Claims:I claim:
1. A valve manifold (106) for a supercharger (100), comprising:
a flow path (202) in fluid communication with an inlet (112) of said supercharger (100), said valve manifold (106) comprising at least two valves;
a first valve (204) in said flow path (202) to control an first opening (108) of a bypass path from said inlet (112) of said supercharger (100) to an outlet (104) of said supercharger (100);
a second valve (208) in said flow path (202) to control second opening (114) of an EGR path; and
at least one actuator (110) fitted to said first valve (204) and said second valve (208) in a manner such as to control the operation of said first valve (204) and said second valve (208).

2. The valve manifold (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first valve (204) is located at an interface of said bypass path and said flow path (202).

3. The valve manifold (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second valve (208) is located at an interface of said EGR path and said flow path (202).

4. The valve manifold (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two valves are selected from a group comprising a butterfly valve, a poppet valve, a rotary valve, a flap/waste gate type valve and a combination thereof.

5. The valve manifold (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one actuator (110) is selected from a group comprising an electromagnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical and a combination thereof.

6. A supercharger (100), comprising a housing (102) with an inlet (112) and an outlet (104) for the passage of at least one fluid, a bypass path from said inlet (112) to said outlet (104) and an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) path to said inlet (112),
characterized in that:
a valve manifold (106) fitted to said housing (102), said valve manifold (106) comprising at least two valves, a first valve (204) and a second valve (208);
said first valve (204) provided at an interface of a first opening (108) of said bypass path and a flow path (202) of said valve manifold (106) to control flow of said at least one fluid;
said second valve (208) provided at an interface of a second opening (114) of said EGR path and said flow path (202) of said valve manifold (106) to control flow of said at least one fluid, and
at least one actuator (110) fitted to said first valve (204) and said second valve (208) in a manner such as to control operation of said first valve (204) and said second valve (208).

7. The supercharger (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said first valve (204) and said second valve (208) are operated independently or in dependence of each other.

8. The supercharger (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said valve manifold (106) is removable from said housing (102).

9. The supercharger (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least two valves are selected from a group comprising a butterfly valve, a poppet valve, a rotary valve, a flap/waste gate type valve and a combination thereof.

