Supercharger-based twin charging system for an engine

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to dual compression engine boosting systems utilizing both a turbocharger and a supercharger and control systems relating to relative activation and deactivation of the boosting devices. Various Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) configurations are also disclosed for the dual compression engine boosting systems.

1 . An engine boosting system including a supercharger, the engine boosting system comprising:
 a supercharger clutch for operably engaging or disengaging the supercharger with a crankshaft of the engine;   a transmission for the engine configured to selectively operably engage a driveshaft of a vehicle to the crankshaft of the engine; and   a control system that is configured to time engagement and disengagement of the supercharger with the crankshaft of the engine via the supercharger clutch during a transmission shift event, wherein the transmission shift event is defined by either a transmission master clutch shift event or a transmission gear shift event.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the engine boosting system is a dual compression engine boosting system that includes the supercharger and a turbocharger. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the supercharger is located downstream of the turbocharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 2 , wherein the turbocharger is located downstream of the supercharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the supercharger includes a bypass valve for selectively routing air around the supercharger with limited compression. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an exhaust gas recirculation loop for directing exhaust gases from the engine to a location between the turbocharger and the supercharger of the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the supercharger is located downstream of the turbocharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the turbocharger is located downstream of the supercharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an exhaust gas recirculation loop for directing exhaust gases from the engine to an air intake location of either the turbocharger or the supercharger of the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the exhaust gas recirculation loop directs exhaust gases from the engine to the air intake location of the turbocharger, wherein the supercharger is located downstream of the turbocharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the exhaust gas recirculation loop directs exhaust gases from the engine to the air intake location of the supercharger, wherein the turbocharger is located downstream of the supercharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 2 , further comprising an exhaust gas recirculation loop for directing exhaust gases from the engine to an air outlet location of either the turbocharger or the supercharger of the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the exhaust gas recirculation loop directs exhaust gases from the engine to the air outlet location of the turbocharger, wherein the turbocharger is located downstream of the supercharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12 , wherein the exhaust gas recirculation loop directs exhaust gases from the engine to the air outlet location of the supercharger, wherein the supercharger is located downstream of the turbocharger in providing the dual compression engine boosting system. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a control system communicatively connected to an electronic control unit of a vehicle, the control system configured to generate an actuation signal for a supercharger clutch based at least in part on a current gear of the vehicle and a desired boost pressure of a supercharger that is configured to provide boost for an engine of the vehicle, the supercharger clutch configured for operably engaging or disengaging the supercharger with a crankshaft of an engine of the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the control system is configured to generate the actuation signal based upon a lookup in a supercharger clutch actuation table. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16 , wherein the supercharger clutch actuation table includes a plurality of yes/no entries, each entry associated with a current gear of the vehicle and a range of desired boost pressures. 
     
     
         18 . A control system communicatively connected to an electronic control unit of a vehicle, the control system configured to execute program instructions which, when executed, cause the control system to:
 receive a current gear in use by the vehicle;   determine a desired boost pressure of a supercharger configured to provide boost for an engine of the vehicle; and   generate an actuation signal for a supercharger clutch based at least in part on the current gear of the vehicle and the desired boost pressure of the supercharger, the supercharger clutch configured for operably engaging or disengaging the supercharger with a crankshaft of an engine of the vehicle.   
     
     
         19 . A control system according to  claim 18 , further configured to generate the actuation signal based upon a lookup in a supercharger clutch actuation table. 
     
     
         20 . A control system according to  claim 19 , wherein the supercharger clutch actuation table includes a plurality of yes/no entries, each entry associated with a current gear of the vehicle and a range of desired boost pressures. 
     
     
         21 - 31 . (canceled)