Abstract: According to the present invention, an apparatus and method for controlling injection timing and power balancing in a gaseous fuel engine with an electronic control unit and a shaft encoder is disclosed. The engine includes an engine block having at least one cylinder with an exhaust port and a cylinder head. A fuel injector and a spark plug is seated in the cylinder head and the injector has a valve which separates the fuel in the injector from the cylinder. A piston reciprocates in each cylinder and is attached to a connecting rod. The rod connects each piston to a crankshaft which converts the motion of the piston to rotary motion. The shaft encoder is connected to the crankshaft and monitors the revolutions of the crankshaft. The electronic control unit is coupled to the shaft encoder and to each of the fuel injectors. The method in accordance with the invention includes several steps.

Abstract: A system for balancing power includes an internal combustion engine with at least two cylinders and a computer with a memory programmed to balance power output between the cylinders. Each of the cylinders has a fuel injector which injects fuel into the cylinder for a set period of time determined by a working pulse width signal received from the computer. The working pulse width signal is adjusted by a working balance factor which ranges from a first specified percentage to one-hundred percent before being transmitted to the fuel injector.

Abstract: An oxygen sensor (10) having an electrolyte sensor (40) located in a metal shell (14) and an insulating terminal (102) located in a metal sleeve (72). The metal sleeve (72) is secured to the metal shell (14) to define a reference chamber (68) adjacent the interior of the electrolyte sensor (46). A closed end (74) on the sleeve (72) has a plurality of openings (76, 76.sup.1 . . . 76.sup.n) surrounding a central opening (78). A porous filter (90) has a base (92) that is continually urged against end (74) by the action of spring (118) on terminal (102). A grommet (124) located in the central opening (78) has a cylindrical body with a flange (136) that radially engages filter (90) and a series of lands (132, 132.sup.1 or 132.sup.n) that form a plurality of sealing surfaces on lead (12) that connects the electrolyte sensor (46) with a controller.

Abstract: A sensor (24) having a metal shell (30) joined to a sleeve (96) to locate a heater (92) in a thimble of an electrolyte member (72). A sealed joint is produced between the sleeve (96) and metal shell (30) to define a sealed reference chamber (118). A porous filter (112) in the sleeve (96) prevents water in environmental air from entering the reference chamber (118). Leads (106') and (106") which pass through a seal (123) adjacent the porous filter (112) are connected to terminals (164 and 164'). Terminals (164 and 164') located in a terminal member (120) position a heater (92) within chamber (118) and the electrolyte member (72). Leads (106 and 106.sup.n) which pass through the porous filter are connected to contact rings (142 and 144). Contact rings (142 and 144) are connected to an external and internal coating (80 and 82) on the electrolyte member (72).

Abstract: A sensor (24) having a metal shell (30) joined to a sleeve (96) to locate a heater (92) in a thimble of an electrolyte member (72). A sealed joint is produced between the sleeve (96) and metal shell (30) to define a sealed reference chamber (118). A porous filter (112) in the sleeve (96) prevents water in environmental air from entering the reference chamber (118). Leads (106') and 106") which pass through the porous filter (112) are connected to terminal (164 and 164'). Terminals (164 and 164') located in a terminal member (120) position a heater (92) within chamber (118) and the electrolyte member (72). Leads (106 and 106.sup.n) which pass through the porous filter are connected to contact rings (142 and 144). Contact rings (142 and 144) are connected to an external and internal coating (80 and 82) on the electrolyte member (72).

Abstract: An oxygen sensor (24) having an electrolyte member (72) with a thimble that is held in a metal shell (30) by an insulating member (56). The thimble has an external surface (80) and internal surface (82) that are coated with a conductive material. A sleeve (96) is attached to the metal shell (30) by spot welds (108) and a seal is established therebetween. A terminal member (120) located in sleeve (96) includes a first contact ring (142) that is connected by a spring (148) and cylinder (152) to the external surface (80) and a second contact ring (144) that is connected by a coil spring (146) to the internal surface (82). Terminals (164 and 164')carried by terminal member (120) hold a tubular housing (90) of a heater member (92). Tubular housing (90) has an end (94) that is located in the thimble of electrolyte member (72). When electrical current is supplied to heater member (92) the temperature of the thimble is maintained above a minimum operating temperature of the electrolyte member (72).

Abstract: A method of assembling a heated electrochemical sensor (24) for use in sensing exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine (16). A tubular electrolyte member (72) having a closed end (74) is insulated from a metal shell (30). The external surface (80) and internal surface (82) of the electrolyte member (72) are coated with a conductive material. A sleeve (96) retains a terminal member (120) having first (142) and second (144) contact rings located on shoulders (126) and (140). Terminals (164 and 164') are located in slots (160 and 162) in bore (138) on terminal member (120). A tubular heater (92) has an end (93) inserted in bore (138) until contact surfaces (161 and 163) engage terminals (164 and 164'). A coil spring (146) is placed on tubular heater (92) and a wave or washer spring (148) is placed adjacent contact ring (142). Sleeve (96) and shell (30) are brought together and spot welded (108). Thereafter, a sealed joint is produced to complete the manufacture of the heated electrochemical sensor (24).

Abstract: A heated resistive type sensor (20) for detecting the oxygen content in an exhaust gas is connected to an electronic control unit (22) for regulating the air/fuel ratio used to operate an internal combustion engine (10). The sensor (20) has a heater (70) which provides a constant thermal energy level to a titania sensing element (76) whose resistance to the flow of electrical current is directly related to the percentage of oxygen in the exhaust gas. The electrical resistance is used as a control signal to maintain the air/fuel ratio within set limits. The resistive portion consists of three resistive elements, one that senses O.sub.2 that is made of titania - TiO.sub.2, the other two resistors are thick film type connected in series thereto. Finally, the gas sensing layer and electrode leads attached thereto are covered by a protective glass layering to prevent contamination of the sensor element.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to reducing the internal combustion engine exhaust emission polutants. More specifically, it relates to a control device that regulates the amount of exhaust gas being recirculated into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine such that the exhaust gas recirculation flow is nearly proportional to engine air flow, and is a controlled function of intake manifold vacuum. The flow may be completely inhibited at low engine temperatures and also at times of low manifold vacuum and high engine air flow in order to maintain acceptable driveability.