Abstract: In lean operation of internal combustion engines having externally supplied ignition, improvement in terms of fuel consumption and emissions are obtained if the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber. Because the gas exchange guide cross sections are large, the space available for installing the injection valve and spark plug is very limited, and disruptions in the course of combustion occur when the injection valve and ignition device are too far apart. By developing a fuel injection valve that has wire electrodes on the injection end to serve as an ignition device, the spark gap arcing over in the vicinity of the fuel introduced by the injection valve, optimal ignition conditions are attained even for poorly ignited fuels or when the proportion of fuel in the combustion chamber charge is extremely low (stratified charge operation).

Abstract: In some cases, it is necessary to coat aluminum with nickel, and the most difficult operating conditions are probably met here in the case of aluminum pistons in internal combustion engines. With known processes, adhesion problems occur in the further coating with other metals. Without intermediate activation, satisfactory solutions are not obtained.However, the problem is solved by high proportions of nickel sulfate, small proportions of an acid which stabilizes the pH values, and very small proportions of a fluoride which loosens the oxide layer appearing in the licer bath, of a chloride which promotes the dissolution of the nickel anodes and of a phosphite which improves the adhesive strength of the nickel layer.The solids are kept in suspension in the bath by vigorous circulation, for example by means of air. The particle size should preferably be 3 micrometers.

Abstract: A nickel bath for electroplating aluminum and aluminum alloys with nickel is comprised of high proportions of nickel sulfate, small proportions of an acid which stabilizes the pH values, and very small proportions of a fluoride which loosens the oxide layer appearing in the Licer bath, of a chloride which promotes the dissolution of the nickel anodes and of a phosphite which improves the adhesive strength of the nickel layer.The solids are kept in suspension in the bath by vigorous circulation, for example by means of air. The particle size should preferably be 3 micrometers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for regulating the preparation of fuel-and-air mixture in a carburetor, fuel injection system and the like of an internal combustion engine. The device includes an oxygen probe directly communicating with the combustion chamber of the engine. Periodically fluctuating output signal of the probe is applied to an averaging circuit which produces an average output signal over a predetermined number of engine cycles. The shape and length of the averaged output signal is indicative whether the mixture ratio is lean or rich. The averaging can be made by means of a lowpass filter, an integrator or at least one counter counting in response to the angular position of the crankshaft or the predetermined time intervals. When the probe output voltage has the form of a hump or bulge, its length or area is used for determining the actual .lambda. value in the rich range of ratios of the mixture.

Abstract: To permit adjustment of the combination sparkplug-optical sensor for heat transfer upon operation of the sensor-sparkplug combination as a sparkplug, in accordance with known sparkplug technology, the insulator of the sparkplug is formed with a central opening in which a material is included which is electrically conductive and providing for controlled heat transfer, for example a packing or a mixture of aluminum oxide with a conductive powder, such as graphite, aluminum, or copper; or, alternatively, sheet metal elements may be located therein providing controlled radial engagement around a central glass rod forming the optical sensor and the inner wall of the opening and the insulator (FIG. 2); or, alternatively, axially resilient elements, such as a bellows-like corrugated metal element (FIG. 3) or a stack of spring disks (FIG. 4) may be positioned in the opening, axially biased by screwing the connecting terminal (10) into a tapped opening of the insulator.

Abstract: To facilitate assembly of a central glass rod in an optical sensor-spark plug combination, electrical energy is conducted to the spark end of the combination by a high temperature resistant tube or sleeve 11 surrounding a central glass rod 2 for only a limited portion of the entire length; electrical energy is conducted to the high temperature resistant sleeve 11, which forms the sparking end of the spark plug, from a terminal connector 1 by a packing 10 of electrically conductive powder, which may include radio noise suppression resistance characteristics, held in place by a compression spring 8, in electrical connection with the terminal connector 1; or by a separate tube 12 surrounding the glass rod 1, and of non-heat resistant material, the glass rod 1 being separated from the other tube 12 by an adhesive which, at the connecting end of the spark plug, need not be high temperature resistant.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for controlling an internal combustion engine equipped with glow plugs. The arrangement includes a heat-control circuit for controlling the temperature of the glow plug and an ancillary control circuit which can be a fuel control circuit for example. The ancillary control circuit takes over from the heat-control circuit for the purpose of controlling the ignition time point of the mixture when the temperature-control has reached its limit. A comparator is provided to monitor the heat-control circuit and to activate the ancillary control circuit if necessary.

