INTAKE LINE OF A SUPERCHARGED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH A BURN VALVE

Abstract

The invention relates to an intake line (18) for an internal combustion engine (14) comprising: - an intake air distributor (10) in communication with cylinders of the internal combustion engine (14), - an air filter (11) comprising an unfiltered air inlet and a filtered air outlet, - a turbocharger (12) comprising an air inlet connected to the filtered air outlet and a turbocharged air outlet, - a charge air cooler (15) comprising an inlet connected to the turbocharged air outlet via an upstream duct (16) and an outlet connected to an inlet of the intake air distributor (10) via a downstream duct (17), and - a drain valve (20) suitable for draining water accumulated in the intake line (18) is located at a low point of the charge air cooler (15) or at a low point of the downstream duct (17) connected to the charge air cooler. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: INTAKE LINE OF A SUPERCHARGED INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH A PURGE VALVE

[0001] The present invention relates to an intake line for a turbocharged internal combustion engine equipped with a purge valve. The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the automotive field with intake lines incorporating an air-to-air type charge air cooler.

[0002] In order to increase the power of a gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine, it is common to "supercharge" the cylinders, that is to say, to compress the engine's supply air using a turbocharger.

[0003] However, compressing air causes a rise in its temperature and a change in its density. It is therefore advantageous to cool the compressed air exiting the turbocharger (called charge air) before it is injected into the cylinders, in order to obtain optimal air density and thus better engine efficiency. Charge air cooling is conventionally achieved using a cooler in the form of an air-to-air heat exchanger located in the front of the vehicle.

[0004] Water / air separation at the engine intake is generally ensured by primary devices, such as a gooseneck on the pipes upstream of the air filter, or by the air filter itself. However, in severe cases where the air is very humid, the use of a front-mounted air-to-air intercooler can cause water to accumulate in the intake line, and this water to be drawn into the engine during hard acceleration. The intake of water by the engine then generates abnormal combustion, causing reconfiguration of the combustion parameters, or in the most serious cases, engine fault codes accompanied by the illumination of a warning light on the dashboard.

[0005] The invention aims to effectively remedy the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an intake line for a heat engine comprising: - an intake air distributor intended to be in communication with the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, - an air filter comprising an unfiltered air inlet and a filtered air outlet, - a turbocharger comprising an air inlet connected to the filtered air outlet and a supercharged air outlet, - a charge air cooler comprising an inlet connected to the charge air outlet via an upstream duct and an outlet connected to a intake air distributor inlet via a downstream line, - a purge valve suitable for purging accumulated water in the intake line is located at a low point of the charge air cooler or a low point of the downstream line connected to the charge air cooler.

[0006] The invention thus makes it possible, by means of the drain valve that allows any accumulation of water in the intake line to be evacuated, to prevent any water from being drawn into the internal combustion engine in a very humid environment, due in particular to the climate, heavy rainfall, or driving the vehicle on a poorly drained road. The invention therefore prevents any abnormal combustion (knocking or rumble) that could occur during water intake under full acceleration, as well as the transmission of faults and potential damage to the internal combustion engine.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the purge valve is a normally closed on / off type valve.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, a control module is configured to control an opening of the purge valve when a first purge condition is met whereby an intake air pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control module is configured to control an opening of the purge valve when, in addition to the first purge condition, a second purge condition is met whereby the inlet air pressure is greater than a setpoint pressure.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the charge air cooler has an inlet and an outlet arranged respectively at a high end and a low end of the charge air cooler.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the charge air cooler has an inlet and an outlet arranged at the same vertical level.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the charge air cooler is of the air-to-air type.

[0013] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an intake line as previously defined.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the charge air cooler is located at the front of the motor vehicle.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the intake air distributor includes an inlet for recirculated exhaust gases.

[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given only to illustrate, but in no way limit, the invention.

[0017] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a line supercharged engine intake according to the invention incorporating a purge valve;

[0018] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a supercharged engine intake line according to the invention incorporating a purge valve.

[0019] Identical, similar or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

[0020] Figure 1 shows an intake line 18 for an internal combustion engine 14 comprising an intake air distributor 10 in communication with the cylinders of the internal combustion engine 14. The intake air distributor 10 distributes the air into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine 14. The intake air distributor 10 may include an inlet 19 for recirculated exhaust gases, known in English as EGR for "Exhaust Gas Recirculation". According to this system, a portion of the exhaust gases is recycled back to the intake air distributor 10.

[0021] An air filter 11 has an unfiltered air inlet that can be connected to an air inlet neck opening into the engine compartment or outside the engine compartment and a filtered air outlet.

[0022] A turbocharger 12 has an air inlet connected to the filtered air outlet via a pipe 13 and a supercharged air outlet. A port 13.1 may allow the recovery of crankcase gases from the engine.

