Abstract: A method and system for introduction of nitrogen enriched air into the crankcase of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The introduction of the nitrogen-enriched air operates to extend the oil life of the oil present in the engine crankcase due to decreased oxidation of the engine oil.

Abstract: A fuel filter assembly with a replaceable filter element and a reusable filter housing, which incorporates a locking mechanism to ensure that the filter system will not be operated without a filter element installed.

Abstract: The invention consists of a coated metallic component which exhibits improved wear and pitting resistance, and a method for making the invention. A metallic component is coated with a functionally gradient material utilizing both a non-oxide containing coating and boron oxide coating. This invention is useful for rolling and sliding contacts.

Abstract: At least two torque paths between a driver and a camshaft distribute dynamic torque applied to the camshaft, allowing for cancellation of undesirable torque components. The second torque path has a greater number of gears than the first torque path, and acts as a constraint on the camshaft, ameliorating discontinuities in camshaft rotation due to sudden changes in load on the camshaft.

Abstract: A seal ring having a frustoconical spring completely encapsulated within an annular body provides a bias force to an annular lip seal of the annular body to assure positive contact with an opposed face of an adjacently disposed member of a joint assembly. The seal ring requires minimal counterbore depth in the member in which the seal ring is mounted, and no modifications are required in the spring or in the base of the counterbore to provide retention of the spring in the joint.

Abstract: A spark plug for an internal combustion engine comprising a center electrode having a shank portion which is fluted. The flutes have at least one edge which protrudes through an opening in a ground electrode of the spark plug. The principle use is for lean burn natural gas engines, however any air-fuel mixtures 14 will benefit from this invention. For example, propane or dual fuel engines may have spark plugs with this invention.

Abstract: A method and system for the intake air separation within an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The disclosed embodiments of the intake air separation system includes an intake air separation device adapted for separating the intake air into a flow of the oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air; an intake air circuit adapted to deliver intake air to the air separation device, and a purge air circuit adapted to deliver a flow of sweep air or purge air to the intake air separation device to increase the effectiveness of the air separation. The intake air separation device includes a first outlet in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and adapted to receive a flow of the oxygen enriched air and purge air as well as a second outlet also in fluid communication with the intake air separation device and adapted to provide the glow of nitrogen enriched air to the intake manifold for use in the combustion process.

Abstract: An actuator for opening a poppet exhaust valve, which is closed by a spring and opens in normal operation against a relatively low pressure and which opens for compression braking against a relatively high pressure, is motivated in either event by the same hydraulic pressure. The actuator has a unitary central valve and piston element, which is coaxially directed toward the exhaust valve stem and has an area providing, when subjected to the pressure, a force sufficient to open the exhaust valve for normal operation but insufficient to open the exhaust valve during compression braking. The element extends through a relatively larger diameter annular piston which is slidably fitted about the element and within a bore receiving the annular piston. In normal operation, the element provides enough force to move from an unactuated position and open the exhaust valve, and initial movement of the element closes off passages in the element that admit the pressure to the piston which thus does not move.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for a turbo-charged internal combustion engine is provided. The EGR system includes a recirculation conduit for recirculating a volume of exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold; a cooling air conduit for transporting a flow of cooling air; and a gas-to-air heat exchanger disposed in operative association with the recirculation conduit and the cooling air conduit and adapted for cooling the volume of recirculated exhaust gas in the recirculation conduit. The cooling air passing through the gas-to air heat exchanger can be diverted from the pressurized intake air, cooled (ATAAC) air, or even fresh ambient air obtained from a source external to said engine and which optionally may be forcibly directed through the heat exchanger via a blower.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation system (10) on an electronically controlled, turbocharger (18) equipped internal combustion engine (12) having two or more actuating devices (84,86). In the disclosed embodiments, the actuating devices (84,86) may include an exhaust gas recirculation valve (40), a turbocharger back pressure valve (44), the vane actuators (46) in a variable geometry turbocharger (48), or an air intake throttle valve.

Abstract: A system and method for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) in a heavy-duty diesel engine is disclosed. The disclosed EGR system comprises an EGR conduit, an EGR valve, an EGR cooler, and an EGR driver such as an auxiliary compressor driven by the exhaust gas driven turbine of the engine to forcibly drive the recirculated exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold via an EGR conduit to the intake manifold when the EGR valve is open. The disclosed EGR system also includes an EGR bypass conduit, the flow through which is governed by an electronically controlled EGR bypass valve. The EGR system also includes an ECM that controls the EGR bypass valve such that a flow of exhaust gas is directed through the EGR conduit and EGR driver during selected engine operating conditions where the primary EGR valve is open (i.e. EGR is on) and directs a flow of air from the intake through the EGR bypass conduit and EGR driver when EGR valve is closed (i.e. EGR is off).

Abstract: A method and system for late cycle injection of oxygen enriched air into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The late cycle oxygen injection system is part of an airflow management system that effectively controls the use of oxygen and nitrogen available in the intake air. The preferred system comprises an intake air separation device adapted for separating a prescribed portion of intake air into a flow of oxygen enriched air and a flow of nitrogen enriched air. The system includes an oxygen enriched air flow circuit extending from the intake air separating device to one or more combustion chambers and a control device adapted for controlling the introduction of the oxygen enriched air into the combustion chambers late in a combustion cycle in response to selected engine operating conditions such as engine speed or engine load or both.

