INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE INTAKE POWER BOOSTER SYSTEM
An internal combustion engine includes an intake conduit fluidically coupled to ambient fluid and having an internal cross-sectional area and an engine cylinder fluidically coupled to the intake conduit. A fluidic amplifier is disposed within the intake conduit and is fluidically coupled to the ambient fluid and engine cylinder. The amplifier is further fluidically coupled to a source of primary fluid and is configured to introduce the primary fluid and at least a portion of the ambient fluid to the engine cylinder.
1 . An internal combustion engine, comprising:
an intake conduit fluidically coupled to ambient fluid and having an internal cross-sectional area;
an engine cylinder fluidically coupled to the intake conduit; and
a fluidic amplifier disposed within the intake conduit, the amplifier fluidically coupled to the ambient fluid and engine cylinder, the amplifier further fluidically coupled to a source of primary fluid, the amplifier configured to introduce the primary fluid and at least a portion of the ambient fluid to the engine cylinder.
2 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier occupies less than the internal cross- sectional area of the intake conduit.
3 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier comprises:
a convex surface;
a diffusing structure coupled to the convex surface; and
an intake structure coupled to the convex surface and configured to introduce to the diffusing structure the primary fluid, wherein the diffusing structure comprises a terminal end configured to provide egress from the amplifier for the introduced primary fluid and ambient fluid.
4 . The engine of claim 3 , wherein the convex surface includes a plurality of recesses.
5 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier is configured to introduce the primary fluid in a pulsed manner at a predetermined frequency.
6 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the primary-fluid source comprises an exhaust manifold fluidically coupled to the engine cylinder such that the primary fluid comprises exhaust gas from the engine cylinder.
7 . The engine of claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir fluidically coupled to the primary-fluid source, the reservoir containing at least one of a combustion-enhancing fuel or chemical.
8 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the primary fluid source comprises at least one of a mechanically or turbine-driven compressor.
9 . A method of enhancing the performance of an internal combustion engine, the engine having an intake conduit fluidically coupled to ambient fluid and having an internal cross-sectional area, the engine further having a cylinder fluidically coupled to the intake conduit, the method comprising the steps of:
positioning a fluidic amplifier within the intake conduit, such that the amplifier is fluidically coupled to the ambient fluid and engine cylinder; and
fluidically coupling a source of primary fluid to the amplifier, the amplifier configured to introduce the primary fluid and at least a portion of the ambient fluid to the engine cylinder.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the amplifier occupies less than the internal cross-sectional area of the intake conduit.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the amplifier comprises:
a convex surface;
a diffusing structure coupled to the convex surface; and
an intake structure coupled to the convex surface and configured to introduce to the diffusing structure the primary fluid, wherein the diffusing structure comprises a terminal end configured to provide egress from the amplifier for the introduced primary fluid and ambient fluid.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the convex surface includes a plurality of recesses.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the amplifier is configured to introduce the primary fluid in a pulsed manner at a predetermined frequency.
14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of fluidically coupling an exhaust manifold of the engine to the intake conduit such that the primary fluid comprises exhaust gas from the engine cylinder.
15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of fluidically coupling a reservoir to the primary-fluid source, the reservoir containing at least one of a combustion-enhancing fuel or chemical.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the primary fluid source comprises at least one of a mechanically or turbine-driven compressor.