[0023] An air-to-air type charge air cooler 15 has an inlet connected to the charge air outlet via an upstream duct 16 and an outlet connected to an inlet of the intake air distributor 10 via a downstream duct 17. The upstream duct 16 and downstream duct 17 can be made in several sections, as illustrated in [Fig.2].

[0024] Thus, outside air is drawn in through the air filter 11 and compressed by the turbocharger 12. This compressed air, called charge air, is directed through the upstream duct 16 to the inlet of the charge air cooler 15 to be cooled. The cooled charge air is directed through the downstream duct 17 from the outlet of the intercooler to the air intake manifold 10.

[0025] Furthermore, a drain valve 20 suitable for draining water accumulated in the intake line 18 is located at a low point in the downstream pipe 17 connected to the charge air cooler 15. The "lowest point" of a given component is understood to be the point of the component that is vertically lowest relative to the ground when the motor vehicle is in its operating position on a horizontal surface. In this case, the drain valve 20 is located at the lowest point of a bend in the downstream pipe 17.

[0026] The drain valve 20 is preferably a normally closed on / off type valve, i.e., it is closed by default and opens only upon activation request from a control module 21. Alternatively, the drain valve 20 can also be a proportional valve in order to purge more gradually and therefore more discreetly the accumulation of water in the intake line 18.

[0027] The control module 21 is configured to control an opening of the purge valve 20 when a first purge condition is met whereby an intake air pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure.

[0028] Advantageously, the control module 21 is configured to open the purge valve 20 when, in addition to the first purge condition, a second purge condition is met whereby the intake air pressure exceeds a setpoint pressure. Thus, the purging of accumulated water in the intake line 10 can be carried out without disrupting the acceleration level desired by the driver. The purging of accumulated water is therefore preferably performed during a driving phase in which the vehicle speed is stabilized or during a driving phase in which an acceleration setpoint is decreasing.

[0029] The control module 21 can take the form of an engine control unit or any other control unit in communication with the engine control unit.

[0030] In the embodiment of [Fig.1], the charge air cooler 15 has an inlet and an outlet arranged respectively at a high end and a low end of the charge air cooler 15.

[0031] In the embodiment of [Fig. 2], the charge air cooler 15 has an inlet and an outlet arranged at the same vertical level. The inlet and outlet of the charge air cooler 15 are thus located in the same horizontal plane. Furthermore, the drain valve 20 is located at a low point of the charge air cooler 15.

[0032] The charge air cooler 15, which is generally rectangular in shape, can be oriented vertically as shown in [Fig. 2]. Alternatively, the charge air cooler 15 can be oriented horizontally. The orientation of the charge air cooler 15 depends on the available space under the hood of the vehicle. In a further variation, the charge air cooler 15 may be square or any other shape that facilitates its integration into the under-hood environment of the vehicle.

[0033] Furthermore, inside the charge air cooler 15, the airflow can flow along parallel channels or along U-shaped channels.

[0034] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising an intake line 10. The charge air cooler 15 is preferably located at the front of the motor vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Intake line (18) for a heat engine (14) comprising: - an intake air distributor (10) intended to be in communication with cylinders of the heat engine (14), - an air filter (11) comprising an unfiltered air inlet and a filtered air outlet, - a turbocharger (12) comprising an air inlet connected to the filtered air outlet and a supercharged air outlet, - a charge air cooler (15) comprising an inlet connected to the supercharged air outlet via an upstream pipe (16) and an outlet connected to an inlet of the intake air distributor (10) via a downstream pipe (17), characterized in that a purge valve (20) capable of purging water accumulated in the intake line (18) is arranged at a low point of the charge air cooler (15) or from a low point of the downstream pipe (17) connected to the charge air cooler (15).

2. Intake line according to claim 1, characterized in that the purge valve (20) is a normally closed all-or-nothing type valve.

3. Intake line according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a control module (21) is configured to control an opening of the purge valve (20) when a first purge condition is met according to which an intake air pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure.

4. Intake line according to claim 3, characterized in that the control module (21) is configured to control an opening of the purge valve (20) when, in addition to the first purge condition, a second purge condition is met according to which the intake air pressure is greater than a set pressure.

5. Intake line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the charge air cooler (15) comprises an inlet and an outlet arranged respectively at an upper end and a lower end of the charge air cooler (15).

6. Intake line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the charge air cooler (15) has an entrance and an exit arranged at the same vertical level.

7. Intake line according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the charge air cooler (15) is of the air-air type.

8. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises an intake line (10) defined according to any one of the preceding claims.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the charge air cooler (15) is arranged on the front face of the motor vehicle.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the intake air distributor (10) has an inlet for recirculated exhaust gases.

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