Abstract: An emissions control substrate for treating exhaust from an engine including a plurality of hexagonal cells extending between a first end and a second end of the substrate. Wash coats are at an interior of the hexagonal cells. At an inner region of the substrate through which a longitudinal axis of the emissions control substrate extends, for every group of three adjacent hexagonal cells of the plurality of hexagonal cells two are plugged at the first end and open at the second end, and one is open at the first end and plugged at the second end. At an outer region of the substrate surrounding the inner region, for every group of three adjacent hexagonal cells of the plurality of hexagonal cells, one is plugged at the first end and open at the second end, and two are open at the first end and plugged at the second end.

Abstract: A method for designing an emissions control substrate of an engine exhaust system to optimize exhaust flow through the emissions control substrate to an exhaust sensor within or proximate to the substrate. The emissions control substrate includes an inner core and an outer core surrounding the inner core. The inner core defines a plurality of inner channels and the outer core defines a plurality of outer channels. The plurality of inner channels are smaller than the outer channels, such that the inner core has a greater channel density than the outer core.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a fueling system, an exhaust assembly, and a controller. The fueling system controls fuel to the engine. The exhaust assembly releases combustion gas from the engine and includes at least one sensor and a catalytic converter. The controller is configured to control the engine, the fueling system and the exhaust assembly. The controller evaluates engine state and an output from the at least one sensor and commands a fueling strategy to control an oxygen storage capacity of the catalytic converter based on the engine state and output from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a fueling system, an exhaust assembly, and a controller. The fueling system controls fuel to the engine. The exhaust assembly releases combustion gas from the engine and includes at least one sensor and a catalytic converter. The controller is configured to control the engine, the fueling system and the exhaust assembly. The controller evaluates engine state and an output from the at least one sensor and commands a fueling strategy to control an oxygen storage capacity of the catalytic converter based on the engine state and output from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A system for regenerating an emissions particulate filter that filters particulates from exhaust generated by an engine of a vehicle. The system includes an electric heater and a generator. The electric heater heats the emissions particulate filter to burn off exhaust particulates that have accumulated on the emissions particulate filter. The generator converts kinetic energy of the vehicle into electricity during regenerative braking of the vehicle. Electricity generated by the generator powers the electric heater. Energy used to power the electric heater can also come from engine load shifting.

Abstract: An emissions control substrate for treating exhaust from an engine including a plurality of hexagonal cells extending between a first end and a second end of the substrate. Wash coats are at an interior of the hexagonal cells. At an inner region of the substrate through which a longitudinal axis of the emissions control substrate extends, for every group of three adjacent hexagonal cells of the plurality of hexagonal cells two are plugged at the first end and open at the second end, and one is open at the first end and plugged at the second end. At an outer region of the substrate surrounding the inner region, for every group of three adjacent hexagonal cells of the plurality of hexagonal cells, one is plugged at the first end and open at the second end, and two are open at the first end and plugged at the second end.

Abstract: A spark plug includes a housing, a center electrode disposed within the housing, and a ground electrode cooperating with the center electrode to generate a spark. The ground electrode further includes an arm having a main body and a base, a pad fixed to the base, and a covering affixed to at least one of the main body and the base. The main body is fixed to the housing. The covering alters a dielectric constant of the main body or a dielectric constant of the base to create a difference in the dielectric constant of the main body and the dielectric constant of the base and focus the spark on the pad.

Abstract: A system for regenerating an emissions particulate filter that filters particulates from exhaust generated by an engine of a vehicle. The system includes an electric heater and a generator. The electric heater heats the emissions particulate filter to burn off exhaust particulates that have accumulated on the emissions particulate filter. The generator converts kinetic energy of the vehicle into electricity during regenerative braking of the vehicle. Electricity generated by the generator powers the electric heater. Energy used to power the electric heater can also come from engine load shifting.

Abstract: The present teachings provide for a spark plug for an internal combustion engine and a method of constructing the spark plug. The spark plug can include a housing, insulator, first electrode, and ground electrode. The housing can be configured to be coupled to the engine. The insulator can be received in the housing. The first electrode can be received in the housing and can be spaced apart from the housing by the insulator. The ground electrode can have a first end, second end, and base portion. The first and second ends can be coupled to the housing for thermal conduction with the housing. At least one of the first and second ends can be coupled to the housing for electrical conduction with the housing. The base portion can be spaced apart from the first electrode to define a spark plug gap between the first electrode and the base portion.

