Patent ID: 8256403

Claim:
In combination: an internal combustion engine having an air intake manifold and at least one combustion chamber for receiving air from the air intake manifold, an apparatus operated by the internal combustion engine for imparting a load on the internal combustion engine, a first power transfer device drivably connecting the internal combustion engine to the apparatus whereby the internal combustion engine operates the apparatus and the apparatus imparts the load on the internal combustion engine, a supercharger having cooperating rotors for supplying air to the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, a second power transfer device drivably connecting the rotors to the internal combustion engine whereby the internal combustion engine operates the supercharger, a sensor for sensing the load on the engine and providing a signal representing the sensed load on the engine, a controller for accommodating the signal from the sensor and providing output command signals, said supercharger including a control apparatus for varying the volume and pressure of the air supplied to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, said control apparatus having at least one movable member movable relative to at least one of the rotors to vary the displacement of the volume of air moved by the rotors and selectively increase or decrease the volume of the air supplied to the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine responsive to the command signals from the controller of the load on the internal combustion engine to boost the rate of the flow of air delivered to the air intake manifold of the internal combustion chamber above the naturally aspirated rate of the flow of air to the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, an actuator operable to move the one member relative to said at least one of the rotors, and a fuel metering apparatus for introducing combustible fuel into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine responsive to the command signals from the controller corresponding to the boost of the rate of the flow of air delivered to the air intake manifold of the internal combustion engine.