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Title: Internal combustion engines equipped with a turbocompressor unit with heating upstream of the turbine and methods of starting up their turbocompressor units
Claims: I claim: 1. In a supercharged internal combustion engine of the expansible chamber type having a turbocompressor unit including at least one compressor having an inlet open to draw in fresh air from the outside atmosphere and at least one turbine for driving said compressor, said engine having a combustion chamber system connected between said compressor and said turbine adapted to be supercharged by said turbocompressor unit, a bypass duct communicating with the outlet of said compressor and with the turbine inlet in parallel air flow relation with said engine combustion chamber system, an auxiliary combustion chamber having an inlet communicating with the compressor via said bypass duct and an outlet communicating with said turbine inlet, said compressor, turbine, bypass duct and auxiliary combustion chamber providing an open airway for said fresh air to flow therein from the compressor inlet to the turbine outlet via said bypass duct and said auxiliary combustion chamber, the combination therewith of a starting device for starting said turbocompressor comprising air moving means located within said open airway upstream of said turbine inlet and operable to develop a motive pressure difference for causing a flow of air in said airway, said flow comprising at least in part a flow of said fresh air from the outside atmosphere into said compressor inlet and through said open airway to said turbine outlet while said compressor, turbine and engine are initially stationary, said flow of air being sufficient to enable operation of said auxiliary combustion chamber to be initiated, and thereafter said air moving means also being operable to maintain said pressure difference once said compressor begins being rotated by said turbine such that said air moving means contributes to an increased circulation of said fresh air from said compressor to said turbine via said airway resulting from the conjoint operation of said air moving means, said auxiliary combustion chamber and said turbine-driven compressor, said air moving means being positioned in said bypass duct, said air moving means comprising an ejector disposed in said open airway and supplied with air under pressure and generating a flow by the effect of induction. 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said starting device includes a compressed air reserve supplying said ejector. 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said starting device includes an auxiliary electric motor driving an auxiliary compressor supplying said ejector. 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 and further including an oil pump driven by an auxiliary electric motor and operable to provide lubrication of the bearings of said turbocompressor unit until said internal combustion engine has started up. 5. The combination set forth in claim 4 and further including a fuel pump driven by said auxiliary electric motor and operable to supply fuel to said auxiliary combustion chamber until said internal combustion engine has started up. 6. The combination set forth in claim 3 and further including an oil pump driven by said auxiliary electric motor and operable to provide lubrication of the bearings of said turbocompressor unit until said internal combustion engine has started up. 7. The combination set forth in claim 3 and further including a fuel pump driven by said auxiliary electric motor and operable to supply fuel to said auxiliary combustion chamber until said internal combustion engine has started up. 8. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said auxiliary compressor sucks in atmospheric air and delivers it into said ejector through a non-return valve. 9. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said auxiliary compressor sucks in its air from the air flow emerging from said compressor of said turbocompressor unit and upstream of said ejector. 10. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said auxiliary compressor is a bladed compressor. 11. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein air moving means is sized such that said motive pressure difference developed thereby is relatively low and less than that required to bring said turbocompressor unit up to self-sustaining operation. 12. A method for starting up a turbocompressor unit of an internal combustion engine wherein said turbocompressor unit has a fuel-fed auxiliary combustion chamber upstream of the turbine and said engine has a bypass duct between the outlet of said compressor and said auxiliary combustion chamber enabling direct and permanent passage of the airflow output of the compressor in bypass relation to the engine, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing an ejector in said bypass duct oriented to direct a flow of air downstream therein, b. generating a pressure difference adapted to create an air flow between said compressor and said turbine through said auxiliary combustion chamber in the direction of said turbine while said compressor, turbine and engine are initially stationary by supplying air under pressure to said ejector to cause air to issue therefrom to thereby induce said air flow c. igniting in said combustion chamber the fuel supplied thereto as soon as said air flow has been established, and d. then maintaining said pressure difference until said turbocompressor has reached self-maintaining speed and can operate with only the energy provided by said auxiliary combustion chamber. Other info: Inventors: Melchior, Jean (Paris, FR) Application Number: 436728 Filing Date: 1974-01-25 Publication_date: 1976-04-13 Assignee: Etat Francais (Paris, FR) Primary Class(es): 60/606 60/619 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs:
Primary Examiner: Croyle, Carlton R. Assistant Examiner: Casaregola, L. J. Attorney: Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & Choate |
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