Abstract: The linearity of response of a polarographic sensor, of the diffusion-limited current type, having a solid electrolyte (1) and being particularly adapted for measuring oxygen content in exhaust gases from combustion processes, is improved by providing the anode (2b) of the sensor's first, measuring cell with a constant, internal supply of reference oxygen. Preventing the oxygen concentration at the anode (2b) from fluctuating eliminates a non-linearity which would otherwise occur in the plot of oxygen concentration versus diffusion-limited current, as the fuel/air ratio of the mixture being combusted passes 1.The oxygen supply takes the form of a second, pumping cell (3a,3b) which can utilize the same solid electrolyte layer (1) as the first cell, and which pumps oxygen ions across the electrolyte to the second cell's anode (3b), where they become oxygen molecules and are directed through a duct (8) to the measuring cell's anode (2b).

Abstract: To protect the light guide element of a combustion sensor, for example combined with a spark plug, and extending through a bore in the center electrode thereof against high temperatures and attach due to environmental conditions occurring within the combustion chamber, a protective element of a high temperature resistant, light transmitting ceramic, preferably alpha-crystalline aluminum oxide is located at the combustion end portion, for example in form of a disc 14, held in position by a turned-over flange of the end portion of the center electrode 13 of a spark plug-sensor combination.

Abstract: An apparatus is proposed for controlling the exhaust recirculation rate in an internal combustion engine, in particular an engine with auto-ignition, which includes preferably one mixture valve in the area of the discharge opening of the exhaust recirculation line and which is characterized in that the control is accomplished via the mixture valve position ahead of the inlet valves in accordance with the concentration of at least one component of the air-exhaust gas mixture and/or at least one component of the exhaust gas. Thus it is possible to operate the engine with a relatively emission-free exhaust. An exhaust gas reservoir is further provided, with which peaks in the exhaust gas concentration due to a dynamic driving mode can be intercepted. Finally, it is also proposed that the exhaust recirculation be realized solely via a pressure, which can be controlled in open-loop or closed-loop fashion, in the exhaust line by means of a valve.

Abstract: To permit individual evaluation of the combustion processes in the respective cylinders (1a-d) of an internal combustion (IC) engine (2), individual optical pick-ups (3a-d; 4a-d) are coupled to the respective cylinders, the output signals either in optical or electrical form are conducted to separate pick-ups for individual evaluation or, alternatively, the output signals are combined and then again separated out by a steering circuit. Individual evaluation can be accomplished by locating light guide fibers from the sensors in a predetermined position with respect to opto-electrical transducers; by forming scanning windows, for example by a rotating disk (19, 20) rotating n in synchronism with the engine and permitting passage of light from the respective fibers of the light guides to respective pick-ups; or by combining the light outputs from the respective sensors (4) either optically by intermixing light guide fibers in a common cable (6'), or electrically in an equivalent OR-circuit (FIG. 8: R.sub.

Abstract: To sense light and light variations emanating from a flame upon occurrence of combustion in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and prevent contamination of the sensing window, a quartz-glass rod is fitted into a housing with a central opening therethrough, the quartz-glass rod being exposed to the interior of the combustion chamber, and pressed against the housing by an abutment sleeve secured in the housing by a rolled-over shoulder. The quartz-glass rod is in light-transmissive relation, for example in contact with a fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A fuel supply system for mixture-compressing internal combustion engine with externally-supplied ignition is proposed, which serves to form the most optimal possible fuel-air mixture. The fuel supply system includes a primary mixture formation unit disposed in the intake manifold and at least one ultrasonic atomizer nozzle in the intake manifold, for the purpose of correcting the fuel-air mixture by means of supplementary fuel, downstream of the primary mixture unit or in each individual intake tube. The ultrasonic atomizer nozzles are triggered, with the interposition of an electronic control device, in accordance with operating characteristics of the engine, as well as the exhaust composition, and they permit the supply of finely prepared supplementary fuel for the purpose of regulating the fuel-air mixture to a predetermined .lambda. value; of compensating for non-uniform distribution, and of enrichment of the mixture in the case of warm-up, full load and acceleration, as well as of idling regulation.

