Abstract: A cooling system for a liquid cooled internal combustion engine having an internal water jacket, a water pump having an outlet connected to an inlet of the water jacket, a thermostat housing including a thermostat and having an inlet connected with an outlet of the water jacket, a heat exchanger connected between an outlet of the thermostat housing and an inlet of the water pump for cooling the liquid in the cooling system, includes a coolant shunt extending from the water pump outlet to the inlet of the thermostat housing whereby when the thermostat is open, coolant flow through the heat exchanger is greater than coolant flow thorough the engine so that heat exchanger cooling is increased and parasitic losses across the water pump are minimized.

Abstract: According to the present invention, an edge filter for a pressurized fuel rail system having a plurality of fuel injectors from which pressurized fuel is fed to the injectors through a fuel inlet tube is disclosed. The edge filter has contoured leading and trailing ends that may be either spherical or conical to reduce turbulence in fuel upstream and downstream of the edge filter. The edge filter has inlet and outlet slots that are sloped between about 5% and 15% with the depth of the inlet slot decreasing as it approaches the outlet end and the depth of the outlet slot increasing as it approaches the outlet end.

Abstract: An engine brake control system that is integrated with service brakes for a diesel engine powered vehicle. Three manually selectable modes of operation include an operation with the engine brake control system disabled, an operation with engine braking activated by a zero throttle application and engine braking power level determined by manually actuated dashboard switches or the like, and an operation with engine braking activated by a brake pedal and engine brake power level being proportional to brake pedal displacement and limited by the manually actuated dash-mounted switches or the like.

Abstract: An apparatus to visually check coolant corrosiveness having first and second opposing ends in spaced apart relation to each other, and a sidewall extending substantially unbroken therebetween to define a hollow body; a non corrodible coolant barrier at said first end occluding said first end and forming a water tight seal over said first end; said non corrodible barrier having a transparency in at least a portion of said barrier; a corrodible coolant barrier at said second end occluding said second end and forming a water tight seal over said second end; whereby changes in coolant pH render the coolant corrosive, which corrodes the coolant corrodible barrier, thereby allowing coolant into said hollow body to be seen through said transparency in said first end.

Abstract: An engine oil pan of the electrically conductive type in which a case grounded sensor can be mounted in a wall of the pan and in which the oil pan is grounded to one circuit and the sensor is connected to another circuit includes an insulating bushing disposed between the oil pan and case grounded sensor for electrically isolating the oil pan and sensor circuits from each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for anodizing aluminum exhaust housings including the utilization of conducting rods placed through the narrow passages. The rods allow current to flow and anodizing coating to build up inside the narrow passages. The rods are insulated from the housing and are connected to a special end plate. The end plate has an insulating spacer between the housing and connecting plate and ensures that the rods are installed and spaced properly and that the current properly flows. The assembly is then degreased and rinsed. The clean assembly is then placed into an appropriate anodizing solution and connected to a current source until the coating sufficiently builds up. The assembly is then removed from the anodizing tanks and rinsed in a series of tanks of increasing temperature.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine of a system having an air-charger system connected to the engine includes sensing air-charger system temperature; comparing the air-charger system temperature to a temperature threshold; and adjusting an engine control parameter when the air-charger system temperature exceeds the temperature threshold. A system for controlling engine operation is also provided.

Abstract: An engine control system and method of controlling an internal combustion engine having a mandatory engine warm-up period are provided. The engine control system includes an electronic control module (ECM) having a torque inhibit circuit and a speed inhibit circuit, and an at least one engine fluid temperature sensor in electrical communication with the torque inhibit circuit and the speed inhibit circuit of the ECM. The sensor is exposed to at least one engine fluid and is adapted to provide an inhibit signal to the torque inhibit circuit and to the speed inhibit circuit indicative of the temperature of the fluid within the engine. The torque inhibit circuit and the speed inhibit circuit are operable to cause the ECM to disregard any requests from an operator commanding an increase in engine torque or engine speed until such time as the inhibit signal from the temperature sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: In a piston engine, end play of the piston pin can be prevented without unduly shortening the pin. In the simplest design (FIG. 4), a full length piston pin can have spherical end surface in close clearance spacing relative to the combustion chamber surface, so that any tendency of the pin to shift along the pin axis is immediately resisted by contact between a spherical end surface and the combustion chamber surface. The area of each spherical surface is sufficient to prevent wear or scratching of the combustion chamber surface. An alternative full length piston pin design incorporates spherical sheet-metal caps snapped in place at the ends (FIG. 2), which fix the pin (and caps) from coming into contact with the cylinder bore wall.

