Abstract: The pressure in an underpressure store of a pneumatically operated servo system is controlled by a method wherein the underpressure store is charged with an underpressure via a suction line. A higher desired pressure for the underpressure store is pregiven in a rest state of the servo system wherein the system is not actuated and no actuation is expected. A lower desired pressure for the underpressure store is preset in a state wherein the servo system is actuated or an actuation is expected.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for controlling the rpm of a drive unit. During run-up of the engine to idle after start, a desired rpm is pregiven and an actual rpm is detected for forming the course of rpm. An electric machine is driven in dependence upon the deviation between the desired rpm and the actual rpm. With respect to the engine, the electric machine outputs braking and driving torques.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a distal frame portion that accepts a needle cam. The needle cam has helical slots for accepting a collar, whereby the collar rides up and down the needle cam, to thereby cause the needle cam to rotate. Spin movement of the needle is caused by movement of the collar, to thereby achieve a proper seed implantation during a medical procedure by having the needle spin between seed implant locations.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine during a warm-up period thereof including controlling at least one operational parameter of the engine as a function of at least a certain measure of the energy delivered to the engine since the start of the warm-up period of the engine to thereby provide improved combustion stability during said warm-up period. Preferably, the measure of the energy delivered to the engine is based on the amount of fuel delivered to the engine during the warm-up period.

Abstract: A valve control unit, especially for internal combustion engines, having a valve fixed on a valve spindle which is mounted for angular rotation in a valve body supporting a control motor for positioning the valve spindle. The motor is coupled to the valve spindle through a gear mechanism and is disposed in the valve body with a sensor unit for sensing an adjusted angular position of the valve spindle. A cover is provided to be fastened on the valve body and the cover supports an electric clutch element, a bearing for an end of the motor shaft of the control motor and functional parts of the control motor such that assembly of the control motor is completed upon mounting the cover on the valve body.

Abstract: A fuel delivery system uses a single electric fuel pump to deliver fuel to a fuel injected engine and returns excess fuel to the single electric fuel pump via a vapor separator and two pressure regulators. A primer bulb draws fuel from a fuel tank with a fuel supply line and transfers the fuel to the single electric fuel pump. The single electric fuel pump delivers fuel to a fuel rail assembly, which enables fuel to be distributed to each fuel injector during engine operation. A fuel return line connects the fuel rail assembly to the single electric fuel pump via the vapor separator to remove excess fuel from the fuel rail assembly and to transfer the excess fuel back to the single electric fuel pump for re-circulation. The first pressure regulator maintains a substantially constant pressure within the fuel injectors while the vapor separator purges entrained gas from the excess liquid fuel to avoid vapor lock.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement and engine management device for a combustion engine, the engine management device including the sensor arrangement for detecting variables indicative of engine load, a mechanism for determining engine load on the basis of measured values supplied by the sensor, as well as a throttle-valve position control loop. At least two of the sensors of the sensor arrangement, which may include a mass air-flow sensor, an intake-air temperature sensor, an induction-pipe pressure sensor, and a throttle-valve position sensor, are microintegrated in a modular unit. The engine management device is made such that a sensor device with the at least two sensors, the mechanism for determining, engine load and/or the throttle-valve position controller used in the throttle-valve position control loop are microintegrated in a modular unit. The engine management device can be used, for example, for controlling a spark ignition engine in a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is controlled during a warm-up period as a function of a cumulative measure of energy supplied to the engine. For example, the total amount of fuel delivered to the engine since start-up or an accumulated value of a load level of each combustion event during the warm-up period may be measured. A degree of offset or modification of individual engine operating parameters during the warm-up period may be based upon the cumulative measure of energy supplied to the engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection system includes a plurality of mechanical unit pumps, each of which has a pump outlet. A pressure-intensifying hydraulically-actuated electronically-controlled fuel injector is provided for each of the plurality of mechanical unit pumps. Each of the fuel injectors has a direct control needle valve and an injector body that defines an actuation fluid inlet, a fuel inlet, an actuation fluid cavity and a fuel pressurization chamber. Each fuel injector also includes a moveable pumping element with a large hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the actuation fluid cavity, and a small hydraulic surface exposed to fluid pressure in the fuel pressurization chamber. An actuation fluid supply line is provided for each of the plurality of mechanical unit pumps. Each supply line has one end connected to one pump outlet and an other end connected to one actuation fluid inlet of an individual fuel injector.

Abstract: An evaporation fuel processing mechanism supplies fuel vapor in a fuel tank to a canister via a vapor passage and purges fuel in the canister to an air-intake passage of an internal combustion engine via a purge passage when the internal combustion engine is operated. This mechanism supplies fuel vapor in the fuel tank when refueling to the canister via a breather passage. The breather passage has a pressure sensitive valve that opens in response to a variation in pressure in the fuel tank during refueling. An air-fuel ratio variation limiting apparatus determines whether the pressure sensitive valve is open and limits a variation in the air-fuel ratio when the pressure sensitive valve is open.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a concentration of a vapor fuel in a lean-burn internal combustion engine includes a module for performing purge concentration learning when in a lean-burn where an air/fuel ratio sensor does not sufficiently work. When detecting the concentration of the vapor fuel during a lean-burn operation of the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine is switched over to a homogeneous combustion operation from a lean-burn operation, and the concentration of the vapor fuel is detected under the homogeneous combustion operation. Alternatively, the combustion is switched over to the homogeneous combustion when in a rich spike and when ensuring a brake negative pressure, and hence the concentration of the vapor fuel is detected by utilizing this timing. The thus detected and learned concentration of the vapor fuel is utilized for the purge control when in the lean-burn.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling fuel injection timing in an engine operable in a selected one of a plurality of engine notch positions are provided. The system includes a module for determining whether a fuel value indicative of a fuel quantity to be delivered to the engine is within a predetermined fuel value range for the selected one of the plurality of notches. The system further includes a module for setting a predetermined fuel injection timing value that uniquely corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of notches upon verification that the fuel value is within the predetermined fuel value range.

