Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.

Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine including at least two cylinders, wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group has at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different cylinder volumes, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a lesser cylinder volume and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a greater cylinder volume and configured as an activatable cylinder.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for introducing water into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. In one example, the system may include a water container, a water inlet for inputting water into the intake manifold, and a throttle valve that is arranged between an intake manifold inlet and the internal combustion engine, with the water container arranged at a higher point than the water inlet and the water inlet opening into the intake manifold downstream of the throttle valve. A switchable valve is arranged in fluidic connection with both the water container and the water inlet, with the result that it can enable or interrupt the introduction of water into the intake manifold and also create a Venturi effect at the water inlet, which draws water from the water container.

Abstract: The system and methods described allow for reduce emissions by using a recirculation device within an engine that connects an air feed line to an exhaust line while cooling the exhaust-gas to form a condensate for further cooling the engine system. In one particular example, a cooling unit is described that cools the exhaust-gas stream flowing there through and collects a condensate out of the exhaust-gas stream for injection back into the air feed line via an injecting device. In this way, an injection of water may be made to reduce NOx emissions during vehicle operations, and the outlay for storage of water on board the vehicle may be eliminated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.

Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for producing spark plugs and/or spark plug components, and a capsule which may be used to produce a spark plug or spark plug component. The capsule may comprise a housing of a material which is unstable when heated a threshold temperature, and the capsule may further be filled with one or more powders, whereupon heating of the capsule the housing may break down and the powders may be sintered or fused into a resistive body. The presently disclosed method may simplify and/or reduce the cost of producing spark plugs using known methods of inserting powdered precursor materials.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders, the method comprising, during one working cycle, distributing fuel for each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders among a plurality of injection processes according to settable split factors which respectively define a setpoint fuel mass and/or injection duration and time setting of each respective injection process for the plurality of individual injection processes, wherein random variation is carried out for at least one injection process.

Abstract: The methods described allow for reducing particulate emissions from a direction injection engine during a starting phase, while also maintaining the engine start phase within a predetermined threshold. In one particular example, the methods comprise adjusting at least one of a fuel release pressure threshold and enrichment factor based on an engine condition; activating a starting device to rotate a crankshaft coupled to an engine cylinder without injecting any fuel; supplying fuel to the cylinder based on the enrichment factor only when a fuel pressure exceeds the fuel release pressure threshold; and stratifying a cylinder charge while adjusting a fuel injection within a compression phase and/or expansion phase of the engine. In this way, an amount of fuel injected may be evaporated in the combustion chamber while preventing a combustion wall wetting, which allows for reduced particulate emissions, particularly at reduced temperatures.

Abstract: A method for controlling valve actuation in an engine is provided. The method includes initiating combustion operation in a first cylinder, opening, via a first cam, a first exhaust valve coupled to the first cylinder for a first opening duration. The method further includes opening, via a second cam, a second exhaust valve coupled to the first cylinder for a second opening duration not equivalent to the first opening duration.

Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for injecting fuel into a combustion chamber of an engine. In one example, a system may include a hollow cone-shaped injector and a control unit to control the injector. The control unit may detect the position of an inlet valve and trigger the injection process, wherein the injector may be configured to spray fuel out of an inlet duct, through an annular gap, and into the combustion chamber of an engine in an injection process.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for optimizing the operation of a multi-cylinder auto-ignition internal combustion engine. In one example, cylinders of the auto-ignition internal combustion engine may form two groups of cylinders, where one group of cylinders has a larger compression ratio, smaller width, and smaller volume than the other group of cylinders, and where at least one cylinder of the other group is configured as a switchable cylinder that is deactivated in a load-dependent manner. By configuring the cylinders in multiple groups based on compression ratios, and operating the cylinders in a load-dependent manner, fuel consumption may be optimized.

Abstract: A direct-injection engine having a cylinder in which a combustion chamber is jointly formed by a piston crown of a piston, which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and a cylinder head, and an injection nozzle, which is arranged in the cylinder head on the opposite side of the piston crown eccentrically, spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, for the direct injection of fuel, which injection nozzle has a nozzle needle movable in a nozzle body, wherein the needle in the open position of the nozzle is moved into the combustion chamber, opening up an annular gap arranged between the nozzle body and needle.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for accurately measuring an air-fuel-ratio of an engine. During a first condition of decreased scavenging, adjusting fuel injection based on a more-upstream air-fuel ratio, and during a second condition of increased scavenging, adjusting fuel injection based on one or more more-downstream air-fuel ratios and not based on the more-upstream air-fuel ratio. During the first condition, adjusting fuel injection may be further based on the one or more more-downstream air-fuel ratios.

Abstract: Embodiments for an exhaust gas aftertreatment device are provided. In one example, an exhaust gas aftertreatment device for a gasoline engine comprises a filter body with porous filter walls through which exhaust gas flows to remove soot, the porous filter walls containing a first catalyst material and having a coating of a second catalyst material on partial areas of the filter walls. In this way, a particulate filter and catalyst may be provided in a common aftertreatment device.

Abstract: A method for reducing the particle emissions of a spark-ignition, direct-injection internal combustion engine is provided. The method comprises operating at least one cylinder superstoichiometrically, responsive to an injector coking level and sufficiently high cylinder temperature, for a duration to increase oxidation of coking residues.

Abstract: A system is provided for an internal combustion engine comprising, at least two cylinders wherein the at least two cylinders form at least two groups, wherein each group comprises at least one cylinder, the at least one cylinder of at least one group being formed as a cylinder which can be activated in a load-dependent manner and which is deactivated if a predefined load is undershot. The at least two groups are characterized by different compression ratios, the at least one cylinder of a first group having a higher compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of a second group having a lower compression ratio and the at least one cylinder of the second group comprises an activatable and deactivatable cylinder. Use of the first cylinder group, and deactivation of the second cylinder group during partial loads increases engine efficiency and fuel economy.

Abstract: A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.

Abstract: A system for filtering and oxidizing particulate matter produced by a gasoline direct injection engine is disclosed. In one embodiment, engine cylinder air-fuel is adjusted to allow soot to oxidize at an upstream particulate filter while exhaust gases are efficiently processed in a downstream catalyst.