Abstract: A center electrode is electrically coupled with a main terminal. A ground electrode is opposed to the center electrode to form a gap therebetween. A piezo actuator changes in length on application of a voltage. The piezo actuator actuates one of the center electrode and the ground electrode to manipulate the gap.

Abstract: An EGR device includes a housing having an outer pipe and an inner pipe. The inner pipe is accommodated in the outer pipe to define an annular passage externally with the outer pipe. The inner pipe defines an inner passage internally. The inner pipe has pipe through holes. A rotary valve is accommodated in the inner pipe. The rotary valve has valve through holes. The rotary valve is rotatable to communicate the annular passage with the inner passage through the valve through holes and the pipe through holes. The rotary valve is rotatable to block the inner passage from the annular passage.

Abstract: A center electrode is electrically coupled with a main terminal. A ground electrode is opposed to the center electrode to form a gap therebetween. A piezo actuator changes in length on application of a voltage. The piezo actuator actuates one of the center electrode and the ground electrode to manipulate the gap.

Abstract: An EGR device includes a housing and a valve. The housing has an outer pipe and an inner structure. The inner structure is located inside the outer pipe to define an annular passage externally with the outer pipe. The inner structure defines an inner passage internally. The inner structure has apertures. The valve is in a tubular shape and is located inside the inner structure. The valve is slidable in an axial direction to communicate the annular passage with the inner passage through the apertures and to block the inner passage from the annular passage.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing regenerative energy available during deceleration by reducing engine pumping losses. The method includes a controller that reduces fuel delivery to the engine and closes an engine throttle during deceleration. The controller identifies the maximum kinetic energy available during deceleration and opens an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve and engine throttle as necessary to reduce a vacuum in an engine intake manifold, thus minimizing engine pumping losses and increasing regenerative energy available during deceleration while ensuring that a catalyst temperature is above a catalyst temperature threshold.

Abstract: An EGR device includes a housing having an outer pipe and an inner pipe. The inner pipe is accommodated in the outer pipe to define an annular passage externally with the outer pipe. The inner pipe defines an inner passage internally. The inner pipe has pipe through holes. A rotary valve is accommodated in the inner pipe. The rotary valve has valve through holes. The rotary valve is rotatable to communicate the annular passage with the inner passage through the valve through holes and the pipe through holes. The rotary valve is rotatable to block the inner passage from the annular passage.

Abstract: An EGR device includes a housing and a valve. The housing has an outer pipe and an inner structure. The inner structure is located inside the outer pipe to define an annular passage externally with the outer pipe. The inner structure defines an inner passage internally. The inner structure has apertures. The valve is in a tubular shape and is located inside the inner structure. The valve is slidable in an axial direction to communicate the annular passage with the inner passage through the apertures and to block the inner passage from the annular passage.

Abstract: The present teachings provide for a spark plug for an internal combustion engine and a method of constructing the spark plug. The spark plug can include a housing, insulator, first electrode, and ground electrode. The housing can be configured to be coupled to the engine. The insulator can be received in the housing. The first electrode can be received in the housing and can be spaced apart from the housing by the insulator. The ground electrode can have a first end, second end, and base portion. The first and second ends can be coupled to the housing for thermal conduction with the housing. At least one of the first and second ends can be coupled to the housing for electrical conduction with the housing. The base portion can be spaced apart from the first electrode to define a spark plug gap between the first electrode and the base portion.

Abstract: A method and system for increasing regenerative energy available during deceleration by reducing engine pumping losses. The method includes a controller that reduces fuel delivery to the engine and closes an engine throttle during deceleration. The controller identifies the maximum kinetic energy available during deceleration and opens an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve and engine throttle as necessary to reduce a vacuum in an engine intake manifold, thus minimizing engine pumping losses and increasing regenerative energy available during deceleration while ensuring that a catalyst temperature is above a catalyst temperature threshold.

Abstract: A method for treating exhaust from an engine. The method includes activating an exhaust ionizer in receipt of the exhaust when temperature of a catalyst of a selective catalytic converter, which is in communication with the exhaust ionizer so as to receive exhaust from the exhaust ionizer, is equal to or above an effective temperature. The method further includes deactivating or maintaining the exhaust ionizer in a deactivated state when temperature of the catalyst is below the effective temperature.