초록 ▼

A controlled exhaust brake for an engine comprises an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine. An actuator operably associated with the restrictor adjusts the restrictor. A pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold senses pre

A controlled exhaust brake for an engine comprises an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine. An actuator operably associated with the restrictor adjusts the restrictor. A pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold senses pressure in the exhaust manifold. A controller determines a set pressure in the exhaust manifold correlated with speed of the engine. The controller is in communication with the pressure sensor and the actuator, and causes adjustment of the restrictor in order to achieve and maintain the set pressure in the exhaust manifold.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A controlled exhaust brake for an engine, comprising:an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine;an actuator operably associated with said restrictor for adjusting said restrictor;a pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold

1. A controlled exhaust brake for an engine, comprising:an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine;an actuator operably associated with said restrictor for adjusting said restrictor;a pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold for sensing pressure in the exhaust manifold; anda controller for determining a set pressure in the exhaust manifold correlated with speed of the engine, said controller in communication with said pressure sensor and said actuator for causing adjustment of said restrictor in order to achieve and maintain the set pressure in the exhaust manifold. 2. The exhaust brake of claim 1, wherein said restrictor is selected from the group consisting of butterfly valves, gate valves, and variable geometry elements of a turbine of a variable geometry turbocharger. 3. The exhaust brake of claim 1, wherein said actuator is selected from the group consisting of air operated actuators, oil operated actuators, and electro-magnetic operated actuators. 4. The exhaust brake of claim 1, further comprising a control valve controlled by said controller, said control valve operably associated with said actuator for actuating said actuator and causing adjustment of said restrictor. 5. The exhaust brake of claim 4, wherein said control valve is a solenoid valve. 6. The exhaust brake of claim 1, wherein said controller determines the set pressure based on engine speed and an electronically stored table of values of set pressure. 7. The exhaust brake of claim 6, wherein said electronically stored table of values is correlated to engine speed. 8. The exhaust brake of claim 7, further comprising a temperature sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold for sensing temperature in the exhaust manifold. 9. The exhaust brake of claim 8, wherein said controller is in communication with said temperature sensor for causing adjustment of said restrictor in order to maintain 'set temperature in the exhaust manifold. 10. The exhaust brake of claim 1, wherein said controller causes adjustment of said restrictor so that a controlled increase of pressure occurs for warming the engine after starting, wherein said controlled increase of pressure continues until a predetermined parameter value. 11. The exhaust brake of claim 1, wherein said actuator causes said restrictor to open so that the exhaust manifold is substantially unhindered by said restrictor if communication fails between said actuator and said controller. 12. A controlled exhaust brake for an engine, comprising:an exhaust restrict or located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine;an actuator operably associated with said restrictor for adjusting said restrictor;a pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold for sensing pressure in the exhaust manifold;a temperature sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold for sensing temperature in the exhaust manifold; anda controller for determining a set pressure in the exhaust manifold correlated with speed of the engine, said controller in communication with said pressure sensor, said temperature sensor, and said actuator for causing adjustment of said restrictor in order to achieve and maintain the set pressure and the set temperature in the exhaust manifold. 13. The exhaust brake of claim 12, wherein said restrictor is selected from the group consisting of butterfly valves, gate valves, and variable geometry elements of a turbine of a variable geometry turbocharger. 14. The exhaust brake of claim 12, wherein said actuator is selected from the group consisting of air operated actuators, oil operated actuators, and electro-magnetic operated actuators. 15. The exhaust brake of claim 12, further comprising a control valve controlled by said controller, said control valve operably associated with said actuator for actuating said actuator and causing adjustment of said restrictor. 16. The exhaust brake of claim 1 5, wherein said control valve is a solenoid valve. 17. The exhaust brake of claim 12, wherein said controller determines the set pressure based on engine speed and an electronically stored table of values of set pressure. 18. The exhaust brake of claim 17, wherein said electronically stored table of values is correlated to engine speed. 19. The exhaust brake of claim 12, wherein said controller causes adjustment of said restrictor so that a controlled increase of pressure occurs for warming the engine after starting, wherein said controlled increase of pressure continues until a predetermined parameter value. 20. The exhaust brake of claim 12, wherein said actuator causes said restrictor to open so that the exhaust manifold is substantially unhindered by said restrictor if communication fails between said actuator and said controller. 21. A controlled exhaust brake for an engine, comprising:a bypass valve operably associated with an exhaust manifold of an exhaust system of an engine;an exhaust restrictor located in the exhaust system downstream of the exhaust manifold operably associated with said bypass valve;a first actuator operably associated with said restrictor for opening or closing said restrictor so that when said restrictor is closed an exhaust flow is channeled to said bypass valve;a second actuator operably associated with said bypass valve for adjusting said bypass valve;a pressure sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold for sensing pressure in the exhaust manifold;a controller for determining a set pressure in the exhaust manifold correlated with speed of the engine, said controller in communication with said pressure sensor, said first actuator and said second actuator, said controller for causing said restrictor to close and for causing adjustment of said bypass valve in order to achieve and maintain the set pressure in the exhaust manifold. 22. The exhaust brake of claim 21, wherein said controller determines the set pressure based on engine speed and an electronically stored table of values of set pressure. 