Hybrid opposed-piston engine system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329996-B2
Application number	US-201715830972-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2017
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

An opposed-piston engine system equipped for full hybrid compressed-air/combustion includes capacity for storing air compressed by the engine during a combustion mode of operation. The hybrid opposed-piston engine system includes a control mechanization for operating the opposed-piston engine in a combustion mode by provision of fuel, in a compressed-air mode by provision of stored compressed air, and in a combustion mode supplemented by provision of stored compressed air. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle equipped with an opposed-piston engine includes storing air compressed by the engine during a combustion mode of operation and operating in the vehicle a compressed-air mode by provision of stored compressed air.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a fuel-injected, opposed-piston engine having at least one ported cylinder, and a pair of pistons disposed in opposition in the cylinder, the method comprising:
compressing air in the cylinder between the opposed pistons during an intake/compression stroke;
releasing compressed air from the cylinder;
storing the released compressed air;
providing fuel and air to the cylinder;
operating the engine in response to combustion of the fuel;
stopping provision of fuel to the engine; and then,
releasing the stored air; and,
operating the engine in response to the released stored compressed air.

2. A method of operating a vehicle equipped with an opposed-piston engine, comprising:
compressing air in a cylinder of the engine;
injecting fuel into the compressed air in the cylinder to operate the engine;
detecting deceleration of the vehicle;
preventing fuel injection into the compressed air in the cylinder in response to the deceleration;
opening a compression-release port located in an intermediate portion of the cylinder to release compressed air from the cylinder; and,
storing the released compressed air in an air storage device.

3. The method of operating a vehicle according to claim 2 , further including:
detecting a pressure difference between compressed air in the cylinder and compressed air stored in the air storage device; and,
closing the compression-release port in response to the pressure difference.

4. The method of operating a vehicle according to claim 3 , further including: resuming fuel injection into the compressed air at the end of the deceleration.

5. The method of operating a vehicle according to claim 4 , further including:
detecting acceleration of the vehicle;
preventing fuel injection into the compressed air in the cylinder in response to the acceleration;
opening the compression-release port in response to the acceleration;
releasing stored compressed air from the air storage device; and
injecting the released compressed air into the cylinder bore through the opened compression-release port.

6. The method of operating a vehicle according to claim 4 , further including braking the vehicle by releasing compressed air from the cylinder by opening the compression-release port.

7. The method of operating a vehicle according to claim 2 , in which the opposed-piston engine is a fuel-injected, two-stroke opposed-piston engine.

Assignees

• Achates Power Inc

Inventors

• Koszewnik John J

Classifications

• F01B7/14

  acting on different main shafts · CPC title

• F04B3/00

  Machines or pumps with pistons coacting within one cylinder, e.g. multi-stage · CPC title

• B60K6/12

  by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator · CPC title

• F02B11/02 Primary

  convertible from fuel-air mixture compression to air compression or vice versa · CPC title

• F02B75/282 Primary

  the pistons having equal strokes · CPC title