10. The supercharger (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said actuator (110) is selected from a group comprising an electromagnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical and a combination thereof.
, Description:Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a supercharger and specifically relates to supercharger with an integrated valve manifold.
Background of the invention:
[0002] A US patent application US20100065025 discloses an integrated inlet and bypass throttle for positive-displacement supercharged engines. The supercharged engine has a charge air intake and an engine exhaust outlet, a positive displacement supercharger connected to the air intake, a charge air and bypass control valve comprising a rotary body throttle valve including a rotary valve body, a primary air passage and a separate bypass air passage each extending through the rotary body. The primary air passage is fully open in a first rotary position of the rotary body wherein the bypass air passage is closed, and the bypass air passage is fully open in a second rotary position wherein the primary air passage is closed. Airflow through the passages varies in an inverse manner as the rotary body is rotated between the first and second positions, whereby airflow through the control valve is controlled with a single actuator movable through the full range of positions and airflow through the primary and bypass passages is inversely varied.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0003] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a supercharger with a valve manifold, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates the supercharger without the valve manifold, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates the valve manifold for the supercharger, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates the valve manifold without flow path, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0008] Fig. 1 illustrates a supercharger with a valve manifold, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The supercharger 100 comprises a housing 102 with an inlet 112 and an outlet 104 for the passage of at least one fluid such as air, charge air, exhaust gas and the like. The supercharger 100 is shown with an axial inlet and radial outlet, but the supercharger 100 of the present disclosure is applicable for any other configuration of inlet 112 and outlet 104 such as radial inlet and radial outlet, radial inlet and axial outlet and the like. The supercharger 100 also comprises a bypass path (not shown) from the inlet 112 to the outlet 104 and an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) path (not shown) to the inlet 112. The supercharger 100 further comprises a valve manifold 106 fitted to the housing 102 as shown in Fig. 2. The valve manifold 106 comprises at least two valves, a first valve 204 and a second valve 208 as shown in Fig. 3. The at least one fluid passes through the flow path 202 of the valve manifold 106. The first valve 204 is provided at an interface of a first opening 108 of the bypass path and the flow path 202 of the valve manifold 106 to control flow of the at least on fluid from the bypass path. Similarly, the second valve 208 is provided at an interface of a second opening 114 of EGR path and the flow path 202 of the valve manifold 106 to control flow of the at least on fluid from the EGR path.
[0009] The valve manifold 106 comprises a flow path 202. The flow path 202 is in fluid communication with the inlet 112 of the supercharger 100, the bypass path and the EGR path with respective openings as shown in Fig. 3. The first valve 204 is located at an interface of the bypass path and the flow path 202. The second valve 208 is located at an interface of the EGR path and the flow path 202. At least one actuator 110 fitted to the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 in a manner such as to control operation of the first valve 204 and the second valve 208.
[00010] The first valve 204 controls the flow of inlet air required for combustion through the bypass path, and the second valve 208 controls flow of recirculated exhaust gas for reducing emission through the EGR path. A first opening 108 for the bypass path and a second opening 114 for the EGR path is depicted. The first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are operated independently or in dependence of each other.
[00011] The valve manifold 106 is removable from the housing 102, i.e. the valve manifold 106 is removably fitted to the housing 102 of the supercharger 100. Thus providing replacement feature. Alternatively, the valve manifold 106 is permanently fixed to the inlet 112 of the supercharger 100. In the Fig. 1 the valve manifold 106 is shown connected to the supercharger 100 at a surface opposite of the pulleys coupling. The valve manifold 106 is connected at a rear end of the supercharger 100.
[00012] The at least two valves 204, 208 are selected from a group comprising a butterfly valve, a poppet valve, a rotary valve, a flap/ waste gate type valve and a combination thereof. The types of valves are provided for bringing clarity in understanding and must not be understood in limited sense, and thus allows to use other types of valves as known in the art.
[00013] The actuator 110 is selected from a group comprising an electromagnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical and a combination thereof.
[00014] The first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are operated based on the engine condition. For example: During a full load condition or maximum demand, neither air needs to be bypassed nor needs the EGR to be circulated to the engine. Hence, the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are in closed position. Similarly in part or low load conditions, the supercharger 100 may not be required to operate, and therefore the air through bypass path and EGR is provided to the engine. Hence both the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are open. Similarly, the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 is operated in partially open or closed position based on the design of the actuator 110.
[00015] Fig. 2 illustrates the supercharger without the valve manifold, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The supercharger 100 comprises a housing 102 with an inlet 112 and an outlet 104 for the passage of at least one fluid. The supercharger 100 is shown with two rotors but is applicable for one rotor as well. The at least on rotor compresses the fluid from the inlet 112 and provides the compressed fluid at the outlet 104. The outlet is coupled with the intake manifold of an engine of the vehicle.
[00016] Fig. 3 illustrates the valve manifold for the supercharger, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The valve manifold 106 for the supercharger 100, comprises the flow path 202 in fluid communication with the inlet 112 of the supercharger 100, comprising at least two valves. The first valve 204 in the flow path 202 to control a first opening 108 of the bypass path from the inlet 112 of the supercharger 100 to an outlet 104 of the supercharger 100. The second valve 208 is provided in the flow path 202 to control a second opening 114 of the EGR path to the inlet 112. The at least one actuator 110 is fitted to the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 in a manner such as to control the operation of the first valve 204 and the second valve 208.
[00017] The first valve 204 is located at an interface of the bypass path and the flow path 202. Similarly, the second valve 208 is located at an interface of the EGR path and the flow path 202.
[00018] The first valve 204 controls flow of inlet air required for combustion through the bypass path, and the second valve 208 controls flow of recirculated exhaust gas (EGR) for reducing the emission through the EGR path.
[00019] The at least two valves 204 and 208 are selected from a group comprising a butterfly valve, a poppet valve, a rotary valve, a flap/ waste gate type valve and a combination thereof.
[00020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the first valve 204 is a butterfly type valve and the second valve 208 is a poppet valve. The two valves 204 and 208 are actuated independently. Alternately the two valves 204 and 208 are operated in dependence of each other, i.e. the actuator 110 operates the first valve 204, and the second valve 208 is operated in dependence of the first valve 204. The dependence between two valves is brought out by a connection/ link i.e. either an electrical connection or a mechanical connection. In a case where the two valves 204 and 208 are mechanically linked to each other, the mechanical connection is within said flow path 202 or is outside the flow path 202. A disc cam 206 is shown to form the mechanical link.
[00021] The actuator 110 is selected from a group comprising an electromagnetic, hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical, electrical and a combination thereof.
[00022] The first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are operated by the at least one actuator 110 to any one position selected from a group comprising both valves in open position, both valves in closed position and both valves in partially open or partially closed position.
[00023] The operation of first valve 204 and the second valve 208 to control the first opening 108 and the second opening 114 of the bypass path and the EGR path respectively is directly linked to the engine load. Both the valves 204 and 208 are coupled and controlled by driver input. The disc cam 206 controls the lift of the second valve 208 in the EGR path. The disc cam 206 is designed in such a way that at engine full load, both the first valve/ bypass valve 204 and the second valve/ EGR valve 208 are completely closed, and at very low engine load, both the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are completely open. The exact relation between the movement of first valve 204 and the movement of second valve 208 is designed/calibrated based on application and requirement and is not limited to what is explained above.
[00024] Fig. 4 illustrates the valve manifold without flow path, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The Fig. 4 specifically describes a valve assembly within the valve manifold 106. When the first valve 204 moves, the disc cam 206 is moved accordingly. The movement of the disc cam 206 causes a movement of the second valve 208. Though a mechanical connection between the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 is provided, the same must not be understood in the limiting sense. In alternate embodiment, the two valves 204 and 208 are controlled independently from each other. At least two actuators 110, one each for the two valves 204 and 208 are provided.
[00025] In accordance to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the actuator 110 is a mechanical link from an accelerator pedal and/or a brake pedal. Alternatively, a controller based on the input from the accelerator or brake pedal sends a signal to the actuator 110 to operatively control the first valve 204 and the second valve 208.
[00026] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a retrofit valve manifold 106 is provided. An existing inlet air assembly of the supercharger 100 is removed and replaced by the valve manifold 106 of the present disclosure.
[00027] According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a pressurized air supply device is provided in a vehicle. The supercharger 100 receives inlet air from the pressurized air supply device. The first valve 204 of the valve manifold 106 bypasses the charge air directly to an intake manifold/ cylinder of the engine. Thus, the bypass path allows flow of charge air to the engine. The pressurized air supply device is any one of a turbocharger, a pump, a supercharger 100 and the like.
[00028] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first valve 204 and the second valve 208 are integrated in a single flow path 202 and is connected at an inlet 112 of the supercharger housing 102. In accordance to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a supercharger 100 with integrated valve manifold 106 is provided. The valve manifold 106 may also be referred as inlet valve manifold 106. The EGR flow rate and boost pressure is mechanically/electronically controlled thereby reducing system cost. The valve manifold 106 is removably connected to the supercharger 100 by means bolts and other means know in the art. The valve manifold 106 also allows to include more than two valves for passage of other fluids.
[00029] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.