Two Stage Turbocharger and Front Bumper Cover Design Could Be Headed for Mid-Engine C8 Corvette

It’s not really a surprise that we are discovering some of the technologies of the forthcoming C8 mid-engine Corvette from the USPTO’s patent and trademark database search app. The mid-engine Corvette is completely new from the ground up and therefore the designers and engineers are patenting their work along the way.

Here are two new patents that just appeared yesterday in the patent database. One is for a front bumper cover with pedestrian safety in mind, and the other is for a new two-stage turbocharger. It’s not confirmed that either of these new technologies are headed to the Mid Engine Corvette. However, pictures of the front bumper cover look similar to the front fascia of the C8, and with all the talk of the upper-level engines being turbocharged makes us take a closer look at the new turbocharging patent. Let’s start with the bumper cover first.

Front Carriage for a Mother Vehicle Comprising a Bumper Covering
That’s the fancy term for front bumper cover and the patent design covers both the bumper cover as well as a support structure. The system is designed to crumple (they call it a deformation movement) if impacted by a pedestrian or other object. I’m not so sure what the regulations for automakers and pedestrian safety here in the US is, but I know it’s a big deal in Europe which is why the ZR1 can’t be sold there. To our reading, this patent seems to cover those pedestrian crash regulations.

FYI, don’t get distracted by the elementary photos presented first, because once you get into the actual filing, the drawings bear an uncanny resemblance to the front of the mid-engine Corvette.

For reference, here is the leaked photo of the front bumper cover that was taken from the Bowling Green Assembly Plant’s new paint shop:

Click here to view and download the patent document for the Front Bumper Cover.

Internal Combustion Engine Having a Two Stage Turbocharger
The next patent details a two stage turbocharger system which is comprised of a High Pressure (HP) turbocharger and a Low Pressure (LP) turbocharger. The system may be configured to operate both turbochargers at low/medium speeds and at high engine speeds, the High Pressure turbocharger is bypassed in favor of the Low Pressure turbocharger. The patent details that turbochargers allow higher engine performances but suffer at low speed or low load. This new two stage system overcomes the deficiencies of turbochargers and provides the engine with a high performance charging system that ensures high efficiency at low operational speed as well as providing lower fuel consumption.

Click here to view and download the patent document for the Two Stage Turbocharger system.

Source:
USPTO.gov

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