Abstract: A method of mixed mode operation of an internal combustion engine includes the steps of controlling a homogeneous charge combustion event timing in a given engine cycle, and controlling a conventional charge injection event to be at least a predetermined time after the homogeneous charge combustion event. An internal combustion engine is provided, including an electronic controller having a computer readable medium with a combustion timing control algorithm recorded thereon, the control algorithm including means for controlling a homogeneous charge combustion event timing and means for controlling a conventional injection event timing to be at least a predetermined time from the homogeneous charge combustion event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a compression ignition engine having a cylinder wall, a piston, and a head defining a combustion chamber. The method and apparatus includes delivering fuel substantially uniformly into the combustion chamber, the fuel being dispersed throughout the combustion chamber and spaced from the cylinder wall, delivering an oxidant into the combustion chamber sufficient to support combustion at a first predetermined combustion duration, and delivering a diluent into the combustion chamber sufficient to change the first predetermined combustion duration to a second predetermined combustion duration different from the first predetermined combustion duration.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an internal combustion engine having an engine block defining at least one cylinder and a head connected with said engine block. The head has an air intake port and an exhaust port. The internal combustion engine also has a piston and a combustion chamber. The internal combustion engine further has an air intake valve movable to open and close the air intake port and an air supply system having at least one turbocharger fluidly connected to the air intake port. The internal combustion engine additionally has a fuel supply system operable to inject fuel into the combustion chamber, a cam assembly selectively mechanically linked to the air intake valve to move the air intake valve, and an electromagnetic actuator configured to decouple the cam assembly from the air intake valve and control movement of the air intake valve.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling exhaust emissions from direct injected homogeneous charge compression ignition engines by combusting therein a fuel having a cetane number equal to or less than 50, and aromatic content equal to or greater than 15 wt %.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine at idle that reduces NOx and controls smoke and hydrocarbon emissions. An idle delivery quantity of fuel is determined and divided into a first quantity of fuel and a second quantity of fuel in approximately equal quantities. During a compression stroke of an engine piston, the first quantity of fuel is injected into an engine cylinder. Adjusting at least one of timing and quantity of the injection of the first quantity of fuel reduces, at least in part, NOx emissions. At a timing angle of at least thirty degrees after the first quantity of fuel is injected and after the first quantity of fuel has been burned, there is an injection of the second quantity of fuel. Adjusting at least one of timing and quantity of the injection of the second quantity of fuel reduces, at least in part, smoke emissions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing a combustion phasing between a plurality of cylinders located in an engine. The method and apparatus includes a determining a combustion timing in each cylinder, establishing a baseline parameter for a desired combustion timing, and varying actuation of at least one of a plurality of intake valves, each intake valve being in fluid communication with a corresponding cylinder, such that the combustion timing in each cylinder is substantially equal to the desired combustion timing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a compression ignition engine having a cylinder wall, a piston, and a head defining a combustion chamber. The method and apparatus includes delivering fuel substantially uniformly into the combustion chamber, the fuel being dispersed throughout the combustion chamber and spaced from the cylinder wall, delivering an oxidant into the combustion chamber sufficient to support combustion at a first predetermined combustion duration, and delivering a diluent into the combustion chamber sufficient to change the first predetermined combustion duration to a second predetermined combustion duration different from the first predetermined combustion duration.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for delivering multiple fuel injections to a cylinder of an engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller coupled to an electronically controlled fuel injector, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the controller for inputting certain signals representative of certain engine operating conditions of the engine, the controller being operable to output a fuel injection signal to the fuel injector to deliver a first, a second, and a third fuel shot to the cylinder during a fuel injection event based upon the sensor signals. The controller also delivers each of the multiple fuel injection shots within defined cylinder piston displacement parameters during a particular piston stroke, within defined fuel apportionment limits, and within defined delay limits between each respective fuel shot so as to control exhaust emissions.

Abstract: A method for operating an engine at idle that reduces NOx and controls smoke and hydrocarbon emissions. An idle delivery quantity of fuel is determined and divided into a first quantity of fuel and a second quantity of fuel in approximately equal quantities. During a compression stroke of an engine piston, the first quantity of fuel is injected into an engine cylinder. Adjusting at least one of timing and quantity of the injection of the first quantity of fuel reduces, at least in part, NOx emissions. At a timing angle of at least thirty degrees after the first quantity of fuel is injected and after the first quantity of fuel has been burned, there is an injection of the second quantity of fuel. Adjusting at least one of timing and quantity of the injection of the second quantity of fuel reduces, at least in part, smoke emissions.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.

Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine, including at least one cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder, may include supplying a mixture of pressurized air and recirculated exhaust gas from an intake manifold to an air intake port of a combustion chamber in the cylinder, selectively operating an air intake valve to open the air intake port to allow pressurized air to flow between the combustion chamber and the intake manifold substantially during a majority portion of a compression stroke of the piston, and operably controlling a fuel supply system to inject fuel into the combustion chamber after the intake valve is closed.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for delivering multiple fuel injections to a cylinder of an engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller coupled to an electronically controlled fuel injection device, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the controller for inputting certain signals representative of certain engine operating conditions of the engine, the controller being operable to output a fuel injection signal to the fuel injection device to deliver pilot, main, and anchor fuel shots to the cylinder during a fuel injection event based upon the sensor signals. The controller also divides the desired fuel quantity between the three shots. In dividing the total fuel set by the governor system between the three shots, the controller determines desired pilot and anchor fuel shot amounts and also determines minimum pilot, main, and anchor fuel shot amounts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an impingement sleeve multi-mode fuel injection is provided for. A fuel injector has an orifice and a orifice axis and an impingement sleeve is disposed about a fuel injector, the sleeve being movable longitudinal to said tip between a first and second position and to impinge fuel spray from the fuel tip. A cavity at least partially disposed within the lower body of the fuel injector is open to a source of pressurized fluid flow capable of moving the sleeve in a first direction to change the impingement angle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an impingement sleeve disposed around a fuel injector to provide for multi-mode fuel injection is provided. The sleeve and tip are at least partially exposed to pressure, preferably combustion pressure within the engine cylinder. The impingement sleeve is biased to a rest position by a spring and is movable by changing the pressure.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for delivering multiple fuel injections to a cylinder of an engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller coupled to an electronically controlled fuel injector, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the controller for inputting certain signals representative of certain engine operating conditions of the engine, the controller being operable to output a fuel injection signal to the fuel injector to deliver a first, a second, and a third fuel shot to the cylinder during a fuel injection event based upon the sensor signals. The controller also delivers each of the multiple fuel injection shots within defined cylinder piston displacement parameters during a particular piston stroke, within defined fuel apportionment limits, and within defined delay limits between each respective fuel shot so as to control exhaust emissions.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for multi-mode fuel injection is disclosed. A sleeve is disposed about a fuel injector tip movable between a first and second position and wherein the sleeve is capable of impinging the fuel spray as it enters into the combustion chamber. By impinging the fuel spray, different spray profiles or plumes can be obtained allowing the fuel injector to inject in different modes, including homogenous charge compression ignition.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for delivering multiple fuel injections to a cylinder of an engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller coupled to an electronically controlled fuel injector, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the controller for inputting certain signals representative of certain engine operating conditions of the engine, the controller being operable to output a fuel injection signal to the fuel injector to deliver a first, a second, and a third fuel shot to the cylinder during a fuel injection event based upon the sensor signals. The controller also delivers each of the multiple fuel injection shots within defined cylinder piston displacement parameters during a particular piston stroke, within defined fuel apportionment limits, and within defined delay limits between each respective fuel shot so as to control exhaust emissions.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for controlling a fuel injection control system of a direct injection internal combustion engine, capable of issuing a pilot and a main injection during fuel injection into an engine cylinder, determining whether a pilot injection is enabled or disabled for each of the plurality of direct injection devices for each engine operation cycle, and modifying a corresponding main injection timing at least on the basis of the pilot injection determination. The fuel injection control system including at least one direct fuel injection device operable to deliver partitioned separate injections of fuel directly into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system and method for delivering multiple fuel injections to a cylinder of an engine during a fuel injection event based upon engine operating conditions, the control system including an electronic controller coupled to an electronically controlled fuel injector, and a plurality of sensors coupled to the controller for inputting certain signals representative of certain engine operating conditions of the engine, the controller being operable to output a fuel injection signal to the fuel injector to deliver a first, a second, and a third fuel shot to the cylinder during a fuel injection event based upon the sensor signals. The controller also delivers each of the multiple fuel injection shots within defined cylinder piston displacement parameters during a particular piston stroke, within defined fuel apportionment limits, and within defined delay limits between each respective fuel shot so as to control exhaust emissions.