Abstract: A valve assembly and method for controlling flow of gases through a passage between an engine crankcase and an engine intake manifold is provided. The method includes decreasing a flow of gases through the passage between the crankcase and the intake manifold when a temperature of the gases is greater than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A valve assembly and method for controlling flow of gases through a passage between an engine crankcase and an engine intake manifold is provided. The method includes decreasing a flow of gases through the passage between the crankcase and the intake manifold when a temperature of the gases is greater than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A valve assembly and method for controlling flow of gases through a passage between an engine crankcase and an engine intake manifold is provided. The method includes increasing a flow of gases through the passage between the crankcase and the intake manifold when a temperature of the gases is below a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: An arrangement of a four cycle internal combustion engine 7 is provided. In the preferred embodiment the engine 7 has a plurality of combustion chambers 18 having reciprocating pistons 22 mounted therein. A fuel injector 80 is provided for each combustion chamber. The fuel injector injects a stratified 80 charge into the combustion chamber 18 upon a compression stroke of the piston 22. An intake manifold 32 is provided to provide air to each combustion chamber. A charging device 38 is provided to pressurize the air within the intake manifold 32. Preferably the charging device is a variable geometry turbocharger 38. The pressurizing of the air within the intake manifold 32 allows the engine 7 to extend the stratified charge operation of the engine 7 and facilitates in increased gas mileage by allowing the engine 7 to stay in a stratified mode of operation longer than prior stratified charged internal combustion engines.

Abstract: A catalyst assembly 16 for an exhaust gas system 14 for an automotive vehicle includes a housing 28 and a porous support structure 32 having a plurality of channels 34, 36. A plurality of catalyst pellets 50 are disposed within at least some of the channels. A retainer 54 is positioned adjacent to the support structure 32 for retaining the pellets 50 within the channels 34, 36.

Abstract: A method and system for generating auxiliary load during start-up and warm-up of a spark ignition engine operating with a high load, cold start and spark retard and enleanment (HL-CSSRE) methodology to achieve rapid light-off. The method and system of the present invention uses existing vehicle systems (20) to couple an auxiliary load to the engine for a predetermined period of time during engine start-up and warm-up.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gas-dynamic cold spraying a liner 3 in a cylinder 2 of an aluminum engine block 1 is provided. The gas-dynamic cold spray liner 3 allows the aluminum engine block 1 to have a hardened cylinder surface 10 without the induction of residual hoop stress within the aluminum engine block 1.

Abstract: A method and system for generating auxiliary load during start-up and warm-up of a spark ignition engine operating with a high load, cold start and spark retard and enleanment (HL-CSSRE) methodology to achieve rapid light-off. The method and system of the present invention uses existing vehicle systems (20) to couple an auxiliary load to the engine for a predetermined period of time during engine start-up and warm-up.

Abstract: A catalyst assembly 16 for an exhaust gas system 14 for an automotive vehicle includes a housing 28 and a porous support structure 32 having a plurality of channels 34, 36. A plurality of catalyst pellets 50 are disposed within at least some of the channels. A retainer 54 is positioned adjacent to the support structure 32 for retaining the pellets 50 within the channels 34, 36.

Abstract: An engine control method for an internal combustion engine having a powertrain control module (PCM). The powertrain control module includes a microprocessor and associated memory. A mathematical model of the engine cycle of the engine system is stored in the PCM memory. The PCM continuously monitors a variety of engine operating parameters. From these inputs, the PCM generates optimized control setpoints for the intake airflow, fueling right, spark timing and EGR flow for the engine using the mathematical model. The setpoints are generated in real-time for every engine cycle, and the engine is then operated in accordance with the generated control setpoints. In another aspect of the invention, the engine model includes submodels for fuel delivery, the in-cylinder processes, the engine heat capacitance and cooling system, engine friction, airflow, engine inertia, and the front-end auxiliary drive.

Abstract: A reciprocating internal combustion engine includes a variable compression ratio system for adjusting the compression ratio of an engine in a first compression range located about a first predetermined compression ratio in the event that the engine is operating at a first predetermined load range, with the variable compression ratio adding a fixed clearance volume to the volume of the combustion chamber in the event that the engine is operating in a knocking condition beyond the range of the first compression range.

Abstract: A method of detecting internal combustion engine misfires by generating a predicted Karlovitz number as a function of different engine operating conditions such as the air fuel ratio (AFR), the engine speed, the amount of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), spark-ignition (SI) timing and the airflow rate. The predicted Karlovitz number is then compared against the threshold Karlovitz number in which misfire occurs. The threshold Karlovitz number is determined from a model for misfire predictions in engines and is stored in the electronic engine controller (EEC). A misfire is reported if the predicted Karlovitz number is greater than the threshold Karlovitz number. In another aspect of the invention, the predicted Karlovitz number is generated from submodels of laminar flame speed, laminar flame thickness, turbulence intensity, and turbulence integral length scale.