Hybrid opposed-piston engine system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9915188-B2
Application number	US-201615042422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2016
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

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

The invention claimed is:

1. A hybrid engine system; comprising:
an opposed-piston engine with at least one cylinder having piston-controlled exhaust and intake ports, a charge air channel to provide air to at least one intake port, an exhaust channel to remove exhaust gas from at least one exhaust port, a fuel system to deliver fuel for combustion in the cylinder; and a compression-release port in fluid communication with the cylinder bore;
an air storage device;
a bidirectional air transport channel connecting the air storage device with the compression release port, the bidirectional air transport channel comprising a braking valve connected to the bidirectional air transport channel; and,
an engine control unit programmed to cause the bidirectional air transport channel to transport compressed air between the air storage device and the compression release port and further programmed to cause the braking valve to couple the bidirectional air transport channel to the exhaust channel to either store compressed air in the air storage device or inject compressed air between the pistons.

2. The hybrid engine system of claim 1 ; in which the bidirectional air transport channel comprises a compression-release valve mounted in the compression release port, a transport channel in fluid communication with the compression-release valve, and a storage valve in fluid communication with the transport channel and connected to the air storage device.

3. The hybrid engine system of claim 2 , in which the storage valve is further connected to the charge air channel and the engine control unit is further programmed to cause the storage valve to couple the air storage device to the charge air channel.

4. The hybrid engine system of claim 1 , in which the opposed-piston engine is a two-stroke, fuel-injected opposed-piston engine.

5. The hybrid engine system of claim 1 , in which the opposed-piston engine includes one, two, or three or more crankshafts.

6. The hybrid engine system of claim 1 , in which the opposed-piston engine includes one, two, or three or more ported cylinders.

7. The hybrid engine system of claim 6 , in which the opposed-piston engine is a two-stroke, fuel-injected opposed-piston engine.

8. The hybrid engine system of claim 7 , in which the opposed-piston engine includes one, two, or three or more crankshafts.

9. A hybrid engine system, comprising:
an opposed-piston engine with at least one cylinder having piston-controlled exhaust and intake ports, a charge air channel to provide air to at least one intake port, an exhaust channel to remove exhaust gas from at least one exhaust port, a fuel system to deliver fuel for combustion in the cylinder, and a compression-release port in fluid communication with the cylinder bore;
an air storage device;
a bidirectional air transport channel connecting the air storage device with the compression release port; and,
an engine control unit programmed to cause the bidirectional air transport channel to transport compressed air between the air storage device and the compression release port to either store compressed air in the air storage device or inject compressed air between the pistons,

wherein the bidirectional air transport channel comprises a compression-release valve mounted in the compression release port, a transport channel in fluid communication with the compression-release valve, and a storage valve in fluid communication with the transport channel and connected to the air storage device.

10. The hybrid engine system of claim 9 , in which the storage valve is further connected to the charge air channel and the engine control unit is further programmed to cause the storage valve to couple the air storage device to the charge air channel.

11. The hybrid engine system of claim 9 , in which the opposed-piston engine is a two-stroke, fuel-injected opposed-piston engine.

12. The hybrid engine system of claim 9 , in which the opposed-piston engine includes one, two, or three or more crankshafts.

13. The hybrid engine system of claim 9 , in which the opposed-piston engine includes one, two, or three or more ported cylinders.

14. The hybrid engine system of claim 13 , in which the opposed-piston engine is a two-stroke, fuel-injected opposed-piston engine.

15. The hybrid engine system of claim 14 , in which the opposed-piston engine includes one, two, or three or more crankshafts.

Assignees

• Achates Power Inc

Inventors

• Koszewnik John J

Classifications

• F04B3/00

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

• Y02T10/146

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60K6/12

  by means of a chargeable fluidic accumulator · CPC title

• F01B7/14

  acting on different main shafts · CPC title

• F02B75/282 Primary

  the pistons having equal strokes · CPC title