The present invention relates to a supercharger for charging an internal combustion engine, having a supercharger chamber which is divided in a gastight manner by a diaphragm.
Different configurations of superchargers are known from the prior art. For example, exhaust gas turbochargers in which charging air of an internal combustion engine is compressed by means of a compressor are known. In this case, the compressor is driven by means of exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine. As an alternative, electrical superchargers in which the compressor is driven by means of an electric motor are also known. However, exhaust gas turbochargers in particular are relatively sluggish at low rotation speeds. Electrical superchargers are relatively expensive and require additional electrical energy for operation. However, there is also a commercial requirement to charge relatively small internal combustion engines, having one or two cylinders, with fresh air in order to obtain the known advantages in respect of consumption and torque. However, small internal combustion engines of this kind require in particular a cost-effective and robust supercharger.
The supercharger according to the invention of an internal combustion engine having the features of claim 1 has the advantages of very cost-effective production and very simple design over said prior art.
Furthermore, the supercharger according to the invention is very robust and suitable for use in small internal combustion engines in particular. Furthermore, a very high level of dynamics of the supercharger can be achieved according to the invention since synchronous-cycle boost pressure build-up is possible. In this case, the supercharger according to the invention has a high charging potential. In comparison to exhaust gas turbochargers, the supercharger according to the invention further has the advantage that there is no increase in an exhaust gas counterpressure and therefore a very good degree of system efficiency can be achieved. In this case, the supercharger according to the invention further exhibits only low mechanical friction losses too. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the supercharger for charging has a supercharger chamber and a diaphragm which is arranged in the supercharger chamber. The diaphragm subdivides the supercharger chamber into an intake chamber and an exhaust gas chamber, said chambers being separated from one another in a gastight manner by the diaphragm. An inlet valve and an outlet valve for fresh air are arranged on the intake chamber. The exhaust gas chamber is connected to an exhaust gas line. An electrically operable actuator which is connected to the diaphragm in the supercharger chamber is further provided. In this case, the electrical actuator changes a resonant frequency of the diaphragm. As a result, the resonant frequency of the diaphragm can be matched to the respectively existing operating states of the internal combustion engine, so that fresh air can be supplied to the internal combustion engine in an optimum manner.
The dependent claims describe preferred developments of the invention.
The actuator preferably comprises an electrically operable electrical spring element, it being possible to vary the spring stiffness of said electrical spring element. According to the invention, an electrical spring element is understood to mean a spring system which can be electrically influenced in this case. The spring system which can be electrically influenced preferably comprises a diaphragm spring and a permanent-magnet spring connected in parallel or a diaphragm spring and a solenoid spring connected in parallel. As a result, a resonant frequency of the diaphragm can be changed in a simple and reliable manner.
Therefore, according to the invention, the resonant frequency of the diaphragm is changed in order for the resonant frequency of the diaphragm to track a state of an internal combustion engine. In this case, the resonant frequency of the diaphragm particularly preferably tracks the combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine. In this case, tracking of the resonant frequency of the diaphragm is preferably performed in such a way that the diaphragm oscillates at the resonance point or close to the resonance point, preferably in a range of ±20%, in particular ±10%, of the resonance point.
Since the resonant frequency of the diaphragm changes as the respective operating conditions of the internal combustion engine change, a control unit preferably enables the resonant frequency of the diaphragm to be deliberately changed in order to allow said diaphragm to oscillate as close as possible to its resonant frequency. Energy or power consumption at or close to the resonance point of the diaphragm can then be at a maximum here. Since a resonant frequency of a spring-mass oscillator is proportional to a root of a quotient of a spring constant in relation to an oscillating mass (D/m)0.5, a stiffness of the electrical spring element varies since a mass of the oscillation system according to the invention, comprising the diaphragm, is constant.
The electrical spring element particularly preferably comprises an armature and at least one coil, wherein the armature is connected to the diaphragm. Therefore, a movement response of the armature can be influenced by applying current to the coil, as a result of which a stiffness of the electrical spring element can be varied. The higher the current, the higher the spring action. At both dead centers of the diaphragm and, respectively, of the armature, the restoring force increases, corresponding to a relatively high spring stiffness. Therefore, the resonant frequency increases as the application of current increases.