Abstract: A microfluidic device operates as a pump for pumping fluid along a channel in a microchip by moving a drive fluid in the channel under the influence of a force field that is generated externally to the channel. The drive fluid is preferably a ferrofluid, and the force field is preferably a variable magnetic field. Drive fluid, driven by variation of the magnetic field, drives driven fluid through the channel. The drive fluid is recirculated, in one case by rotating the drive fluid within an enlargement in the channel, and in another case by returning the drive fluid along a return channel. A valve is formed by using a ferrofluid plug as a movable barrier for fluids in a channel. The microfluid device may be formed between two plates forming a microchip. The channels may be as small as 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m. Methods of pumping fluids by using an in channel drive fluid and exterior drive are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fuel injection apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which is designed to control a fuel discharge from a fuel injection pump by regulating the quantity of fuel sucked into the fuel injection pump. The fuel injection pump is driven in synchronism with rotation of the engine to pressurize and supply the fuel to an accumulator chamber from which the fuel is injected into cylinders of the engine. The solenoid valve moves a valve member linearly to open and close a fluid path leading to the fuel injection pump. The controller actuates the solenoid valve in one of a first control mode when the engine speed is low and a second control mode when the engine speed is high. In the first control mode, a valve on-duration in which the solenoid valve is turned on to open the fluid path through the valve member and an area of the fluid path opened by the valve member are both controlled. In the second control mode, only the opened area of the fluid path is controlled.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus for routing electrical signals in an engine having n cylinders and an intake manifold, one embodiment of which comprises: (1) a generally rigid housing generally conforming in shape with and being removably attachable to a top surface of the intake manifold; (2) at least n carrier members attached to the housing and extending outward therefrom, wherein each carrier member is arranged in general proximity with a respective cylinder; (3) a plurality of conductive circuit traces arranged on or within an underside or other surface of the housing and on or within each carrier member; and (4) at least one input/output connector for connection to at least one of an external signal source, an external power source, an external signal destination, and an external power destination, wherein each input/output connector is attached to the housing and is electrically connected to at least one of the circuit traces.

Abstract: A cam case 23 is provided which swingably supports a cam ring 34 fitted to a rotor 33 having a vane 33a to form a pump chamber 36 from the outer surface such that the cam ring 34 is swingably supported by a swingable pin 35 disposed in the axial direction as a fulcrum, the cam case 23 serving as an intermediate body. Pump bodies are disposed on the two ends of the cam case in the axial direction. Moreover, a front body 21 and a rear body 22 for rotatively supporting a rotational shaft 40 of the rotor are disposed. A low-pressure chamber 80 for introducing low-level hydraulic pressure is formed at a position between the backside of the pressure plate and the front body, the position opposing a suction-side region 36A of the pump chamber.

Abstract: Two A-shaped brackets for clamping three linearly located injectors onto a cylinder head of an engine. Each bracket has one top branch and two foot branches. Two top branches of the two brackets cooperatively press down a center injector among the three, and two pairs of foot branches of the two brackets press down two side injectors, respectively. Each injector has a flange that is pressed down by the two top branches of the two brackets or the two foot branches of the associated bracket Each bracket has an opening at its approximate center so that a screw shaft extending from the cylinder head can penetrate. Each bracket is secured on a cylinder head by tightening a nut over the screw shaft.

Abstract: A valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The system includes two hydraulic plungers (master pistons) that are selectively hydraulically coupled to a slave piston. The hydraulic motion from one of the hydraulic plungers may provide a valve opening motion to the slave piston and the hydraulic motion from the other hydraulic plunger may provide a valve closing motion. The net hydraulic motion of both hydraulic plungers may be zero, so that when both plungers have hydraulic communication with the slave piston, no slave piston motion occurs. The system may provide full authority over all engine valve actuations, such as main intake, main exhaust, compression release, and exhaust gas recirculation.

Abstract: A fuel system comprising a fuel pump having a pump outlet which communicates with a fuel volume, the volume communicating with the inlets of a plurality of fuel injectors. The fuel flow paths between the pump outlet and the inlet of each injector form substantially equal restrictions to the flow of fuel.

Abstract: Purge control valves are mounted to purge pipings arranged in parallel for supplying purge gas from a canister to an engine. A flow rate of the purge control valve having a larger flow rate size is controlled in a step mode, and a flow rate equal to or smaller than a variation quantity in said step mode is controlled by the purge control valve having a smaller flow rate size.