Abstract: A fuel injector assembly is provided which includes a pressurization control valve assembly and a timing control valve assembly. A pressure actuated needle valve is positioned between the pressurization and timing control valves. Pressure within the injector is controlled by opening and closing such valve assemblies. In particular, when the pressurization control valve assembly is open and the timing control valve is closed there will be pressure equilibrium within the injector and a spring will hold the needle valve closed. When the pressurization and timing control valves are both closed, fuel in the injector will be pressurized. Upon opening the timing control valve assembly, there will be a net upward force which will open the needle valve. Closing of the timing control valve assembly will create a net downward force closing the needle valve.

Abstract: A method for controlling an engine having a cylinder includes sensing cylinder pressure; comparing the cylinder pressure to a pressure threshold; and adjusting an engine control parameter when the cylinder pressure exceeds the pressure threshold. A system for controlling engine operation is also provided.

Abstract: A method for controlling fuel delivery from a fuel injector includes determining a first desired engine torque output; determining engine speed; determining a first quantity of fuel to be delivered by the fuel injector based on the first desired engine torque output and the engine speed; determining an injection pressure; and determining a first amount of time for energizing the fuel injector in order to deliver the first quantity of fuel based on the injection pressure. For a system capable of split injection, the method further includes determining a second desired engine torque output; determining a second quantity of fuel to be delivered by the fuel injector based on the second desired engine torque output and the engine speed; and determining a second amount of time for energizing the fuel injector in order to deliver the second quantity of fuel. The method and system of the invention provide more precise control of fuel delivery compared with prior systems and methods.

Abstract: A method for controlling an internal combustion engine having an EGR circuit including an exhaust gas recirculation valve for diverting exhaust gas from an engine exhaust to an engine intake includes ascertaining a predefined threshold based on at least one engine operating condition and preventing the EGR valve from opening if the at least one engine operating condition is below the predefined threshold to reduce or eliminate visible black smoke which may occur during transient conditions. In one embodiment, the engine operating condition represents EGR boost pressure.

Abstract: A system and a method for measuring capacitance of a capacitor having a dielectric material, such as a lubricating oil, disposed between the electrodes of the capacitor, where the dielectric material causes a double layer effect within the capacitor. A variable source is provided in series with a resistor to induce a change in a current flowing through the capacitor. A sensor converts the resulting current flow into a current value readable by a processor. The processor records a plurality of current values. An initial value is recorded to correspond to the induced change in the current. A leakage value is recorded after the current has exponentially decayed to approximate steady state. Multiple other current values are also recorded during the exponential decay. An intermediate value is then selected from among the multiple other current values based upon the initial value and the leakage value.

Abstract: A charge-air modification system for use with an internal combustion engine such as a diesel engine to prevent the formation of acidic condensation within engine subsystem components such as an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler and an intake manifold. An air dryer is incorporated so that charge air within such components is maintained in as close to an unsaturated condition as possible.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders and includes an air system having a plurality of components. The air system includes an intake portion and an exhaust portion. At least one of the components has a protective coating that reduces a tendency of soot to adhere to the at least one component. Preferably, the protective coat also reduces a tendency of the at least one component to undergo corrosion.

Abstract: An electronic device and enclosure assembly is provided for use with an engine arrangement having a plurality of cavities. The assembly comprises an enclosure including a main body having a base panel. The base panel includes a plurality of openings alignable with the cavities. An electronic device is disposable in the enclosure and has a plurality of apertures alignable with the openings and the cavities. The assembly further includes a plurality of fasteners for connecting the electronic device to the enclosure, and for connecting the enclosure to the engine arrangement. Each fastener is configured to extend through an aperture in the electronic device, through an opening in the enclosure, and into a cavity of the engine arrangement.

Abstract: A method of controlling an internal combustion engine includes determining the pressure within the cylinder with a pressure sensor which samples at specific positions of the piston indicating the properties of the thermodynamic cycle. The engine is controlled and operating condition diagnosed in real time based on that series of cylinder pressures at corresponding piston positions.

Abstract: An adjustment screw assembly (10) having an adjustment screw (11) engaged to a rocker arm (14) of a combustion engine (12) is disclosed. The adjustment screw (11) comprises a lower member (26) and a vertical member (28) wherein the vertical member (28) threads to the rocker arm (14) and the lower member (26) secures pivotally and rotatably to the vertical member (28) forming a pivotal connection (31). The pivotal connection (31) has a male connector (38) which snap fits through an engagement lip portion (46) of a female socket (35) and is thereby held together for combustion engine assembly purposes. Once the adjustment screw (11) is assembled and placed within the combustion engine (12), internal springs (24) of the engine (12) resiliently hold and secure the lower member (26) to the vertical member (28).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a variable flow exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system. The method includes providing a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) in communication with the EGR system for controlling exhaust gas recirculation. The geometry of the VGT is varied by adjustably controlling a rotary electric actuator (REA) operatively connected to the VGT. A position-adjustable proportional flow EGR valve is adjusted by adjustably controlling a second rotary electric actuator (REA) operatively connected to the position-adjustable proportional flow valve.