23. The exhaust brake of claim 22, wherein said electronically stored table of values is correlated to engine speed. 24. The exhaust brake of claim 21, further comprising a temperature sensor operably associated with the exhaust manifold for sensing temperature in the exhaust manifold. 25. The exhaust brake of claim 24, wherein said controller is in communication with said temperature sensor for causing adjustment of said bypass valve in order to maintain a set temperature. 26. The exhaust brake of claim 21, wherein said controller causes adjustment of said bypass valve so that a controlled increase of pressure occurs for warming the engine after starting, wherein said controlled increase of pressure continues until a predetermined parameter value. 27. The exhaust brake of claim 21, wherein said first actuator causes said restrictor to open so that the exhaust manifold is substantially unhindered by said restrictor if communication fails between said controller and said first or second actuators. 28. The exhaust brake of claim 21, wherein said restrictor is selected from the group consisting of butterfly valves, gate valves, and variable geometry elements in a turbine of a variable geometry turbocharger. 29. The exhaust brake of claim 21, wherein said first and second actuators are selected from the group consisting of air operated actuators, oil operated actuators, and electromagnetic operated actuators. 30. A method of regulating exhaust pressure in an engine comprising the steps of:providing an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine;sensing pressure in the exhaust manifold;determining whether a maximum allowable pressure has been sensed in the exhaust manifold;adjusting the restrictor until the pressure in the exhaust manifold is less than the maximum allowable pressure;determining a set pressure in the exhaust manifold correlated with speed of the engine by a controller; andmaintaining the set pressure in the exhaust manifold by causing adjustment of the restrictor by the controller. 31. The method of claim 30, including the step of retrieving the set pressure from an electronically stored table in the controller, wherein the set pressure is correlated to engine speed. 32. The method of claim 30, including the step of repeating said sensing, determining, and maintaining steps after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. 33. The method of claim 30, comprising the further steps of:sensing temperature in the exhaust manifold; andmaintaining a set temperature in the exhaust manifold by causing adjustment of the restrictor. 34. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of mounting the exhaust restrictor in the exhaust system of an engine downstream of the exhaust manifold. 35. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of mounting the exhaust restrictor downstream of a turbine in a turbocharged engine. 36. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of mounting the exhaust restrictor upstream of a turbine in a turbocharged engine. 37. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of mounting the exhaust restrictor downstream of a compression release brake in the exhaust system of an engine downstream of the exhaust manifold. 38. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of mounting the exhaust restrictor downstream of the exhaust manifold in an engine so that exhaust flow recirculates into the exhaust system upstream of an intake manifold of the engine. 39. The method of claim 38, comprising the further step of providing a second exhaust restrictor mounted downstream of the first referenced exhaust restrictor so that exhaust flow is directed to the first referenced exhaust restrictor. 40. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of mounting the exhaust restrictor downstream of the exhaust manifold in an engine so that exhaust flow recirculates into an intake manifold of the engine. 41. The method of claim 40, comprising the further step of providing a second exhaust restrictor mounted downstream of the first referenced exhaust restrictor so that exhaust flow is directed to the first referenced exhaust restrictor. 42. The method of claim 30, comprising the further step of controlling an increase of pressure in the exhaust manifold after starting the engine until a predetermined parameter value is reached for warming the engine after starting. 43. A method of regulating exhaust pressure in an exhaust manifold of an engine comprising the steps of:providing an exhaust restrictor located in an exhaust system downstream of an exhaust manifold of an engine;sensing pressure in the exhaust manifold;determining whether a maximum allowable pressure has been sensed in the exhaust manifold;opening the restrictor so that the exhaust manifold is substantially unhindered by the restrictor if the sensed pressure is greater than the maximum allowable pressure;assigning a value to the sensed pressure if the sensed pressure is not equal to a set pressure; andadjusting the restrictor based on the assigned value. 44. The method of claim 43, comprising the further steps of:sensing temperature in the exhaust manifold;maintaining a set temperature in the exhaust manifold by causing adjustment of the restrictor. 45. The method of claim 44, including the step of causing adjustment of the restrictor by a controller. 46. The method of claim 45, including the step of retrieving the set pressure from an electronically stored table in the controller, wherein the set pressure is correlated to engine speed. 47. The method of claim 46, including the step of retrieving the set temperature from an electronically stored table in the controller. 48. The method of claim 43, including the steps of:assigning a first value to the sensed pressure if the sensed pressure is less than the maximum allowable pressure by a first predetermined amount;as signing a second value to the sensed pressure if the sensed pressure is greater than the set pressure by a second predetermined amount;assigning a third value to the sensed pressure if a predetermined rate of increasing pressure change of the sensed pressure exceeds a predetermined parameter;adding the first value, second value, and third value;decreasing the added values by 5%, resulting in an accumulated value; andadjusting the restrictor if the accumulated value is greater than a predetermined value. 49. The method of claim 48, including the steps of:assigning a fourth value to the sensed pressure if the sensed pressure is about zero;assigning a fifth value to the sensed pressure if the sensed pressure is less than the set pressure by the second predetermined amount;assigning a sixth value to the sensed pressure if a predetermined rate of decreasing pressure change of the sensed pressure exceeds the predetermined parameter;adding the fourth value, fifth value, and sixth value;decreasing the added values by 5%, resulting in an accumulated value; andadjusting the restrictor if the accumulated value is greater than a predetermined value. 50. The method of claim 43, including the step of repeating said sensing, assigning and adjusting steps after a predetermined amount of time.