Abstract: A system for igniting a mixture in an internal combustion engine includes an elongate plug body generally residing around a center longitudinal axis and adapted to couple to the internal combustion engine. The system also includes a first ignition body residing about an end of the plug body and a second ignition body adjacent the first ignition body to define a flame kernel initiation gap between the second ignition body and the first ignition body. The system also includes a transversely extending cap at the end of the plug body that is longitudinally spaced from the plug body by a support comprising a leg that is radially offset from the center longitudinal axis, the support defining a peripheral opening around a perimeter of the cap where a total radially-facing area of the support is less than a total area of the peripheral opening.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine, gaseous fuel is injected in a first injection through a pre-combustion chamber into the combustion chamber to mix with air in the combustion chamber. The pre-combustion chamber has a jet aperture in fluid communication between the pre-combustion chamber and the combustion chamber. Mixed gaseous fuel and air is then ingested into the pre-combustion chamber from the combustion chamber and ignited. In a second injection, injecting gaseous fuel into the pre-combustion chamber and expelling, with the second injection, ignited gaseous fuel and air from the pre-combustion chamber through the jet aperture and into the combustion chamber as a flaming jet with a core of gaseous fuel.

Abstract: An injector-igniter assembly includes a passive prechamber and a fuel injector. In an internal combustion engine, fuel is directly injected into a combustion chamber to mix with air in the combustion chamber. Embodiments enable filing the prechamber at different air-fuel-ratio than the main chamber without directly filling the prechamber with fuel. The prechamber has jet apertures in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. In operation, fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber though nozzles to form a cloud adjacent to openings into the prechamber. Subsequently, mixed fuel and air is ingested into the prechamber from the combustion chamber and ignited. The degree of mixing prior to ingestion into the prechamber can be controlled using different nozzles configurations. Ignited gaseous fuel and air is expelled from the prechamber through the jet apertures and into the combustion chamber as a flaming jet with a core of gaseous fuel.

Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.

Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the insulator. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life. In another embodiment the ground electrode and insulator is coaxial to the center electrode.

Abstract: A system for controlling an internal combustion engine has an in-cylinder pressure sensor, a crank angle sensor and a controller coupled to receive inputs from the pressure sensor and crank angle sensor. The controller is configured to convert the cylinder pressure input into a combustion metric indicative of the combustion occurring in the measured cylinder and control fuel input and timing into the engine based on the combustion metric. The controller samples the in-cylinder pressure sensor at a high frequency during critical combustion events and at a lower frequency during the non-critical cylinder conditions.

Abstract: An air/fuel mixture is ignited in an internal combustion engine by receiving the air/fuel mixture as an incoming air/fuel mixture flow from a main combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine into an enclosure adjacent the main combustion chamber. The enclosure defines a first chamber enclosing first and second ignition bodies and the enclosure defines a second chamber adjacent the first chamber and connected to the first chamber via a passage. A portion of the air/fuel mixture received in the enclosure is directed toward an ignition gap between the first and second ignition bodies and another portion is directed into the second chamber. The air/fuel mixture is then ignited in the ignition gap, and flame from combustion in the first chamber is ejected into the main combustion chamber. Then, flame from combustion in the second chamber is ejected into the main combustion chamber.

Abstract: A system for igniting a mixture in an internal combustion engine includes an elongate plug body generally residing around a center longitudinal axis and adapted to couple to the internal combustion engine. The system also includes a first ignition body residing about an end of the plug body and a second ignition body adjacent the first ignition body to define a flame kernel initiation gap between the second ignition body and the first ignition body. The system also includes a transversely extending cap at the end of the plug body that is longitudinally spaced from the plug body by a support comprising a leg that is radially offset from the center longitudinal axis, the support defining a peripheral opening around a perimeter of the cap where a total radially-facing area of the support is less than a total area of the peripheral opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to indicating a repair to perform on an asset based on historic data related to a repair on the asset and/or sensor data associated with the asset. An evaluate component aggregates information related an asset such as a repair performed or data from a sensor. A repair evaluation component indicates a repair to perform on the asset based on at least one of the data from the sensor or the information related to the asset. By utilizing asset-specific information and historical data, repair schedules for assets can be more accurate and thereby reducing untimely repairs.

Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.

Abstract: A pre-chamber spark plug that includes a shell, and an end cap attached to the shell. Additionally, the pre-chamber spark plug includes an insulator disposed within the shell. In a particular embodiment, a center electrode has a first portion surrounded by the insulator, and a second portion that extends from the insulator into a pre-chamber. The pre-chamber defined by the shell and end cap. In a further embodiment, a ground electrode is attached to the shell. In particular embodiments, the ground electrode is tubular in shape and includes an inner spark surface ring spaced in surrounding relation to the center electrode to create a spark gap, an outer ring attached to the shell, and a plurality of rounded spokes connecting the inner and outer rings. In a particular embodiment, the ground and center electrodes accommodate attachment of precious metal alloys to increase electrode surface life.

Abstract: Air is cooled to conditions where the oxygen component of the air is liquid and the nitrogen component of the air is gaseous using fuel for an engine as a heat sink. The oxygen is separated from the nitrogen, and the oxygen is supplied to the engine for combustion.

Abstract: An engine system utilizing a split flow exhaust system for distributing different portions of exhaust gases to a turbocharger and to an EGR system and methods of controlling the flow of the exhaust gases are provided. The split flow exhaust system includes a high-pressure exhaust valve in fluid communication with a turbine of a turbocharger and a high-pressure exhaust manifold interposed therebetween. Also, a low-pressure exhaust valve is in fluid communication with an intake system and a low-pressure exhaust manifold is interposed therebetween. Initial exhaust gases expelled from the engine are delivered to the turbine while secondary exhaust gases expelled from the engine are delivered as EGR to the intake system. The flow to the turbine and the intake system is controlled using the high-pressure exhaust valves and low-pressure exhaust valves of the engine rather than an EGR valve.

Abstract: Air/fuel mixture is received from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine into an enclosure about a flame kernel initiation gap between a first ignition body and a second ignition body. Air/fuel mixture received into the enclosure is directed into a flame kernel initiation gap. The mixture is then ignited in the flame kernel initiation gap.

Abstract: A system has an engine. The engine has a combustion chamber, a pre-combustion chamber apart from the combustion chamber, and an opening spanning between the combustion chamber and the pre-combustion chamber. The engine also has a first fuel supply system adapted to supply liquid fuel to the pre-combustion chamber and a second fuel supply system adapted to supply a second, different fuel to the combustion chamber. In certain instances, an oxygen supply system supplies oxygen into the prechamber.

Abstract: Air/fuel mixture is received from a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine into an enclosure about a flame kernel initiation gap between a first ignition body and a second ignition body. Air/fuel mixture received into the enclosure is directed into a flame kernel initiation gap. The mixture is then ignited in the flame kernel initiation gap.

Abstract: An engine has an ignition source in a combustion chamber of the engine. An inner housing is provided that includes one or more jet apertures and defines an inner chamber containing the ignition source. An outer housing (or pre-chamber) is provided that includes one or more jet apertures in communication with the main combustion chamber and defines an outer chamber containing the inner housing.

Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.

Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.

Abstract: In some aspects, a spark plug includes a spark gap in an enclosure of the spark plug. The spark plug includes a passage in the interior of the enclosure. During operation of the engine, the passage directs flow through the spark gap, primarily away from a combustion chamber end of the enclosure. The passage can direct flow at a velocity of 5 meters/second or greater.