Abstract: A closed loop control system for an exhaust gas recovery flow in an internal combustion engine having an intake air pressurizing device is provided. The closed loop control system includes an engine controller connected to an intake air mass flow sensor, an engine operation sensor, and an intake air throttle valve for controlling the intake air mass flow rate. In addition, the controller is operatively connected to a variable gas pocket valve for selectively controlling exhaust gas feedback in conjunction with the intake air throttle valve. The variable gas pocket valve and the intake air throttle valve may be actuated in response to the control system parameters to provide accurate control of exhaust gas recovery flow to provide reduced emissions of unburned fuel and particulate matter from the engine.

Abstract: A system and method for recirculating exhaust gas in a turbocharged internal combustion engine is disclosed. The disclosed method comprises the steps of: (a) recirculating a selected volume of exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold via a recirculation conduit; (b) diverting a flow of cool intake air to bypass the engine via a bypass conduit; and (c) cooling the recirculating exhaust gas in the recirculation conduit using the flow of diverted intake air.

Abstract: The present invention is particularly well suited for purifying exhaust from relatively large lean burn diesel engines. The emissions purification system causes an after-injection of fuel through the engine fuel injector during the exhaust stroke of an internal combustion engine. A computer controls the injector to inject an optimal amount of NOx reducing fuel into the engine cylinder. The optimal amount corresponds to an amount that will achieve optimal NOx reduction rates for the given engine operating condition and exhaust temperature. A computer periodically senses the engine operating condition and determines the exhaust temperature, and calculates the appropriate injection amount. With appropriate deNOx and oxidation catalysts located downstream from the injector, the emissions purification system of the present invention has the ability to greatly reduce NOx content of the exhaust while maintaining HC emissions at acceptable levels and greatly reducing system complexity.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for a turbo-charged internal combustion engine is provided. The EGR system includes a recirculation conduit for recirculating a volume of exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold; a bypass conduit for diverting a flow of intake air around the engine; and an EGR cooler disposed in operative association with the recirculation conduit and the bypass conduit and adapted for cooling the volume of recirculated exhaust gas in the recirculation conduit. The exhaust gas recirculation cooler or heat exchanger is also adapted for concurrently heating the intake air in the bypass conduit. The heated intake air together with the exhaust gas remaining in the exhaust manifold is used to drive the turbocharger. The disclosed embodiment of the exhaust gas recirculation system also includes an air-to-air after-cooler used to cool the compressed intake air.

Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulically actuated electrically controlled unit fuel injectors to operate quietly and with less seat wear on a valve disposed therein is disclosed. The disclosed method comprises controlling the pressure of a high pressure working fluid which operates the injector to inject the proper amount of fuel in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine; and responding to changes in the pressure of the working fluid to vary the timing duration and amplitude of a current pulse which activates a stator that draws an armature to the stator and opens a first seat of the poppet valve or other flow regulating device against a spring bias to allow the high pressure working fluid into the injector and closes a second seat to prevent the working from draining from the injector to allow the working fluid to operate the injector.

Abstract: A fuel emulsion blending system and method for operating the same is provided. The disclosed embodiments of the fuel emulsion blending system includes a plurality of fluid circuits, including a hydrocarbon circuit, a fuel emulsion additive circuit, a water circuit and an optional alcohol/methanol circuit. Each of the inlet circuits are adapted for receiving the identified ingredient from a suitable source which optionally may be included as part of the blending system. The disclosed blending system further includes a first blending station adapted to mix the hydrocarbon fuel and fuel emulsion additives and a second blending station adapted to mix the hydrocarbon fuel and additive mixture received from the first blending station together with the water received from the source of water. The disclosed blending system further includes an emulsification station downstream of the blending stations which is adapted to emulsify the mixture of hydrocarbon fuel, additives and water to yield a stable fuel emulsion.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling the injection of fuel across a plurality of fuel injectors coupled together along a fuel rail in an internal combustion engine is provided. The method and system involve producing a reference fuel delivery control signal for each of the fuel injectors as a function of the desired fuel mass to be injected and subsequently adjusting the pulse width of each fuel delivery control signal as a function of the fuel temperature proximate each of the respective fuel injectors. The temperature of the fuel proximate each of the respective fuel injectors along the fuel rail is ascertained by measuring the temperature of the fuel near the inlet of the fuel rail using a temperature sensor and subsequently determining the temperature of the fuel proximate each of the fuel injectors based on the measured fuel temperature measured and the location of said fuel injector along said fuel rail.

Abstract: A method of controlling hydraulically actuated, electrically controlled unit fuel injectors to operate in response to the pressure of the working fluid or changes in the pressure of the working fluid is disclosed. The disclosed method comprises controlling the pressure of a high pressure working fluid which operates the fuel injector to inject the proper amount of fuel in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine and varying or adjusting the timing, duration and amplitude of a current pulse which activates the fuel injector in response to the pressure of the working fluid or changes thereto. The fuel injector is activated by energizing a stator that draws an armature to the stator and opens a first seat of the flow regulating device such as a poppet valve against a spring bias to allow the high pressure working fluid into the injector and closes a second seat to prevent the working from draining from the injector to allow the working fluid to operate the injector.