Abstract: To provide for temperature measurement of a solid electrolyte polarographic gas composition sensor, an ac signal is superimposed from an ac voltage source (2) on the applied voltage from a voltage source (1) if the sensor is a polarographic sensor, the ac signal being separated from the output by a filter combination (6, 7), the dc output being evaluated as usual, and the ac output being rectified in a rectifier (9) to obtain a measure of the temperature since the ac resistance (R.sub.alt) is highly temperature dependent (see FIG. 3). The ac preferably is about 10% of the applied dc voltage, so that the voltage swing of the ac potential falls well within the linear range of output current with respect to voltage (see FIG. 2). The output from the ac channel (7, 9) to evaluate the temperature signal can be connected to a control loop circuit (10, 11), including a heater (11) to heat the sensor to maintain a uniform temperature thereof.

Abstract: To provide for simultaneous transmission of pressure signals and light signals from the combustion chamber (CC) of an internal combustion engine or, selectively, either one or the other of the pressure or light signals, independently, a spark plug-type housing (1, 2) has a glass plug (3) fitted therein, the end face of which at the side remote from the combustion chamber engaging a piezo-ceramic ring (4). The inner opening of the ring (4) transmits light from the glass plug or rod 3 to a light guide fiber cable (7) which, concentrically and insulated from each other, has a metal woven sleeve (10) placed thereabout, and an outer metallic jacket (12), the woven sleeve (10) being connected to a flanged ring (6, 6a) engaging one end face of the piezo-ceramic ring (4), the other end face being connected to the outer metallic sleeve (12) to provide a coaxial electrical signal output cable, with the inner portion thereof surrounding and forming a jacket for the light guide fiber cable (7).

Abstract: To determine proper operation of a combustion sensor, and to normalize the output signals derived from a pick-up having a window exposed to the combustion chamber (10) by compensating for soiling, contamination, and loss of transmissivity of the window due to combustion residue, soot, or the like, a reference light source is provided introducing reference light of a predetermined level to the pick-up, for example when no light is generated due to combustoin events. In an internal combustion (IC) engine, the reference light can be energized during stopped condition of the engine, or during portions of the stroke of the engine when no combustion event takes place.

Abstract: An ignition chamber device is described which has an elongated, rotationally symmetrical form. The wall of the ignition chamber which protrudes into the main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine has a coaxial overflow conduit embodied by a nozzle and radially extending discharge conduits which extend into the annular chamber which surrounds the nozzle. The ignition chamber is provided with an ignition device which has a central electrode that leads from the outside into the interior and by means of this central electrode the ignition voltage is carried via a conductor path, disposed in the wall, to a wall location opposite the nozzle, from where the ignition spark can leap the gap. A heat pipe is disposed in the nozzle and includes a portion arranged in close proximity to the cylinder wall, which prevents the ignition chamber from becoming overheated and on the other hand also enables the inflowing mixture to be heated up in optimal fashion on the way to the ignition location.

Abstract: To render output of a polarographic sensor essentially independent of aging of electrodes and temperature effects of the solid electrolyte body, within the operating ranges of the sensor to measure the oxygen composition of exhaust gases, the solid electrolyte plate of, for example, 50 mm length, 8 mm width and 1 mm thickness has a sensing electrode system including a cathode (2), and an anode (3) applied thereto, connected to a voltage source (7) of controllable output voltage. An oxygen molecule diffusion barrier (6) is applied to the cathode electrode. Additionally, a further electrode pair (5,4) is applied to the solid electrolyte body (1), serially connected in the current limiting circuit including the control voltage source.

Abstract: A method is proposed for regulating the combustion of operating mixtures in the combustion chambers of internal combustion engines. The course of the light intensity of the light resulting from combustion in the combustion chamber is detected and evaluated over the course of combustion; reference control variables derived therefrom are formed for use by subsequently disposed closed-loop control devices of the engine.

Abstract: A sensor (10) optically coupled to the combustion chamber (10') of an internal combustion (IC) engine is kept free from contaminating or dirt deposits, or the like, by subjecting the sensor to mechanical shocks or vibration. The mechanical shocks or vibration are obtained by the engine itself by controlling the engine to operate for a predetermined time period as set by a monostable flip-flop (FF) (18) under controlled knocking conditions, the shock waves within the combustion chamber causing flaking off or dropping off of contaminating deposits. Controlled knocking can be obtained by advancing ignition timing by additional control of an ignition system (19) in a direction of excessive spark advance, or overriding a knocking inhibiting system already present on the engine.