System and method for providing compressed air from an engine

Abstract

A system for directing compressed air from an internal combustion engine that uses a piston cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The piston cylinder compresses the air and sends the air out of the piston cylinder through a port to a storage tank. A valve is located between the piston cylinder and the storage tank to control the flow from the piston cylinder to the storage tank. The stored air may be directed to and used in different components/systems within a vehicle, including the secondary air system.

1 . A system for directing compressed air comprising:
 a piston cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the piston cylinder for compressing air;   a tank for storing the compressed air; and   a valve coupled between the piston cylinder and the tank, the valve controlling a flow of the compressed air from the piston cylinder to the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the piston cylinder further comprises:
 a piston within an internal chamber, the piston compressing air within the internal chamber; and   a port in the piston cylinder that couples the internal chamber to the valve.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein in a closed position the valve stops the flow of the compressed air from the piston cylinder to the tank. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank supplies the compressed air to an apparatus that is part of a vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the apparatus is a secondary air system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tank is a sealed frame rail. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second piston cylinder of the internal combustion engine, the second piston cylinder for compressing secondary air; and   a second valve for controlling a secondary flow of the secondary compressed air from the second piston cylinder to the tank.   
     
     
         8 . A method for supplying compressed air comprising:
 compressing air within a piston cylinder of an internal combustion engine;   directing the compressed air from the piston cylinder through a valve to a tank, the valve controlling a flow of the compressed air from the piston cylinder to the tank; and   storing the compressed air in the tank.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of compressing air within the piston cylinder further comprises:
 compressing air within an internal chamber of the piston cylinder using a piston; and   piping the compressed air out of the internal chamber through a port in the piston cylinder.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein in a closed position the valve stops the flow of the compressed air from the piston cylinder to the tank. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising piping the compressed air from the tank to an apparatus that is part of vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is a secondary air system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tank is a sealed frame rail. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising
 compressing secondary air within a second piston cylinder of the internal combustion engine; and   piping the secondary compressed air from the second piston cylinder through a second valve to the tank.