SUPERCHARGER ASSEMBLY WITH TWO ROTOR SETS

摘要

A supercharger (12) with two separate sets of rotors (22, 24) arranged in parallel with one another is provided in an engine assembly. Both sets of rotors are used to boost air flow during high engine air flow conditions, and only one of the sets of rotors is operable to transfer torque generated by the throttling loss pressure drop as stored energy in a load device during low air flow conditions. The captured throttling losses may be electrical energy stored in a battery via a motor/generator such as during vehicle cruising.

主权项

1. An assembly for controlling air flow to an engine having cylinders, and a throttle in a throttle body positioned in air flow to the cylinders, the assembly comprising:
a supercharger having a first and a second set of rotors arranged in the air flow to the cylinders in series with the throttle and in parallel with one another; a gear arrangement operatively connectable to the supercharger; a load device operatively connectable to the supercharger by the gear arrangement; and controllable valves including a first valve operable to control air flow between an air inlet and an air outlet of the first set of rotors and a second valve operable to control air flow from the outlet of the first set of rotors to the throttle; the first valve, the second valve and the throttle being selectively positionable to allow both sets of rotors to supply boost pressure to the cylinders under a first predetermined engine operating condition and to allow only the second set of rotors to transfer torque due to a pressure differential across the second set of rotors through the gear arrangement to the load device under a second predetermined engine operating condition to thereby recapture throttling losses.