Exhaust gas control apparatus

Abstract

An exhaust gas control apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders, a turbine, and an exhaust manifold collecting a flow of exhaust gases formed in each cylinder towards the turbine. The exhaust manifold has an inlet port connected to each cylinder and an output port upon which the turbine is secured. The exhaust gas control apparatus includes at least one seal positioned between two adjacent inlet ports, each seal being articulated relative to the exhaust manifold and being capable of sealing one of the two adjacent inlet ports to reduce the internal volume of the exhaust manifold available for the flow of exhaust gas. The apparatus of the invention makes it possible to reduce the internal volume of the exhaust manifold according to the engine cycle. By doing so, most of the kinetic energy of the exhaust gases is channelled towards the turbine; this is in contrast with a traditional exhaust manifold whereby a part of the kinetic and thermal energy of the exhaust gases is dissipated within the internal volume of all the inlet ports of the exhaust manifold.

1 . An exhaust gas control apparatus for an internal combustion engine having at least two cylinders, a turbine, and an exhaust manifold collecting a flow exhaust gases formed in each cylinder towards the turbine, the exhaust manifold having an inlet port connected to each cylinder and an output port upon which the turbine is secured, the exhaust gas control apparatus comprising at least one seal positioned between two adjacent inlet ports, each seal being articulated relative to the exhaust manifold and being adapted to seal one of two adjacent inlet ports to reduce an internal volume of the exhaust manifold available for flow of exhaust gas. 
   
   
       2 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each seal is pivotally connected to the exhaust manifold. 
   
   
       3 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each seal is fixed on one end onto the exhaust manifold between a first and a second adjacent inlet port and open the first inlet port and close the second inlet port upon a discharge of exhaust gases in the first inlet port. 
   
   
       4 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes at least one sealing device pivotally articulated relative to the exhaust manifold and being adapted to seal one of the two adjacent inlet ports. 
   
   
       5 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the sealing device includes two flappers pivotally connected to each other and an elastic element interposed between the two flappers. 
   
   
       6 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus includes a sealing device positioned between two adjacent inlet ports. 
   
   
       7 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the apparatus includes a sealing device positioned between two adjacent inlet ports except between the two adjacent ports opposite the output port. 
   
   
       8 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes at least one valve pivotally articulated relative to the exhaust manifold, the valve being adapted to seal one of the two adjacent inlet ports. 
   
   
       9 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein a valve is positioned between two adjacent inlet ports. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus include a central valve which is opposite the exhaust manifold output port, the central valve being adapted to seal half an internal volume of the exhaust manifold. 
   
   
       11 . The exhaust gas control apparatus according to  claim 10  wherein the central valve can rest on each side of the inlet port to alternatively seal half the internal volume of the exhaust manifold.