The electrical spring element particularly preferably comprises a stationary permanent-magnet element, in particular a permanent-magnet sleeve, and a short-circuiting element, which can be displaced in an axial direction of the actuator, in particular a short-circuiting sleeve. In this case, the short-circuiting element serves for the purpose of changing a magnetic flux by a position of the short-circuiting element relative to the permanent-magnet element of the electrical spring element being varied. Therefore, when current is applied to the coil, a position of the short-circuiting element is varied, so that an ability of an armature to move relative to the short-circuiting element changes since a magnetic flux through the armature has changed. Therefore, a different oscillation response of the diaphragm which is connected to the armature can be achieved. This design is particularly simple and cost-effective and, in particular, requires little maintenance in this case.
The actuator preferably displaces the short-circuiting element only between a first and a second extreme position. As a result, very simple, cost-effective and robust control of the actuator can be achieved.
Furthermore, current is preferably applied continuously to the coil of the actuator during operation. This likewise permits simple control of the actuator. In this case, the position of the short-circuiting element is preferably changed by changing an intensity with which current is applied to the actuator.
According to an alternative refinement of the present invention, the control unit is designed to apply current cyclically to the coil. In this case, cyclical current application particularly preferably follows a cyclical combustion process of the internal combustion engine. As a result, the oscillation response of the diaphragm can be stiffer or more elastic and therefore a different oscillation response can be set in a targeted manner in each case. In the process, the cyclical current application is selected in such a way that the oscillation response is as close as possible to the resonant frequency at the present operating time of the internal combustion engine.
According to a further preferred refinement of the invention, the control unit is designed to apply current constantly to the coil of the electrical spring element and to superimpose a cyclical current application operation on the constant current application operation. As a result, the resonant frequency of the diaphragm can be matched in a particularly accurate manner to the operating states respectively prevailing in the internal combustion engine. In this way, the resonant frequency can be passed out of the exhaust gas tract as close as possible to the excitation frequency by a permanent current application component while, at the same time, the synchronous-cycle current component (superimposed direct current pulse) additionally excites the system in order to further increase the amplitude and therefore the pumping action of the diaphragm and therefore the charging pressure.
The control unit is preferably designed to apply current to the coil synchronously to an internal combustion engine cycle in order to change, in particular to increase, an oscillation amplitude of the diaphragm without influencing the resonant frequency. In this way, electrical energy is used not only for control purposes but also for charging purposes (diaphragm pump with electric drive).
The control unit is further preferably designed to operate the actuator in such a way that current is applied to the coil based on an ignition frequency of the internal combustion engine, or corresponds as far as possible to the ignition frequency of the internal combustion engine. In this way, the diaphragm can have an increasing stiffness as the ignition frequency increases and therefore can be matched to the changing operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. In a first approximation, a current which is supplied to the actuator is proportional to a square of a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine and the mass of the oscillation response in this case.
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The control unit is further preferably designed to operate the actuator in such a way that current is applied to the coil based on a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine. Therefore, the resonant frequency is ascertained depending on the rotation speed of the internal combustion engine, and therefore very simple control of the actuator is possible.
For a refinement of the supercharger which is as cost-effective as possible, the inlet valve and/or the outlet valve for the fresh air are/is preferably in the form of non-return valves.
For improved robustness, the diaphragm is preferably provided in the form of a stainless steel diaphragm. As a result, high exhaust gas temperatures can also be permitted without damage to the supercharger according to the invention.
Signals of a crankshaft angle sensor which is usually present in any case are preferably used for the purpose of detecting a rotation speed of the internal combustion engine.
The electrical spring element particularly preferably comprises an electrical resonant circuit with a coil and a capacitor (LC resonant circuit). The LC resonant circuit preferably has a variable capacitance of the capacitor and/or a variable inductance of the coil. A plurality of capacitors which can be discretely switched and/or coil taps, which can be differently switched, on the coil are particularly preferably provided here. In this case, a resonant frequency of the LC resonant circuit preferably closely tracks an ignition frequency of the internal combustion engine. In particular, synchronous-phase current application to the electrical spring element can be performed by means of the LC resonant circuit. A movement phase of the diaphragm can be amplified in accordance with a current direction, for example by pulse-width-modulated DC current pulses. As an alternative, alternating current pulses with the same sense can also be used. Synchronization of the cyclical electrical assistance means can be performed, for example, by means of current sensing and/or by means of armature stroke sensing and/or based on a crankshaft angle. Since a crankshaft angle is usually precisely known in any case in a control unit of an internal combustion engine, control of the supercharger is preferably integrated in the control means of the internal combustion engine. Therefore, assistance and energy absorption of the diaphragm by the pressure waves in the exhaust gas system can be improved in a targeted manner since a resonant frequency of the diaphragm tracks the ignition frequency of the internal combustion engine as far as possible. Therefore, only a low amount of additional electrical energy is required.
