Abstract: A supercharger assembly has a supercharger housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet; an impeller disposed in the supercharger housing; an impeller shaft connected to the impeller for driving the impeller; a driveshaft connected to the impeller shaft for driving the impeller shaft, the driveshaft defining an oil supply passage; and a torsional damper connected to the driveshaft for driving the driveshaft. The torsional damper is configured for being operatively connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The oil supply passage is positioned to supply oil to the torsional damper for lubricating the torsional damper.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle, the powertrain a dual-clutch transmission including a first clutch and a second clutch selectively actuated to transmit motion from the engine to a first shaft and a second shaft respectively. The method includes producing a first shift request for shifting from an initial gear to a different gear; in response to the first shift request, executing a first shift sequence to shift from the initial gear to the different gear; during execution of the first shift sequence, producing a second shift request for shifting from the different gear to the initial gear; in response to the second shift request: interrupting the first shift sequence prior to the first shift sequence having finished; and executing a second shift sequence to reverse the first shift sequence such that the transmission engages the initial gear for driving on the first shaft.

Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine for a vehicle includes: an oil tank defining an oil reservoir; a pump to pump oil from the oil reservoir to lubricate parts of the engine; and a cyclonic separator disposed within the oil tank and configured to separate gas from oil received therein, the cyclonic separator defining an internal separator chamber for circulation of oil therein, the cyclonic separator comprising: a vortex forming portion configured to cause oil flowing therethrough within the internal separator chamber to define a spiral path in order to separate at least part of a gas content therefrom; an oil inlet for receiving oil into the internal separator chamber, the oil inlet being fluidly connected to the pump; an oil outlet for discharging oil from the internal separator chamber and into the oil reservoir of the oil tank; and a gas outlet for discharging gas from the internal separator chamber.

Abstract: A vehicle including an engine; a turbocharger, an intake air flow path of the vehicle defined from air entering the vehicle, passing through the compressor, and flowing into the engine air inlet; a coolant container assembly; a temperature sensor configured for determining a temperature in the intake air flow path; and a controller configured to selectively cause cooling liquid to flow from the coolant container into the intake air flow path. A method for managing engine air intake temperature or piston temperature of a turbocharged vehicle including: sensing a temperature of fluid within the air intake flow path, determining an estimated piston temperature; and in response to the estimated piston temperature and/or the temperature of the fluid being above threshold temperatures, causing an amount of cooling liquid to flow from a coolant container to the air intake flow path.

Abstract: An engine assembly for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes a catalytic converter, a main muffler, a hydrocarbon trap, a pre-muffler disposed upstream from the main muffler and the hydrocarbon trap, and an exhaust path valve. The exhaust path valve is movable between first and second exhaust path positions. The exhaust path valve obstructs a second exhaust path in the first exhaust path position such that exhaust gas flows from an exhaust port of an engine cylinder to the catalytic converter to the main muffler and to the atmosphere. The exhaust path valve obstructs a first exhaust path in the second exhaust path position such that exhaust gas flows from the exhaust port of the engine cylinder to the catalytic converter to the hydrocarbon trap and to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A dual-clutch transmission for use in a vehicle has a housing, a clutch pack drum adapted to rotate inside the housing, a central clutch gear connected to the clutch pack drum, a first clutch pack, a first clutch hub, a first pressure plate disposed on the first side of the central clutch gear, and a first shaft connected to the first clutch hub. The first shaft drives at least one first transmission gear when the first pressure plate squeezes the first clutch pack. The dual-clutch transmission further includes a second clutch pack, a second clutch hub, a second pressure plate disposed on the second side of the central clutch gear, and a second shaft connected to the second clutch hub. The second shaft drives at least one second transmission gear when the second pressure plate squeezes the second clutch pack. A vehicle having a dual-clutch transmission is also encompassed.

