Patent ID: 7607503
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: B60K,B60L,B60W,F02B,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an engine mounted in said vehicle and coupled to at least one vehicle wheel for its propulsion and braking, said engine including: (b) providing a control means for controlling the operation of said engine and said vehicle in response to driver's demands and in accordance with a control program incorporated in said control means, (c) providing a gas-transfer means for transferring gas between said at least one primary cylinder and said at least one secondary cylinder, (d) providing a gas exchange controlling means for selectively, variably, and alternatively connecting said at least two cylinders to outside atmosphere and to said gas-transfer means, in timed relation to said engine operation, (e) responding to a demand for a vehicle propulsion force by operating said engine in a mode selected from a set of propulsion modes in accordance with said control program, said set of propulsion modes comprising a two-stage gas-expansion mode, said two-stage gas-expansion mode including the steps of: (1) repeatedly performing a four-stroke internal combustion cycle in said at least one primary cylinder, said four-stroke internal combustion cycle including the steps of: (2) using said gas-transfer means for transferring said pressurized combustion gas from said at least one primary cylinder into said at least one secondary cylinder, said transferring being performed without any increase in said pressurized combustion gas pressure and temperature and without adding additional air and fuel, and (3) repeatedly performing a two-stroke gas-expansion cycle in said at least one secondary cylinder, said two-stroke gas-expansion cycle taking place during one engine revolution and two said two-stroke gas-expansion cycles taking place in said secondary cylinder during time it takes for one four-stroke internal-combustion cycle in said primary cylinder, said two-stroke gas-expansion cycle including the steps of: whereby said further expansion of said combustion gas in said at least one secondary cylinder extracts additional useful energy from said combustion gas without using additional fuel energy, and whereby said engine fuel consumption is reduced.