The present invention further relates to an internal combustion engine, in particular to a small internal combustion engine with one or two or three cylinders, comprising a supercharger according to the invention. The internal combustion engine according to the invention is particularly preferably used in small vehicles, in particular two-wheeled vehicles or three-wheeled vehicles or quadbikes or snowmobiles or the like. In this case, the supercharger according to the invention can be used both in direct-injection internal combustion engines and also in intake manifold injection systems.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. Identical or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols in said drawing, in which:
A supercharger 1 according to a first preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to
The supercharger 1 according to the invention is now arranged in the fresh air line 106, as schematically shown in
The supercharger 1 is illustrated in detail in figures and 3. As is clear from
Furthermore, an electrically operable actuator 7 which comprises an electrical spring element 71 with an armature 8, a permanent-magnet sleeve 11 and a short-circuiting sleeve 12, is provided. The armature 8 is connected to the diaphragm 3 by means of a rod 9.
In this case, as is clear from
Furthermore, the short-circuiting sleeve 12 is arranged on the outer circumference of the permanent-magnet sleeve 11. The short-circuiting sleeve 12 can likewise be moved in axial direction X-X.
As is clear from
Furthermore, a control unit 70 which is designed to actuate the electrically operable actuator 7 is provided. The control unit 70 is further connected to the spark plug 103, as is clear from
The functioning of the supercharger 1 according to the invention is as follows in this case. The exhaust gas chamber 22 of the supercharger 1 is connected to the exhaust gas line 107 by the line branch 107-1. As a result, exhaust gas pressure surges are transmitted to the diaphragm 3 by means of the exhaust gas chamber 22. The fresh air which is arranged in the intake chamber is compressed in this way and is then pushed out into the fresh air line 106 via the outlet valve 5. Owing to the inherent elasticity of the diaphragm 3, said diaphragm automatically returns to its starting position again. In the process, fresh air is drawn from the line section 106-1, via the inlet valve, into the intake chamber 21.
In order to ensure as high as possible an energy absorption of the oscillation system which comprises the diaphragm 3 and the armature 8, the diaphragm 3 should oscillate as far as possible at its resonant frequency or in a range close to the resonant frequency, preferably +/−20% of the resonant frequency. According to the invention, a position of the short-circuiting sleeve 12 can then be changed by the actuator 7. A spring stiffness of the electrical spring element 71 is changed in this way.
As shown by comparing
The control unit 70 is then designed in such a way that, based on an ignition frequency which can be easily detected by means of the connection to the spark plug 103, a corresponding resonant frequency of the diaphragm 3 is also set. In this case,
Therefore, more or less magnetic flux through the armature 8 can be set in a simple manner by changing a position of the short-circuiting sleeve 12, as a result of which a spring action of the electrical spring element 71 is varied. The armature 8 is likewise in the form of a permanent magnet.
Here, the rotation speed can be ascertained, for example, by means of a crankshaft sensor which is usually present in internal combustion engines in any case. As a result, no additional components are required for ascertaining the rotation speed. Based on the rotation speed, the control unit 70 is then designed to apply current to the coil 10.
Furthermore, it is also possible for current to be applied continuously to the coil 10 and for a cyclical current application operation to be superimposed on the continuous current application in order to change the resonant frequency of the diaphragm 3.
It should once again be noted with respect to both exemplary embodiments that the control unit 70 is designed in such a way that the diaphragm 3 can always be operated in or close to a resonant frequency as far as possible during operation. As a result, energy absorption by means of the diaphragm is at the maximum, so that the exhaust gas surge can be used in an optimum manner for the purpose of compressing the fresh air in the intake chamber 21. It should further be noted that controlled valves can of course also be used instead of the inlet valves 4 and outlet valves 5 which are in the form of non-return valves. However, the costs of the supercharger 1 will be increased as a result of this.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2015 217 340.2 | Sep 2015 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2016/067278 | 7/20/2016 | WO | 00 |