Abstract: A power supply comprises a DC power source, first and second DC/DC converters, and a protection circuit. The DC power source provides DC power at a variable bulk voltage. The first DC/DC converter converts the DC power from the DC power source to DC power at a high voltage suitable for powering a high-voltage load. The second DC/DC converter receives DC power from the first DC/DC converter, converts the received DC power to DC power at a low voltage, and delivers the DC power at the low voltage to a low-voltage load. The protection circuit selectively transfers DC power from the first DC/DC converter to the high-voltage load. The DC power source may be an AC/DC converter receiving AC power from a power generator driven by an aircraft engine.

Abstract: A tunnel for mounting above a road surface (3) comprises a plurality of tunnel segments (1). Each tunnel segment is adapted for mounting at least one projector (6) therein, above a respective opening formed by the tunnel segment in a ceiling of the tunnel. The openings (5) of the plurality of tunnel segments are spaced apart in succession in a direction of travel of vehicles in the tunnel. The tunnel segments are disposed such that projection surfaces (8) of the projectors are seamlessly contiguous or overlapping on the road surface in the direction of travel. The tunnel may comprise awnings positioned at its entrance and its exit, the ceiling being formed at least in part by the awnings. A first awning (10A) may be mounted to a first tunnel segment, in the direction of travel, and a second awning (10B) may be mounted to a last tunnel segment, in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A power pack for a vehicle selected from a group of different vehicles is disclosed. The power pack includes an internal combustion engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the engine. The CVT includes: a drive pulley operatively connected to a crankshaft of the engine, the drive pulley being rotatable about a drive pulley axis; a driven pulley rotatable about a driven pulley axis; a belt connecting the drive pulley to the driven pulley; and a housing at least partly enclosing the drive pulley, the driven pulley and the belt. The power pack also includes a sub-transmission selected from a group of different sub-transmissions depending on the selected vehicle. The selected sub-transmission is mounted to the housing of the CVT. The housing of the CVT is configured to mount any sub-transmission of the group of different sub-transmissions. A method for assembling a power pack is also provided.

Abstract: A method for managing start up of a four-stroke engine, the method being performed by a controller communicatively connected to the engine. The method includes determining, using a crankshaft sensor, an angular orientation of the crankshaft, the crankshaft being rotated by a starter motor prior to ignition of the engine; determining, using the crankshaft sensor, at least one engine speed variation as the crankshaft rotates through at least one measurement window; and identifying a working cycle phase of the crankshaft including in response to an absolute value of the at least one engine speed variation being above a threshold, determining that the crankshaft is in an ignition revolution of a two revolution working cycle of the engine in the measurement window, subsequent ignition of the engine being based on determination of the angular orientation and the working cycle phase of the crankshaft.

Abstract: A method of operating an exhaust valve of a two-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed. The engine has a cylinder and a piston movably disposed within the cylinder. The cylinder defines at least one exhaust port for discharging exhaust fluid from the cylinder. The exhaust valve is configured to cyclically obstruct the exhaust port. The method includes: rotating the exhaust valve in a first direction for clearing the exhaust port before the piston uncovers the exhaust port during a downstroke of the piston, the first direction being opposite a direction of rotation of a crankshaft of the engine; and rotating the exhaust valve in the first direction for at least partially closing the exhaust port before the piston fully covers the exhaust port during an upstroke of the piston, said rotating of the exhaust valve relative to the rotation of the crankshaft at least partially counterbalancing the crankshaft.

Abstract: A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle having a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) includes: operating the DCT while the vehicle is in motion with a high or low transmission gear drivingly engaged; receiving a shift request to engage an other one of the high and low transmission gears; reducing an engine torque output and first and second clutch torques; shifting a subtransmission to a neutral gear setting; selecting a first gear or a second gear to drive the subtransmission; shifting the main transmission to engage the selected first or second gear; after shifting the main transmission, shifting the subtransmission to the other one of the high and low transmission gears; and after shifting the subtransmission, controlling the engine torque output and the first and second clutch torques according to a driver request at an accelerator of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle includes: sensing a speed of the vehicle; sensing an acceleration of the vehicle along three spatial axes; determining that the vehicle is in a jump state associated with the vehicle being off a ground surface, the jump state being defined at least in part by the acceleration of the vehicle along the three spatial axes and the speed of the vehicle; and controlling the transmission according to a jump strategy in response to determining that the vehicle is in the jump state. Other methods for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle are also contemplated.

Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes: an engine; a throttle operator moveable by a driver; a throttle valve regulating airflow to the engine; a continuously variable transmission (CVT) operatively connected to the engine; at least one ground engaging member including at least one of: a wheel and a track; a piston operatively connected to a driving pulley of the CVT for applying a piston force to the driving pulley when actuated and thereby changing an effective diameter of the driving pulley; and a control unit for controlling actuation of the piston and the piston force. The method includes: determining a driven pulley speed of a driven pulley of the CVT; detecting an uphill stand condition indicative of the vehicle being stopped on an uphill; responsive to the detection of the uphill stand condition, controlling the piston force based on the driven pulley speed.

Abstract: An engine assembly for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine operating on a two-stroke engine cycle. A compressor is in fluid communication with an intake port of at least one cylinder of the engine to pump air into the engine. An exhaust pipe is in fluid communication with an exhaust port of the at least one cylinder. The exhaust pipe has an inlet and an outlet defining a length of the exhaust pipe therebetween. A diameter of the exhaust pipe increases along a portion of the length of the exhaust pipe in a flow direction of the exhaust pipe. The diameter of the exhaust pipe does not decrease along the length of the exhaust pipe in the flow direction of the exhaust pipe.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has one or more combustion chambers defined by one of more cylinders, corresponding pistons, and a cylinder head. A crankshaft is operatively connected to the pistons and to an electric turning machine. To start the engine, the electric turning machine rotates the crankshaft in a first direction toward a reversal point corresponding to a local maximum drag torque of the internal combustion engine, this rotation being made without rotating the crankshaft beyond the reversal point. The electric turning machine then rotates the crankshaft in a second direction opposite from the first direction, a momentum impressed on the crankshaft by compression obtained when rotating in the first direction increasing a speed of the crankshaft in the second direction. Thereafter, fuel is injected in one of the combustion chambers in which the corresponding piston first reaches a top dead center position and the fuel is ignited.

Abstract: A turbine wheel for a turbine of a turbocharger. The turbine wheel includes a plurality of turbine blades distributed evenly about the axis of rotation; and a plurality of inter-blade portions distributed evenly about the axis of rotation. Each of the inter-blade portions is disposed between two blades and each of the blades is disposed between two inter-blade portions, the inter-blade portions and the turbine blades being integrally formed. A cross-section, taken along a plane normal to the axis of rotation, of a surface of each inter-blade portion of the plurality of inter-blade portions being described by a smooth curve extending between the two turbines blades of the plurality of turbine blades between which the inter-blade portion is disposed. In some cases, the smooth curve of each inter-blade portion is described by a curve fitted to a biomimicry design form extending between the first blade and the second blade.

Abstract: A valve for use in an engine exhaust conduit. The valve includes a base portion and a body portion extending from the base portion. The base portion is configured for pivotably mounting the valve within the engine exhaust conduit. The base portion defines a valve pivot axis. The valve is pivotable about the valve pivot axis during use. The body portion has an upstream side and a downstream side opposite the upstream side. The upstream side is exposed, during use, to fluid flow in the engine exhaust conduit. The body portion has a generally pointed shape defining a rounded tip at a location of the body portion furthest from the base portion in a length direction of the valve. The length direction of the valve is generally perpendicular to the valve pivot axis.

Abstract: An engine assembly for a vehicle includes an engine and a turbocharger operatively connected thereto. A controller is configured to, based on at least one performance parameter associated with the vehicle, execute a pre-acceleration control sequence including: delaying ignition within the engine's cylinders to increase a temperature of exhaust gas discharged to the turbocharger and reduce a torque of the engine; deactivating at least one cylinder in a predetermined pattern to reduce the torque of the engine; actuating a throttle valve to increase air flow to the engine to (i) increase the torque of the engine, and (ii) increase a volume of exhaust gas discharged to the turbocharger; and increasing a volume of fuel injected by the fuel injectors into the cylinders so as to increase the torque of the engine thereby compensating at least in part reduction of the torque of the engine.