Abstract: A controller for a vehicle pneumatic system loads a compressor responsive to engine power absorption by the engine and air storage facility air pressure readings up to a pressure limit. The controller is responds to power demand on the engine in excess of an engine speed related global maximum and air pressure readings down to a global minimum for unloading the compressor. The controller provides for loading and unloading the compressor to maintain storage facility pressure within an operating maximum and an operating minimum which lie between the global maximum and global minimum pressures. The controller responds to air pressure readings reaching or falling below the global minimum for loading the compressor and to air pressure readings reaching or exceeding the global maximum for unloading the compressor.

Abstract: An fresh air/exhaust gas compact mixer and method for mixing fresh air with exhaust gases, is provided. The mixer includes a main body, an air inlet for receiving fresh air fluidly connected to an air intake passage within the main body, an exhaust gas inlet for receiving exhaust fluidly connected to an exhaust gas passage within the main body. The mixer also includes a bifurcation within the air intake passage for directing the flow of air through the passage, wherein the bifurcation decreases a cross section of the air intake passage downstream from the air inlet, thereby increasing the air velocity exiting the air intake passage. The narrowed cross section creates a localized vacuum, encouraging an increased flow of exhaust gas through the mixer, and creating superior mixing of the fresh air with the exhaust gases prior to exiting the mixer.

Abstract: An inlet fluid booster system for an internal combustion engine having engine cylinders includes a compressed fluid supply source that is in upstream fluid communication with the engine cylinders. A fluid booster is in downstream fluid communication with the compressed fluid supply source for selectively introducing compressed auxiliary fluid from the compressed fluid supply source. The auxiliary fluid is selectively introduced from the fluid booster to have a velocity vector towards the engine cylinders that is greater than a velocity vector away from the engine cylinders.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one engine cylinder which is closed at an end by a cylinder head and within which a piston reciprocates. The cylinder head has a plunger receptacle and the piston has a plunger which, when the piston is reciprocating within the engine cylinder over an engine cycle's range between BDC and an intermediate position spaced from both TDC and BDC, fully opens the plunger receptacle to the interior of the engine cylinder, and which, when the piston is reciprocating over an engine cycle's range between the intermediate position and TDC position, enters the plunger receptacle to compress an air-fuel mixture at higher compression ratio in the plunger receptacle where it is ignited and subsequently used to ignite the rest of the mixture during piston downstroke.

Abstract: An fresh air/exhaust gas compact mixer and method for mixing fresh air with exhaust gases, is provided. The mixer includes a main body, an air inlet for receiving fresh air fluidly connected to an air intake passage within the main body, an exhaust gas inlet for receiving exhaust fluidly connected to an exhaust gas passage within the main body. The mixer also includes a bifurcation within the air intake passage for directing the flow of air through the passage, wherein the bifurcation decreases a cross section of the air intake passage downstream from the air inlet, thereby increasing the air velocity exiting the air intake passage. The narrowed cross section creates a localized vacuum, encouraging an increased flow of exhaust gas through the mixer, and creating superior mixing of the fresh air with the exhaust gases prior to exiting the mixer.

Abstract: A controller for a vehicle pneumatic system loads a compressor responsive to engine power absorption by the engine and air storage facility air pressure readings up to a pressure limit. The controller is responds to power demand on the engine in excess of an engine speed related global maximum and air pressure readings down to a global minimum for unloading the compressor. The controller provides for loading and unloading the compressor to maintain storage facility pressure within an operating maximum and an operating minimum which lie between the global maximum and global minimum pressures. The controller responds to air pressure readings reaching or falling below the global minimum for loading the compressor and to air pressure readings reaching or exceeding the global maximum for unloading the compressor.

Abstract: A cylinder head has a plunger receptacle and a piston has a plunger which, when the piston is reciprocating within an engine cylinder over an engine cycle range between BDC and an intermediate position spaced from both TDC and BDC, exposes the plunger receptacle to the interior of the engine cylinder, but which, when the piston is reciprocating over an engine cycle range between the intermediate position and TDC position, closes the plunger receptacle to the interior of the engine cylinder. A fuel/air charge is created within the engine cylinder, compressed to higher compression ratio in the plunger receptacle at TDC position where it is ignited and then used to ignite the lower compression ratio charge in the engine cylinder.

Abstract: A pressure intensifier (64) is controlled by a control valve (ICV 66) to intensify pressure with which fuel is injected from an outlet port (40) of an injection device (20) into an engine cylinder in comparison to that at which fuel is introduced. A controller operates both a needle control valve (NCV 54) and the ICY valve during an engine cycle to cause: intensified pressure to be applied to fuel in the injector while the fuel outlet port is closed; then the outlet port to open while intensified pressure continues to be applied as fuel is injected; then while the outlet port remains open and fuel injection continues, the intensified pressure attenuates; then after the intensified pressure has attenuated, the outlet port is re-closed to terminate injection; and then the outlet port is re-opened and the attenuated pressure re-intensified to inject fuel at re-intensified pressure.

Abstract: A unit fuel injector (30) has a nozzle (36) providing axial guidance of a needle (72) at points proximal and distal to a needle feed cavity (81). The needle has a multi-lobular formation (200) providing distal guidance of the needle while allowing fuel from the needle feed cavity to flow past for injection from orifices (86) when the needle is unseated from a seat on a tapering surface (82). Fuel is delivered to the needle feed cavity through a slant passage (85) in the nozzle non-parallel to a longitudinal axis (AX) along which the needle is displaced. The orifices are arranged in a hemispherically contoured surface (83) distal to the seat and centered on a point on the longitudinal axis. The orifices have circular transverse cross sections. The axis of each orifice extends radially of the point on the longitudinal axis at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A check valve body (44) is disposed within the interior of a main body (32) of a fuel injector (30) and contains a continuous sealing ridge for sealing a perimeter of a cavity (124) between the proximal end face of the check valve body and the distal end face of an intensifier cartridge body (46). A spring cage (42) has a proximal end face disposed within the interior of the main body. An entry check (154) is disposed in an entry through-passage (132), and an exit check (156) is disposed in an exit through-passage (130). A continuous sealing ridge seals a perimeter of an exit cavity (140), and a discontinuous sealing ridge seals a portion of a perimeter of an entry cavity (144). The sealing ridges are asymmetric about a longitudinal axis AX.