requires a precise control thereof in order to avoid pressurized air being inadvertently directed to other components, such as an exhaust system, of the '769 internal combustion engine.
It is desirable to provide a gas feeding arrangement for feeding gas from an internal combustion engine cylinder chamber to a gas tank, which gas feeding arrangement is associated with a low risk of directing pressurized air to undesired components.
As such, an aspect of the present invention relates to a gas feeding arrangement for feeding gas from an internal combustion engine cylinder chamber to a gas tank. The gas feeding arrangement comprises a feeding conduit assembly and a dedicated feeding valve. The feeding valve is adapted to assume an open condition in which it provides for gas transport in a direction from the cylinder chamber towards the gas tank, via the feeding conduit assembly.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the gas feeding arrangement comprises a one-way valve adapted to prevent gas transport from the gas tank to the cylinder chamber, via the feeding conduit assembly.
As used herein, the feature “one-way valve” is intended to encompass a valve that allows fluid, such as gas, to flow through it in only one direction. For instance, a one-way valve may be exemplified by a check valve, such as a ball check valve.
The above-mentioned one-way valve implies that there is a low risk that gas, such as air, retained in the gas tank will inadvertently be redirected back to the cylinder chamber, via the feeding conduit assembly. This in turn implies that the dedicated feeding valve need not necessarily be controlled such that the condition of the dedicated feeding valve is fully dependent on the condition of an intake valve and/or an exhaust valve. This in turn implies that the dedicated feeding valve may for instance be controlled independently of the condition of the inlet valve and/or the exhaust valve. Consequently, the feeding valve may be controlled with a focus on feeding gas, such as air, to the gas tank.
Optionally, the feeding valve is adapted for being arranged in a cylinder head and comprises a moveable valve member adapted for being arranged for movement relative to a valve seat for opening and closing, respectively, the feeding valve.
Optionally, the valve member is adapted for a linear movement between the open condition and a closed condition.
Optionally, the moveable valve member comprises a valve head adapted for contacting the valve seat and an elongated valve stem extending from the valve head.
Optionally, the one-way valve is arranged downstream of the gas feeding valve in a direction from the cylinder chamber towards the gas tank. Such a position of the one-way valve implies that the one-way valve may be implemented and/or positioned in a versatile manner.
Optionally, when the feeding valve assumes the open condition, the gas feeding arrangement is adapted to only provide fluid transport from the cylinder chamber to the gas tank, via the feeding conduit assembly. Such a dedicated fluid transport implies that the air fed to the gas tank may be appropriately clean, i.e. appropriately free from pollutants. Moreover, such a dedicated fluid transport also implies that the gas feeding to the gas tank may be controlled by the actuation of a limited number of control members, such as valves.
Optionally, the feeding valve is an electrically controlled valve, preferably the feeding valve is a solenoid valve. An electrically controlled valve implies that the feeding valve may be controlled in a flexible manner, for instance without necessarily having to take the condition of any intake valve and/or exhaust valve into account.
Optionally, the feeding valve is a poppet valve. A poppet valve implies an appropriate durability against large pressures that may occur in a cylinder chamber, such as a cylinder combustion chamber, of an internal combustion engine.
Optionally, the feeding conduit assembly comprises a gas filter. The gas filter implies that the gas, usually mostly comprising air, fed from the cylinder chamber is cleaned from pollutants, such as oil, before it reaches the gas tank. This is particularly useful if the gas supplied to the gas tank is intended to be directed to another component than an inlet system of an internal combustion engine.
Optionally, the feeding valve is adapted to be in constant fluid communication with the cylinder chamber. A constant fluid communication implies that the fluid communication between the cylinder chamber and the gas tank can be controlled in an expedient manner.
Optionally, the gas tank is a closable vehicle pressure tank.
Optionally, the gas feeding arrangement is for feeding gas from an internal combustion engine cylinder combustion chamber.
A second aspect of the present invention relates to a cylinder head assembly for an internal combustion engine, wherein the cylinder head assembly comprises a gas feeding arrangement according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Optionally, the cylinder head assembly comprises a head surface adapted to at least partially define the cylinder chamber, the feeding valve being arranged with respect to the head surface such that the feeding valve is adapted not to extend into a portion of the cylinder chamber adapted to accommodate a piston. In other words, the feeding valve is adapted not to extend into a swept volume of the cylinder chamber. The ability not to extend into the above portion of the cylinder chamber implies that the feeding valve can be open throughout the stroke of the piston and this in turn implies an improved versatility of the control of the fluid communication between the cylinder chamber and the gas tank.
Optionally, the cylinder head assembly comprises at least one exhaust valve adapted to selectively provide fluid communication between the cylinder chamber and an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The feeding valve is arranged separate from the at least one exhaust valve.
Optionally, the cylinder head assembly comprises an inlet valve adapted to selectively provide fluid communication between an air inlet system of the internal combustion engine and the cylinder combustion chamber. The feeding valve is arranged separate from the at least one inlet valve.
Optionally, the gas feeding arrangement is adapted to provide gas transport from the cylinder chamber to the gas tank, via the feeding conduit assembly, when the feeding valve assumes the open condition, independently of the operating state of the exhaust valve.
