Patent ID: 7464675
Filing Date: 2008-12-16
Classification: B60K,F01B,F01L,F02B,F02D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a wheeled 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 an air-reservoir means mounted in said vehicle for receiving, storage, and discharge of compressed air, (c) 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, (d) providing a gas-exchange controlling means for connecting said engine to outside atmosphere and to said air-reservoir means, said gas-exchange controlling means including a valve means for accommodating gas flow into and out of said cylinder chamber, said valve means including a plurality of valves in each engine cylinder, (e) providing a camshaft means for operating said valve means, said camshaft means comprising a plurality of cam lobes including a set of primary cam lobes and a set of auxiliary cam lobes, (f) providing an activator means for selectively and alternatively activating and deactivating cam lobes selected from said plurality of cam lobes, and for selectively and alternatively setting operation of said valve means into a mode selected from a set of activating modes including: (g) providing a phase-shifter means for varying and setting phase relationship between said camshaft means and said engine crankshaft, (h) selectively and alternatively operating said engine in a mode selected from a set of operational modes including a primary operational mode wherein said engine operates as a conventional internal-combustion engine, and an auxiliary operational mode, said auxiliary operational mode comprising the steps of: (i) operating said valve means in said primary activating mode when said engine operates in said primary operational mode, and operating said valve means in said auxiliary activating mode when said engine operates in said auxiliary operational mode, and (j) varying timing of opening of said plurality of valves relative to a reference position of said piston in accordance with said control program incorporated in said control means, whereby air compression and air expansion in said cylinder chamber are controlled as required to satisfy driver's demands and in accordance with said control program.