Optionally, the cylinder head assembly comprises a gas discharge conduit assembly adapted to provide a selective fluid communication between the gas tank and a gas discharge valve arrangement adapted to discharge into the cylinder chamber. As such, the gas, usually air, stored in the gas tank may be fed to the cylinder chamber to thereby improve the combustion in the cylinder chamber, for instance when the internal combustion engine is operating at low engine speeds and/or and low load.
Optionally, the gas discharge conduit assembly comprises a discharge control valve, preferably the discharge control valve being electronically controlled.
Optionally, the inlet valve comprises an inlet valve member moveable relative to a valve seat to thereby control the fluid communication between the air inlet system and the cylinder chamber via the inlet valve. The gas discharge conduit assembly is in fluid communication with a valve passage extending through at least a portion of the inlet valve member for supplying gas from the gas tank to the cylinder chamber. The gas discharge valve arrangement comprises a gas discharge valve arrangement member moveable relative to the inlet valve member.
Optionally, the cylinder head assembly comprises a cold side adapted to be located adjacent the air inlet system, the feeding valve being located in the cold side. Preferably, the feeding valve may be located closer to an inlet valve than to an exhaust valve of the cylinder head assembly.
A third aspect of the present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising a gas feeding arrangement according to the first aspect of the present invention and/or a cylinder head assembly according to the second aspect of the present invention. The internal combustion engine comprises the cylinder chamber and the gas tank.
Optionally, the cylinder chamber is a cylinder combustion chamber.
A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle comprising a gas feeding arrangement according to the first aspect of the present invention and/or a cylinder head assembly according to the second aspect of the present invention and/or an internal combustion engine according to the third aspect of the present invention.
A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a method for feeding gas from an internal combustion engine cylinder chamber to a gas tank using a gas feeding arrangement comprising a feeding conduit assembly and a dedicated feeding valve. The gas feeding arrangement comprises a one-way valve adapted to prevent gas transport from the gas tank to the cylinder chamber, via the feeding conduit assembly. The method comprises controlling the feeding valve so as to assume an open condition in which the gas feeding arrangement is adapted to provide gas transport from the cylinder chamber to the gas tank, via the feeding conduit assembly.
Optionally, the cylinder chamber is a cylinder combustion chamber, adapted to receive fuel, the method comprising preventing fuel supply to the cylinder chamber when the feeding valve assumes the open condition.
Optionally, the method comprises alternately keeping the feeding valve in the open condition for a predetermined open time and keeping the feeding valve in a closed condition, preventing gas transport from the cylinder chamber to the gas tank, for a predetermined close time.
Optionally, the predetermined close time is at least two times greater, alternatively at least three times greater, than the predetermined open time.
Optionally, the predetermined open time is within the range of 0.1 to 3 seconds, preferably 0.5 to 2 seconds, and the predetermined close time is within the range of 0.5 to 8 seconds, preferably 1.5 to 7 seconds.
Optionally, the feeding valve is in constant fluid communication with the cylinder chamber.
A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of the fifth aspect of the present invention when the program is run on a computer.
A seventh aspect of the present invention relates to a computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of the fifth aspect of the present invention when the program product is run on a computer.
An eight aspect of the present invention relates to a control unit for controlling gas feeding from an internal combustion engine cylinder chamber to a closable gas tank, the control unit being configured to perform the steps of the method of the fifth aspect of the present invention
Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.
With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.
In the drawings:
The invention will be described below for a vehicle in the form of a truck 10 such as the truck illustrated in
The
Although only one cylinder chamber 14 is illustrated in
Moreover,
The
In the embodiment illustrated in
Purely by way of example, the gas discharge valve arrangement 36 may be electronically controlled. To this end, and as is illustrated in
In order to feed gas, preferably air, to the gas tank 32, the internal combustion engine 12 preferably comprises a gas feeding arrangement 48 for feeding gas from the cylinder chamber 14 to the gas tank 32. As may be gleaned from
Moreover, as is indicated in
Purely by way of example, and as is indicated in
Moreover, as is indicated in
As is exemplified in
Moreover, as is indicated in
The
Purely by way of example, the cylinder head assembly 18, and in particular the cylinder head 19, comprises a cold side adapted to be located adjacent the air inlet system (not shown in
The valve member 56 may be adapted for linear movement between the open condition and a closed condition. With reference to the
As another example, and as is indicated in
The feeding valve 52 may be an electrically controlled valve, preferably the feeding valve 52 is a solenoid valve. The
As a non-limiting example, the feeding valve 52 may be adapted to be in constant fluid communication with the cylinder chamber 14. In the
Purely by way of example, the one-way valve 54 of the gas feeding arrangement 50 may be arranged downstream of the gas feeding valve 52 in a direction from the cylinder chamber 14 towards the gas tank 32. In the
As is indicated in
As another non-limiting example, the feeding conduit assembly 50 may comprise a gas filter 74. As is exemplified in the
Furthermore,
The
As a non-limiting example, the method may comprise alternately keeping the feeding valve in the open condition for a predetermined open time and keeping the feeding valve in a closed condition, preventing gas transport from the cylinder chamber 14 to the gas tank 32, for a predetermined close time. Purely by way of example, the predetermined close time may be at least two times greater, alternatively at least three times greater, than the predetermined open time.
As a further non-limiting example, the predetermined open time may be within the range of 0.1 to 3 seconds, preferably 0.5 to 2 seconds, and the predetermined close time is within the range of 0.5 to 8 seconds, preferably 1.5 to 7 seconds.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/082467 | 12/22/2016 | WO | 00 |